Bayok of the Mandaya as a Tool for Disseminating Messages on El Niño Phenomenon

Bayok is one of the traditional medium of communication that still exists and is used by the Mandaya’s of Davao Oriental. It is a communication tool to settle disputes, to formally declare one's intention to marry, to relate significant events and experiences, and to express one's happiness for good fortune. To a great extent, Bayok communicated El Niño and its disastrous effects in the region. The Mandaya’s belong to a group of indigenous people mostly living in the hinterlands of Davao Oriental in Region XI.  Their population is estimated at 300,000—roughly 68% of the total population in the eleven municipalities of Davao Oriental. This project was conducted to determine the potential of Bayok, a Mandaya folk media as a tool to disseminate information. The initial phase of the project was a contest, held on June 17, 1998 at the Audio-visual Room, DOSCST, Mati, Davao Oriental. One hundred twelve (112) individuals consisting of students, faculty and some