In the Visayanized world that the Manobos have to live and confront at present, Manobos practice a range of economic practices, almost all of which entail the medium of paper money in exchanges. Barter still exists in the barrios, but only very rarely. Some cultivate corn in their own fields, while others plant wet rice (see slideshow below), a practice of cultivation that is capital-intensive and quite risky. This form of agriculture is associated with Visayan settlers, particularly the Hiligaynon-Visayans. Those Manobos living near the lake, sell freshwater fish to the residents in the town center. Those near the forest cut trees from secondary forests replanted with soft wood trees. Some Manobos gather rattan poles for furniture and vines for making rope.

    Those living in the town center work for the many agencies of the local government. Their access to the bureaucracies gives them the opportunity to acquire small capital that they then use to invest in motorized vehicles and other things. These individual properties, in turn, are rented out to those who do not have the resource of money or capital. It is this group of salariat who employ the labor of poor Manobos from the barrios. In addition, some of the salariat own small neighborhood stores, which merchandising is patterned after the Visayan stores. Many households also raise domestic animals, notably pigs, and these are fostered by neighbors and sold during times when a relatively large amount of cash is needed by pig raisers (e.g., in paying for their children’s school tuition fees, travel, medical health care, and so on).