At Home with Lumads

The way San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish celebrated tribal day for this year is rather unique compared to other parishes in the Diocese of Digos. While other parishes celebrated the Tribal Day in the parish center itself, in Don Marcelino, we celebrated in the area where the Lumads live.

Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental, has 5 Indigenous Schools which become the center of the Tribal Day celebrations. These were the schedules:

October 17, Tribal Day celebration of Indigenous School of Malunas. Malunas is sitio of Barangay Mabuhay, a far-flung barangay of Don Marcelino. The vehicle can only reach to the barangay proper then a 45-minute walk takes you to IFS Malunas.

October 20, Tribal day celebration of IFS Datal Labe. Datal Labe is a sitio of Barangay West Lamidan, a 2-hour drive from the parish center. It requires a 3-hour walk from the barangay proper to Sitio Labe.

October 22, Tribal day celebration of IFS Tamlang. Tamlang is a sitio of Barangay Kiobog, a 2-hour drive from the parish center, then 2 1/2 hour walk from the highway to the area.

October 24, Tribal day celebration of IFS Cabasagan. Cabasagan is a sitio of barangay Lapuan, a 30-minute drive from the parish center but from the barangay proper the four wheel vehicle cannot pass the winding road which crosses one river 24 times. Only motorcycles can pass through that narrow road so the fare is also very costly, one passenger has to pay 300 pesos one way!

October 27, the Tribal celebration of Upper Kepiya, a 30-minute drive from the parish center but a 2-hour walk from the foot of the mountain going to the area. Upper Kepiya is a sitio of barangay Lawa, the nearest barangay from the parish center.

This year, our mission was guided by the theme “LUMADNONG PAGKAPANGULO: GASA UG TAHAS SA GINOO”. I decided to come to these very remote places to show them they are being remembered. Indeed the Lumads are also loved by God! (Rev. Fr. Rogelio Albite | Parish Priest, St. Lorenzo Ruiz, Don Marcelino)