#palawan tribes

[batakcraft-blog]

Batak Tribe: Natural Healthcare System

Batak Tribe: Natural Healthcare System

Fascinating. Was just studying the Batak’s natural healthcare system, and I’m in awe of how deeply spiritually-integrated they are with the environment. They have “humans we don’t see”, wood spirits, stone spirits, and fairies (which unfortunately, only the ancient Batak healers had direct access to). And what’s more, some of the really blessed Batak members learn the art of healing through…

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[batakcraft-blog]

Batak Pride

On our last visit to the Batak at Langogan, Palawan, I made it a point to bring something that the kids can have fun with while my team and I take a break from the trips. I wanted to awaken that part of their minds that go far beyond the salt-sprinkled rice for breakfast (…lunch and dinner), beyond the unlit classrooms that go dark on rainy afternoons, and beyond the hectares and hectares of…

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[batakcraft-blog]

Simple Joys

Bobby: “Papa’yo ka?” (Maliligo ka? / Are you going to take a bath?) Me: “Uu. Mama’yo ta na.” (Oo. Maligo na tayo. / Yes. Come let’s take a bath.) Bobby, in the middle, holds a little plastic bag of “karundang” or shrimps as bait for when he goes fishing later. It’s such a nice feeling when somewhere in the rural corners of our technology-ridden world, children enjoy playing at the forest river…

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[batakcraft-blog]

Part 1: Baselisa the Batak ex-Lady Chieftain

Part 1: Baselisa the Batak ex-Lady Chieftain

(Conversation translated into English) “Who are you, and what are you doing here?” A lady, who emerged from the darkness, came walking into our funny conversation and suddenly the others became quiet. The Tribal Council Kagawad, “Imong”, Chieftain’s wife, Teresa, another lady named Nenita, I and my teammates Rudra and Jojo—had already been speaking for a while about the current situation in the…

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