I DO-WHY?

A Story Behind Early Marriages in Rizal, Palawan

By: Eren J. Yobero

Will it ever be a punishment? Or a blessing?

This unending quest remains a mystery to the group of indigenous peoples lived in a far-flung
mountainous side of Barangay Ransang, Palawan.

Palaw’an establishes a life under a very long tradition and culture called the Duway. This culture is
allowing a man to have more than one wife who can live altogether in one roof. Aside from that,
marriage is not bound to age. Anybody can get married anytime they like.

To Minnie (not her real name), Duway makes her carry the greatest responsibility she ever has. She was
only 12 years old when she got married and now, she is 7 months pregnant but only grade 4.

“Mas gusto ko po sana mag-asawa kasi po para may mag-alaga ng anak ko (I decided to get married so
someone could take care of my child),” said Minnie in an interview with Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho
(KMJS).

Although she believed that she was ready to nurture a child, she admitted that she was afraid that her
body could not take the demands of giving birth.

Minnie was one of many young mothers and young wives in the said barangay who is only relying on this
greatest tradition. For a very long time, Duway is preserved and continuously manifested in the present
times, in fact, others would choose to marry their siblings or second and third cousins so that their
lineage is intact and will prosper even further.

According to the tribal leader, it was a tradition they grew up with and could not do anything to change
their fate as they intentionally wanted to continue preserving it.

In the eyes of a child psychologist, it would be difficult to change the situation as the kids already grew
up with that mindset.

"Maaring sabihin natin ito iyong isang komunidad na ito lang alam nilang batas. Ito iyong sinusunod nila.
Ito ang tradisyon, ito ang kultura natin. Hindi iyan puwedeng baguhin. Pero puwedeng ayusin (We can
say that this is a community where (marrying young children off or marrying at a young age) is like a law.
This is what they follow. It has become ingrained in their tradition and culture. We can't change it, but
we can fix the system)," as she expressed in an interview with Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS).

Although it is already part of their tradition, the medical health workers are hoping to end this long
suffering to children who supposedly playing rather than marrying.#