Community and Study Background
The Mansaka People

An Indigenous community associated with Davao de Oro and neighboring areas

The study discusses the Mansaka people in the mountainous areas of Davao de Oro. It focused on community members in Maco and Mabini and examined their beliefs about nature, spiritual life, environmental action, and the pressures affecting the natural world (Marquez & Gallardo, 2024) .

Rather than treating culture as separate from the environment, the study describes relationships among community life, belief, natural places, livelihood, and responsibility.

Study locations Maco and Mabini, Davao de Oro
Participants 11 Mansaka key respondents
Research approach Qualitative inquiry
Methods Interviews, observation, and secondary-source review
The findings reflect the study’s respondents and research setting. They should not be generalized to every Mansaka community or individual.
Belief System and Nature

Nature understood through gift, relationship, and responsibility

The study reports that respondents described themselves as interconnected with nature, the divine, and spiritual forces. Community practices and rituals were presented as expressions of respect for the natural world (Marquez & Gallardo, 2024) .

Nature as a Gift

The article describes nature as a gift associated with Magbabaya and as a source of life, food, livelihood, and community continuity.

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Natural Places and Spiritual Meaning

Trees, rivers, mountains, land, and other natural places were discussed in relation to spiritual presence, respect, and community responsibility.

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Ritual and Community Life

The study discusses ritual practices and spiritual beliefs as part of how respondents understood their relationship with nature and their responsibilities within the community.

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Environmental Participation

Conservation practices and environmental pressures

The authors documented actions supporting environmental protection as well as activities associated with environmental degradation. The study emphasizes that responsibility should not be assigned uniformly to all Mansaka people (Marquez & Gallardo, 2024) .

Practices supporting conservation

  • Tree planting and reforestation
  • Community waste-management practices
  • Keeping rivers and surrounding areas clean
  • Restricting or questioning mining activities
  • Avoiding chemical-based fertilizers
  • Continuing environmental education

Environmental pressures and contradictions

  • The study identifies illegal logging as a source of environmental loss.
  • Small-scale mining is also discussed as an environmentally damaging activity.
  • Economic pressure and modernization may influence individual choices.
  • Cultural values can support protection, but practices are not always uniform.
  • The article cautions against blaming the Mansaka community as a whole.
Source and Citation

The Mansaka People, Their Belief-System on Nature, and Their Environmental Participation in Davao de Oro, Philippines

Marquez, N., & Gallardo, R. (2024). The Mansaka people, their belief-system on nature, and their environmental participation in Davao de Oro, Philippines. Social Science and Humanities Journal, 8 (4), 34941–34953. DOI: 10.18535/sshj.v8i04.1003

Article Page Full-Text PDF

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