HISTORY OF HIGAONON

The indigenous tribes of the Higaonon share a common root language, history and culture, they can be
found in the northern and central regions of the island of Mindanao in the Philippines.

They are a nomadic tribe, traveling from one mountain to another, looking for fertile soil for a fruitful
harvest. The name Higaonon is derived from the words higa meaning living, the word goan, which means mountains
and the word onon meaning people. All togethe these words form the description of the tribe as "people of the living
mountains." This tribe, also named "people of the wilderness", is one of the least known ethnic groups that inhabit
the hinterlands of North-Central Mindanao. They are scattered over five provinces, Bukidnon. Agusan del Sur,
Agusan del Norte, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Oriental. Ever since "the Times of Creation " the Higaonon have lived
and continues to live in their ancesteral forest homes, undisturbed, managing the forest in a natural way.

Their way of life is focused on managing the forests they live in and to create a co-existince with its other
inhabitants in a harmonious way. The Higanaon tribe consists of eight clans that are centered around the eight main
rivers of their "Ancestral Domain". The tribe is divided into peaceful and warrior clans, nowadays all groups exist in
peace with eachother. They are true peace loving people and also known as weavers of peace. The strive for peace
is expressed in their traditional fabric, the Hinabol. The term Hinabol is a Binukid term for handwoven textile from
the south of the Philippines and comes from the verb habol, which means to weave. This kind of fabric is used to
refer to the woven hemp that is made by the women of the Higaonon and characterized by the typical colorful stripes
in varying thickness, unique patterns and many creative colors. The weavers will choose the traditional colors
according to how and what they are feeling that particular day. The Kinatup and the Ginuntiyan are uncommon
patterns as they are only woven by the wives of the Datu, generally an elder of the community which is trained in
spirituality and education. These patterns are considered sacred and the ones that are used for offerings. The best
hinabol fabrics are woven into kamuyot, some sort of backpack or slingbag that is used to carry their bolos and
practized as offering to their God or as a peace offering during conflicts with other local tribes.

The culture of Higanaon tribe can best be described as a culture of Peace, for solving their internal conflicts
or settle feuds among other ethnic groups, the tribes practises an ancient ritual: the tampudas hu Balagun, or the
treaty of the green vine branch, a symbolic ans traditonal cutting of the vine. Most of the members of this tribal
group are Christianized, but the recounting by the older generation of stories concerning their traditional and
indigenous religion is common practise. When they are baptized the Higaonon are allowed to keep two names, a
Christian and an Higaonon name.

The Higaonon tribal people follow the habitual laws of Bunkatol Ha Bulawan Daw Nang Ka Tasa ha Lana,
which means treasured unity of Love and Peace. In fact it is a code of conduct that is the sacred bond that unites
the entire Higaonon community. For decades the Higaonon people have struggled tirelessly for their independence
as a tribe, their rights to cultural integrity and the right to self-determination. the Higaonon, have managed to
maintain the skills and knowledge that will protect its forested mountains. They need to secure their Ancestral
Domain and forest home against destruction by loggers who started cutting their way into the forested homeland
more than sixty years ago.

Cultural Implications and Beliefs Reflected in the Dance

Like the observed and documented tribal dances, bodily movements had particular connotations. The circle
formation and the joining of hands showed group solidarity and unity, which was common in the tribe. The arms in
reverse “T” position exhibited the tribe’s gestures of thanksgiving and praises for good harvest, good health, goodwill
or the like, which the tribesmen believed to be coming from their “anitos” or their powerful gods and goddesses.
The bending of the dancers’ knees signified the tribe’s reverence or adoration to their gods and goddesses to grant
them abundance of harvest, and good health. The three mentioned movements were predominant in the Dinugso
and the Binaylan. Meanwhile, the imitations of animal movements, which were observed in two of the five Higaonon
dances- the Binanog and the Inamo, stood for the tribesmen’s befriending gestures and respect for animals around
them and their love of Nature. The Inamo and the Binanog are two imitative dances that depict, respectively, the
movements of the monkey and the hawk. Moreover, the Higaonons believe that imitating the movements drive
away the prey if not befriend the creatures whom they believe are protectors to give them access to enjoy the gift
of life that Nature offers. The imitations of the “Bagani’s” movements in the Saot dance, on the other hand, means
the honor and respect of the tribe to their tribe defenders, particularly to those who have died. Higaonons believe
that the Bagani’s spirit can reincarnate among the Higaonon’s younger generation and that by reminiscing over the
Bagani’s heroic acts through the Saot will develop young minds to live with the Bagani’s spirit.

The Higaonons’ Ways of Preserving their Cultural Identity

The Higaonon Tribal Community of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, through the leadership of Mayor Leonida P.
Manpatilan hold activities for the tribe to be recognized. These activities are held not only to venerate the events of
the past, but also to inculcate in the minds of the youth the culture of the tribe, which then leads to its preservation.

The researcher asked the tribal authorities of the tribe’s means of culture preservation of the tribal dances
and secured the list and the description of different yearly celebrations held to which the five newly researched
dances are regularly performed:

The Kaamulan Festival is celebrated every September twenty seven to highlight the “Araw ng Esperanza.” It
is a thanksgiving festival of the Higaonon tribe for the bounties received during the year and is expressed through
tribal or ethnic dances, chanting, wedding ceremonies, food festivals and others.

The Town Fiesta or community thanksgiving of the people of Esperanza is yearly observed in honor of the
town’s patron Saint, Ignatius of Loyola. A fluvial parade at the Agusan River, a concelebrated mass, street dancing,
and a food festival, among others, complete the town fiesta celebration.

The Dumalongdong is a week-long ritual performed at no definite time. It is done only when there is a sick
person or a problem plaguing the tribe, to ask guidance and enlightenment from Dumalongdong, the tribe’s God of
Wisdom. Dumalongdong as a celebration is the highest form of ritual of the Higaonon tribe. It is celebrated with
dance festivities and merry-making to culminate the ritual.

DANCE ELEMENTS

 Dinugso • Binaylan

 Binanog • Saot

 Inamo