Cordillera Voice

22/07/2024

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂, 𝗕𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗼 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿 ✨

It’s always a sad day when something that has been a part of Baguio bids farewell after 77 years of distinguished service. That is how the Baguio Midland Courier has been to our people throughout the years - a sentinel of strength, a sanctuary of relief, and a pillar of hope and confidence.

I stand proud in bidding farewell to our esteemed community newspaper. Baguio today has become the shining jewel in this part of Northern Luzon, thanks to the combined contributions shared by everyone. The Baguio Midland Courier stands out for its fine reportage, week after week, keeping our citizenry well-informed and very involved. Amid adversities, it has been a shining light of guidance. It is as much a builder - of hope, of faith, and of confidence.

In this final edition, I join the officialdom in saluting 77 years of fine community journalism, selflessly done with utmost distinction and excellence. Indeed, it has been an iconic voice to our people.

Farewell and best wishes. Thank you for the invaluable service, exceptionally done well beyond the call of journalistic duty.

Benjamin B. Magalong
Public Servant

16/07/2024

Nine years ago, Apayao hosted the celebration of Cordillera Day and delegates from each of the CAR provinces showcased their ethnic fashion wares. I took these shots and I almost forgot all about it.

15/07/2024

14/07/2024

Binisita ng dalawang sikat na Aeta na si Miss Glenda, isang blogger at milyonaryang CEO, at si Miss Karen Davila, Isang sikat na broadcaster, ang mga kapwa nila Aeta sa Itogon. Ikinatuwa naman ng m…

13/07/2024

From the short story written by Amador T. Daguio to the big screen!
The Wedding Dance by Julius Lumiqued will premiere at the 20th year of Cinemalaya Film Festival in August! See you at Ayala Cinemas!

Mountain Trail Films
METApixel Incorporated

10/07/2024

20/06/2024

Reprised at

09/05/2024

𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹 | DAD-AT Literary Creatives invites all writers, authors and would-be authors in various genres and niches both in print or online media to join us in an engaging event entitled "𝑾𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 𝑪𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑯𝒐𝒑𝒆".

📅 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟴, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆
🕰️ 𝟮:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠 𝗢𝗻𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀
📍 𝗕𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗼 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰

✨ Part I: Launching, Induction and Oath Taking of Dad-at Literary Creatives Community

✨ Part II: Writing Talk and Workshop

See you!

08/05/2024

This one is cool! “Nasa pagmomomma ang true love.” Sabi ng isang nag comment

27/04/2024

THE BAGO TRIBE
(Otley Beyer; Fr. Collins & Fr. Fray Hilario Diaz)
I. THE BAGO: ITS ORIGIN
The Bago Tribe (Bago) is part of the first Malay migrating groups to the Philippines, believed to be 200-300 years B.C., who entered and settled at the upper delta of the Amburayan River, with some going further north and entered and settled at the upper delta of the Abra River and from here, some Bagos migrated to the Gran Cordillera and all parts of the country and even abroad.
During the arrival of the Spaniards, they created the upper delta of the Abra River as "Commandancia Politico - Militar de Tiangan" in 1847 and created the upper delta of the Amburayan River as "Commandancia Politico Militar de Amburayan" on April 10, 1890. These COMMANDANCIAS are considered the habitation (homeland) or the Ancestral Domain of the BAGOS which are located along the borders of the Cordilleras and locos Region.
(Sketch Map of the Cordillera Region prior to its Division- CIRCA - 1500.

Said “Commandancias" are now the 14 upland municipalities of llocos Sur, and the municipalities of Sudipen; Santol and San Gabriel of the providence of La Union. This includes the Municipality of Bakun, Benguet where commissioner Evelyn Dulnuan of the NCIP issued the first Certificate of Ancestral Domain Titles for the BAGO and Kankana-ay (29,444,3449 hectares) on July 18, 2002. Certificate of Ancestral Domain Tittles for the Bago and Kankana-ey at Sugpon, Ilocos Sur (6, 339,4170)hectares on July 16, 2004; Certificate of Ancestral Domain Titles for the Bago and Kankana-ey (8,341,1505 hectares) at Alilem Ilocos Sur on November 2, 2005. And a Certificate af Ancestral Domain tittle for the Bagoat Pugo, La Union (4, 163,2148 hectares) March 26, 2008).

The Bago Tribe (BAGO) is the tribe who settled / inhabited the upper delta of the Abra River (Commandancia Politico Militar de Tiangan 1847) and the upper delta of the Amburayan River (Commandancia Politico Militar de AMburayan on April 10, 1890) along the borders of the Gran Cordillera and locos Region' since the first Malay migranting groups to the Norther Philippines, believed to be 200-300 B.C. This includes some Bago, who migrated to the old Mt. Province (Gran Cordillera) who went back to the lowlands/ other places who maintained the distinct Bago Tribe culture, language/dialect, customs and traditions customary laws and values.

The Bago speaks a distinct Bago language / dialect, with a distinct accents intonations and later, century it has now an iloco and other tribes words due to intermarriage.

I. THE BAGO: ITS CULTURE
Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, morals, laws, customs, and capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.
Cultures is handed down from generation to generation, learned by a person in the course of his development as a member of a particular society. So that in the course of time some are maybe forgotten and some are maybe changed or undergo renewal or modernization.

A. THE BAGO: ITS TRADITIONAL GOVERNANCE:
1. Bago Family
The father is the head of the family, while the mother acts as the financial manager, who controls/ releases of funds or money in the family. The unmarried children submit to the authority of the parents, even the married ones if they are still with their parents under the same roof. The parents are booth the bread earners of the family but specially, the father is in charge of the farm chores while the mother is in charge of household management.
2. Bago Community / Baranagy:
The Bago community is governed by the Council of Elders and the center of operation is the "Ab**g" equivalent to "dap-ay" of other tribes. The "ab**g" of the Bago is made mostly of bamboos, woods and cogon.
The "Ab**g" is not only for meetings of Council of Elders, but as a guard house as well as the place to settle conflicts among the Bagos. The premises of the "b**g" are most often the seat for social gatherings of the community.
The Council of Elders (Konselyo dagiti Lallakay) is composed of people who afe trusted by the community by their own wisdom and dignity, persons who possess leadership qualities, that elicit respect and personalities highly regarded by the residents. This council of elders is headed by "PADOGO" ("PANGLAKAYEN") the most respected, experienced and already exposed to community management among the Council of Elders.
The council of Elders performs as a legislature, executive and judicial body. It sees to it that activities in the community are all participated in by Bago-members; calls for community meetings; during emergencies, warns and confront violators of community rules and regulations; lead the community in repulsing attacks from the outside, represent the community in peace talks with neighboring councils. Institutes tributes and community duties; and foremost among all maintain the cohesiveness and oneness in all community undertakings and do other related functions:
3. Bago Justice System and Customary
Dispute in the community is decided by the Council of Elders in a meeting using the justice system and customary laws written or unwritten.
Sapit System:
The Bagos administration of justice in their communities is through the "Sapit". This is the process of inyestigation and ex*****on of punishment by the Council of Elders and the offended party. It is a heart to heart talk between the offended party and the offender in the presence of the council of Elders, applying the principle of "just between us as brothers" "Entre nous", which means "Love your neighbor as a relative'. "SINTATAKO".
The Council of Elders, after thorough investigation and after hearing both sides of the parties, now renders the fine or punishment is not absolute. Sometimes the offender is given an option to state the penalty he/she thinks as just retribution of his/her bad deeds. The offended party is given also the right to talk against or in favor of the offer of the offender. Of there will be impasse, the council shall have the final decision
Penalties:
There are penalties imposed by the Council of Elders for crimes committed. A review of those shows that our descendants are more human for, there are no death penalties. But careful analysis of some of the penalties imposed, reveal some human rights violation such as, Lashing (baut); banishment, "bando" and others.
The "sapit" cannot go as for as the court in proving crimes beyond reasonable doubt, but it has some alternative procedures such as: "Sapata" (the suspect is required to make vow to God or Kabunian, that if guilty and does not, accept his guilt, something curse will happen to him;) Scalding" "delnak" this is done by dipping the hand of the suspect into a boiling water. If the hand of the suspect is scalded he is presumed guilty.
There are many unwritten customary laws but religiously obeyed by the Bago Tribe.

26/04/2024

ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF BAGUIO

Baguio was called Kafagway by indigenous peoples. The name Baguio originated in the American period and is derived from the Ibaloi word bagiw (moss), which was then Hispanicized as Baguio.

A demonym for natives of the city, Ibagiw, is also derived from it. It is also the name for the city's annual arts festival.

Baguio used to be a vast mountain zone with lush highland forests, teeming with various wildlife such as the indigenous deer, cloud rats, Philippine eagles, Philippine warty pigs, and numerous species of flora.

The area was a hunting ground of the indigenous peoples, notably the Ibalois and other Igorot ethnic groups. When the Spanish arrived in the Philippines, the area was never fully subjugated by Spain due to the intensive defense tactics of the indigenous Igorots of the Cordilleras.

Igorot oral history states the Benguet upper class, baknang, was founded between 1565 and the early 1600s, by the marriage of a gold trader, Amkidit, and a Kankanay maiden gold panning in Acupan. Their son, Baruy, discovered a gold deposit in the area, which he developed with hired workers and slaves.

In 1755, the Augustinian Fray Pedro de Vivar established a mission in Tonglo (Tongdo) outside Baguio. Before he was driven out the following year, this rancheria included 220 people, including several baknang families.

The Spanish tried to regain the mission in 1759, but were ambushed. This prompted the Governor General Pedro Manuel de Arandía Santisteban to send Don Manuel Arza de Urrutia on a punitive expedition, which resulted in the mission being burned to the ground.

Spanish rule
During Spanish rule in 1846, the Spaniards established a command post or a comandancia in the nearby town of La Trinidad, and organized Benguet into 31 rancherías, one of which was Kafagway, a wide grassy area where the present Burnham Park is situated.

Kafagway was then a minor rancheria consisting of only about 20 houses; most of the lands in Kafagway were owned by a prominent Ibaloi, Mateo Cariño, who served as its chieftain. The Spanish presidencia, which was located at Bag-iw at the vicinity of Guisad Valley was later moved to Cariño's house where the current city hall stands.

Bag-iw was the Ibaloi toponym of the town, an Ibaloi term for "moss" which was historically abundant in the area. This name was spelled by the Spaniards as Baguio.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baguio #:~:text=Baguio%20was%20established%20as%20a,highly%20urbanized%20city%20(HUC).

25/04/2024

MEET THE DESIGNER OF DOLOR’S LINE – COVID SERIES
DOLORES BANGGUIGUI, Narda’s master weaver. She has been with us for more than 40 years! She’s from Bauko, Mountain Province. She’s not just a master in designing patterns for handweaving for the upright loom but also a master of all traditional backstrap weaves of the Cordilleras. She’s an inspiration to us all and our younger weavers learn a lot from her. Bravo Ma’am Dolor!

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The Cordilleran Ikat weaving tradition is tedious. It’s a complicated process of tying, dyeing, retying and redyeing our Ikat yarns. That’s just the dyeing part! The hardest is mounting the loom. Every warp thread is inserted by hand through the reed. One wrong insertion and the weaver have to dismount and reinsert the right warp count once more then remount the warp on the loom again! This step needs utmost focus. Throwing the weft, the step you’re probably familiar with, is the easiest part. But with the sugkit technique for the patterns, it’s much more complicated.

All our fabrics are handwoven and handcrafted with love by Philippine Cordilleran traditional weavers and craftsmen. Our weavers are expert Cordilleran traditional weavers! After the tedious and complicated process, you get the best quality Ikat product. It lasts.

CONTACT US:
Through a private message here in our page, or
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: (+63) 920 950 9097 • (+63) 920 910 1739
Visit our store at 151 Upper Session, Beside PAGIBIG Bldg., near Victory Bus Station and SM Baguio. Store hours is from 8am to 7pm.
Visit us online at www.nardas.com
www.instagram.com/nardasph

Color of items may be a little different from the actual products due to lighting in photo shoot and different electronic displays.

02/04/2024

This set shows my first encounter of Apo Anno in 1985 and our coverage of the famed mummy’s return in 1998 from the laboratory of the National Museum to the mummy's original resting place in Sitio Nabalikong Buguias, Benguet. Many stories were told about the lost and fabled mummy of upland Cordillera and Apo Anno's return is just but a short segment of what we came to know about the indigenous people of the Philippines. I took the photo of Apo Anno shown lying inside a wooden box in 1985 which became the subject of a media expose penned by a provincial correspondent. I first came across the famed Benguet Mummy Apo Anno in 1985 when I visited Gerry Navarro, a friend working at the National Museum. A former schoolmate who also works there called my attention.. "Arthur, yung kababayan mo nasa ibaba sa lab.." and so the newsman instinct in me led me to see the mummy and take a single snapshot so as not to distract the guard who let me in not knowing that I had an intention to take a photo inside. I narrated the presence of an Ibaloi mummy (not knowing that Apo Anno belonged to the Kalanguya-Kankanay area of Benguet) to my Kumpare Mike Michael A. Bengwayan who at that time was a correspondent of DepthNews and so we developed an expose of the presence of a mummy at the National Museum. In 1998, reports bared that through the intercession of former Central Bank Governor Jaime Laya and Museum Curator Fr. Casal, Apo Anno was brought home to his original resting place in Sitio Nabalikong, Buguias following traditional rites and rituals. Wikipedia's version...In 1995, Mr. Sario Copas then councilor of Buguias passed a resolution in the municipal council for the recovery of the Apo Anno. However, the resolution was not heard. It was only in 1998 during a seminar-workshop on the conservation of Benguet mummies held in the Benguet Provincial Capitol that Mr. Copas who became a provincial board member reasserted the return of Apo Anno to Buguias. From there, the staff of National Museum in Manila gave the reassurance that the matter would be discussed with their Director. Mr. Copas filed the petition at the provincial board, and the Provincial Resolution No. 98-527 dated October 28, 1998 was passed and unanimously endorsed by the provincial board, and then approved by then Governor Raul Molintas.Apo Anno was eventually returned to Benguet in the same year. In May 1999, the mummy was sealed from public view."This http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Image%3AApo_anno.jpg wiki photo shows both my feet and tripod while documenting in video the homecoming ritual of Apo Anno. Today, some individuals are claiming the credits for having masterminded the return of the mummy. , , , , ,

26/03/2024

Tribute to Dr. Paulina Sawadan

08/03/2024

The Cordillera News Agency and Cordillera Voice are one with you Tessa. Mabuhay ang mga Kabanaihan

31/12/2023

Celebrating the 70th birthday of a stalwart medical officer and Baguio girl. Dr. Myrna Cabotaje, former DOH-CAR Regional Director and Health Undersecretary was born on Christmas day and since almost all Catholics are in their respective abodes celebrating the birth of Christ, her family staged a surprise party with a country western motif.
It is actually Dr. Myrna’s platinum jubilee and "platinum" is said to be an occasion of elegance, grace, and rarity and this is proven by the presence of family, relatives, co-workers, friends, neighbors and even former schoolmates and teachers. Happy Birthday Dr. Myrna.

14/12/2023

Elcac awardees:
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) conferred the Gawad Parangal awards to individuals, government units, and organizations across regions, marking the 5th anniversary of the NTF-ELCAC.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., represented by Special Assistant to the President, Sec. Antonio Lagdameo, National Security Adviser Sec. Eduardo Año, and NTF-ELCAC National Secretariat Executive Director Usec. Ernesto Torres awarded the plaques to the awardees in a ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Dec. 4, 2023.
Notable awardees from the Cordillera region include Apayao Gov. Elias Bulut Jr., Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong represented by DILG Dir Araceli San Jose, Kalinga Gov. James Edduba, and PIA-Cordillera led by Regional Director Helen Tibaldo. RMC PIA-CAR

12/12/2023

Congratulations to the Philippine Information Agency - Cordillera Administrative Region for being selected as one of the finalists for the "Capacity Development Game Changer Award", a recognition bestowed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

PIA-CAR was cited for bridging communication gaps by providing Capacity Building for government communicators, equipping communicators with skills for proficient technology use and transformative information dissemination.
The agency led by Director Helen R. Tibaldo have introduced various initiatives, namely; in the loop on DILG-CAR's social media; The CCWIT which promotes inclusivity; Kapihan; and the Community Radio Program.
PIA-CAR utilizes data-driven decision-making by conducting analytics for effective communication strategies. Well-informed citizens empower local communities, hence the PIA-CAR also utilizes text blasts to ensure that vital information reaches the community.

08/11/2023

05/06/2023

LOOK | PTV Cordillera is hiring one (1) AudioMan

Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their application letter and resume to [email protected] or visit us at Romulo Drive, Lualhati, Baguio City.

26/05/2023

31/03/2023

Redux on the campaign trail for the establishment of Cordillera Autonomous Region -
With the authoring of House Bill 3267 by seven CAR Congressmen, the region’s civil society organization (CSO) composed of pcivic leaders, supporters, advocates and the academe convened in Baguio City to once again to formulate an autonomy advocacy action plan and drumbeat its campaign.
“Autonomy is a better setup of governance than what we now have as administrative region”

31/03/2023

THE ONE CORDILLERA LOGO -
The round metal gong of the Cordillera known locally as "gangsa" is a symbol of the upland people's culture that has been passed on through generations. The profile of a person blowing a "tangguyob" represents a community being called for an important matter or action. The lines that shape the mountains, the rice terraces, clouds and rivers symbolize the connectivity and flow of human interaction in a geographic area such as the Cordillera. All the symbols combined represent
unity and harmony of the people with their culture and environment and in beating the gong for self-determination.

28/03/2023

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26/03/2023

Catch the FREE screenings of award-winning Cinema Rehiyon films online via Vimeo starting today, March 26 until April 1, 2023. Access to the films starts at 3:00 pm!😊

Pre-registration is required. To reserve a seat for FREE, click on this link: https://buytickets.at/cinemarehiyonmontaosafilmfestival2023/882312

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In celebration of National Arts Month, the City of Baguio and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts present: Cinema Rehiyon 15 @ MFF2023, co-presented by the Baguio Tourism Council and BARP Foundation Inc., SM City Baguio, Department of Tourism- CAR, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Grand Sierra Pines Baguio, Baguio Country Club, The Manor at Camp John Hay, Le Monet Hotel, The Podium Boutique Hotel, Saint Louis University, University of Baguio, University of the Cordilleras, UP Baguio, Baguio City National High School, and Pines City National High School, TWIMedia, and LOStories.

Festival partners: Ili-Likha Artists Wateringhole, Vivistop Baguio, Cordillera School of Digital Arts, Solibao, Black N’ White Apartments, Witchcraft Brewery, Balai Studio Cafe, Jollibee, Paladin Hotel, UFO Workshops, Fullpost Asia, and Soundbox Mix.

For more updates and announcements, please like and follow our FB pages:
https://www.facebook.com/MontanosaFilmFestival
https://www.facebook.com/cinemarehiyonofficial