Drinking Among Early Visayans (Pintados) in Achieving Positive Peace
Authors: Piscos James Lotero 
Published: February 2023

Drinking is a community event among early Visayans. It is their binding force in achieving positive peace because it facilitates harmony and holistic view of life. Smooth interpersonal relationship and exchange of peace are realized in the toss of a glass and blood compact. The maganito ritual highlights drinking which brings their camaraderie and fellowship to transcendence and assures protection and blessings from above. In various cycles of life, drinking is at the heart of the celebration. It might be a small gesture of sharing life stories over food and wine, but it has big impact in the union of their buot (inner being) that assures support and advocates solidarity. The research utilizes primary sources from Spanish accounts written in the 16th-17th century. Their narratives showed condescending attitudes towards early Visayan beliefs and practices but they revealed the importance of drinking among our ancestors. The study uses Mercado’s buot to design a conceptual framework that would examine drinking among early Visayans in achieving positive peace where it is holistic and cohesive. The findings of the research could have implications to peace negotiation and integrated approach to peace that includes the physical, emotional, relational and spiritual dimensions. Positive peace promotes total well-being and allows people to engage into undertakings that propels a culture that is responsive to growth, sustainability and dialogue. Drinking is not just a gesture of cohesion that the community is one. It is also a discourse that brings people to a society free from all forms of discrimination and oppression.ReferencesAlcina, F. I. (1668a). Historia de las Inlas e indios de Bisayas. (Part I, Books 1-4). (V. Baltazar, Trans.). University of Chicago Philippine Studies Program (1962)An Editorial. (1964). Journal of Peace Research. 1(1). 1-4.Applied Philosophy. (1977). Divine Word University, print.Atay, A. D. (2020) Transcending the ‘Neoliberal Self for Positive Peace: A New Balance between individualism and collectivism. Journal of Transdisciplinary Peace Praxis. 2(1). 64-81. http://iletisim.neu.edu.tr/people/academic-staff/ayca-demet-atay/?lang=en.Blair, E. H. & Alexander, R. (Eds.) The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898: Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest conditions with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century. B & R. (1903-1909).Batoon, E. D. (2014) Tracing Mercado’s Anthropological Perspective (Second of Two Parts) http://www.kritike.org/journal/ issue_15/batoon_december2014.pdfBayarsaikhan, D. (2016). Drinking Traits and Culture of the Imperial Mongols in the Eyes of the Observers and in a Multicultural Context. Crossroads. https://www.academia.edu/3854 6942/Drinking_Traits_and_Culture_of_the_Imperial_Mongols_in_the_Eyes_of_Observers_and_in_a_Multicultural_ContextBoxer Codex. (2018). A Modern Spanish Transcription and English Translation of 16thCentury exploration accounts of East And Southeast Asia and Pacific. In I. Donozo. (Trans. & Ed.). Vibal Foundation.Chirino, P. SJ. (1603). Relacion de las Yslas Filipinas. (pp. 174-321). (Vol. 12). B & RColin, F. (1663). Labor evangelica. (pp. 38-97) (Vol. 40). Madrid.De Plasencia, J. (1589) Customs of the Tagalogs. (pp. 173-198). (Vol. 7). B & R.De San Agustin, G. (1698). Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas: 1565-1615. In L. A. Maneru. (Trans.). (Bilingual Ed.) San Agustin Museum. (1998).Elements of Filipino Ethics. (1979). Divine Word University, print.Elements of Filipino Philosophy. (1976). Divine Word University, print.Enns, F. (2011). The International Ecumenical Peace Convocation: Towards an Ecumenical Theology of Just Peace? Ecumenical Review 63(1), 44-53.Filipino Thought on Man and Society. (1980). Divine Word University, print.Galtung, J. (1996). Peace by peaceful means: Peace and conflict, development and civilization. International Peace Research Institute. Sage Publications.
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