Caring for the Indigenous People: the Subanen Tribe

The Subanen tribe is a group of indigenous people in Misamis Oriental that has a very unique, but rich tradition, life, culture and heritage just like most indigenous people. Unfortunately, though, most of the new generations of Subanen including educated ones like one local who is a former teacher at the College of La Salle and now a pharmacist in Ozamiz City no longer practice their culture nor do they still use their language. Other Subanens working in various private and government offices have also lost sight of their real identity. As a matter of fact, they are even ashamed to be identified as a member of the Subanen tribe.

The Participatory Action Research (PAR) process sparked an opportunity for Subanens to rally around a common goal – to revive, preserve, rediscover and reconnect with their cultural heritage. The whole idea is to address influencing factors that perpetuate such cultural deconstruction. From the data gathering phase up to the community data validation, some 400 Subanens of various age, from the upland of Sinacaban and in the city of Ozamiz, have in one way or the other, became part of the conscientization process. The issues identified during the PAR be validated and presented to Subanen community members, public officials, school personnel and tribal leaders.