Bukidnon

BUKIDNON MY HOME

Wherever I may roam
the distant land to see
I long to go back soon
to sweet Bukidnon home.

Her lovely mountains high
her forest old and grand
bring memories to me
the home I long to see.

There my heart, yearns to be
in far away, Bukidnon land
under its blue starry skies
where love and joy never die
__________________

The Land
The greater part of Bukidnon is a gently-rolling plateau cut by deep and wide canyons of the Cagayan, Polangui and Tagoloan rivers and their tributaries. At Mailag, south of the capital, the plateau begins to descend and gradually merges and eastern borders are lofty and densely-forested mountains, including Mt. Kitanglad at 2350 meter, a dormant volcano, Mt Kalatungan at 2187 meters and Mt. Tankulan at 1678 meters.

The province´average elevation of more than 1000 meter gives a pleasently cool climate. the mountains shield it from the eastern monsoon.

A Brief History

Before the Spaniards colonized Misamis, settlers from the Visayas had already established themselves there. As the migrants kept coming, the tribes who orginally inhabited the area were driven inland toward the rugged and mountainous territory. They were eventually called Bukidnons, meaning "people of the mountains", from which the place derived its name.

Bukidnon became a municipality of Misamis in 1850 and remained as such until 1907 when it was made a subprovince of the newly created Agusan province. When the department of Mindanao and Sulu was created in 1914, Bukidnon itself became a separate province.

After World War II, the area was opened up to settlers from the Visayas and Luzon. Those who came primarily were from Cebu, Panay Island, and the Ilocos Region.

The People

The province is an ethnic melting pot with Visayan, Tagalog and Ilocano migrants. Despite a diversity of cultures, the people have adopted Cebuano as their language, supplemented by the native dialect called Binukid.

The antives are mainly Bukidnons who occupy the lowlands of the plateau while the Manobos are in higlands. Bukidnon settlements are clusters of households under their own datu. They engage in kaingin farming, basket-weaving and pottery. The women wear colorful blouses with wide, flared sleeves, skirts of red and white cloth sewn together, and shawls embroidered in red.

Some of the numerous indigenous tribes derive their name from their place or origin: the Tigwahanon after the Tigwa watersheed, the Umayamnon after the Umayan River, the Pulangiyon after the Pulangi Rivera and the Matigsalug after the Salug River.

The Ilianon and Langilaon were named after the border areas they occupy. The Tala-anding, named after a myth, are distinguished by the elaborate fan-like headgear their women wear during festivals

Commerce and Industy

Bukidnon has very fertile soil; the main crops are corn, rice, coffee and bananas. It is the number one producer of corn and the second top producer of palay in the region. Del Monte has a vast pinapple plantation in the north. In the south, a sugar mill is in Paitan, Quezon town and abaca is grown for export.

The extensive forests yield timber, rattan, and some medicinal trees, like the cinchona which is a source of quinine for treating malaria.

Getting There and Away

From Cagayan de Oro, there are buses going to Davao and return, who passing the Bukidnon province

Attractions

The Del Monte Pinapple Plantation, with an area of 90 sq km, is one of the largest in the world. Here on can see vast tracts of land at different stages of crop production: while some are readied for planting, others have ripe fruits for harvesting. Work in the fields goes on 24 hours a day. The focal pint is a modern community in Camp Philips in Manolo fortich town on the road from Cagayan de Oro to Malaybalay. There is a clubhouse and a golf course within the plantation.

Mangima Canyon in Manolo Fortich has a zigzag road winding up and down the wide and deep canyon.

Just before reaching the next town of Impasugong on the national higway, a road branches southwest to Sumilao with several natural attractions: hanging ladders ascend a cliff wall of Mt. Palaspas to the multi-chambered Paiyak Cave, an ancient native burial site; Alalum Falls with a cool spring at its base - and Mt. Kitanglad, a mountain climber´s haven and sanctuary for wild plants and animals, including the monkey-eating eagle.

Pines View Park, at the back of the Provincial Capitol in Malaybalay, is a natural park that abounds in pine trees and is a favorite camping site. Also in Malaybalay at Barangay Bangcud are Matin-ao Spring, a popular picnic spot, and Nasuli Spring, with a depth ideal for diving. Casa Alegre is a house borne on the shoulders of concrete humans amidst a concrete zoo in Cabugahan, Malaybalay.

South of Malaybalay is Valencia with Napalit Lake and the Central Mindanao University, a world Bank-subsidized agricultural school located between this town and Maramag. The school is in the shadow of Musuan Peak.

In Maranay is Matunog swimming pool, antoher popular picnic spot. South of it in Don Carlos Pinamaloy Lake with a resthouse beside it.

The Kaamulan Festival is a three-day gathering of Bukidnon´s various tribes in Pines View Park, Malaybalay, on the first week of September. It aims to foster unity among the tribes and understanding between them and the lowlanders. Ethnic groups trek down from their mountain villages in colorful costumes and spectacular headdresses to join in the singing and dancing, compete in indigenous sports, and perform traditional rituals. Among its highlights are a parade of the tribes followed by the Pamalas: a cleansing and purification ceromony. And Alusod: the offering of native wine and food to visitors.