Tungtungan and Lupon: crossing paths to maintain peace Bokod.

The community of Daklan, Bokod, Benguet has successfully webbed their indigenous conflict-resolution system into the dominant national sociopolitical system.

According to Ben Sinas, a member of the Lupong Barangay, the people of Daklan traditionally resolve conflicts through the "Tungtungan".

"The tungtungan, which is the indigenous way of settling conflicts, means peaceful reconciliation among the people of the community," John Tampoc said.

The tungtungan is composed of elders whose responsibility is to resolve problems in the community. The elders were the natural members of the tungtungan because of their acquired wisdom and numerous experiences which makes it possible for them to decide wisely, Pio Tacio, a former barrio lieutenant of the community, said. Whenever conflicts arose among community members, the elders were counted upon to resolve the disagreements. The people naturally respected and followed whatever decision the elders arrived at. Decisions made by the elders were not in written form. The elders were not given any monetary compensation for their services. The elders also served to maintain the practices, beliefs and values in the community. Any community member who displayed undesirable conduct was reprimanded by the elders.

The tungtungan was thus not only a way to resolve conflicts but also to inculcate values of love, peace, forgiveness, humbleness and honesty--values that the community forefathers prized also.

With the integration of the indigenous communities into the national system and the imposition of national laws on the existing indigenous system, the tungtungan was integrated into the Lupon, which now resolves conflicts in the communities.

Through the Lupon, the people were able to preserve their indigenous conflict-resolution schemes.

The Lupon resolves all conflicts at the barangay level. Any case which cannot be resolved at this level is taken to the municipal court. The lupon is composed of 10-15 elders who receive a modest compensation of PhP 600.00 a year. Decisions made by the Lupon are properly recorded and signed by the lupon, the complainant and offender. Women are allowed to be members of the lupon.

The Lupon has facilitated the swift resolution of cases in the community. According to Bernarda Solonio, the Lupon has helped lessen expenses and has saved on effort and time. She said that it has also further strengthened the relationships of people.

The members of the Lupon who were interviewed expressed their hopes of imparting this kind of settling conflicts to the next generation.

"Tungtungan will serve as a guide and example of what our ancestors did in order to preserve peace in the community," Sinas said.

"This is part of our identity that should be kept as a treasure for our grandchildren's children to use," Tacio said.

Jenefer Kiong is a participant of the Project GROW (Enabling Women to Become Gender-Responsive Writers). She is from Bokod, Benguet.