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The Manobo are skilled in making canoes, a vital means of transportation in the marsh. They travel to forested areas with large, sturdy trees such as Lauan, Tagkan, and Apitong to craft these canoes.

Only men who have the knowledge and skills are allowed to carve and shape the canoe.

The best time for canoe-making is during the Amihan (cool northeast monsoon season) because, during this time, water levels are high, making it easier to launch the canoe into the marsh.

Once finished, the canoe is taken to the lake and exchanged for fish such as gingaw and kasili (freshwater eel), which are among the most prized fish in the region.

Today, the Manobo have discovered that woods such as Lanipeo, Banaba, Tabak, and Manugaw are also suitable for making canoes. However, these trees are now harder to find.

Unlike before, when materials were abundant, the Manobo now have to travel much farther to obtain the necessary wood.

According to an old tale, there was once a man named Tapugak who lived on the highlands. He accidentally fell and was fatally injured after landing on a Lanipeo tree. Since then, this tree has been considered significant in Manobo culture.

Gliding through the river in a low-riding canoe, I realized just how close I was to the water—so close I could skim the surface without even stretching. A stark contrast to the towering fishing boats I'm used to, this ride offered an entirely new perspective-both humbling and slightly nerve-wracking.

Mats are made from tikog, a type of grass that grows along the Agusan Marsh and rivers. Harvesting takes place in May; if the grass grows too old, it becomes brittle.

The process begins by pulling out the tikog and cutting off its flowers. It is bundled in groups of 20 and tied at the base where the flowers were removed.

The drying process lasts three days, and the mats are carefully stacked to prevent mold. Before weaving, the dried grass is trimmed to create uniform strips, flattened, and then woven into a mat.

The tools used include a wooden scraper for straightening, a bamboo tool for measuring, and a thin knife (badi) for trimming the edges.

Most Manobo know how to use rattan (pae-san) for crafting baskets, hammocks, woven containers, and other household items. Rattan is long, covered in thorns, and clings to trees. It is cleaned, stripped of its thorns, and cut to the desired length before being brought home.

The tools for collecting rattan include a long wooden tool (yugjo/yugdo), and rattan ropes are used to tie hammocks.

Timaya refers to the process of seeking permission and selecting land for farming. It is usually performed by the amoy (father) and his eldest son, who inspect the area to determine if it is suitable for planting.

If the land is not approved by the spirits, the baylan conducts a yudgud ritual to determine the reason.

The yudgud involves gathering the elders and performing a ceremony to communicate with the tagbanwa spirits.

A yugdo (a wooden digging tool) is used to mark the land.

If the tool remains upright the next day, it means the spirits have given their approval. If it falls, the land is not suitable, and another location must be chosen.

The Manobo people living in Agusan Marsh rely heavily on fishing as their primary source of livelihood.

They have developed various traditional fishing methods that ensure sustainability and respect for nature.

Fishing is commonly done in lakes, rivers, and marshlands, particularly during the rainy season when water levels rise and fish become more abundant. However, the Manobo people practice selective fishing, taking only what they need and allowing fish populations to regenerate.

I was grateful and honored to have the chance to document the Manobo's ancestral knowledge, customs, and traditions-especially those tied to nature-so they can be preserved and passed down to future generations.

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Epitaph

by Merrit Malloy

When I die Give what’s left of me away To children And old men that wait to die. And if you need to cry, Cry for your brother Walking the street beside you. And when you need me, Put your arms Around anyone And give them What you need to give to me.

I want to leave you something, Something better Than words Or sounds.

Look for me In the people I’ve known Or loved, And if you cannot give me away, At least let me live on in your eyes And not on your mind.

You can love me most By letting Hands touch hands, By letting Bodies touch bodies, And by letting go Of children That need to be free.

Love doesn’t die, People do. So, when all that’s left of me Is love, Give me away.

I’ll see you at home In the earth.

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