31/03/2026
๐ฎ๐น๐ฐ๐ต๐ซ ๐บ๐ผ๐ช๐ช๐ฌ๐บ๐บ ๐บ๐ป๐ถ๐น๐
๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐
๐น๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐
๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐Barangay Gomtago, Sarangani Islands, Davao Occidental
The Grassroots Innovation for Inclusive Development (GRIND) Program of DOST Davao Region unlocks the potential buried within local communitiesโtransforming ancestral knowledge into engines of sustainable progress. Guided by the 4Ls - Learning, Leveraging, Linking, and LegitimizingโGRIND walks alongside communities in Underserved and Unserved Areas (UUAs), helping them shape their own traditions into tools for self-reliance.
๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐
: ๐ผ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ต๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
In the coastal reaches of Barangay Gomtago, Balut Islandโa third of the municipality of the Sarangani Islandsโthe Kalsusu Indigenous People Associationโcomposed of Blaan tribal membersโholds fast to Nidang, a traditional rice dish that came to light during the SalikLakbay Solutions Mapping, the Learning phase of GRIND.
But far more than sustenance, Nidang is a language of the heart, spoken in three colors:
โข Bukay Knaโan (white rice) โ a quiet offering of purity and sincerity
โข Nidang Fnitam Knaโan (black rice) โ a bold declaration of bravery and strength
โข Nidang Mlalel Knaโan (yellow rice) โ a warm gesture of honor and respect for guests
Molded by hand into a triangular mound and crowned with chicken, Nidang has long graced the table during weddings, festivals, and moments of community gatheringโeach grain carrying the weight of identity and unity.
๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Moving into the Leveraging phase, the team did not arrive with blueprints drawn from afar. Instead, they sat with the community to conduct a Technology Needs Assessment (TNA)โa careful listening process to determine which scientific interventions could support, not erase, the authenticity of Nidang.
The result was a partnership rooted in respect: training sessions on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) equipped the association with the skills to prepare Nidang for wider markets and tourism circuitsโwithout diluting its cultural soul.
๐พ๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐
GRIND did not invent Nidang. It simply gave this centuries-old tradition room to breathe beyond the boundaries of the barangay. What was once prepared only for elders and guests is now becoming a tourism-ready product and a livelihood anchorโproving that inclusive development does not mean abandoning heritage, but building upon it.
๐พ๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐
? ๐ต๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
This year is filled with more possibilities for this humble heirloom recipe:
โข Provision of food processing equipmentโtools that respect traditional methods while expanding production capacity
โข Technology Training on Value-Added Food Innovation to upcycle food waste
โข A forthcoming Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to formalize sustained support from the pentahelix partners and strengthen tourism Linkages to carry Nidang from the islands to the world
From Learning to Leveraging, GRIND shows that grassroots innovations need not be replaced to thrive. They only need to be seen, supported, and allowed to grow on their own terms.
Nidang is rising.
As culture honored.
As livelihood secured.
As proof that the smallest communities hold the biggest answers.
