This study examines the linguistic and cultural practices of the Higaonon community in Claveria, Misamis Oriental, with a particular focus on how traditional knowledge, oral narratives, and indigenous communication systems contribute to food sustainability and cultural preservation. Anchored in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Theory and Cultural Theory from the Cultural Studies tradition, the research explores how meaning, identity, and ecological wisdom are constructed and transmitted through ritual, language, and everyday communal practices. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study draws on data from 96 respondents, analyzing demographic variables such as age distribution, gender roles, educational attainment, and socio-economic status. Findings reveal a predominantly youthful population with clearly defined gendered communication roles: men typically engage in ritual-based knowledge sharing within farming contexts, while women play central roles in household food security through family-centered and community discourse. Oral storytelling, chants, indigenous languages, and ritual expressions function as key vehicles for passing down ecological knowledge, farming techniques, and cultural values. The study also reveals that traditional food systems—based on staple crops like corn, rice, and root vegetables—are deeply rooted in ancestral wisdom. These are sustained through intergenerational learning, particularly in communal gardens and food forests, which serve not only as sources of nutrition but also as culturally significant spaces for education and identity formation. The research highlights the need to integrate indigenous communication practices into contemporary development and educational strategies. Key recommendations include incorporating indigenous languages and oral traditions into school curricula, strengthening legal protections for cultural and land rights, and promoting community-authored narratives in local and national policy development.

Authors:
Nueva Salaan, University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines, Philippines
Isabelita Bodbod, University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines, Philippines

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Nueva D. Salaan is currently an Associate Professor V in Language and Communication at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines-Claveria, handling a communicative class called Job Enabling English Proficiency subject.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

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