The Faces Behind The Names: The 13 Cordilleran Cops Who Were Among The 44 Slain In Maguindanao

On January 29, 42 of the 44 commandos who fell during the tragic Masapano encounter in Maguindanao arrived in Manila. All of them were members of the Philippine National Police's elite Special Action Force (SAF). Young and still in the early years of their careers in the force, the nation mourns as their bodies are prepared to finally make their way home to their families.

Today (January 30) has been declared as National Day of Mourning to honor the 44 who made the ultimate sacrifice in protecting this country. Most of us don't know the men personally but what they did (and what their compatriots continue to do) is the very definition of heroism.

Thirteen of the forty-four policemen who fell during the firefight are Cordillerans. They are sons of Benguet, Kalinga, Mt. Province, and Ifugao. In this national day of mourning, we take the time to look at their faces and realize the gravity of the sacrifice they made just so we can live in a country that is free from the likes of Marwan and Basit Usman.

Here are the Cordilleran 13. For the names and faces of all the 44 cops, go here. [All photos courtesy of the Philippine National Police - Special Action Force and Rappler.]

In summary, here are their names and where they were from:
1. Police Officer 2 Walner Danao of Irisan, Baguio City
2. Police Officer 2 Franklin Danao of Tinoc, Ifugao
3. Police Officer 3 Noel Golocan from Lepanto, Benguet and Mt. Province
4. Police Officer 2 Peterson Carap from Kabayan, Benguet
5. Police Officer 1 Russel Bilog of Tabuk, Kalinga and Sagada, Mt. Province
6. Police Senior Inspector Cyrus Anniban of Balbalan, Kalinga
7. Police Officer 1 Angel Kodiamat from Bontoc, Mt. Province
8. Police Officer 1 Gringo Cayang-o of Sadanga, Mt. Province
9. Police Senior Inspector Gednat Tabdi from La Trinidad, Benguet
10. Police Officer 2 Joel Dulnuan from Kiangan, Ifugao
11. Police Officer 2 Noble Kiangan of Mankayan, Benguet
12. Police Officer 2 Jerry Kayob of La Trinidad, Benguet
13. Police Officer 3 Robert Allaga of Banaue, Ifugao

Nearly 30 Sacks Of Garbage Left By Hikers At Mt. Pulag Were Picked Up During A Clean-Up Drive

As the third highest mountain in the Philippines, it's not surprising that Mt. Pulag is one of the most climbed mountains in the country. Dozens of climbers troop to the mountain every month to experience walking through its grassy slopes and watching majestic sceneries such as the sea of clouds and a clearer view of the Milky Way Galaxy.

This influx of visitors, however, has a dark side. In a recent clean-up drive held at the mountain, guides and porters and other concerned groups gathered between 20 to 30 sacks of trash. Most of these are plastics and are therefore non-biodegradable.

The Cordillera Conservation Trust (CCT), an organization seeking "to provide relevant practical and sustainable solutions to environmental problems arising in the Cordillera region" was at the clean-up drive and posted photos from said drive on Facebook. Check them out below.

Empty water and soda plastic bottles among those gathered in the mountain. Photo by the Cordillera Conservation Trust. 

Post by Cordillera Conservation Trust.

The CCT wrote, "We joined the guides and porters today to clean up Mt Pulag and were horrified by the amount of trash climbers have left on the mountain hidden in the grass, on the sides of camp, etc.. This is one of the main reasons we are pushing to close down the Babadak trail to camping and requiring all tourists to stay in homestays in the Ranger Station area and climbing at dawn to the summit. This will minimize both the waste and impact on the mountain and provide much needed income for the local community. We must have picked up 20-30 sacks of trash littered from the mossy forest to the summit."

The organization's suggestions that the Babadak Trail be closed to camping and that climbers should be required to stay in homestays near the Ranger Station have merits and they do make complete sense. These will benefit the place and the locals both environmentally and economically.

Teddy Baguilat Wants Justice For Slain Cops, Still Supports The Bangsamoro Basic Law

Congressman Teddy Brawner Baguilat Jr, the representative of the lone district of Ifugao is calling for justice for the dozens of police officers who were killed during an encounter with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao last Sunday (January 25). Among those who perished during the encounter were 12 Cordilleran cops who belong to the Philippine National Police's Special Action Force group.

In a press release, Baguilat said that all the victims of the encounter in Maguindanao deserve justice. However, he added that he still maintains his support for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law or BBL. He also called for his fellow legislators to "take “the high road” and retain support for lasting peace in Mindanao through the passage" of the BBL.

Baguilat observes that some legislators are now doubting the proposed law because of the massacre. His stance is that the peace process should continue despite the problems raised by the Maguindanao incident. According to him, those responsible for the "mistake of miscoordination and inefficient intelligence gathering" should be investigated and held accountable.

Following the clash between the government special forces and Muslim rebels, Senator Bongbong Marcos has suspended the hearings on the passage of the proposed law under his committee. Two other Senators - Alan Cayetano and JV Ejercito - also withdrew their authorship of the proposed law.

In this file photo by the US Army taken in 2010, Special Action Force cops serve as security during a medical outreach in Lamitan, Basila. Source: US Department of Defense

Posts by Baguilat on Twitter and Facebook made some people think that the solon might also be changing his mind on the BBL. In one post, he wrote, "Just found out that one of those killed is a cousin. Two more are also Ifugaos. Hard for me to be hopeful of the process." It turned out, however, that the cousin he was referring to didn't actually die but was only wounded during the encounter. Three of the more than 40 cops who perished in the encounter are from Ifugao.

With the recent press release which he posted on Facebook, Baguilat set the record straight that he is retaining his support of the proposed law. He said it's emotionally difficult for him to support the BBL since a lot of those killed were Cordillerans but he believes it's the way for finally achieving peace in Mindanao.

"I remembered my brother, Capt. Winston Baguilat, who died in 1998 in the fields of Basilan, killed probably by a Muslim insurgent’s bullet. I felt grief. But I told myself if I could make a difference someday, I would rather take the tougher road to lasting peace than a knee jerk call for total war," Baguilat said.

At Least 10 Cordilleran Policemen Among Those Killed In Maguindanao Encounter

Based on the latest reports, at least 43 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP SAF) were killed during an encounter with Muslim rebels in Maguindanao last Sunday (January 25). Around 11 of the policemen were also reported to have been wounded. The government forces engaged members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in barangay Tukalanipao in said province.

The numbers of those who perished and those who were wounded are not yet definite. Various media outlets are reporting different figures. Rappler reports that 49 bodies were recovered from the encounter site while the Inquirer puts it at 43. 

Several of the slain policemen are from the Cordillera region. Based on our sources, over a dozen of the cops are from the different provinces of CAR. We are yet to verify some of the names but below are 13 of the policemen who are reportedly from the Cordillera region. [If there's an error in the list, please feel free to inform us at the comments section below.]

1. Police Officer 2 Walner Danao of Irisan, Baguio City
2. Police Officer 2 Franklin Danao of Tinoc, Ifugao
3. Police Officer 3 Noel Golocan from Lepanto, Benguet and Mt. Province
4. Police Officer 2 Peterson Carap from Kabayan, Benguet
5. Police Officer 1 Russel Bilog of Tabuk, Kalinga and Sagada, Mt. Province
6. Police Senior Inspector Cyrus Anniban of Balbalan, Kalinga
7. Police Officer 1 Angel Kodiamat from Bontoc, Mt. Province
8. Police Officer 1 Gringo Cayang-o of Sadanga, Mt. Province
9. Police Senior Inspector Gednat Tabdi from La Trinidad, Benguet
10. Police Officer 2 Joel Dulnuan from Kiangan, Ifugao
11. Police Officer 3 Robert Allaga of Banaue, Ifugao
12. Police Officer 2 Jerry Kayob of La Trinidad, Benguet
13. Police Officer 2 Noble Kiangan of Mankayan, Benguet

File photo of PNP SAF during an exercise. Image from the Facebook page of the PNP SAF 5th Special Action Battalion.

Preparations Underway For Tabuk City's Ullalim Festival Which Is Expected To Boost Kalinga Tourism

The province of Kalinga is in the thick of preparations for the upcoming staging of this year's edition of the Ullalim Festival. The festival is part of the province's celebration of its 20th founding anniversary which happens to fall on Valentines Day.

It can be recalled that Kalinga and Apayao used to be lumped together as a single province. However, the passage of Philippine Republic Act No. 7878 in February 14, 1995 divided the province into two different provinces.

The Ullalim Festival is a five-day affair that will feature civic parades, trade fairs, sports challenges like mountain biking and whitewater rafting, cultural events, and pageants. The main highlight of the festival is the Awong Chi Gangsa (Sound of a Thousand Gongs), a cultural performance that features more than a thousand people. The province wants to break last year's record and increase the number of participants to at least two thousand. In fact, representatives from the Guinness World Book of Records are expected to come and document the show for a possible entry in their celebrated reference book.

The festival will start on February 14 and will end on February 18. Some events will be staged earlier than the foundation day like the Trade and Industrial Fair which will start on February 9 and the Mountain Bike Challenge which will be staged on February 13.

Participants in one of the events during the festival last year. Photo courtesy of the Tabuk City, Kalinga Facebook page.

The province is starting to flex its muscles for its tourism industry. It's spending more time and resources in its tourism campaigns which is a good thing because the province is rich, naturally and culturally. Kalinga has the goods, it just needs to get the word out so that tourists will start paying attention.

Just recently, an international team of environmentalists and natural science experts explored the province's caves (Tawang, Gawaan) and an underground river (Maling). The province hopes that this will help in opening the areas mentioned to tourists.

Ever Wondered Why This Rising Cafe In Baguio City Is Called Cafe Yagam?

Since opening its doors last year, Cafe Yagam has quickly established itself as one of the to-go places in Baguio City. Going to the place is a bit of a stretch considering the fact that it's located a good distance away from the central business district. But this has not stopped people from patronizing the place. Nothing beats good food, good services, and a good ambiance. You know the saying, "I don't care where you're located. If you treat me right, I'll walk the extra miles to get back here. Again and again."

The cafe's name is an enigma. The first time you hear the word or see the sign at its gate, the first question that comes to your mind is, "What's a yagam? What does it mean?" Well, it's not a what but a who.

In a post in their official Facebook page, the cafe wrote, "Why is it called Cafe Yagam? What is a Yagam? Well, it's not a 'what' but a 'who'. This is Yagam, she is the daughter of the owner of the cafe that is why it is named after her." Accompanying the post is a photo of the girl.

Post by CAFE YAGAM.

In a rather short time, Cafe Yagam entered the consciousness of locals and tourists alike, mostly through word of mouth. It also got a lot of attention online via blogs and forums. At one point, it even reached number one in Tripadvisor's list of "Best Baguio Restaurants". It has since slipped down a couple of notches but it's still there in the top ten.

Cafe Yagam is located in barangay Gibraltar, just a few meters away from Hotel Elizabeth. For more information about them, you can visit their Facebook page here. The cafe also regularly stages music and other arts-related events.

S.O.C.O. On Abs-Cbn Revisits The Recent Killing Of A 27-Year-Old Woman In Baguio City

On January 7, 2014, residents of barangay Loakan Proper in Baguio City woke up to the tragic news that one of the residents in the area have been murdered. Buena Sol Arro, 27 years old, was found lifeless by her boyfriend in her rented apartment in said barangay. She was stuffed inside a large traveling suitcase and hidden in a cabinet under the kitchen sink.

The suspects in the case have been identified by the Baguio City Police as Jareas Atiwag Simeon (21 years old) and Jennifer Jacaban Romero (25 years old). Simeon and Romero live in the same apartment with the victim. According to the police report, Arro tried collecting house rent from Jacaban but the latter didn't have the money. An argument ensued which then turned into a physical fight. During the confrontation, Jacaban called Simeon for help. Simeon then allegedly grabbed a metal pipe and hit Arro in the head with it.

Jaime Rodrigo Leal of the Baguio City Police crime laboratory told the media that the injuries incurred by Arro in the head were the cause of her death. The two suspects have been arrested and they admitted committing the act. They've been charged with murder and theft.

S.O.C.O. (Scene of the Crime Operatives), a television program on ABS-CBN will revisit the case in an episode that will be aired on January 23 at 4:45 pm. The show will be hosted by regular host Gus Abelgas.

Image credit: S.O.C.O. Facebook page.

Arro hails from the town of Sison in Pangasinan. She worked as an operator at one of the companies within the Baguio City Economic Zone. She is described by some of her friends as fun-loving and always telling jokes. 

In a tribute video posted on YouTube, Gian Paul Dolojo, a former classmate of Arro, wrote, "She makes people happy by being herself. She loves to have fun. She loves to tell jokes. She is quite a bundle of laughs. She is the life of the party. She amuses you. When she's around, expecting she'll often burst into laughter. Her infectious and distinctively loud laugh reverberates in the room. She is in the moment. Her presence is undeniable. She is an energy you would love to always be around."

SM Baguio To Plant 500,000 Trees In Exchange For The Ones They've Cut For Their Sky Park Project

Amidst a barrage of negative criticisms directed towards SM Baguio's plan to build a Sky Park on Luneta Hill, the mall has recently promised to plant at least half a million trees in the next five years. That's 100,000 seedlings to be planted every year. These will serve as a replacement of sort for the trees that were already cut or earth-balled by the mall to pave way for the expansion project which is expected to cost at least one billion pesos.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said that SM posted a bond worth 6 million pesos as a guarantee that they will follow environmental laws and cover damages that may arise from the implementation of the project. There are no longer legal impediments stopping the mall in pushing through with their expansion. Last December 12, 2014, the Court of Appeals dismissed the petition filed against the project and lifted the Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) which was issued against the mall in April 2012.

Mayor Domogan also called on critics of the Sky Project to focus their attention towards making sure that SM complies with DENR rules and that they indeed plant the 500,00 trees they promised to plant in the next five years.

A report in the Manila Standard Today quoted Mayor Domogan saying, "We have no authority to stop SM because it complied with all the requisites of the project. If we will order the stoppage of their project, it will open the floodgates to the filing of administrative and criminal charges against us."

Clumps of trees still remain at the portion of Luneta Hill where the Sky Park will be built. This photo was taken a day after 60 trees were cut in January 17, 2015.

Around midnight in January 17, SM cut about 60 trees in Luneta Hill. The incident outraged many Baguio citizens and concerned groups. Some people, carrying banners and black balloons, staged a small protest in front of the mall on January 19. Others are calling on residents and tourists to boycott the shopping mall.

From a statement released to the media last week, SM Baguio reiterated that its Sky Park project will help Baguio City deal with the effects of climate change. According to the mall, the project is environment-friendly and it will feature green facilities like walls planted with live plants, an underground catchment tank, and a sewage treatment plant.

The protests against the project started in 2012. Concerned Baguio residents and groups like the Cordillera Global Network, the Cordillera Peoples Alliance, and Save 182 fought to stop the mall from proceeding with the project.

Panagbenga Festival 2015 Schedule And Calendar Of Events

It's that time of the year again. On February 1, the City of Baguio will kick off yet another edition of its famed Panagbenga Festival also known as the Baguio City Flower Festival. This year's celebrations will carry the theme "Across 20 years of Blossoming Together", a theme brought about by the fact that for this year, the city collaborated with the neighboring towns of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay.

Because of this collaboration, the city council and the organizers who spearheaded the planning of the festival are promising a more colorful if not grander festival this year. The festival logo has also been redesigned so that it now features six petals which represent the city of Baguio and the five Benguet towns. The festival will run from February 1 to March 8.

The festival will kick off on February 1 with an opening ceremony and a drum and lyre dance competition. These will be held at the Panagbenga Park, Session Road, Harrison Road and Melvin Jones football grounds.

The highlights of the festival which are the Grand Street Dancing Parade and Grand Float Parade will be held on February 28 and March 1 respectively. A grand fireworks display in the evening of March 8 will cap of the festivities. For the full Panagbenga Festival 2015 calendar of events, check out the table below. Enjoy the festivities and if you're coming from out of town, welcome.

Date	Event	Venue
February 1	Opening Ceremonies & Street Dancing Parade Competition (Drum & Lyre Dance Competition-Elementary Division)	Panagbenga Park, Session Road, Harrison Road, Melvin Jones
February 1	Opening concert	TBA
February 1 - March 8	Baguio Blooms Exhibition and Exposition	Lake Drive, Burnham Park
February 15	Handog ng Panagbenga Sa Pamilya Baguio	Melvin Jones
February 15	Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom	Melvin Jones
February 15	Panagbenga 2015 Kite-Flying Challenge	Melvin Jones
February 15	Panagbenga Variety Show	Melvin Jones
February 15	Fireworks Display	Melvin Jones
February 19	Chinese Spring Festival	City-wide celebrations
February 20 – February 22	PMA Grand Alumni Homecoming	PMA, Loakan Road
February 23 – February 27	Floral Arrangement Competition & School-based Landscaping Competition (Judging)	Elementary and high schools in the city.
February 28	Grand Street Dancing Parade	Panagbenga Park - Session Road - Harrison Road - Athletic Bowl
February 28 – March 1	Sponsors’ and Exhibitors’ Day	Athletic Bowl
March 1	Grand Float Parade	DILG, Session Road, Harrison Road, Athletic Bowl
March 1 – March 8	Session Road in Bloom	Session Road
March 7	Pony Boys’ Day	Athletic Bowl
March 8	Panagbenga Closing Ceremonies and Grand Fireworks Display	Athletic Bow and various areas over Baguio’s CBD

La Presa Strawberries And Vegetables Being Sold At The Baguio City Public Market?

If you are to take a stroll along the booths that are selling fruits and vegetables at the Baguio City Public Market, you can get a grasp of the lively competition among the vendors. The battle to get the attention of customers plays out from early morning to the hour the shutters go down.

From offering their goods at discounted bundles to giving out free tastes, the vendors make use of various gimmicks to earn the good graces of their customers. A more recent gimmick involves using the name of a fictional place from a local television series in the hope of getting the attention of tourists.

Some vendors have resorted to using La Presa signs, tags, and labels on their goods. Sitio La Presa is the fictional setting of the ABS-CBN television series Forevermore. In reality, the place is Sitio Pungayan in the town of Tuba in Benguet. The popularity of the series has turned the place into an overnight tourist destination. During the holidays last year, thousands of tourists trooped to Pungayan causing traffic and commotion in the area. More of said tourists are expected to flock to the sitio when the Panagbenga Festival kicks in come February.

Strawberries at the Baguio City Public Market with a sign which implies that the berries are from La Presa.

However, some Baguio and Benguet residents are questioning the vendors' strategy of putting La Presa signs over the fruits and vegetables they are selling. It's a valid question because isn't the act the same as the all-too-common misleading strategy of selling imported oranges and grapes with labels like "Sagada oranges" and "Sagada grapes"? Why sell a bunch of grapes as "Sagada grapes" when these aren't even from Sagada?

If you've been to Sagada and you've seen the oranges being farmed there, they are very different from the plump, large and perfect-skinned "Sagada oranges" being sold at the Baguio market. Sometimes, said "Sagada oranges" can be seen being taken out from boxes with either Chinese or Japanese labels.

This practice at the Baguio public market begs the question, "Is it okay to allow the vendors to keep on with such practices?" Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.

The Cordillera Peoples Alliance Condemns The Recent Cutting Of Trees In Luneta Hill By SM Baguio

The Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) has joined the sectors and groups decrying the recent cutting down of at least 60 trees in Luneta Hill by SM Baguio. In a statement dated January 20, the organization through Jude Baggo, its public information officer, said that the CPA is joining "all sectors and the people of Baguio in expressing their total outrage over the new incident of pine tree cutting done by SM and the failure of the DENR and the City government to do any appropriate action to save the trees."

It can be recalled that around midnight in January 17, more or less 100 laborers hired by SM felled at least 60 trees in Luneta Hill. The trees were cut to clear the hill for the mall's Sky Park project. In statements released to the media, SM Baguio said that the Sky Park will help the city in absorbing the effects of climate change. The project will reportedly feature green walls, a sewage treatment plant, and an underground rainwater catchment tank.

However, many people are not buying the mall's pitches. Among them is the CPA. "SM Baguio ignores the common good and general welfare of the people in exchange for surplus profit for the few. SM proudly presents itself as a wholesome and environmental-friendly corporation. But past and recent events again reveal its true colors as an enemy of the trees, and the environment," the organization said in a statement.

Logs, branches, and twigs litter a portion of Luneta Hill where the trees were cut. The felled trees were covered with blue tarpaulin. (Photo by The Cordilleran Sun)

The controversy in Luneta Hill started in 2012 when the mall started cutting and earth-balling trees in the area. Concerned citizens and groups protested which led to the filing of environmental cases as well as the issuance of a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) against the mall. The cases were dismissed. The TEPO was lifted last December. In effect, there are no longer legal impediments for the project to push through. Thus the cutting of trees in January 17.

A day after the incident, people against the cutting of the trees protested at the mall. They carried with them banners and black balloons symbolizing the seriousness of the matter. Photos of follow-up clearing operations on the hill also circulated online. The photos showed men working under floodlights and clearing the logs that were cut the night before.

SM Baguio Under Fire For Cutting 60 Trees In The Dead Of The Night To Pave Way For Sky Park

Like a flicker of light that adamantly refuses to fade away into the dark, the tree cutting/earth-balling controversy at Luneta Hill in Baguio City has once again reared its ugly head. During the last year or so, the controversy was barely recognizable in the background while the city concerned itself with other issues. However, with the confirmed reports that dozens of trees were cut down anew by SM at the same hill in the night of January 16, the issue has quickly grown into a full-blown fire.

When morning broke on January 17 and news of the felled trees made its way into the consciousness of Baguio citizens, concerned parties and groups started trading shots. Karlo Marko Altomonte, one of the most recognizable members of Save 182, didn't mince words when he published on his blog a scathing article on SM City Baguio and other guilty parties whom he referred to as SM's "enablers".

Who are these "enablers"? Altomonte made a list and it's composed of the following: the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the city council, Mayor Mauricio Domogan, members of the judiciary and the bar who had a hand in the case, and the news media. Altomonte went the extra mile by stating that some members of the media "willingly sang SM's songs, forwarded their half-truths and outright lies for free movie passes and a gadget or two".

How many trees did SM cut on the night of January 16? The exact number is not known. ABS-CBN News says 60 trees. The Northern Dispatch Weekly says 70 trees. We can meet in the middle and say that around 65 trees fell to the ground that night. From the verandas of the shopping center facing the University of the Cordilleras, you can see the now-empty space where the pine and alnus trees used to stand. The felled logs were covered in blue tarpaulins. Tree branches and yellowing saw dust litter the ground. Below are a few photos we took from the area.

According to reports, SM hired around 100 laborers to chop down the trees in the middle of the night. Floodlights bathed the workers as they sawed away at the trees. In an official statement, the mall reiterated that the removal of the trees will pave the way for a Sky Park which they claim will feature green facilities that will help absorb the impact of climate change.

According to the same statement, the Sky Park will "feature green walls consisting of live plants that will help improve air quality, making the mall both relaxing and enjoyable for the whole family. It also consists of a sewerage treatment plant (STP), and an underground rainwater catchment tank in the basement. The excess space of catchment tank will provide additional parking space that will help decongest traffic along Upper Session Road."

SM also defended the removal of the trees by stating that the environmental cases filed against the mall have been dismissed and the Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) issued against them in 2012 has been lifted. The Court of Appeals lifted the TEPO last month. In effect, as far as the law is concerned, there are no legal impediments that would stop the mall from moving on with its Sky Park project.

It can be recalled that thousands of Baguio citizens protested the earth-balling and cutting of trees by SM in 2012. This led to the filing of environmental cases against the mall and then the subsequent issuance of the TEPO which was lifted last month.

The recent cutting by SM has outraged a lot of people as evidenced by their passionate posts on social sites like Facebook and Twitter. Many of them concede to the fact that they are losing the fight (as far as the struggle to keep the trees standing is concerned) but there's a lot of positive thinking being spread around. Baguio resident Kaycee Yangot writes on Facebook, "The legal case against SM accomplished much regardless of the outcome in the judicial arena. It opened conversations on environmental issues, local governance, corporate greed, and other related concerns. The narrative now ---and even a child of tender age will tell you that--- is that we only have one Earth which we must cherish."

On the other side of the stick, there are those who support SM's project and then there are those who are very critical of the movement to stop the mall from cutting more trees. Paul Farol, a regular contributor to the blog Get Real Philippines, wrote a piece lambasting a certain Noemi Dado whom Farol claims to have "been engaged in brand bashing against SM for over two years". Farol has written several pieces for Get Real Philippines in the past that criticized protesters against SM, often painting them as hypocrites. Basically, Farol's argument is that SM can do whatever they want because they own the land, they have all the necessary permits, and Baguio has lost its allure anyway.

In his most recent piece, Farol wrote, "We also have to throw out the issue of aesthetics because as far as that is concerned, Baguio has long lost the allure that it once had when it was run by the Americans nearly a century ago."

Farol's article attracted mostly negative reactions. Eugenio Lopez commented, "The issue is about the RUINING the environment and surroundings in place for a SUBSTANDARD development, and the SM Group is pretty consistent in promoting their business at the expense of the environment’s destruction, which in effect affects the community living near the place."

Farol also doesn't think that cutting 60 trees is environmental destruction. Replying to a comment which stated that what SM did was environmental destruction, Farol said, "60 trees were cut, you call that environmental destruction? Wow!" However, Farol did not elaborate what he thinks should constitute environmental destruction. 100 trees? 500? 1000?

With the dismissal of the cases filed against SM and the lifting of the TEPO, the future of the trees still standing in Luneta Hill is unclear. In the words of Altomonte, "they are still worth fighting for". Last Sunday, several people against the SM project staged a small protest inside the SM premises. They carried with them black balloons which to a lot of people is a fitting symbol to the 60 that fell and the seemingly dark future of those that still stand.

10 Men In A Shabu Session Arrested By The Police In Puguis, La Trinidad, Benguet

The La Trinidad Municipal Police Station sent a strong warning to shabu users and peddlers operating within the capital town with the recent arrest of 10 men in barangay Puguis on Tuesday night (January 13). The men, one of whom was a minor, were allegedly having a shabu session in a rented apartment there when the authorities crashed the party and arrested them.

The police confiscated from the suspects a sachet of shabu, illegal drug paraphernalia, playing cards and chips, and some cash. The men were in the thick of their session and playing card games when the valley police jumped in.

According to the owner of the rented apartment, she wasn't aware that the apartment was being used by the suspects for illegal activities. The police were led to the place through the help of a concerned citizen who tipped them about the men and their sessions in the apartment. According to valley police Chief Inspector Radino S. Belly, his office has been monitoring the apartment for some time before they conducted the operation which led to the arrest of the 10 men.

Those arrested were identified by the police as follows:
1) Marvin Sagayo Ansay, 24, of Sugpon, Ilocos Sur
2) Joshua Tanghin Kawi, 18, student, of Sagada, Mt. Province
3) Ashley Atinyao Balag-ey, 34, of Gonogon, Mt. Province
4) Ariel Bawas Degyem, 33, of Buguias, Benguet
5) Jimbell Ludaes Cawi, 28, of Buguias, Benguet
6) Junifer Simeon Compalas, 34, of Buguias, Benguet
7) Denver Cosapi Batani, 21, of Sabangan, Mt Province
8) Rover Bagbagen Aploten, 30, of Tadian, Mt. Province
9) Clark Nabus y Botic, 22, of Itogon, Benguet
10) Arnel Allba Dulagan, 30, of Bauko, Mt. Province

Sources: Interaksyon, ABS-CBN News

Suspects In The Killing Of A Woman In Baguio City Charged With Murder And Theft

The two female suspects in the killing of a 27-year-old woman in Loakan Proper, Baguio City have been charged with murder and theft. The two suspects who have been identified as Jareas Simeon and Jennifer Jacaban have been arrested and now in the custody of the Baguio City police.

The two women admitted that they were behind the killing of Buena Sol Arro who was also their housemate in the same apartment in Loakan Proper. Arro's lifeless body was found by her boyfriend last Wednesday (January 7) hidden inside a cabinet beneath a sink inside of her apartment. Arro was also reportedly stuffed inside a large suitcase.

The police investigation also showed that an argument over the unpaid rent for the apartment was the root behind Arro's murder. Arro was reportedly arguing with the suspects when it turned into a physical fight which resulted to Arro being hit behind the head with a metal pipe.

Jaime Rodrigo Leal of the Baguio City police crime lab confirmed that the cause of death was due to traumatic head injuries. "Yung pipe consistent naman sa injuries ng biktima," Leal said in an ABS-CBN report.

Photo of Buena Sol Arro from her Google+ page.

The two suspects also took away some of the victim's belongings after committing the crime. These include a laptop, mobile phones, a digital camera, and some cash. The gadgets have been recovered from them.

"Naifile na natin yung kaso, na-inquest na namin sila kahapon, kinasuhan natin sila ng murder and theft," said Police Senior Superintendent Rolando Miranda, Director of the Baguio City police, in an interview with GMA News.

Arro hails from the town of Sison in Pangasinan. She was an employee of one of the companies at the Philippine Economic Zone Authority site in Baguio City.

Woman In Loakan Proper, Baguio City Killed And Robbed By Her Own Board Mates

The start of the new year has been tragic for a family in Sison, Pangasinan. Alexander Arro and his wife Soledad received the news on Wednesday (January 7) that their only daughter Buena Sol who resides in Baguio City has been found dead in her apartment in Loakan Proper.

Her body was stuffed inside a traveling suitcase and hidden under her apartment's sink. Her very own board mates have been identified as the suspects. According to a news report by ABS-CBN, Arro's two board mates hit her at the back of her head. Dr. Jaime Rodrigo Leal of the Baguio City Police's crime lab stated that the traumatic injury to Arro's head was the cause of her death.

"Cause of death is blunt, traumatic head injuries. Yung pipe consistent naman sa injuries ng biktima", said Dr. Leal.

Based on the police's initial investigation, the incident was caused by arguments between Arro and her board mates with regards to the payment of their apartment's rent. The Baguio police believe that Arro was killed on Monday (January 5).

A street in Baguio City. The Cordilleran Sun file photo.

The two suspects who have not been identified by the police also took some of the victim's belongings including a laptop, mobile phones, a digital camera, and some cash. The gadgets were recovered from the suspects. As to the cash, they said they've already spent it.

The suspects are now under the custody of the Baguio police and they will be charged with homicide and theft.

The Common Kingfisher Found In The Balili River In La Trinidad, Benguet

It is an undeniable fact that the portion of the Balili River running through the town of La Trinidad in Benguet is heavily polluted. It's strewn all over with garbage. The water is always murky and there are times it's colored black. This is not at all surprising provided that a lot of the communities living along the banks of the river have their canals directed towards the river. This is not to mention the fact that a good portion of nearby Baguio City's wastes flow directly to the Balili River.

With that said, you would think that the river will be devoid of any sort life, be it fishes or birds. Well, no matter how polluted the river is, it seems there are still fishes and birds that call the river home. Sammy Paran, a La Trinidad resident who has an office near the river has taken the video that you are about to see featuring a colorful common kingfisher hunting for fish among the garbage-ridden river.

The bird with its rather colorful plumage can be seen standing on a rock, flying nearby, and then coming back with a small fish stuck within its beak. For environmentalists and advocates of the movement calling for the revitalization of the Balili River, the video makes for a great source of encouragement if not inspiration. There's still hope for the river, so it seems.

Post by Cordilleran Sun.

The common kingfisher. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Mt. Pulag National Park Issues Advisory Saying Weekend Climbs Are Fully Booked From January To April

Here's a bit of bad news for mountain climbers and trekkers who are planning to climb Mt. Pulag on any of the weekends in the next four months. The Mt. Pulag National Park has issued an advisory through its official Facebook page that weekend climbs are fully booked from the month of January to April.

What does this mean? Well, if you want to climb the mountain, you will have to do it on weekdays because the park is no longer accepting hikers and organizers who are gunning for a weekend climb. This recent advisory can cause a lot of inconvenience for students and workers who are only free for outdoor treks during the weekends.

In their advisory, the park posted, "To all hikers and organizers: Please be informed that all weekends for the months of January to April are fully booked. Slots remaining for ascent to Mt. Pulag are on weekdays. Please be guided accordingly. Thank you!"

Post by Mt. Pulag National Park - Bulletin.

Mountain climbers watching the sun's rays play among the clouds atop Mt. Pulag. Image credit: anna_d via Flickr.

Ever Tried Dining At The Kalei's Grill And Restaurant In La Trinidad, Benguet?

As the town of La Trinidad in Benguet slowly transitions from a sleepy abode to a burgeoning urban center, all sorts of institutions picked up the pace in sprouting all over the place. From educational institutions to trading centers, the town is indeed playing its part very well as the capital of the province.

One of the sectors that has seen considerable improvement in the town is the food industry. There are of course the ubiquitous fast-food chains like Jollibee and McDonald's but the town is also experiencing an upsurge in stand-alone dining places. Among the most popular of these places is Kalei's Grill and Restaurant which is located along Kilometer 4.

The restaurant has been around for several years now and it's a nice and cozy place to dine in if you are looking for something different from the usual fare that can be found in most of the town's restaurants.

The restaurant's offerings also have very affordable price tags. You don't need a thick wallet to get your fill with a sumptuous meal.

Adjacent to the restaurant is a bar where you can fancy a beverage or two if you are in the mood. Most nights, there's a live band playing.

The inside of the restaurant. Clean and featuring an outdoor theme. Taxidermied animals are all over the place.

The Cordilleran Sun

Elks, anyone?

The Cordilleran Sun

One of the restaurant's offerings. Priced at less than a hundred pesos.

The Cordilleran Sun

As a bonus, this buffalo will be watching over you as you dine.

The Cordilleran Sun