Subanen on the rise a community success story

by Claro A. Lanipa

PAGADIAN CITY, Aug. 01 - - Seeing the need to empower the Subanen community in Kumalarang, the Local Government of Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur went out of its way to provide this ethnic group with the necessary assistance.

Taking the first dose of help, the LGU conducted a mobile civil registration (MCR) spearheaded by the Municipal Registrar’s Office.

The MCR paved the way for Subanens to secure legal documents as proof of their existence. Necessary documents such as, birth and marriage certificates were accorded to them.

The help uplift their living conditions and empower the Subanen, the Kumalarang LGU provided them with various skills and leadership trainings in different occasions and later organized them into a group-thus was created the 46-member “Megayon Glebon Subanen” group .

The group, (compose mostly of women) with an enhanced skills, acquired from the several trainings as provided them by the LGU, started to make balanghat’ (Subanen table), ‘baban’ (utility basket), and an all purpose basket as a way of earning a living.

Today, the group is earning good because their native products are selling well.

The group have been receiving several orders from the neighboring municipalities.

The LGU also thought of preserving the Subanen culture, so it sought the assistance of the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for the establishment of the “School for the Living Tradition” (SLT) of which the latter funded it’s construction.

The SLT is more than useful to the community as this is being used as convergence area of the Subanens where they make the production of their native products.

Jocelyn Alcaria, SLT Project Coordinator disclosed that the program is on-going, with the masters (elders) continuously to conduct training to the younger breed of their community.

“As of the moment, most of the young generations have already adopted the technology from the elders. They are responsive in the technology transfer because they were encourage if these technologies will not be preserved it will surely die down or fade away in the near future,” said Alcaria.

Their products are reasonably priced and is being used for cultural exchange program and exhibits.

Also, their products are in demand as interior decorations in hotels and restaurants.

Their weaving products are also known in the local market here in Poblacion Kumalarang.

Aside from weaving, they also produce other crafts such as musical instruments and gadgets used for dances and other farm implements.

The main materials used are rattan which is readily available in the area, with financial assistance coming from NCCA.

The LGU acts as the conduit for any assistance they receive or need.

To further enhance skills of the Subanens in the area, the LGU implemented the Indigenous Knowledge and Skills Program (IKSP).

The IKSP is being implemented in coordination with the National Commission on Indigenous People’s (NCIP) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

NCIP’s role is to validate individual talent of the Subanens while the DTI assist them in their product/project costing.

IKSP trainers are Subanen elders from the community itself, of which the Subanen elders train the young ones - to continue with their culture.

The LGU for its part offers logistic support such as the use of vehicle to conduct monitoring of the project.

The Provincial Government of Zamboanga del Sur also provided them with a Tribal House, where they could hold their training, weaving sessions and classes for the children.

From 46 members, the “Megayon Glebon Subanen” group now has 120 members. All have undergone skills training. (JPA/CAL/PIA-Zambo Sur)