In this piece, artist and musician Erlow Talatala retells the folklore about the Sakub, Bukidnon tribe’s historical landmark near Malaybalay’s Sawaga River. He draws this retelling from listening to Arturo Melendez Datu Muayon-ayon and the late local historian Ludie R. Opeña.
Once upon a time there was a man named Manlanot (bulawan sa hiruga-an yo!). His name was derived from the word “lanot” which basically means Abaca rope—-what he had been using as a belt to fix his scabbard or sheath. One time, while fixing his belt he accidentally dropped his scabbard to the river and in trying to save it he dived to the water and never surfaced ever again. The family tried to look for him to no avail.
Since then they called the place Sakub in memory of Manlanot who sacrificed his life to be the “Alambiton” or watcher of the place, together with Apo Manalumpo and Apo Makatuwag.
As the time goes by, some of the people who have special needs for any occasion came to Sakub, put up a Bangkasu (bamboo altar) offering 3 silver coins, 3 eggs, and an Apog. For whatever reason their wishes were granted the following day and thus eventually made Sakub a Sambayan, a place where you can ask anything to borrow and use, especially during important occasion such as wedding among others. (These include wedding dress, utensils, etc.)
The people then established a Pamugwakan (wishing well), thus, it became a Talangdanen (sacred place) where even just mere washing of dirty clothes was not allowed. It is also where Malaybalay derived its original name, Salebseb, a native name for a spring whose fresh waters came from an underground water bed source.
The “Panendan Ta Sakub” is celebrated every first New Moon of the year as an expression of respect and thanksgiving to Magbabaya for the blessings and protection of the previous year. It is also a commemoration of the historic landmark and sacred site of the descendants of Datu Mansikyabo (Moreno) and Datu Mampaalong (Melendez), the traditional clans of Malaybalay belonging to the Bukidnon/Tagoluwanen tribe as pre-colonial inhabitants of Malaybalay. Being called as “Bukidnons” is the equivalent term of “monteses” or “mountain people.”
This year’s “Panendan Ta Sakub” will be this coming Wednesday, the 29th of January 2025, 6:00 a.m. Kita-kits mga Suled, buligan kay hu Magbabaya! (See you and may God protect everyone of you!)
Erlow Talatala is an artist and musician based in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. Before pursuing the arts, he had worked for 20 years as a banker.
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