A VISIT TO DANSOLIHON RAINFORESTATION PROJECT

A VISIT TO DANSOLIHON RAINFORESTATION PROJECT

by Marjorie Engcoy

Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Animator-Mindanao

The Higaonon community of Sitio Canaan, Dansolihon warmly welcomed the visit of Fr. Kang Seungwon, a member of the General Council, and Miss Vida Amor Hequilan, a member of the Columban Lay Missionaries Central Leadership Team. This visit was deemed special by our Higaonon friends as they saw this as an opportunity to share stories, culture and their message on climate crisis. Fr Seungwon and Vida were accompanied by the Columban Lay Missionaries assigned in Mindanao and their co-workers.

Vida plants a young Yakal tree 

Datu Ontong welcomed the group at the gate and ushered them into the ‘kumba’ where a prayer ritual was held. In a form of a ritual, Baylan Roy asked for permission from the deities of the land to grace the activity that was about to happen. In addition, he also prayed  for protection and fruitful conversations. After the ritual, the group was led under the canopy of the rainforestation project. After the visitors and the members of the community shared refreshments, a meaningful conversation took place. Datu Hapitan shared the beginnings of the community and how their ancestors came into the land. He was also not hesitant to bring up their struggles, such as internal political conflicts, power grabbing, and land grabbing. Despite these, the community, together with their tribal leaders, remain hopeful that their struggles would pay off and that the future of their children will be secured. In his words, Datu Ontong is hopeful that the message of the Higaonon culture of peace will spread the way it should be, stripped from all the conflicts inflicted by influences outside of their customs and traditional ways. They hoped that the future generation of his tribe would be proud of who they are as ‘Lumad’ living out their beliefs and traditions. This conversation under the canopy of young Philippine native trees reverberates the message of hope for our indigenous brothers and sisters and for Mother Earth embraced by the spirit of interfaith dialogue.

Short walk to the reforestation project site

Their partnership with the Columbans for the Rainforestation Project began through the Interfaith initiative within the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro. This newfound friendship was cemented when a common vision of protecting the Creation of Magbabaya (God) was brought into the surface. ThisThis gave birth to the Rainforestation Project. On behalf of the community, the Higaonon tribal leaders thank the Columbans for this partnership—a partnership that respected their beliefs, traditions, and strong connection with the  Creation. The conversation concluded with a sumptuous Filipino meal prepared by the women of ASAWAKA (a women’s group organized in the community). After enjoying the delicious lunch, Fr. Seungwon and Vida were invited to plant Philippine native trees. The addition of the two young trees in the reforested area is a symbol of the Columbans’ continued commitment to uphold the integrity of Creation.

A short walk to the reforestation site with Bae Ruth