Predominant social values in the political activities of Sabangan, Mountain Province

Abstract

Indigenous peoples have been defined by Martinez Cobo as those which, having a historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories, or parts of them. They form at present non-dominant sectors of society and are determined to preserve, develop, and transmit to future generations their ancestral territories, and their ethnic identity, as the basis of their continued existence as people, in accordance with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal system. In the Philippines, even before the Spanish colonization, indigenous peoples and their ancestors were able to manage, nurture, and preserve their ancestral domains basing on their customary laws, governance, and traditional knowledge. The traditional knowledge and practices had strengthened their rights to their ancestral domain and lands claim. It is interesting to study how the local government units, dominated by the indigenous peoples, are maximizing their rights as guaranteed by RA 8371. It is within this context that the study is being done in order to know and understand the social values that are inherent in Sabangan's indigenous political institutions and practices. The findings of this study will therefore be of great importance to the local leaders and people of Sabangan for them to know which of their indigenous institutions need to be nurtured as these are relevant to the promotion of community life. This study sought to explore the predominant social values in the political activities of Sabangan, Mountain Province. Specifically, the study sought answers to the following questions: 1. What are the social values manifested in the policies and programs enacted by the barangay officials? 2. What are the social values manifested in the informal activities of the selected barangays in Sabangan, Mountain Province? Based on the research problems, the following are the findings: As regards to the social values manifested in these policies and programs of the barangay officials, both the barangay officials and residents posited that through these programs/projects, the community's adherence to the social values of galatis/binnadang/ug-ugbo, kailyan, pakikisama, close family ties, and inayan are nurtured. Both parties agree that these values are not only manifested, but also taken into consideration in the adoption, enactment, and implementation of the programs and policies. As to the informal activities which are categorized as community rituals, cooperative works, and special occasions, the same set of social values were identified. Both parties agreed that the motivating social values to their involvement in these informal activities are kailyan, pakikisama and galatis/binnadang/ug-ugbo. In light of the findings of the study, the following conclusions were drawn: 1. The social values that are predominant in the policies and programs enacted by the barangay officials are galatis/binnadang/ug-ugbo, kailyan, pakikisama, and close family ties. 2. On the informal activities of the selected barangays, the predominant social values are galatis/binnadang/ug-ugbo, pakikisama, and kailyan. Based from the findings and conclusions of the study, the following are the recommendations. 1. There must be strict implementation of the enacted and adopted ordinances, resolutions, executive orders, programs, and projects for the attainment of each of the barangay's objectives and goals leading to the progress and development of the barangays and will benefit the residents. 2. The informal activities, though there may be some variations, must be religiously observedd because this will identify them from the rest of the Indigenous Peoples. Moreover, both the formal and informal leaders (elders) of the eight barangays as well as the parents should continually serve as teachers of their respective barangay's living traditions to guarantee that the youth will nurture and continue the practices that sustained their communal life. 3. A future study, using a quantitative approach, may replicate this research. It may include in its focus the role of the ato, elders, and the youth in strengthening the community's cultural institutions.