Maling

One of the most widely read and reprinted of Conklin’s works is the story of a day with Maling, a seven-year old Hanuno’o girl whom Conklin befriended and used for her unique perspective on village life. In the essay, Conklin describes being with Maling for the birth and subsequent death of her younger brother, and describes a return visit to her four years later when she is 11 year old to describe how she has matured and begun to take up the role of an adolescent, marriageable girl in Hanuno’o society. This story, complete with pictures of Maling at 7 and 11 years old, would add a very compelling human element to a larger exhibit on Conklin’s work and illustrates the close bonds that developed between him and the people he studied.

Maling, age 7, taken during Conklin’s initial stay with the Hanuno’o in 1953.

Maling, age 11, taken during a return trip in the summer of 1957. She is beginning the long traditional process of courtship, where she will live in a separate dwelling from her family and be visited by suitors for five or six years until pregnancy, marriage, or both result.¹

‘Anung ‘ari’ari’an Oh little brother

kang di waydi sabihan I must say again

duru ti ‘gdulud ‘aban That more than fifty

balaw lamang kalim’an will attend,

kay pasung duru hanggan And that our feast will

kay babuy ‘imaw diman! never end!

A song composed by Maling, in the form of a familiar children’s song, addressed to her little brother Gawid to tell him of the feast that will be held in his honor.²