From what I understand, the "sipat" is the second stage in a peace talk. This is where the two parties meet for the first time to talk about reconciling their differences and finding a common ground.
The first stage would be the initiation of the peace talk. In the Mount Data Peace Accord, the government which was then under President Corazon Aquino called for peace. They extended a hand to Conrado Balweg and the Cordillera People's Liberation Army (CPLA). The latter heeded the call.
In the "sipat" event, another stage in the process occurs. It's called the "allasiw". This is where the two parties exchange peace tokens as symbols of their commitment to what was agreed upon in the talks.
In the Mount Data Peace Accord, the Aquino government gave Balweg a Bible, an M16 rifle, and a rosary. In exchange, Balweg and the CPLA gave a wooden shield and a spear. Some reports say that Balweg also gave a machete/bolo and a head ax.
Friday, September 13, 2024
Monday, September 9, 2024
Sangi or Pasiking - The Traditional Igorot Backpack
The traditional backpack of the north. There are a number of terms for it, the most common of which are "sangi" and "pasiking".
Although it's woven using plant materials (bamboo, rattan), this pack is very sturdy and can last for decades. Sometimes, because of the pack's longevity, it's passed on for multiple generations.
Although the pack looks simple design-wise, weaving one requires skill and patience. It can take days or even weeks to weave just one pack.
Although it's woven using plant materials (bamboo, rattan), this pack is very sturdy and can last for decades. Sometimes, because of the pack's longevity, it's passed on for multiple generations.
Although the pack looks simple design-wise, weaving one requires skill and patience. It can take days or even weeks to weave just one pack.
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| Sangi or pasiking - the traditional Igorot backpack. |
Sunday, September 8, 2024
From Appointed Son of God to Arrested Son of God
The arrest of Apollo Quiboloy should arouse everyone's curiosity. This man claims to be the "appointed son of god". This opens a floodgate of questions. How exactly was he appointed by god? Does he have the appointment papers to show as proof? Does these papers have the signature of god?
A quick Google search says that Quiboloy's claim to have been appointed by god stands on another unverifiable claim. According to the story, when Apollo was born, god in the form of a cloud appeared to his birth-mother and declared baby Apollo as his son.
Apollo also claims to be the owner of the universe. Not just Davao, not just Earth, the whole universe. He's basically claiming that he owns the estimated 2 trillion galaxies in the observable universe.
Apollo also claims to be the owner of the universe. Not just Davao, not just Earth, the whole universe. He's basically claiming that he owns the estimated 2 trillion galaxies in the observable universe.
Friday, September 6, 2024
Itauli: Reframing Cordillera Women in Photographs (Book)
A different (and fresh) perspective. That's what this book offers. Majority of historical photographs of Igorot women had been taken by men (i.e. Tommy Hafalla, Eduardo Masferre, Dean C. Worcester). We and the rest of the world have been looking at these photographs through a man's gaze and in the case of Worcester, the colonizer's gaze.
"Itauli" is a book that presents a different gaze. The woman's gaze. The feminist's gaze. It's an honest attempt to reframe Cordillera women and stir conversations about their identities and their place in Cordillera history. This book was published in conjunction with the exhibition "Itauli: Early 1990s Cordillera Women in Photographs" at the Museo Kordilyera.
The book contains photographs of Cordillera women taken in the 1990s by Gerry Atkinson of the United Kingdom and Marleen de Korver of the Netherlands. The accompanying text were written by Grace Celeste T. Subido and Ruth M. Tindaan. The choice of two women in the curatorial team was deliberate, I believe.
I liked that the book opened with a brief discussion of Worcester's photographs which were mostly taken by the American with the intention of presenting the Igorots as godless savages that needed to be civilized (preferably by an outside party). Thus creating the idea that colonizing them was a moral duty.
The discussion then touched on the tamer and less politically-driven photographs by Masferre and Hafalla. Then the book transitions to the works of Atkinson and de Korver.
For a really thin book, "Itauli" covered a lot of ground.
*For availability of the book, get in touch with Museo Kordilyera.
"Itauli" is a book that presents a different gaze. The woman's gaze. The feminist's gaze. It's an honest attempt to reframe Cordillera women and stir conversations about their identities and their place in Cordillera history. This book was published in conjunction with the exhibition "Itauli: Early 1990s Cordillera Women in Photographs" at the Museo Kordilyera.
The book contains photographs of Cordillera women taken in the 1990s by Gerry Atkinson of the United Kingdom and Marleen de Korver of the Netherlands. The accompanying text were written by Grace Celeste T. Subido and Ruth M. Tindaan. The choice of two women in the curatorial team was deliberate, I believe.
I liked that the book opened with a brief discussion of Worcester's photographs which were mostly taken by the American with the intention of presenting the Igorots as godless savages that needed to be civilized (preferably by an outside party). Thus creating the idea that colonizing them was a moral duty.
The discussion then touched on the tamer and less politically-driven photographs by Masferre and Hafalla. Then the book transitions to the works of Atkinson and de Korver.
For a really thin book, "Itauli" covered a lot of ground.
*For availability of the book, get in touch with Museo Kordilyera.
"Wild Song" by Candy Gourlay Among Winners in 8th National Children's Book Awards
Today is National Read a Book day. It also happens that the winners of the 8th National Children's Book Awards was announced just yesterday. And one of the 5 books that won is Candy Gourlay's "Wild Song", a book that features a young Igorot girl as the main character.
Although this book is fictional, the historical events that serve as backgrounds for the story were real. It's about an Igorot girl visiting the infamous World's Fair in America in 1904.
The board of judges for the award had the folllwing to say about the book's inclusion as one of the winners:
"Not many Filipinos know that in 1904, a world fair was opened in the United States of America and among its exhibits were indigenous people from the Philippines. Wild Song revolves around this dark period in our history.
Narrated by a young woman from Bontoc who finds herself at the cusp of finding her identity in a village steeped in tradition, this narrative gives readers a glimpse into possible reasons why one would be lured into becoming a museum piece in a fair set in a foreign land.
This historical fiction seamlessly juxtaposes the characters' dilemma between going on an adventure to what is thought to be a land of opportunity vis-a-vis staying in a village that has always been one's home.
Wild Song deserves to be read by children all over so they could understand, empathize, and hopefully be changed after gaining a more in-depth knowledge of this period in Philippine history."
Although this book is fictional, the historical events that serve as backgrounds for the story were real. It's about an Igorot girl visiting the infamous World's Fair in America in 1904.
The board of judges for the award had the folllwing to say about the book's inclusion as one of the winners:
"Not many Filipinos know that in 1904, a world fair was opened in the United States of America and among its exhibits were indigenous people from the Philippines. Wild Song revolves around this dark period in our history.
Narrated by a young woman from Bontoc who finds herself at the cusp of finding her identity in a village steeped in tradition, this narrative gives readers a glimpse into possible reasons why one would be lured into becoming a museum piece in a fair set in a foreign land.
This historical fiction seamlessly juxtaposes the characters' dilemma between going on an adventure to what is thought to be a land of opportunity vis-a-vis staying in a village that has always been one's home.
Wild Song deserves to be read by children all over so they could understand, empathize, and hopefully be changed after gaining a more in-depth knowledge of this period in Philippine history."
Jean Claude Saclag of Team Lakay Wins ONE Championship Debut Via Knockout
Jean Claude Saclag of Team Lakay won in an impressive fashion in his ONE Championship debut at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The 29-year-old from Lubuagan, Kalinga (with roots from Kapangan, Benguet) imposed his will on Lee Jun Young of South Korea on the opening round. Saclag put Young on the mat and followed it up with a barrage of punches forcing the referee to end the bout.
Saclag, who fights with "The Dynamite" as a nickname, was awarded with a technical knockout victory. With the impressive win, Saclag is a name to watch out for in the promotion's flyweight division.
Prior to transitioning to mixed martial arts, Saclag competed here and abroad as a wushu and kickboxing athlete.
Saclag, who fights with "The Dynamite" as a nickname, was awarded with a technical knockout victory. With the impressive win, Saclag is a name to watch out for in the promotion's flyweight division.
Prior to transitioning to mixed martial arts, Saclag competed here and abroad as a wushu and kickboxing athlete.
Sunday, June 2, 2024
Igorot Girl in Tublay
"Igorot girl of Tublay." That's the original caption that accompanied this photo taken between 1898 and 1912. Unfortunately, aside from the caption, we don't know very much about this young lady in the picture.
However, we can gather clues from how the photo was taken, where it was taken, and other photos similar to it. It's pretty obvious that the subject was posing for a portrait. Her full getup, her stance, and the chair used as a prop are cues of a planned portrait session.
This is just one of several photos taken at the same location with other Igorot subjects. Most of these photos were portraits. Here's what's interesting - some of these subjects have been identified. They included Juan Carino, his brother, and his sister.
Juan Carino is the older brother of Mateo Carino, the Ibaloi leader who owned a good portion of the land that is now Baguio City. That said, it's possible that this "Igorot girl of Tublay" belonged to the Carino clan.
Image source: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.
However, we can gather clues from how the photo was taken, where it was taken, and other photos similar to it. It's pretty obvious that the subject was posing for a portrait. Her full getup, her stance, and the chair used as a prop are cues of a planned portrait session.
This is just one of several photos taken at the same location with other Igorot subjects. Most of these photos were portraits. Here's what's interesting - some of these subjects have been identified. They included Juan Carino, his brother, and his sister.
Juan Carino is the older brother of Mateo Carino, the Ibaloi leader who owned a good portion of the land that is now Baguio City. That said, it's possible that this "Igorot girl of Tublay" belonged to the Carino clan.
Image source: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.
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