i-dig-genius rights

Coron Islands- a sunny paradise with a World War 2 wreck, stunning limestone cliffs and fresh/ salt water lakes. Every year it attracts lovebirds, scuba divers, gappy's. Equipped with GoPros, diving equipment, and snorkels. Tourism is the main industry for the locals. The local economy relies on agriculture, fisheries, and the cash crops of rice, corn, and coconut. The Tagbanwa tribe, stand out.

Tagbanwa tribe member working at her convenience store.

Research suggests that the Tagbanwa tribe is possibly descended from the Tabon Man, a 16,500-year-old human skeleton discovered in a cave in Palawan, making this tribe one of the oldest in the Philippines. Under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act 1997, they are recognised as the private owners of Coron Island. They are the Guardians of the Coron galaxy as recognised under their CADT (Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title) over 22,000 hectares of land. As of 2010, their CADT has been extended to 55,000 hectares of land. At the tourist hotspots Kayangan Lake, Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon, Twin Peaks, Gutawa Islet visitation fees ranging between 150- 300 peso are charged to tourists- a source of income for Calamian Tagbanua tribe to help with the upkeep of their ancestral domains.

A Tagbanwa tribe member selling coconuts.

Important sources of economic output for the tribe include the cultivation of rice, sweet potatoes, corn, and cassava in kaingin fields, harvesting coconuts, selling their traditional food known as Silipeten (forage food). This includes root crops like kurut and kapari, and a myriad of seafood, including seaweeds and sea shells. Taking advantage of the rich marine biodiversity of their ancestral land, tribe member in coastal areas of Palawan fish and barter their catch for goods from inland. They also gather forest products such as gum, rattan and honey to exchange at local markets. Not just skilled farmers and fisherfolk, the Tagbanwa are also talented crafters in handicrafts, such as woodcarving, mat-making and basketry.

Giving indigenous people, skin in the game provides sustainable, community based tourism management, whilst maintaining tribal sovereignty. Convenience stores are stationed at the entrances to Barracuda and Kayandan Lake providing the local tour guides and tourists with the food/drinks and the tribe with income.  Having a coffee with one of the tribe members in his bamboo stilt hut built over the water's edge (with my tour guide kindly translating) he told me that he found some birds nests to take into town. The Tagbanwa have diversified, their edible birds nests are delivered into town via their polystyrene water floats and are a major source of income for them. Not just stewards of the rich marine life and beautiful natural landscape but also active economic agents in the local economy. It's the best of both worlds.

Local tour guides queuing to buy refreshments from the Tagbanwa-run store.

Photographed and written by Parsiah.