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March 31, 2026
KABACAN, COTABATO — To preserve the vibrant cultural heritage of the Ovu Manobo tribe in Magpet, the University of Southern Mindanao-Extension Services Office (USM-ESO) initiated an inception meeting with tribal leaders and representatives from the Department of Education (DepEd) Kidapawan on March 23, 2026, at the ESO TC Room.
The meeting, led by ESO Director Glyn B. Gabano-Magbanua, addressed a formal request from the tribe to document their indigenous dances, music, and oral traditions. The initiative serves as a strategic intervention to protect the cultural properties and linguistic integrity of the Indigenous Peoples (IP) community.
Discussions focused heavily on the ethical frameworks necessary for documenting sacred traditions. Technical plans for cultural mapping were also detailed, highlighting the need for a comprehensive inventory that captures the true essence of Ovu Manobo heritage.
To ensure the authenticity of recorded narratives, the group planned to explore the use of a Language Proficiency Test to vet linguistic nuances within the oral traditions.
A significant portion of the meeting underscored strict compliance with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) guidelines. The team reinforced that Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is not merely a legal requirement but a moral obligation.
In a move to honor the living traditions of the tribe, the partnership has scheduled the Pamaas—a sacred ritual to seek guidance and permission from ancestral spirits before utilizing the ancestral domain. This step ensures that USM’s engagement moves beyond administrative compliance toward true cultural immersion and respect for the spirits governing the land.
