HERITAGE also shows how a community adapts. In Barangay Santiago, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, which sits within the watershed of the Tanaon, Amusig, and Guihean rivers, members of the Higaonon tribe have built a livelihood from bamboo. Through KaBAMBOOhayan, a
project of Aboitiz Renewables and Aboitiz Foundation, they trained with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to become certified bamboo nursery operators. As members of the Santiago Diversified Farmers Association, they now produce around 3,000 bamboo slats a week.
For Noemie Buclasan, a mother of three and a beneficiary of KaBAMBOOhayan Project, the change is in the rhythm of the week. “Before, we really struggled. The income from corn farming was barely enough for our daily needs. Now, through the cooperative, we have steady earnings every week,” she said.
The support starts from what people already know. “Indigenous communities carry traditions and knowledge that continue to shape their identity across generations. By supporting initiatives that build on these existing practices, we can help create livelihood opportunities while allowing communities to continue sharing and passing on their cultural heritage,” said Noreen Vicencio, First Vice President and General Manager for Hydro Operations at Aboitiz Renewables.
As the country marks Indigenous Peoples Month, the bamboo growers of Barangay Santiago show that heritage lives through the people who practice, protect, and pass on their knowledge. Like the rivers that flow down from these mountains, it keeps moving.
