Soldiers Ambushed In Sagada, 1 Soldier Died While 6 Others Were Wounded

A military convoy was ambushed on Sunday night (November 30) in the tourist town of Sagada in Mt. Province. Early reports say that one soldier was killed during the attack while 6 others were injured and taken to the Bontoc General Hospital (BGH) in the capital town of Bontoc.

The soldiers were aboard two vehicles (a military truck and an Isuzo Elf ) and were traveling through sitio Pegew in barangay Tetep-an when suspected communist rebels ambushed them. The attack happened between 10:30 and 11:00 Sunday night.

According to Senior Superintendent Oliver Enmodias of the Mt. Province Provincial Police Office, the soldiers are members of the Army's 54th Infantry Battalion and they were on their way home after attending a Youth Leadership Summit at the Sagada National High School.

Google maps

One of those wounded being currently treated at the Bontoc General Hospital. Photo by Kinad Waytan.

The attackers are suspected to be members of the New People's Army, the armed wing of the Communist Part of the Philippines (CPP).

The soldier who died from the attack has been identified as Private First Class (Pfc) Moses Ing-inga reportedly of barangay Can-eo in Bontoc. Those wounded are William Agpawan, Albert Paleyan, Nathan Cade Focasan, Jimmy Apao, Ian Mango, and Hanzel Onnon. An investigation is ongoing as to how the ambush happened. There are some who believe that the attackers were tipped with regards to the arrival and departure of the soldiers from the school.

Related news story:  Two Rebels in Kalinga Given 45,000 and 20,000 Pesos After Surrendering and Laying Down Their Arms

Japanese National In Baguio City Voluntarily And Regularly Cleans An Overpass There For Free

Japan is known for a lot of things. One of these is the Japanese people's enviable discipline when it comes to living their lives.

A couple of years ago when a tsunami ravaged swathes of the Japanese coastline, people lined up and patiently waited for their turns in receiving relief goods or when buying from still-standing businesses. The scenes are very different from what we regularly see in other countries wherein everything's a mess and there's always rampant looting.

Another great thing about the Japanese people is that they show the same discipline when they are in other countries. A perfect example of this was witnessed by the world when Japanese football fans picked up their trash during the conclusions of matches at the World Cup games in Brazil a few months ago. They didn't leave the stadium until their designated seats were free from litter.

Now, a Japanese national in Baguio City is showing the same thing. Mazakasu Nose regularly trudges up the stairs of the overpass connecting Maharlika and Tiong San to pick up trash. He always bring along with him a black garbage bag and a tong to pick up litter on the overpass.

Photo by Celayca Aviles via Facebook.

Baguio resident Celayca Aviles took photos of Nose and posted them online. The photos quickly went viral. And deservedly so. This man deserves a pat on the back for sacrificing his time and resources in trying to help keep the city free from litter.

11 Documentaries to screen at Cinematheque Baguio

The eleven celebrated documentaries of the pioneering batch of GMA CineTotoo: International Documentary Film Festival are coming to Baguio on December 2 to 7 for the first leg of The CineTotoo Caravan, a Philippine film screening tour that aims to widen the scope and reach of insightful, socially- conscious forms of media to Filipino audiences all over the country.

Organized by the eleven filmmakers themselves in partnership with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and GMA Network, the films, accompanied by their respective directors, will be screened at Baguio Cinematheque for only 100php per view next week.

Two of the participating film entries, “Agbalbalitok”by Ferdinand L. Balanag, a raw exposé of the unending and growing ever more challenging battles of ordinary Filipino small-scale miners in Itogon, Benguet as they harvest gold, the mythic treasure of the mountains at the cost of their own lives, and “Walang Rape saBontoc” by Carla Samantha-Ocampo and Lester Valle, which follows the story of two young women who, having survived sexual abuse, wish to learn about the rumoured existence of a culture free of the sexual violence against women, have been filmed in notable parts of the Cordillera and deals with some of the most intriguing and controversial issues nagging our society today.

Of special note is Ferdinand Balanag’s“Agbalbalitok”, which portrays man’s propensity towards indifference despite being faced with real, long-term environmental problems if it means getting through the day. The documentary was shot in Brgy. Luneta, Itogon, Benguet, tellingthe harrowing tale of ordinary Filipinos working in perilous, rundown small-scale gold mines.Balanag has worked on several films in the past, such as “Walking the Waking Journey” which reaped international awards.

“It is the interaction and exchange with different people and cultures and exploring new environments that makes me enjoy making documentaries. The ultimate satisfaction comes when I am told by the subject and the community that I was able to tell their story well and also that the documentary effectively stirs social discourse on issues which may result to positive change,” Balanag shared on what he cherished and found most rewarding about making documentaries despite their considerably lesser appeal in the film market.

As a Baguio-native and active community mobilizer,Balanagalso wishes to raise funds through ticket sales and donations to cover for the medical expenses of his film’s case study, Kurt John Guinapon, age 12, who is suffering from a rare blood disease.

CineTotoo Caravan Screening Schedule
1.Agbalbalitok (The Gold Prospector) (dir. FerdieBalanag) What is the true price of gold, and who really pays for it?
Dec 2 (Tuesday) - 3:30 PM
Dec 4 (Thursday) - 11:30 AM
Dec 7 (Sunday) - 3:30 PM

2. Special Jury Mention Walang Rape saBontok (dir. Lester Valle) Two Filipina victims of sexual abuse search for the truth behind the finding of a renowned anthropologist: that merely a few generations ago, the BontokIgorot lived in what seems an unthinkable utopia -- a rape-less society
Dec 3 (Wednesday) - 11:30 AM
Dec 5 (Friday) - 5:30 PM
Dec 6 (Saturday) - 5:30 PM

3. Migkahi e siAmeyte, Uliki pad (Father Said, 'Let's Return Home') (dir. NefLuczon) After the death of a cultural icon and tribal chieftain in Bukidnon, his adopted son takes on his cause to preserve their cultural heritage through music.
Dec 2 (Tuesday) - 11:30 AM
Dec 7 (Sunday) - 1:30

4. AngGitaristang Hindi Marunong Mag-skala (dir. Sig Sanchez) An aging guitarist plays by his heart while dancing on broken glass.
Dec 3 (Wednesday) - 3:30PM
Dec 5 (Friday) - 11:30AM

5. Marciano (dir. Ivy Baldoza) Built around found stories of relatives, acquaintances,and even strangers, this documentary paints a compelling portrait of a gay OFW who lived in Paris for 25 years and died there alone.
Dec 4 (Thursday) - 1:30 PM
Dec 6 (Saturday) - 11:30 AM

6. A Journey to Haifa (dir. NawruzPaguidopon) An openly gay filmmaker goes on a conservative religious pilgrimage to Haifa, Israel with his family.
Dec 2 (Tuesday) - 1:30PM
Dec 7 (Sunday) - 11:30 AM

7. Special Jury Award Mananayaw (dir. Rafael Froilan) When three men dare to dance, they learn that the pursuit of passion comes at a price.
Dec 2 (Tuesday) - 5:30 PM
Dec 5 (Friday) 1:30 PM

8. Best Documentary Audience Choice Award Gusto Nang Umuwini Joy (dir. JT Pandy) Living as an undocumented migrant in the UK for more than six years, a Filipina domestic helper tries to secure a working visa so she can finally fly back home to visit her family.
Dec 4 (Thursday) - 3:30 PM
Dec 6 (Saturday) - 1:30 PM

9. Komikero Chronicles (dir. Keith Sicat) Discover the history of PinoyKomiks starting with Rizal, and find out if his progressive ideas are imbedded in this popular medium.
Dec 4 (Thursday) - 5:30 PM
Dec 6 (Saturday) - 1:30 PM

10. Special Jury Mention Kung GiunsaPagbuhatangBinisayangChopsuey (How To Make A Visayan Chopsuey) (dir. BebsGohetia) In a David-Goliath kind of power struggle, will the smaller Davao tchoukball team be able to beat their archrival, to represent the Philippines in a major competition in Taiwan this year?
Dec 3 (Wednesday) - 5:30 PM
Dec 5 (Friday) - 3:30 PM

11. AngWalangKapagurangPaglalakbayngPulangMaleta (dir. Richard Legaspi) The tradition of close Filipino family ties makes its way to a small, wool-producing town in Italy.
Dec 3 (Wednesday) - 1:30 PM
Dec 7 (Sunday) - 5:30 PM

The filmmakers shall accompany their work and will be present after the screening of their respective films to talk about their experiences in the field and engage in a lively discussion with their audiences on the mirage of social issues boldly undertaken in the series of documentaries. Baguio

Cinematheque is located inside Casa Vallejo right across SM City Baguio. Tickets are now available for early reservation at 100php per viewing. Please contact Ms. Ems Guerrero (+639175681304) for more info. Check out the CineTotoofacebook page (www.facebook.com/cinetotoo) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/cinetotoo) accounts for updates!

*This is a press release.

Saint Louis University In Baguio City Lights Up Its Giant Christmas Tree

In the evening of November 29, Saint Louis University (SLU) in Baguio City lit up its own giant Christmas tree which stands adjacent to the Jose Rizal Building within the campus. Thousands of students, guests and visitors attended the lighting ceremonies. A simple program and a mini-concert also graced the event. The Cordilleran Sun was there to witness the event. You can watch the lighting of the tree further below.

The lighting of the Christmas tree is part of the university's celebrations for its 103rd Foundation Day. Other events include a Run for Hope on November 30 and a highly-anticipated Lantern Parade in the early evening of December 1. Students and other participants in the parade will pass through Session Road and proceed to the Melvin Jones Football Grounds in Burnham Park.

The Lantern Parade also coincides with the launching of the Christmas in Baguio festivities. Session Road will be closed from midnight of November 30 to midnight of December 1 to give way to the events on said day. The giant Christmas tree on Session Road will also be lighted on the evening of December 1.

In the lighting ceremonies in Session Road, Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Congressman Nicasio Aliping are expected to deliver their respective messages. A fireworks display will cap off the night.

The Cordilleran Sun photo.

The 6 Most Common Misconceptions About Us Igorots And Our Way Of Life

Before anything else, allow me to reiterate the fact that indigenous peoples/groups in the Philippines are often awfully misunderstood. We, the Igorots of the Cordilleras, are in the same boat as the Aetas of Southern and Central Luzon, the Mangyans of Mindoro, the Lumads, Manobos and Subanons of Mindanao, and other groups I've failed to mention. Other people just keep on getting things wrong when they talk about us.

Now, I don't know the experiences of our Aeta and Lumad brothers. I leave it up to them to write about the many wrong ideas that other people have about them. But as an Igorot who lived all of my current life in the Cordillera, I've had my own share of experiences with people who carry the belief that Igorots live in trees. That Igorots are stuck in the 1920s while the rest of the world march on in the 21st century. Believe me, these just compose the tip of the iceberg.

People who do not belong to our group often have ideas about us that are either not true or grossly exaggerated. The roots of these misconceptions can be attributed to a lot of things, the two most logical of which are the lack of accurate information concerning us and the spread of faulty descriptions about us.

I'm sure you remember looking at a textbook when you were in elementary school and there in its pages is an Igorot man with a pipe stuck in his mouth, a moronic grin on his leathery face, and a haircut that seems to have been patterned after a halved coconut husk. Completing the picture is a soiled Igorot kid running around with nothing on except for the bahag that covers his most private part. This was when I was in elementary school. Unfortunately, such stereotypes continue to this day.

With that said, I've decided to try and compile the most common misconceptions that non-Igorots have about us. So here we go.

1) Igorots wear their g-strings and other traditional clothes at home.
To be fair, there's a bit of truth to this. There are still Igorots in some communities in the Cordillera region who prefer wearing the wanes (g-string) and ingay (wrap-around skirt for women). Most of them are elderly, folks who were born during a time when wearing the native attire is common practice. For a long time now, however, traditional attires are stored in bauls and used only during community gatherings, festivals, and events like weddings, baptisms, etc.

The biggest reason why many people think that Igorots still wear their traditional attires in their daily lives is the way we are shown in popular media. Every time an Igorot is shown on television, plastered on a newspaper, or presented in a book, he/she is always wearing the native attire. This creates the impression that it's what we wear when we go to the farm, when we walk down the street, when we go to work, or when we go to the beach.

2) Igorots are short and have dark skins.
We are often mistakenly believed by other people to have the salient features of our Aeta brothers. Some even go as far as saying that Igorots and Aetas are from the same tribe. That Igorots also have curly and kinky hair.

There's nothing wrong with being short. There's nothing wrong with being dark-skinned. And there's nothing wrong with having crisp and curly hair. I'm simply stating the facts here. These are the recognizable features of Aetas, not Igorots. There are Igorots who are short. There are Igorots who have dark skins. And there are Igorots who have curly hair. But these are not our salient features in the same way that the Caucasian race doesn't have "almond-shaped eyes" as a recognizable feature.

This misconception is wrong and can cause serious harm. I remember a year or so ago when a local television station posted a photo of one of its celebrity stars posing with what it then called Igorots. The people in the photo weren't Igorots. They were Aetas wearing Igorot garb. This sloppy portrayal breeds even more ignorance in people.

Igorot girl in Coney Island in 1905. [Context]

3) Igorots have tails.
This is a classic one. We Igorots hear it with such regularity that we often joke about it among ourselves. To state the obvious, a human having a tail like that of a monkey's is a physical impossibility. We didn't go through hundreds of thousands of human evolution to get rid of the tail only to take it back in the snap of a generation.

There are several theories why this misconception abounds. One is that our native attires look like tails when we wear them. The wanes for men can look like a tail to an outsider. The skirt for women has with it a woven belt that extends to the length of the skirt. It does also look like a tail when observed from a distance. The Ilocanos, Tagalogs, and Spaniards of old may have seen these and spread rumors (either seriously or jokingly) that Igorots have tails. Suffice it to say that the joke was passed down through generations.

In this age and times, only a person who has never read a science book can believe the proposition that a man (a tribe for that matter) can grow a tail similar to that of a baboon.

4) Igorots have huge feet and gnarly toes.
This misconception had its roots generations ago. In the olden times, we hunted in the mountains of Benguet, fished in the rivers of Kalinga and walked down to the lowlands to trade with the Tagalogs and the Ilocanos with nothing on our feet. Naturally, our toes sort of stretched themselves to the left and to the right. The corns and calluses on our feet grew making our feet look much larger than normal. But do we have huge feet? No, we have the same feet that our Ilocano and Tagalog neighbors had.

Historians and anthropologists like William Henry Scott who came to the Cordillera region to study us and our ways of life brought more fire to this misconception by detailed studies about our feet. The studies came with great pictures too. These scholars are not to be faulted of course. Their research were often sound. It was the wrong interpretations of some readers that led to the misleading information about our feet.

5) Igorots eat dogs as regularly as they eat pork and chicken.
To be fair, some of us do eat dog meat. But the vast majority of us don't. And the way other people say it, they seem to imply that we eat dog meat the way we eat rice. As a staple presence in our dining tables. That is just not the case. I for instance have a taste of dog meat for like twice or once and sometimes never in a year.

As to the root of this misconception, it dates back to colonial times. Spaniards have always described us as eaters of dogs. Then the Americans came. In the early 1900s, one particular business-minded American named Truman Hunt brought Igorots to the United States and displayed them in a human zoo.

The Igorots replicated a typical Igorot village and was told to go on with their lives the way they always did back home. Dogs were brought to them on a regular basis which they butchered and ate in front of shocked Americans. From there on, Igorots have always been looked upon as dog-eaters.

Igorots for show in Coney Island in the summer of 1905. [Context]

6) Igorots still live in cogon huts and tree houses.
Many people still think that we are very behind when it comes to being civilized and modernized. Many people harbor ideas that we still run around in forests in our bahags and climbing into our tree houses when the days end. The fact that our mountains are teeming with pine trees, in a way, gives a bit of a push to this misinformed idea.

Your turn.
If you have anything to add to what we already discussed above or you simply wish to chime in, feel free to leave your reactions and responses to the comments section below.

Two Rebels In Kalinga Receive 45,000 And 20,000 Pesos Each For Surrendering

According to a report by Larry Lopez of the Philippine Information Agency, two rebels in Kalinga province were awarded financial aid by the government for surrendering and giving up their firearms. One rebel received a check worth 45,000 pesos after giving up an M-16 ArmaLite rifle. The other rebel received 20,000 pesos for surrendering his Carbine rifle. Although the name of the rebel group that the two returnees belonged to wasn't named in the report, it's likely that it's the New Peoples Army (NPA) as this is the only rebel group that operates in the Cordillera region.

The reward given to the two returnees is part of the Philippine government's Guns-For-Peace Program (GFP), formerly known as Balik-Baril Program. The program basically calls on rebels to return to the government's fold with the promise that they will be rewarded not only with cash but assistance in finding new livelihoods.

The two men in Kalinga (they were not named for security reasons) received their checks from Paul Atal, Commander of the Army's 501st Brigade and Kalinga Governor Jocel C. Baac. During the awarding rites, Atal also mentioned that they have at least 300,000 pesos in funds remaining in their program ready to be handed out to returnees.

The government's GFP program has been mired by controversy ever since it started in the late 1980s. Although authorities often insist that the program is helping, there's not enough data to back up such claims. The program has also been used for corruption among the military ranks. Some people have accused the program as a tool used by corrupt military officials to enrich themselves. Fake rebels are allegedly presented along with their surrendered weapons so that they can collect the reward money.

Photo by Bill Bradford via Flickr.

Many people are also questioning the reasoning behind the program, citing that the program will only entice rebels to surrender for the wrong reasons. That is they lay down their arms for the sole purpose of collecting the reward money. And what happens after they surrender? Who is monitoring them? Who's checking if they are keeping their promises? What's being done to make sure that they don't return to the mountains?

Cordillera Peoples Alliance Receives International Award For Their Water-Preservation Efforts

The Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) earned another feather for its cap when the organization took home the Gaia Prize at this year's edition of the Eco Water Awards which was held at the SBS Prism Tower in the capital city of Seoul in South Korea. Abigail Anongos, Secretary General of the CPA flew all the way to the Land of the Morning Calm to personally receive the award.

Presented by the Korea Federation of Environmental Movements, Seoul Broadcasting System, Friends of Earth Korea, and the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea, the Gaia Prize is in recognition of the CPA's "dedication for water resources and water related ecosystem conservation". The SBS Eco Water Awards are held annually to honor the "contributions of individuals, communities and institutions to protect water environments and to improve water resources management and water quality in a sustainable way".

"We sincerely thank the organizers of the Eco Water Awards for recognizing our work in protecting and defending Cordillera natural resources and biodiversity", said Anongos.

“There are no other organizations that can match this dedication and commitment of CPA and its allied organizations from the grassroots for the defense of resources in the region. We have spearheaded major campaigns to save the river systems in the region, such as the “Let the Agno River Flow” and “Save the Abra River Movement.” In fact, CPA as an organization is pioneered by staunch environmental defenders of the Chico River against the World Bank-funded Chico dams in Kalinga and Mountain Province from the 1970s-1980s, as well as the Cellophil Resources logging concessions in Abra. These actions and campaigns are meant to save the environment for the people and future generations, and not for capitalist greed,” added Anongos.

The GAIA award trophy. Photo by Abigail Anongos.

What Does The Kankana-ey Word "Taraki" Mean?

Kimberly, a student at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City sent me an email asking me to translate into English a list of Kankana-ey words and phrases. Kimberly is writing an overview paper on the evolution of two of the most common dialects in the province of Benguet. These are Kankana-ey and Ibaloi. I'm completely clueless about the latter so I told Kimberly to find someone else who is knowledgeable about the dialect. I however decided to help her with the Kankana-ey words and phrases. I grew up speaking the dialect. So she sent me a long list of about a hundred words and phrases.

Translating into English the list that she sent me was not too difficult. They're mostly basic stuff like take a bath (man-ames), sleep (maseyep), good (gawis), make (iyamag), etc. However, there's one word that caused me a lot of difficulty translating. Finding the right and accurate English translation for it was an exercise in itself. Said word is "taraki", an adjective often used by Kankana-ey speakers to describe someone or something in a positive way.

Taraki is not gender-specific. It can be used to describe a man or a woman. Say you just met a girl and you find her attractive, you can describe her as taraki or na-taraki. The same can be said if you are a girl and you met or saw a guy you are attracted to. The term is also commonly used to describe a thing or an animal. For example, you can use it do describe a painting or any work of art that you like.

When used on people, taraki isn't used directly by the speaker to the person who is the recipient of his/her affections. It would be very awkward to simply walk up to someone and say he/she is taraki. It doesn't work this way. It's used in the same way as telling a friend that you have a huge crush on someone. You don't say it directly to the person. Instead, you mention it to a third party, out of earshot of the person who is the subject of your compliments.

Digital art by James Claridades. See more of his work on DeviantArt.

There doesn't seem to be a direct English translation of taraki. This is because it can be used as a substitute for a myriad of adjectives like beautiful, good-looking, confident, talented, intelligent, handsome, artistic, industrious, etc. You can very well substitute the word for all positive adjectives in the book. The English word that comes closest to it is the loose word "cool". When you describe someone as taraki, you are saying that that someone is "cool".

It's much easier to translate taraki into Tagalog. It fits rather accurately with the Tagalog slang word "astig". However, the word astig carries a tinge of aggressiveness in it which is minimal if not absent in taraki.

What do you think? Are there other translations of taraki into English or Tagalog that you can think of? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

[Update, December 1: From comments on this post and elsewhere, the word "taraki" is an Ilocano term adapted by Kankana-ey speakers. Some contest the proposition so we'll have to look further into it.]

Horses, Chickens, Wine And More At The Adivay Festival In La Trinidad, Benguet

This year's edition of the Benguet Adivay Festival is nearly coming to an end. It started on the first week of November and is expected to have its curtains closed within the first week of December. With the theme "On ASEAN Integration: Benguet Faces Its Challenges And Grasps The Opportunities", the festivities carried with them a tinge of the Benguet people's positive hopes and anticipations when the integration finally creeps into the province next year. 

With events that included sports tournaments,  trade fairs, arts and cultural competitions, and various exhibits, the festival had something for everyone. The highlights of the festivities may be over (the parade and the Grand Canao were held on November 24), but there's still a lot of things going on at the Benguet Sports Center in Wangal, Buyagan. We went there today and the place is still bustling with activity. Some booths, especially the ones from the far-flung municipalities of Benguet already packed up and left but most of them are still there along with their products and wares.

There are other major events set to be held in the coming days. These include a body-building competition, a fun run, a mass wedding, a Christmas choral contest, and more. You can find the full Adivay schedule here. Happy Adivay! (Note: all photos by The Cordilleran Sun.)

8-Year-Old Student In Baguio City Dies After Being Accidentally Hit With A Baseball Bat

A young student in Baguio City has died last Saturday (November 22) after being accidentally hit in the head with a baseball bat. The victim has been identified as Clyde Ivan Luke Samson, a Grade 3 pupil at the Baguio Central School (BCS). The fellow student who accidentally hit him was not identified.

Police investigation showed that Samson went to school that Saturday to attend an enhancer class. On the same day, baseball players from the same school were practicing in preparation for the upcoming Palarong Panlungsod. One of the players was practicing and was about to hit a ball thrown at him when Samson ran across him and got hit in the head. Samson was reportedly running to pick up something near the baseball player.

Right after the incident, Samson collapsed and started throwing up blood. He was quickly rushed to the Baguio General Hospital (BGH) but he was declared dead on arrival. He suffered serious injuries to the head.

According to the police, although the player is not criminally liable for the accident, his parents and the school administration might be held liable for what happened. The victim's mother was overseas when the incident happened.

The Cordilleran Sun file photo.

5 Bontoc Policemen Facing Murder Charges In Connection With Student's Death

People who believe that policemen are to be blamed for the death of a 20-year-old student in Bontoc, Mt. Province last November 5 can heave a sigh of relief. At least momentarily. They are one step closer to getting the justice they've been clamoring for. Last Friday, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed murder charges against the five Bontoc policemen who were involved in the case.

Stefene Galidan, a native of Bauko and a business management student at the Mt. Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) in Poblacion, Bontoc died in the morning of November 5 after being brought to the hospital by the five Bontoc policemen who accosted the young student earlier. According to a police report by the cops involved, they encountered Galidan and his two companions loitering in the streets within curfew hours.

According to the same report, the three young men were creating trouble and one of them was holding and swaying an empty bottle of brandy (Emperador). When the policemen apprehended them, they argued with the cops and resisted arrest. Galidan also allegedly tried to take pictures of the cops as they tried to apprehend one of his friends. Galidan's companions were able to run away. Galidan voluntarily submitted himself and said he'll accompany the policemen to the Bontoc Municipal Police Station so that he can file a complaint.

On the way to the police office, Galidan allegedly opened the door of the patrol car and jumped out. He landed on the pavement causing "multiple abrasions on his person". That's when the policemen brought Galidan to the Bontoc General Hospital. The police report dated November 5 stated that Galidan was "on stable condition" at the hospital.

In a progress report by the same police station, the station was informed by Angel Libang (a relative of the victim) that Galidan has expired at the hospital.

Photo by Ricky Samidan via Facebook.

However, according to the National Bureau of Investigation, there's reason to believe that the young Galidan died because of what the policemen may have done to him before bringing him to the hospital. Thus the murder charges filed against them. The NBI also stated that autopsy reports, closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and witness accounts provide even more teeth to the charges.

The autopsy report which was conducted in the morning of November 6 showed that the cause of death was "multiple traumatic injuries". According to the report, Galidan suffered several external and internal injuries. He had abrasions on his face, arms, and hands. He had hematoma on different parts of his head. There was hemorrhage in his stomach and left kidney.

The five policemen have been identified as SPO4 Rolando Bagangan, SPO4 Michael Napa-eg, SPO3 Lester Faba-an, SPO2 Gaspar Suagen and PO3 Raul Fagsao.

Stefene Galidan Case Update: A Copy Of The Autopsy Report

Currently gripping the towns of Bauko and Bontoc in Mt. Province is the case of Stefene Galidan, a 20 year old student who died on November 5 while being treated at a hospital. He was brought to the hospital by policemen who accosted him earlier for curfew violations.

The police report by the Bontoc Municipal Police Station stated that Galidan was brought by the policemen to the hospital after he fell off the police patrol car. However, many people are not buying the police report. An indignation rally was recently held in Bontoc calling for the truth. The five cops involved in the case were also relieved from their posts.

Below is a copy of the autopsy report conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). If you can't view the photo of the report, we've also added a transcript of it below.

TRANSCRIPT:
Case of Stefene Galidan y Bosleng, 20 years old, male, resident of Mt. Data Cliff, Monamon Sur, bauko, Mt. Province. referred to the undersigned for autopsy on November 5, 2014 at 2:40 pm.

Autopsy was done on November 6, 2014 at 10 am at Bontoc General Hospital, Bontoc, Mt. Province. Deceased was wrapped in white cloth, was wearing a white t-shirt and jogging pants. Body in complete rigor mortis with fixed posterior lividity.

Evidence of external injuries:

1. Multiple contused abrasions, face

2. Multiple contused abrasions, hands, left and right

3. Multiple contused abrasions, arms, left and right

4. Contused abrasion, shoulder, right

Evidence of internal injuries:

1. Scalp hematoma, top to the right side of the head

2. Hematoma, left and right sides of the brain (just above the ears)

3. Fracture, middle and posterior base of the skull, right side

4. Traumatically detached, central and lateral incisors, left

5. Contusion, upper lip, left side

6. Massive hemorrhage and contusion, stomach, with 200 cc blackish-brown fluid

7. Laceration, pancreas

8. Severe hemorrhage, left kidney

Cause of death: Multiple traumatic injuries

Remarks: Ongoing histopathological examination

Signed by Dr. Sheilah Marie P. Mapalo (Medico-Legal Officer)

Noted by Atty. Florencio C. Canlas (Officer In Charge)

Photo by Ricky Samidan via Facebook.

3 Team Lakay Fighters Are Set And Ready To Take On Their Opponents This December

Fans of mixed martial arts in the Philippines are in for a treat. One Fighting Championship, the leading MMA organization in Asia is staging another combat sports event in Manila at the Mall of Asia Arena on December 5. Six Filipino fighters have been tapped to showcase their skills in said event. Three of them are fighting under the Team Lakay banner. 

Eduard Folayang looks to extend his two-fight winning streak when he welcomes Timofey Nastyukhin of Russia into the ONE FC. A winner of 7 of his 8 professional fights, Nastyukhin is an accomplished knockout and submission artist.

Kevin Belingon hopes to get back into the winning column by defeating Japan's Koetsu Okazaki. Belingon lost his last fight in the ONE FC to South Korea's Dae Hwan Kim via a rear-naked choke in the very first stanza. Okazaki on the other hand is currently on a two-fight winning streak in the ONE FC.

Honorio Banario who will be facing an undefeated fighter in Herbert Burns is seeking redemption after losing three fights in a row in the ONE FC. The former champion lost his belt to Koji Oishi of Japan in 2013. He failed to take the belt back in the rematch. Most recently, he lost to Jadamba Narantungalag of Mongolia in a close fight. The Mongolian currently reigns as the champion of the ONE FC's featherweight division after besting Oishi during a lopsided contest held in Dubai.

Also fighting in the card is the Cordillera-based Jujeath Nagaowa, a former professional boxer who debuted in the ONE FC last May. She knocked out her opponent in her impressive debut. For her second fight, she will be facing a much taller fighter in Tharoth Sam, a martial artist hailing from Cambodia.

Folayang (right) landing a kick to Kamal Shalorus (left). Photo by ONE FC.

Banario (right) and Jadamba Narantungalag showing sportsmanship after their bout. Photo by ONE FC.

Kevin Belingon celebrating after a win. Photo by ONE FC.

Baguio Film “Agbalbalitok” To Raise Funds For Ailing Son Of Small Scale Miner In Itogon

After its successful launching last September, The eleven documentaries of GMA Network’sCineTotoo is coming to Baguio City for the first leg of the Cine Totoo Caravan tour around the country. Of special note is Baguio-based award winning filmmaker Ferdinand Balanag’s documentary“Agbalbalitok”. The film documented the life of small-scale miners in Luneta, Itogon, Benguet. It questions the real price we pay in the pursuit of gold, a quickly-diminishing but very expensive metal. The documentary aims to be an instrument to raise money for the medical expenses of the film’s case study, Kurt John - the son of Janrey Guinapon, a small scale miner and the main subject of the documentary.

Kurt John's ailment is suspected to be caused by his exposure to toxic elements present in the surroundings of the small-scale mining community where his father has been working all his life. During the course of the production, Balanag and his team has brought Kurt John to several doctors in Baguio City but the diagnosis remains inconclusive. Kurt John needs further tests in institutions with higher facilities in Manila. According to specialist, Dra. Rosalinda Tandoc of Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), there have been several cases similar to Kurt John’s condition who came for checkups, all from small-scale mining areas in Benguet.

If Kurt John is given the chance to undergo intensive medical tests to determine the validity of the doctor's presumed diagnosis, the results could be a sample that can finally confirm the cause of this kind of illness among children in the Luneta, Itogon community as well as ratify the effects of toxicity on humans in small-scale mining communities all over the Philippines.

Johnrey processes a small amount of gold ore as Kurt John curiously watches. Johnrey hopes to sell the little gold he extracts to pay for his son's medical check up.

Due to his illness, Kurt John is quick to tire, has little to no appetite, and is often exempt from physical work and activities in school. He is forbidden to play with kids his age and is a year behind his batch as a result of excessive sick-absences. To attempt to remedy the problem, his father often begs for loans and meager cash advances from the financier of their small scale mining operations. The family often rely on their relatives and neighbors in order to augment their daily meals. Extra expenses like medicine and medical checkups are a luxury.

Agbalbalitok is scheduled to be screened at the Baguio Cinematheque located at historical Casa Vallejo on Dec 2 (Tuesday) - 3:30 PM, Dec 4 (Thursday) - 11:30 AM, Dec 7 (Sunday) - 3:30 PM. The goal of the Agbalbalitok film showings is to to raise money for the medical expenses of the film’s case study, Kurt John Guinapon- son of JanreyGuinapon, the main subject of the documentary.All revenues from ticket sales will be donated for Kurt John’s urgent medical diagnosis and treatment. Hopefully sufficient funds can be raised on or before the child celebrates his thirteenth birthday on January 2015.

“It has been a unique privilege and an incredibly humbling experience to be part of the lives of our small-scale mining brothers and sisters in Itogon, to witness their impeccable strength and remarkable willpower to surpass the endless challenges that come their way. We have so much we have to be thankful for, and so much that we can offer to help those whose plight may appear completely alien to us, but surely we recognize the same pain and desperation and wish to be assisted somehow. We would like to appeal to the community to join us in doing this little thing for Kurt John by helping to cover his medical expenses” shared Director Ferdinand Balanag about the fundraising endeavor for their case study. Tickets price is Php 100 per view. In addition to the film screening, an open forum will be held right after to discuss any issues pertaining to the documentary.

For more details, updates on dates and venue of special screenings in universities, and queries on how you could extend help through donations and contributions in kind, you may reach them through their website (http://twimedia.org) or follow their Facebook page (facebook.com/Agbalbalitok).

People who wish to donate can also direct their donations via a FundRazr campaign set up by director Balanag. Visit the fund raising campaign here.

- Press release.

Update On Missing Girl From Bauko: She Has Been Found

The young girl from the municipality of Bauko in Mt. Province who was reported missing last November 14 has been found by the police. Joint forces from various police stations in Mt. Province and Baguio City found the girl at a stall at the Slaughter Compound in barangay Sto. Nino in Baguio City.

She is now in the custody of the Women and Children Protection Desk and will soon be referred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for counseling before she'll be allowed to return home to Bauko. The police didn't divulge what exactly happened, how she went missing, who took her, and how she was found. But she's safe now.

Here's an excerpt from a progress report by the police:

"Personnel of Bauko Municipal Police Station; Mountain Province Police Provincial Office ; RIU-PROCOR; Women and Children Protection Desk and Baguio City Police Office personnel, led by PSI ROY AWISAN conducted intensive follow-up on the possible whereabouts of said missing student and were able to locate the person at about 9:30 AM on November 21, 2014 at Stall Number 8 at Slaughter Compound, Barangay Sto Niño, Baguio City. 

Subject minor is now under the custody of the composite team and was brought to WCPD Center of Baguio City for debriefing and documentation. The team is now coordinating with the DSWD for counseling before transporting aforesaid minor to Bauko, Mountain Province."

Baguio City's Panagbenga Flower Festival 2015 Schedule And Calendar Of Events

The 20th edition of the Panagbenga Flower Festival in Baguio City was formally launched at the Baguio City Hall on November 17, 2014. The theme for next year's festivities is "Across 20 Years of Blossoming Together". The theme was inspired by the expected collaboration between Baguio City and the neighboring Benguet towns of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay. The group is collectively and more popularly known by the acronym BLISTT (Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, Tublay).

 

With the participation of Baguio City's neighboring towns, organizers of the festival are promising a grander edition of the annual festival. The festivities will also be represented by a logo featuring a flower with six petals which represents the city of Baguio and the five Benguet towns that will be participating in the staging of the festival.

As always, the Panagbenga Festival will kick off on February 1 and will wrap up within the first week of March. You can view the partial calendar of events below. Organizers are still working on the final schedule of activities so this calendar is a work-in-progress. We will be updating it in the coming weeks and months. 

Photo by Zer Cabatuan via Flickr.

February 1
1) Opening Ceremony
2) Street Dancing Parade Competition - From the Panagbenga Park to Session Road, Harrison Road, and then to the Melvin Jones Football Grounds.
3) Opening Concert - Venue still to be announced.

February 1 to March 8
1) Baguio Blooms Exhibition and Exposition - At the Lake Drive within Burnham Park.

February 15
1) Handog ng Panagbenga sa Pamilya Baguio
2) Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom
3) Panagbenga Kite-Flying Challenge
4) Variety Show
5) Fireworks Display at the Melvin Jones Football Grounds

February 19
1) Chinese Spring Festival

February 20 to 22
1) Philippine Military Academy Grand Alumni Homecoming

February 23 to 27
1) Floral Arrangement Competition and School-based Landscaping Competition

February 28
1) Grand Street Dancing Parade - Session Road, Harrison Road, Melvin Jones Football Grounds

March 1
1) Grand Float Parade - Session Road, Harrison Road, Melvin Jones Football Grounds

March 1 to 8
1) Session Road in Bloom

March 7
1) Pony Boys Day

March 8
1) Grand Fireworks Display

Missing Girl From Bauko, Mt. Province: Police Search Is Still Ongoing

[Update: Karen has been found and she's safe now. You can read the latest developments about the case here.]

The search continues for a young girl who went missing last November 14, 2014 (Friday) in the municipality of Bauko in Mt. Province. Karen Amiten Cosili, a grade eight student at the Otucan-Bila National High School was last seen wearing a pair of jeans, a striped jacket, and a pair of blue-colored slippers.

Karen has dark hair and stands about five feet. The young student's family and the Bauko Municipal Police Station (BMPS) are calling on anyone who may have seen her to contact the authorities immediately. If you have seen her, please contact the following phone numbers: 0921-695-5210 or 0929-330-2778.

If you happen to spot the girl in nearby municipalities, you can contact the following police station numbers: Bontoc [0918-489-1066], Sabangan [0908-468-7555], and Tadian [0927-554-8819]. Or you can simply report what you saw to the nearest police station or barangay outpost near you.

This is not the first time for this year that young students had gone missing in the municipality. Three teenaged students also went missing there last June. Fortunately, they were found safe and reunited with their families.

Relive Kevin Belingon's Highlight Reel Knockout Win Over David Aranda Santacana

This coming December 5, Cordilleran mixed martial artist Kevin Belingon who hails from the province of Ifugao will return to the cage as part of the One Fighting Championship's Warrior's Way card at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila. He will be fighting Koetsu Okazaki of Japan.

If you are not familiar with the Ifugao native's handiwork inside the ring, then this video of one of his most recent fights will make for a good introduction. It's a video of Belingon's fight with Spain's David Aranda Santacana wherein the former knocked out the latter in the very first round. Right off the bat, the two fighters went swinging for the fences. As both of them are strikers, they spent most of the fight on their feet. The end came when Belingon landed a hard punch when the two were slugging it out in the pocket. Santacana dropped on the canvas and the referee rightfully waved off the bout.

Also fighting in the Warrior's Way card are Team Lakay fighters Eduard Folayang, Honorio Banario and Jujeath Nagaowa. Folayang will face Timofey Nastyukhin, Banario will fight Herbert Burns, and former professional boxer Nagaowa will lock horns with Tharoth Sam.

Post by ONE Fighting Championship.

Benguet Community In The United Kingdom Celebrates 7th Adivay London

By the Benguet Organization United Kingdom (BOUK) - Pentagon Hall in Southwark, East London played host to the Benguet Organisation UK's ADIVAY on the 8th of November 2014. As the heavens poured, the rain soaked guests didn't dampen the spirit of this Igorot Festival. And so the eBenguets in the UK gathered together in the midst of heavy rain and busy work life in the spirit of community and camaraderie to celebrate their culture .The rituals and customs practiced by their fore bearers came to life as the performers entertained with the traditional dances, beating of the gongs and the traditional chants .

Here in London, the Benguet Organisation United Kingdom (BOUK) aims to capture the very essence of ADIVAY. BOUK is one of the subgroups of IGOROT UK , the mother organisation of all Igorot tribes in the UK- the Mt Province Federation UK, United Kalinga Apayao Network and Ifugao Organisation, all of which hold their own cultural festivals in the UK.

On its 7th year, the theme is the Tribal Beat and Dances of Benguet and ADIVAY London attempted to bring back ancient Benguet beats via the play of gongs, Solibao, tiktik and the tallak. These Benguet dances are coupled with dances with different meanings depending on which occasion they are performed. Culture is important to the Igorots.

And Benguet in particular because of its proximity to Baguio City and other highly urbanised areas is in danger of a cultural set back as more and more young and middle aged ebenguets are not familiar with the rituals, dances and music of Benguet anymore. Thus, the BOUK made it their business to promote and preserve the Benguet culture so far away from home.

The New Generation Benguet danced the Tarektek, an Ibaloi Dance performed in honour of the colourful woodpeckers that once inhabit Benguet on the borders of Mountain province. It is a mimetic courtship dance, with one tarektek male manipulating a colorful tribal blanket representative of the birds's iridescent plumage while the other playfully beats on a brass gangsa representing impressive bird calls as they battle for the attention of three tarektek females.

Tallak Dance is a native dance accompanied with fine tuned wood instruments that produce a rhythm when played in harmony and which originated in Bakun, Benguet. The Tallak instruments used by the BOUK was lovingly prepared and crafted by Crispina Moresto.

The BOUK recreated the Taychek, the monumental dance of the culture-unique Karao Tribe in the Municipality of Bokod . It sounds like the Mt.Province’s because it is believed that the ikaraos’ origin is somewhere in Natonin, Mt Province. The dance may serve to honor or celebrate a battle won against the headhunters and it can also be performed as a harvest dance.

The “Ginalding” is an Ibaloi thanksgiving ritual for Kabunyan and specially performed by the Ibaloi group led by Mildred Ngaloy of Bokod and Jordan Ansen of Itogon. The Ginangsa is a faster and more snappy dance of the kankanaey. This was led by the newly formed Buguias Mankayan Group led by Jhun Bacquian and Conchita Marquez.

The Day-eng (kankanaey Chant ) was provided by the Gorgeous and talented Ms Conchita Marquez of Buguias Benguet and the Bahdew (Ibaloi Chant) was written by our very own special guest, Victor A. Cosalan of Kabayan, Benguet who’ve regaled us with a tayao and sadong. Mayor Jerry Dapilog of Banaue Ifugao was also a special guest, together with representatives of Philippine Tourism as they promote the Tourism owned Banaue Hotel in Ifugao.

The 7th Adivay also launched CADIEM ( Ibaloi for friend) the very first news letter of the BOUK and distributed free to its members and friends.

Headed by its President Archie Nabus and led by the creative work of Crispina Moresto, The BOUK provided a spectacle worthy of the Benguet culture’s unique qualities. Benguet’s premiere dance, the Bendian dance was performed to celebrate the guests, the members, the families and friends who have continuously provided their support. Come again and join us for Next year’s Adivay London. There is so much more to showcase-Adivay: Proudly Benguet, Proudly Igorot. OOOOWWWAAAYYY…….. ADIVAY.

Below are photos from the festivities. Photos courtesy of the Benguet Organization United Kingdom and Igorot Online.  For more pictures, visit the Igorot Online website at www.igorotonline.com.