hapter 14– Libak Market & Two Other Groups of Mountain People

I often went to Libak, Cotabato on market days. There I saw several big fishes slaughtered and sold in the market. Some weighed 150 to 200 kilos. I had not seen this big fish in our town in Carles, Iloilo. Fishes in Carles were different from the fishes I saw in Libak. Fresh fish meat was sold at P0.50 per kilo during time.

I saw mountain residents come during market days. They go down from the mountains on market days. I saw some of their home far away in the mountain. The roof shining under the sun with galvanized roofings 50 kilometers away. They came with their products for sale: roles of spliced rattans, dried native pig meat, embroidered and hand -made cloths and special rice. They bought things they needed at home: fresh fish, salt, dried fish, sugar and pieces of clothing.

The women wore colored dresses. They have long dresses. They wore big bronze earrings on their ears. Some women wore 12 bronze earrings on their right and left ears. They were native people called Teruray. They lived in the mountains many kilometers up the mountain ranges.

The Teruray women were lovely. They have fine and light brown skins. They were slim and tall. They spoke different dialects. I heard they were of Indonesian origin who came to the mountains of Cotabato thousands of years ago.

Teruray men went down to the market in groups together with the women. They were peaceful people. Men walk ahead and the women followed. The men did not carry heavy loads. They were trained fighters and they walked always ahead to protect the women. They were always ready to fight enemies they meet on the mountain trails. They carry short weapons, mostly knives and daggers. The women carry the heavy loads that would be sold in the market.

According to Wikipedia, the Encycopedia: The southwestern Mindanao highlands range about 4,000 feet and face the Celebes Sea. The Tiruray, one of the ethnic groups that live in this area have retained much of their own religion in spite of their proximity to the Maguindanao and Cotabato Valley.

The traditional economy was based on dry cultivation supplemented by food gathering, hunting, and fishing. The principal food is glutinous rice and corn. Other crops cultivated include sweet potatoes, sugar cane, cassava, taro, and tobacco.

As a people, the Tiruray are distinctive in terms of ethnic art and craft. Their basketry was among the most intricately woven in the country, often profusely covered with characteristic design motifs. Their horse-hair ornaments—earrings, pendants, neck pieces—are clearly representative of the material culture.

There were also Manobo tribes living there on the mountain ranges of Libak. I could see their area about 50 kms on the eastern side of the mountains. According to Wekipedia the religious beliefs of the Manobo revolve around tie concept of many unseen spirits interfering in the lives of humans. They believed that these spirits can intrude on human activities to accomplish their desires. The spirits were believed to have a human characteristic

The total current Manobo population is not known, although they occupy core areas from Sarangani island into the Mindanao mainland in the regions of Misamis and Cotabato. A study by the journal of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP)-PACT put their population in 1988 at around 250,000.

One day, my father brought me to the mountain about 5 kilometers from the market. The place was a forest cleared by his friend. The big timbers were cut down. The small trees around the big timbers were also cut. These were dried under the sun, then burned. After burning, the farmers planted corn.

We came to visit his friend and buy some young corn that were about to be harvested. When we entered the cornfield, I saw many logs that were cut down. The logs were lying down. One lying trees was higher than me. The logs were allowed to rot for years. Around the logs were planted rows and rows of corn.

Libak Municipal Hall was headed by Mayor Freires. I cannot remember his first name.

Father enrolled me at Salaman Institute. It was a private high school in the poblacion. I did not remember how many students were enrolled there. But we were many, from 1st year to 4th year high school. I have some memorable recollections of my life during my first year high at Salaman Institute. Our class was compost of interesting young girls and boys, seeking education with plans to build better lives and a good future.

I was the smallest and shortest in our class. Also the youngest. I am also quite bright. I often stood to share my thoughts. I have many friends among my classmates. I cannot remember their names anymore. I think some of them are still living. Their ages may be from 80 to 95 years by now. Our school principal, Mr. McKay was a big man. I thought he was an American. Some said, he was an Irish. He was a friendly and dynamic school principal

One of the subjects we have was literature. We were encouraged to read short stories and novels. It was one way to develop our written and spoken English. Our teacher told us to read Noli Me Tangere and El Felibusterismo, the two novels written by Dr. Jose Rizal. We were told to read English novels, those written by Charles Dickens and other English and American novelists, William Blake, John Keats, John Bunyan, Geoffrey Chaucers.

Nelson Olarte, who was 4th- year high school showed me some summary of novels written by his elder brother who was already working in Guam. He left his package of novel summaries and love letters.

Nelson Olarte gave me the package and told me to read the novel summaries and love letters. He told me the novel summaries and love letters will teach me how to write. He told me to take care of the package and its contents.

Every day I read the novel summary. I began also to read the love letters of his brother. The love letters were addressed to several of his girlfriends in high school. They were beautifully written love letters. I tried to memorize some of it, trying to get the feelings of its meanings and messages.

I got one of the love letters. I will write a love letter to my classmate. My classmate who set always beside me. I began to feel in love with her. But I got no courage to tell her how much she means to me. I copied the love letter. I signed it. I gave it to her as she sat beside me. She read my love letter. She looked at me straight in my eyes. Then she smiled. And laughed lightly. She told me she had read the same love letter before. Her elder sister got a similar letter from the boy that courted her. She said the same love letter I wrote to her, including the comma. Then she laughed a bit stronger. I join her laughing. We laughed together.

The original love letter was written by the brother of Nelson Olarte to a girlfriend four years earlier. That day, I learned one lesson. I must not copy love letters from anyone, anymore. Never, again!

While at Salaman Institute, I often visited a small restaurant that rented newspapers, Komiks and magazines like Hiligaynon, Banawag and Liwayway for 1 centavo. I rent books for 2 centavos per week. Only Salaman Rendevous has a restaurant business, as well as book rentals, newspapers, Komiks and magazines. The Salaman restaurant and rentals helped me a lot in my studies.

The restaurant offers us free drinking water. It was great being a first year high in Salaman Institute.