The Higaonons: Indigenous People of Cagayan de Oro City

The Higaonon Tribe, the Indigenous Cultural Community in Cagayan de Oro City celebrated it's annual IP Month celebrations every October of the year. This celebrations aims to look back the life and culture of the Higaonons. The tribe which mostly in the province of Bukidnon, in the central part of the island of Mindanao has showcased the different practices, dances and fun games. The activities lasted for three days where huts made from indigenous materials such as bark of a tree for the walls and Anahaw leaves (the Philippines National Leaf) for the roof. The fish traps made of bamboo, bamboo spears, "Tagongtong" (bamboo gong)bamboo bow and arrows. What made it more exciting was the contest on pounding of rice in the wooden mortar "lusong" with the wooden pestle "alho". Raw rice was put inside the mortar and then pounded by three persons in each tribe as contestants.The winner is judged through the heavier weigh of their clean rice decided by the judges. In the third day, a grand ritual was offered to "Magbabaya" God of the Higaonons.The dances was participated by both the "Ininay" mothers and "Inamay" the fathers. It was fun when we really look back the culture in which we belong.