A significant step toward preserving Higaonon heritage was taken today as the Barangay Captain of Besigan, Samuel Minister (Datu Kota), together with Roger Edgardo Butlig (Datu Magagaw), Head of the Higaonon Council, held a coordination meeting for the documentation of Higaonon Cultural Dance, Epics, and Language in Cagayan de Oro. This community-led initiative, rooted in the vision of Barangay Besigan, marks a milestone in safeguarding indigenous knowledge for future generations. Through the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Higaonon Community Limbobongan, City College of Cagayan de Oro has been entrusted by Barangay Besigan to serve as a partner in this meaningful cultural preservation work.
The meeting was spearheaded by City College’s cultural leaders: Dr. Montano Tapanan Jr., Director for Culture and Performing Arts; Professor Charlie Job Sumili, Director for Languages, Literature and Indigenous Studies; and Professor Charlie Cosmiano, IP Culture Coordinator. Joining and actively guiding the coordination was Bai Rose Undang of CSWD, IP Focal Person, whose dedication to Indigenous Peoples’ welfare and cultural rights helped strengthen the alignment between the community, local government, and academic partners. Together, they mapped out plans for systematic documentation — from recording traditional dances and oral epics, to compiling and revitalizing the Higaonon language, ensuring every step honors community protocols and respects elders as knowledge keepers.
This collaboration embodies what true cultural preservation looks like: community initiative, academic support, and government partnership working hand in hand. By documenting these living traditions now, Barangay Besigan, the Higaonon Council, and CSWD are ensuring that the stories, songs, and language of their ancestors will not be forgotten, but celebrated, taught, and carried forward by the next generation. City College of Cagayan de Oro is honored and privileged to walk alongside the community in this journey of memory, identity, and pride.
