MORNING WHISPERS. The beautiful façade of Mt Kitanglad captures the inner whispers of the morning delight — a landscape of natural beauty interconnected with the lumad community in Miarayon. All photos by Jerome L Torres
Story by Brian Adam Anay
The junior Development Communication students of Xavier University embarked on a cultural immersion with the indigenous community in Miarayon, Talakag, Bukidnon from September 4 to 6 as the groundwork for the forthcoming “Lansad Nueve: A Photo Exhibit and Advocacy Concert.”
The budding photographers and visual storytellers journeyed into the hinterlands to capture the beauty of the mountain ranges of Mt Kalatungan and Mt Kitanglad, and to engross in the local culture of the lumads. Harboring diverse species of flora and fauna, the “Twin Giants” of Bukidnon have long faced environmental threats such as illegal logging, economic pressures and the hunting of endangered species.
Despite the heavy rains, the students managed to capture riveting photographs of the landscapes of the different sitios of Miarayon, its people and their community issues.
BLISSFUL SOUL. Farmworkers endure the heat of the sun with their blissful smiles renouncing the calmness of country life.
As part of their immersion, the DevCom students facilitated a photo exhibit and writing workshop for the students of St Therese High School of Miarayon. In turn, the high school students performed a traditional Talaandig courtship dance.
The cultural immersion was in partnership with the Kristohanang Katillingban sa Pagpakabana - Social Involvement Office (KKP-SIO) through the Collaborative Service Learning Program.
Students were able to process their personal experiences, discoveries and insights about the indigenous community.
For these students, it was a long trudge to discover the magnificence of Miarayon, as in the poem “The Charm of Miarayon” by Stephen Pedroza published in the We Are All Connected poetry book of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in celebration of the International Youth Day 2015:
This place, they say, is Miarayon,
A humble abode of an indigenous group,
Happy and amicable with unpolluted smiles.
They welcome you as family,
Like an engorging constellation to a familiar star.
Miarayon — a vast painting by the gods, cradled by giants;
Where the lumad people attach their lives to the forest selflessly;
Where their Supreme Magbabaya and the spirits lurk and live ceaselessly;
Where the aroma of its coffee governs its cordial mornings;
This poem by Pedroza, also an XU DevCom alumnus, will be displayed at the entrance of Lansad Nueve.
Now on its 9th run, the said photo exhibit is organized by DevCom students taking up Photography in Development under the guidance of instructor Jett Torres and professor Evans Yonson (also the XU Press director).
DISTINCT CULTURE. Students of St Therese High School of Miarayon perform the traditional Talaandig courtship dance during the cultural presentation with the DevCom students.
This year’s theme “Miarayon: Transcending Life in Natural Light” will showcase photographs and stories of the rich culture of the people of Miarayon, the environmental and economic issues engulfing the area, and its high prospect for eco-tourism.
The exhibit has the goal of bringing attention and conversation to the entwining challenges facing the interconnected highland communities and low-lying areas in Northern Mindanao.
The exhibit opens with a reception on Monday, Sept 21 and continues through Sept 24 at Centrio - Ayala Mall.
Besides the exhibit, there will be an advocacy concert which will feature original song compositions on peace, governance and environmental protection by the students.
PORTRAIT OF LEARNING. Junior DevCom student Jeffrey Robles writes down his reflection during the evening processing session as synthesis for his personal experiences, discoveries and insights about the indigenous community.