Communal Ranch - Bukidnon
The Pastoral Heart of Mindanao: Bukidnon's Communal Ranch as a Nexus of History, Ecology, and Cultural Futurity
A Landscape of Grandeur and Contradiction
Nestled in the undulating highlands of North-Central Mindanao, the Province of Bukidnon presents a tableau of arresting contrasts. It is a land where the geometric precision of vast, corporate-owned pineapple and sugarcane plantations collides with the primordial chaos of mist-shrouded rainforests, and where the brisk, cool air carries the simultaneous whispers of ancient animist spirits and the bustling commerce of a modern agricultural powerhouse. Within this complex tapestry, one particular landscape emerges not merely as a geographical feature, but as a profound cultural and ecological statement: the Bukidnon Communal Ranch. Encompassing approximately 22.000 hectares of sprawling, predominantly open grasslands in the municipalities of Valencia and San Carlos. The Ranch is a terrain that defies simple categorization. To the casual observer, it is a spectacle of raw, natural beauty, a seemingly endless sea of cogon and talahib grass that swells and recedes over hills and valleys, all set against the dramatic, often cloud-veiled backdrop of the Mount Kitanglad Range. However, to perceive it solely through an aesthetic lens is to overlook its deeper significance. The Bukidnon Communal Ranch is, in reality, a palimpsest. Its grasslands are a living document upon which layers of history, ambitious national policy, contested land use, resilient indigenous culture and critical biodiversity have been inscribed. This article posits the Communal Ranch as a vital nexus: a place where the past, present and future of Bukidnon converge, offering invaluable lessons on sustainable development, cultural preservation and ecological stewardship for the Philippines and beyond. It is a landscape of immense potential, a crucible where the challenges of the 21st century are being met with the enduring wisdom of the land and its people.
Historical Foundations: From Colonial Enclosure to Communal Aspiration
The history of the Bukidnon Communal Ranch is inextricably linked to the broader historical currents that have shaped Mindanao. To understand its present, one must first delve into the forces that sculpted its past, a narrative that begins not in the 1980s with its formal establishment, but in the colonial enterprises of the preceding centuries.
The Pre-Colonial and Spanish Period: The Seeds of Transformation
Prior to significant colonial contact, the area now known as Bukidnon was the domain of the Lumad, a collective term for the indigenous non-Muslim peoples of Mindanao. The specific groups inhabiting these highlands, including the Bukidnon, Higaonon and Talaandig, practiced a form of life deeply rooted in kaingin (shifting cultivation) and hunter-gatherer traditions. Their relationship with the land was not one of ownership in a Western, proprietary sense but of stewardship and usufruct. The vast grasslands, known as boloben or katalunan in the local Binukid language, were likely already present, maintained by natural fires and the grazing of endemic herbivores like the Philippine brown deer (Rusa marianna) and the wild pig (Sus philippensis). These open areas were integral to the ecosystem and the indigenous economic cycle, providing hunting grounds, sources of medicinal plants, and thatching materials.
The Spanish colonial period, while its direct administrative control over the interior highlands was tenuous at best, initiated a critical shift. The introduction of the hacienda system in more accessible lowland areas and the policy of reduccion (resettlement) began to alter demographic and land-use patterns. More significantly, the Spanish brought with them cattle, the first precursors to the herds that would later define the Ranch. These animals, along with horses, began to naturalize and multiply in the open grasslands, gradually altering the vegetative structure and becoming a new resource for the local populations. The Spanish era, therefore, did not create the Ranch, but it planted the biological and conceptual seeds for a pastoral economy.
The American Period and the Ideology of "Improvement"
The advent of American colonial rule in the early 20th century marked a pivotal juncture. The Americans brought with them a powerful and transformative ideology: the belief in the "improvement" of "idle" or "waste" lands through scientific management and commercial agriculture. This worldview, championed by figures like Dean C. Worcester, a member of the Philippine Commission, directly pathologized the extensive grasslands of Mindanao. Where the Lumad saw a functional and productive ecosystem, American colonial administrators saw untapped economic potential and a solution to agrarian unrest in the north through state-sponsored resettlement.
This period saw the formal enclosure of vast tracts of land. The passage of land laws, while ostensibly aimed at creating a class of smallholder farmers, often had the effect of disenfranchising indigenous communities whose claims were based on customary law rather than written titles. Large portions of what would become the Communal Ranch were likely categorized as public land, setting the stage for future state-led development projects. The American period also intensified the cattle industry, introducing new breeds and veterinary sciences, further cementing the association between these grasslands and livestock production. The conceptual framework for a large-scale, managed pasture was firmly established under American colonial policy, which viewed the landscape through a utilitarian and economic lens that would heavily influence future Philippine governments.
The Marcos Era and the Formal Inception of the Communal Ranch
The formal establishment of the Bukidnon Communal Ranch in the 1980s was a product of the technocratic and authoritarian vision of President Ferdinand E. Marcos. It was a cornerstone project of the National Livestock Production Program, an ambitious, nationwide initiative designed to achieve self-sufficiency in meat production and modernize the Philippine countryside. The model was explicitly communal, drawing inspiration from collective farming models seen in other parts of the world. The vision was grand: to consolidate what were perceived as fragmented and inefficient smallholdings into a single, vast, scientifically managed production unit.
The stated objectives were multifaceted:
Economic Empowerment: To provide a stable and productive land base for landless farmers and indigenous communities, allowing them to pool resources, share breeding stock, and benefit from economies of scale.
Food Security: To position Bukidnon as the nation's "beef basket," supplying a significant portion of the country's livestock needs.
Sociopolitical Engineering: To settle nomadic or semi-nomadic indigenous groups, integrating them into the market economy and, not coincidentally, bringing them under greater state control—a common objective during a period of insurgency and land conflict.
The implementation, however, was fraught with the complexities of top-down planning. The land was declared public domain, but this declaration often overlooked or marginalized the ancestral claims of the Lumad, for whom the area was not "idle" but a vital part of their cultural and subsistence landscape. The initial management structure, intended to be democratic and communal, frequently clashed with pre-existing social hierarchies, local political dynasties, and the practical challenges of managing a resource of such immense scale. The Ranch became a site of contestation, a space where the lofty ideals of national policy collided with the gritty realities of local power, historical grievance, and ecological limitation. The overgrazing of certain areas became apparent early on, demonstrating a tension between immediate economic imperatives and long-term environmental sustainability.
The Ethnographic Tapestry: Indigenous Cultures in a Changing Landscape
The story of the Communal Ranch is incomplete without centering the indigenous peoples for whom this land is not a project, but a home. The Ranch exists within the ancestral domain of several Lumad groups, primarily the Bukidnon, Higaonon and Talaandig. Their cultural and spiritual worldview offers a fundamentally different way of understanding and valuing this landscape.
The Lumad Cosmology: Land as a Sentient Relative
For the Lumad, the land is animate, imbued with spirit or gimokod. The forests, rivers, rocks, and even the grasslands are inhabited by a pantheon of deities and nature spirits. The central figure is often Magbabaya, the supreme creator god, but daily life is mediated through a relationship with lower spirits, such as the bulalakaw (spirits of the water) and the tagabulo (spirits of the forest). The vastness of the Ranch is not an empty space; it is a spiritual geography. Specific hills, lone trees standing sentinel on a ridge, and hidden springs are often considered sacred sites (palahikan), places of ritual and communication with the spirit world.
The traditional spiritual leaders, the baylan (shaman, often female) or datu, play a crucial role as intermediaries. They perform rituals to seek permission before hunting, planting, or entering a sacred grove. Offerings of betel nut, tobacco, and chicken are made to appease the spirits and ensure balance. This worldview fosters a relationship of reciprocity and respect with the environment. One does not simply extract from the land; one engages with it, thanks it, and seeks to maintain harmony. The concept of "owning" the land in a exclusive sense is alien; rather, the people belong to the land, and they are its stewards for future generations.
Clash and Adaptation: The Impact of the Ranch Project
The establishment of the Communal Ranch represented a profound cultural shock. The state's model of land as a commodity for economic production stood in direct opposition to the Lumad understanding of land as a sacred, communal heritage. The fencing of areas, the introduction of formal, state-sanctioned governance structures, and the focus on a monoculture of cattle grazing disrupted traditional patterns of land use, social organization, and spiritual practice.
In response, the Lumad communities demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability. Some embraced the new economic model, becoming skilled magbabaka (cowboys), integrating cattle into their livelihoods while still maintaining their cultural identity. The figure of the Lumad cowboy on his hardy pony is a powerful symbol of this synthesis—a fusion of indigenous horsemanship with a introduced pastoral economy. Others, however resisted, asserting their ancestral domain claims through legal means and grassroots organizing. The Ranch became a battleground for indigenous rights, a struggle that continues to this day under the framework of the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997, which legally recognizes ancestral domain claims.
Contemporary Expressions and Cultural Preservation
Despite these pressures, Lumad culture remains vibrantly alive in and around the Ranch. Traditional crafts, such as the weaving of intricate binuod (beaded accessories) and the creation of pinili (hand-woven cloth), continue, often incorporating motifs inspired by the grassland environment. Oral traditions, including the epic ulagging and olaging, are still performed by master chanters, their stories echoing the deep historical connection to the land. The annual Kaamulan Festival in the provincial capital of Malaybalay provides a more public, though somewhat commercialized, platform for the celebration of these diverse indigenous cultures.
The future of the Communal Ranch is inextricably tied to the fate of its indigenous peoples. Any sustainable management plan must be co-created with them, recognizing their rights as original inhabitants and valuing their traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). Their understanding of local flora and fauna, fire management, and watershed protection holds the key to developing truly sustainable models for the Ranch's future.
Ecological Portrait: The Hidden Biodiversity of a "Simple" Grassland
The casual characterization of the Communal Ranch as a "sea of grass" is a profound ecological misapprehension. While dominated by pioneer species like Imperata cylindrica (cogon grass) and Saccharum spontaneum (talahib), the Ranch is a dynamic and complex ecosystem that supports a surprising and critically important web of life. It functions not as a monoculture, but as a mosaic of interconnected habitats.
Flora: Beyond the Cogon
The grassland ecosystem is a successional stage. Left undisturbed and protected from fire and grazing pressure, it would slowly give way to shrubland and eventually to forest. Its current state is maintained by a combination of anthropogenic burning (to promote fresh growth for grazing), natural fires, and herbivory. Yet, within this grass matrix exists a rich diversity of plant life. Numerous species of herbs and forbs flower seasonally, creating a stunning, if ephemeral, wildflower display. These include various orchids, ground orchids, and native sunflower relatives. Leguminous plants, which fix nitrogen in the soil, play a vital role in maintaining soil fertility.
The edges of the grasslands, where they meet remnant forest patches or riparian zones along streams, are particularly rich in biodiversity. Here, one finds a greater diversity of tree species, ferns, and mosses. These forest patches are crucial as seed banks and wildlife corridors, connecting the Ranch to the larger Kitanglad Range. The Ranch's flora also holds ethnobotanical significance. The Lumad utilize numerous grassland plants for medicine (tawa-tawa for dengue, various herbs for fevers and wounds), for crafting (the strong fibers of certain grasses for rope and weaving), and for food (wild berries and tubers).
Fauna: Sanctuary for Threatened Species
The Ranch's true ecological value becomes most apparent when one considers its fauna. It serves as a critical sanctuary for several threatened and endemic species, functioning as a de facto wildlife reserve.
Avifauna: The open skies are the domain of raptors. The Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus), with its stunning chestnut and white plumage, is a common sight, soaring on thermal currents. The more elusive Philippine Serpent Eagle (Spilornis holospilus) and the Grass Owl (Tyto capensis) also hunt these grasslands. The area is a vital stopover and foraging ground for migratory birds, making it a site of international importance for avian conservation.
Mammals: The most iconic mammal of the Ranch is the Philippine Brown Deer (Rusa marianna), classified as Vulnerable. The open grasslands provide ideal grazing for these deer and the presence of forest fragments offers them cover. The Ranch supports one of the most significant populations of this species in Mindanao. Other mammals include the Philippine Warty Pig (Sus philippensis), various species of fruit bats crucial for pollination and seed dispersal and a diversity of small mammals like field mice and shrews that form the base of the food chain.
Herpetofauna and Invertebrates: The less-charismatic but equally important residents include a variety of frogs, skinks and snakes adapted to the grassland environment. The invertebrate life is staggering in its diversity from countless species of butterflies and moths to beetles, ants and grasshoppers. These organisms are essential for pollination, nutrient cycling and as a food source for larger animals.
The Watershed Function: The Source of Life
Perhaps the most underappreciated ecological service provided by the Ranch is its function as a major watershed. The grasslands and the underlying soil act as a giant sponge, absorbing rainfall and releasing it slowly into numerous springs and streams. These waterways feed into larger river systems, such as the Pulangi River which is a major tributary of the Mindanao River. The health of the Ranch's vegetation cover is directly linked to the quantity and quality of water available for agricultural, industrial, and domestic use for millions of people downstream. Soil erosion, caused by overgrazing or unsustainable land conversion, would have catastrophic consequences, leading to siltation of rivers, reduced water quality, and increased flooding. The preservation of the Ranch is, therefore, not a local issue but a regional imperative for water security.
The Hiking Experience: A Transect Through Time and Space
To hike across the Communal Ranch is to undertake a journey that is as much introspective as it is physical. It is a transect that cuts across layers of history, ecology and human aspiration. There are no paved trails or signposts; the landscape itself is the guide and the journey is one of immersion and interpretation.
Preparation and Approach: Reading the Landscape
A successful hike begins with preparation and an understanding of the landscape's language. The journey typically starts from Barangay Lilingayon in Valencia. The transition from the intensive agriculture of the lowlands to the open expanse of the Ranch is abrupt and dramatic. The first step onto the grassland is a sensory re-calibration. The air smells different: a mix of dry grass, earth, and distant rain. The soundscape shifts from the hum of machinery to the dominant voice of the wind, a constant, whispering presence that sculpts the grass into rippling waves.
The hiker immediately becomes aware of the scale. Distances are deceptive. A hill that appears a short walk away may take an hour to reach. This demands a shift in pace and perception. The hike is not a race but a meditation. One learns to read the micro-topography: the subtle animal trails worn by deer and cattle, the different grass species indicating soil moisture, the presence of certain birds signaling proximity to water.
Ascending the Rolls: An Ecological and Historical Unfolding
As one ascends the first major roll of land, the panoramic view begins to unfold. Each crest offers a new perspective, a new arrangement of light and shadow as clouds drift across the sun. This is where the historical layers become palpable. One can imagine the pre-colonial hunter tracking deer through these same grasses, the Spanish mestizo searching for stray cattle, the American forester mapping the "waste lands," and the 1980s government planner envisioning a modern utopia. The land bears the weight of all these visions.
The hike becomes an exercise in spotting ecological details. A flash of chestnut might reveal a deer, a sudden flurry of small birds might indicate the presence of a predator. The careful observer will note the difference between heavily grazed areas, where the grass is cropped short and soil is exposed, and less-disturbed patches where the ecosystem shows greater diversity and resilience. The lone trees, often ancient and gnarled narra (Pterocarpus indicus) or mahogany (an introduced species), serve as focal points. They are landmarks for wayfinding, provide scant shade for a respite, and are often considered sacred by the local communities, reminding the hiker of the spiritual dimension of this landscape.
The Summit and the Return: Reflections on Impermanence and Balance
Reaching a high point, perhaps one with a commanding view of the Mount Kitanglad Range, is the culmination of the physical journey. The vista is humbling. The ordered world of human settlement seems distant and small against the vast, untamed geometry of nature. This is a place for quiet contemplation on the themes of impermanence and balance. The grasslands are a fire-climax community, a testament to destruction and regeneration. The history of the Ranch is one of conflicting human desires. The indigenous worldview speaks of harmony, while modern economics often speaks of extraction.
The return journey is often undertaken in the late afternoon, during the "golden hour." The low-angle sunlight sets the entire landscape aflame in shades of gold and orange, deepening the shadows in the valleys and highlighting the textures of the land. It is a poignant, beautiful sight that reinforces the fragility and preciousness of this place. The descent is a return to the human world, but the hiker carries back not just photographs, but a deepened understanding of the intricate and often fraught relationships that define this unique Philippine landscape.
The Future Imperative: Weaving a Sustainable Tapestry for Generations to Come
The Bukidnon Communal Ranch stands at a crossroads. The challenges it faces—land tenure conflicts, overgrazing, cultural marginalization and the looming threat of climate change, are significant. Yet, its potential as a model for sustainable and inclusive land management is immense. The future of the Ranch must be guided by a holistic vision that integrates ecological integrity, cultural justice, and economic viability for the benefit of future generations.
An Ecological Vision: From Livestock Ranch to Mixed-Use Landscape
The mono-functional model of the Ranch as primarily a cattle-grazing area must evolve. A future-focused model would embrace its multiple functions:
Managed Silvopasture: Integrating native, nitrogen-fixing trees into the pastures can improve soil health, provide shade and shelter for livestock, enhance carbon sequestration, and create habitats for wildlife. This moves beyond open grazing towards a more resilient and productive agroforestry system.
Core Conservation Zones: Critical areas, particularly steep slopes, riparian zones, and remaining forest fragments, should be designated as strict conservation zones. These areas are vital for watershed protection, biodiversity conservation, and as genetic reservoirs. Reforestation with native species in these zones should be a priority.
Controlled Burning and Rotational Grazing: Applying scientific principles to fire management and grazing patterns, potentially drawing on indigenous knowledge, can prevent destructive wildfires, promote the growth of more palatable and nutritious grasses, and prevent soil degradation.
A Cultural and Economic Vision: Equity and Ecotourism
The legal recognition and protection of Ancestral Domain Claims within the Ranch area are a non-negotiable foundation for justice and sustainability. The indigenous peoples must be recognized as primary partners and stewards.
Community-Based Ecotourism: The Ranch's stunning beauty and unique cultural heritage make it an ideal candidate for high-value, low-impact ecotourism. This must be community-led and designed. Trained local guides from the Lumad communities could offer hiking tours that are not just recreational but educational, interpreting the landscape's ecology, history, and cultural significance. Homestays and the sale of authentic crafts could provide alternative livelihoods, reducing pressure on the land from grazing alone.
Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES): Given the Ranch's critical role as a watershed, mechanisms could be developed where downstream water users (municipalities, irrigation associations, bottling plants) contribute financially to its conservation. These funds could be managed by a multi-stakeholder trust fund to support conservation activities and provide benefits to the local communities, effectively valuing the water-regulation service the Ranch provides.
An Institutional Vision: Collaborative Governance
The top-down management model of the past has proven inadequate. The future requires a collaborative governance structure that includes representation from the National Government (Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources), the Local Government Units of Bukidnon, and, most critically, the legitimate leaders and representatives of the Lumad communities and local farmer associations. This body would be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive management plan that balances the various, sometimes competing, interests in a transparent and equitable manner.
The Ranch as a Microcosm of the Philippine Future
The Bukidnon Communal Ranch is more than a picturesque destination. It is a microcosm of the Philippines itself. It encapsulates the nation's struggle with its colonial past, its quest for sustainable development, its rich cultural diversity and its profound environmental challenges. The rolling hills are not just a physical feature. They are a narrative terrain telling a story of dreams imposed and dreams lived, of conflict and resilience, of loss and enduring beauty.
The choices made today regarding the Ranch will resonate for generations. Will it become a degraded landscape, a testament to short-sighted planning and unresolved conflict? Or will it evolve into a shining example of how a nation can honor its cultural heritage, protect its ecological wealth, and build a sustainable economic future? The path forward is not easy, but it is clear. It requires listening to the wind that whispers through the cogon grass, for it carries the voices of the ancestors and the hopes of the children yet unborn. It requires recognizing that the true value of this vast, whispering heart of Bukidnon lies not in the cattle it can feed, but in the lessons it can teach about living in balance on this land we all share. The future of the Communal Ranch is, in many ways, the future of the Philippines and its stewardship is a responsibility of national importance.
