Photographs of Mindanao, Philippines:
Life and Death Inside and Outside the Barrio

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Banuwaen man and his little daughter in their preparations for fishing in Libang river. The weir is prepared beside big pieces of driftwood. Whenever heavy rains come down, the Libang turns into a rupturing river. The waters coming down from the deforested mountains between Agusan del Sur and Bukidnon accumulate quickly and sweep whole uprooted trees downstream. Tagbalili, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur. February 28, 1977. In the morning.

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Young Higaunen man climbing in the trees cutting rattan, the only climbing plant among the palm trees. Sitio Iponan, Balungkud, Dansulihon, Misamis Oriental. January 6, 1983.

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Higaunen mother and children returning home from their kaingin. They rest for a while and watch a young man who is climbing in the trees cutting rattan (cp. the proceding picture). Sitio Iponan, Balungkud, Dansulihon, Misamis Oriental. January 6, 1983.

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Guilang-Guilang, a settlement of mixed Bukidnon and Visayan population in the mountains of eastern Bukidnon, halfway between the Bukidnon highway crossing at Dumay and the settlement of Kalabugao. Some people had a business of cutting and trading rattan there. Urbano Abunda was one of the few native people who had an additional occupation, aside from being a farmer: He made rattan furniture for the local people beside his house. Guilang-Guilang, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. February 24, 1983.

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The children of Teodora and Urbano Abunda preparing the meal in the kitchen of a typical wooden Bukidnon house. We used to stay for a couple of days with the Abunda family during fieldwork. Our thanks goes to them. Guilang-Guilang, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. February 24, 1983.

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Kalipay, a settlement in the mountains south of Gingoog City. Wherever you go in the Philippines – everywhere – you will find bayanihan, mutual help among neighbors! Like in this scene of moving a complete house for a distance of about 500 meters. Kalipay, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental. February 1984.

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The most important means of transportation in the mountains of northern Mindanao are the trucks of the logging companies. Kalipay, a remote settlement with mixed Visayan and Higaunen population south of Gingoog City, where this truck is passing through can only be reached after a very rough ride lasting for half a day. Kalipay, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental. February 1984.

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Roaming around in a small area of rainforest that was still more or less untouched, we lost our track. Our guide, Lubrito Mabung, climbed a tree quickly to look for the best way out. Sitio Kisayab, Bonacao, San Fernando, Southeastern Bukidnon. August 25, 1993.

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In Kisayab, a Tigwa Manobo settlement, an epidemic of measles broke out, and five people, two adults and three children, died within just a few days. Sitio Kisayab, Bonacao, San Fernando, Southeastern Bukidnon. August 26, 1993. 7 a.m., just before the funeral.

Page designed and maintained by Hans Brandeis, Berlin, Germany.
All photographs and information collected by Hans Brandeis in 1976-1993.
Copyright © 1996 by Hans Brandeis. All rights reserved. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

Created: Sunday, April 28, 1996
Updated: Sunday, December 29, 2002

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