Igorot Dances, Music, And Rituals To Be Featured In Production By California-Based Dance Company

The Cordillera region is a cradle that serves as a home to indigenous groups collectively referred to as Igorots. The thing that differentiates the Igorot people from most other indigenous groups in the Philippines is that a large part of their cultural traditions which include songs, dances, and rituals are still widely practiced or observed.

However, there's the undeniable fact that as older generations give way to newer ones, we start to lose our unique identity. A candle burning itself to oblivion, if you will. The number of Igorot youths knowledgeable of our cultural songs and dances dwindles every year. It's an unfortunate thing but it's a trend that would be impossible to stop.

But amidst this breaking down of our culture, flickers of hope for momentary swells and revivals rear their heads every now and then. And in a lot of times, the flickers come from the most unexpected places. Take for instance an upcoming stage production cooked by a folk dance group based in California. Titled Alamat (Legends), the show will feature songs, dances, and rituals from several indigenous groups in the Philippines including those of the Kalinga and Ga'dang people. Also covered in the production are music and dances by the Tboli, Bagobo-Tagabawa, and Maranao indigenous groups.

The group behind Alamat (Legends) is the Parangal Dance Group which is composed of Filipino-American artists in the San Francisco Bay Area. In its mission statement, the group says that it aims to "give tribute to Philippine heritage by preserving and promoting ethnic attire, music, and dance through research, workshops, and performances." The group said that for the Kalinga and Ga'dang segments of the production, they sought input from Jenny Bawer Young, Amparo Mabanag, and Margareth Balansi.

Showtime for Alamat (Legends) will be on October 3, 2015 at the Skyline College Theatre in San Bruno, California. The first staging will happen at 2 pm with a replay at 7 pm. For more information about the dance group and their projects, visit their website here. Below are two videos that will give you an idea on how the production presented the Kalinga and Ga'dang bits. The first one is a teaser trailer for the production. The second is footage from the group's recent performance in the television program Asian Pacific America.

Image credit: This Is It Photography via the Parangal Dance Company Facebook page.

Taxi Driver Robbed By Two Men In La Trinidad; Earnings Amounting To 2,600 Pesos Taken Away From Him.

A 50-year-old cab driver is the latest victim of hold-uppers operating in Baguio City and nearby Benguet towns. Anito Celestial, a taxi driver who hails from Urdaneta City, Pangasinan and a current resident of Irisan, Baguio City, was robbed of his hard-earned collection by two men on Monday night (June 29).

Celestial was flagged down by the two still unidentified men along Naguilian Road. They asked him to take them to barangay Puguis in La Trinidad where they said they're going to attend the wake of a dead relative.

While they were traversing the Puguis-Longlong Road, the two men asked the driver to stop at an unlighted section of the road. That's when one of the men pulled out a handgun and announced a robbery. The driver tried to fight back and a brief scuffle ensued. The handgun went off. Fortunately, the driver wasn't hit.

The two men was able to take off with the driver's earnings collection that amounted to at least 2,600 pesos. The driver sought the help of the La Trinidad police who responded and scoured the area but there was no sign of the suspects. [Source: Herald Express]

It can be recalled that a robbery attempt occurred just last month along Kilometer 3, also in La Trinidad. A man tried to divest a taxi driver of his earnings but the latter fought him off and sought help from bystanders which led to the arrest of the would-be robber.

The La Trinidad Valley. Photo by Daniel Feliciano / The Cordilleran Sun.

Mankayan Crafts An Ordinance Regulating The Use Of Plastic Bags And Styrofoam

The town of Mankayan in Benguet has crafted an ordinance which aims to regulate the sale, use, and disposal of plastic bags and styrofoam. The town council came up with the municipal ordinance (No. 2014-03) to address problems arising from the build-up of plastic and styrofoam waste in the town which often clogs waterways and canals.

Mayor Materno Luspian said that an information dissemination campaign will be conducted first before the ordinance takes effect. This is to make sure that residents in the town are aware of the contents of the ordinance.

Under the ordinance, business establishments like groceries, sari-sari stores, fish dealers, meat dealers, and vegetable dealers are required to utilize paper bags or other biodegradable bags for dry goods. Sellers are only allowed to use plastic bags for wet and frozen goods.

Photo by Daniel Feliciano / The Cordilleran Sun.

People not following the rules of the ordinance will be penalized. For the first offense, the violator will be ordered to pay Php500. The amount will double to Php1,000 for the second offense. Breaking the ordinance for the third time will cost the violator Php1,500 and suspension of his or her business permit for a month to a year. Offenders who get caught more than three times might have their business permits cancelled and deemed non-renewable.

[Sources: The Manila Times, Philippine Information Agency]

Remains Of A Body Found In Baguio City Believed To Be That Of A Missing SLU Student

Around 6:45 a.m. last Saturday (June 27), a man collecting mushrooms along a section of the Balacbac Road in Santo Tomas Proper, Baguio City came across the remains of a body that was in an advanced state of decomposition. The body seemed to have been dumped from the road above into a ravine that's around 40 to 50 meters deep.

The man reported what he saw to the barangay captain of Sto. Tomas who in turn called the attention of the Baguio City Police Office. Identification of the remains was difficult as it was in an advanced state of decomposition. However, an identification card (a school I.D.) was recovered from a pocket of the pants the body was wearing.

The card bears the name of Raynan Marco Balantin Gumihid, a 17-year-old student in Saint Louis University taking up Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Gumihid was reported by his family as missing since June 1, 2015. In a post on Facebook dated June 9, Gumihid's father asked for help in finding his son who he said left home on June 1 but never returned. He was reportedly last seen in Buyagan, La Trinidad, Benguet.

DNA testing has to be done to confirm if the remains are indeed those of Gumihid. Investigation by the Baguio City police is ongoing.

Image credit: Lyn Friedman via Flickr.

Affected Areas For Scheduled Power Interruption By BENECO From June 29 To July 3

Parts of Baguio City and parts of the nearby Benguet towns of Itogon, La Trinidad, and Kabayan will experience electrical power interruptions in the coming week. The scheduled interruptions will cut the power off from 9 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon. The schedule and affected areas are as follows:

Date	Time	Affected Areas
June 29 (Monday)	9 am to 5 pm	*Parts of Upper and Lower Gold Field, Poblacion, Itogon *Parts of Pucay Village, Imelda Marcos, Brothers of Charity
June 30 (Tuesday)	9 am to 5 pm	*Parts of Upper Gold Field, Poblacion, Itogon *Parts of Pias, Camp 7, Baguio City
July 1 (Wednesday)	9 am to 5 pm	*Whole of Ampucao, Parts of Camp 4 and Virac, Itogon; Fort Del Pilar, parts of Kias, Baguio City *Parts of Central Ambiong, La Trinidad
July 2 (Thursday)	9 am to 5 pm	*Parts of Bato, Bashoy, Kabayan *Parts of Payew, Alno, La Trinidad
July 3 (Friday)	9 am to 5 pm	*Parts of Sacuban, Eddet, Kabayan *Parts of SLU-SVP Housing, Old Site, Bakakeng Norte and Sur, Baguio City

Photo by Daniel Feliciano / The Cordilleran Sun.

Soldier Gunned Down By Suspected NPA Rebels In Tinoc, Ifugao

A soldier from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) died after being gunned down by suspected New Peoples Army (NPA) rebels in the town of Tinoc in Ifugao on Wednesday morning (June 24). The incident reportedly occurred at sitio Patkik in barangay Binablayan in said town.

The slain trooper has been identified as Corporal Felix M. Pico Jr., a 32-year-old intelligence operative assigned at the 54th Infantry Battalion that has its headquarters in Butigue, Paracelis, Mt. Province. Based on investigation by the Ifugao police, Pico and an unidentified companion were traveling through a road in Binablayan when six armed men flagged down their motorcycle.

The men instructed Pico to give up his firearm. Pico allegedly refused then tried to escape. That's when the armed men fired upon him. The soldier's body was later recovered by the military in an old nursery in Binablayan.

In related news, government soldiers and policemen are pursuing suspected NPA rebels whom they engaged in a brief firefight in the town of Baggao in Cagayan, early Friday morning. Soldiers from the 53rd Reconnaissance Company and 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army were conducting combat clearing operations in barangay Asinga-Via when they crossed paths with a group of armed men. No one was reported to have been hurt or killed during the encounter.

Benguet State University In The Top 10 Performing Schools In The May 2015 Nurse Licensure Exams

Benguet State University (BSU) is among the top performing schools in the May 2015 Nurse Licensure Examination. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) released today the list of successful examinees as well as the performance of schools. With 75 of its 76 examinees passing the tests, BSU has a passing rate of 98.68% which merits its number 3 rank in the top 10 performing schools with 50 or more examinees.

Taking the number one spot are three schools that have 100% passing rates - Chinese General Hospital Colleges, Silliman University, and West Visayas State University. Occupying the number two spot is De La Salle University.

Occupying the 4th to the 10th rankings are Far Eastern University, Bicol University, Angeles University Foundation, Ateneo De Zamboanga, Southern Luzon State University, Universidad De Santa Isabel, and University of Saint La Salle.

Additionally, two students from BSU is on the list of top examinees. Keren Joy Tuban Compelio shares the 6th ranking with 7 other examinees while Rencel Finnos Valdez Sabog shares the 8th ranking with 15 other examinees.

Two examinees from the University of the Cordilleras (UC) also made it to the list of top examinees. They are Elleine Ruth Rabino Canero  and Joji Mheple Bragado Mangiyo.

Photo by Daniel Feliciano/The Cordilleran Sun.

The Town Of Kibungan Is In Need Of 2 Civil Engineers And 1 Municipal Health Officer

The town of Kibungan in Benguet is in need of a municipal health officer and two civil engineers. Details of the positions are as follows:

I) One (1) Municipal Health Officer (permanent position, salary grade 24 equivalent to a basic monthly salary of Php 49,750/month)

Basic Qualification Requirements:
1. Should be a licensed physician.
2. Has three years of experience as a medical doctor/physician.
3. Has the passion and the heart for public service, and the will and dedication to work and serve in a rural community

II) Two (2) Civil Engineers (contractual for 6 months)

Basic Qualification Requirements:
1. Should be a licensed civil engineer.
2. Computer literate and knowledgeable in Auto CAD.
3. Physically fit, can hike and is willing to go on field work.

*Civil engineering graduates are encouraged to apply for possible additional job opportunities.

If you think you are what we are looking for, submit the following to the Human Resources Section - Mayor's Office, Kibungan, Benguet the soonest time you can.
a. Application Letter addressed to the Municipal Mayor Benito D. Siadto
b. Resume and other necessary credentials

Image credit: ArthurNielsen vis Flickr.

Affected Areas For Scheduled Power Interruption By BENECO From June 22 To June 27

In the latest Notice of Power Interruption released by the Benguet Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BENECO), parts of Baguio City, La Trinidad, and Itogon are going to have scheduled brownouts on June 22, 23, 26 and 27.

The schedule of power interruption is as follows:

June 22 (Monday) - Parts of Bodiweng, Bineng, La Trinidad (replacement of rotten secondary poles)

June 23 (Tuesday) - Parts of Purok 4, Balsigan, Baguio City (relocation of secondary pole)
-Parts of Purok 2, Gibraltar, Baguio City (relocation of secondary pole)

June 26 (Friday) - Parts of Poblacion, Ampucao, Ucab, Gumatdang, Virac and Atok Trail in Itogon, Benguet (rerouting of primary lines along Benguet Corporation tailings dam)
- Parts of Kias and Fort Del Pilar in Baguio City (rerouting of primary lines along Benguet Corporation tailings dam)

June 27 (Saturday) - Parts of Bagueng, Tinongdan, Itogon (extension of 240V lines to correct long service drop connections)

9-Hour Brownout For Parts Of Baguio, La Trinidad, Sablan, Tublay, And Tuba On June 18

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has served a notice of a scheduled shutdown of some of its transmission facilities. This is to accommodate the request of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) to activate single metering in some of its substations.

Because of the shutdown of some of the transmission facilities, large parts of Baguio City and nearby Benguet towns are going to experience power interruption on June 18 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The affected areas are as follows:
1. The whole town of Sablan - Poblacion, Bayabas, Banangan, Banengbeng, Kamog, Bagong, Pappa, and Balluay
2. The whole town of La Trinidad (except Beckel).  The barangays of Pico, Balili, Poblacion, Tawang, Puguis, Betag, Ambiong, Lubas, Wangal, Bahong, Shilan, Alapang, Cruz, Alno, and Bineng will be affected by the power interruption.
3. Parts of Tuba - Taloy Sur, Tadiangan, San Pascual, Poblacion, Nangalisan, Taloy Norte
4. Parts of Caponga, Tublay
5. Parts of Baguio City - Pinsao Pilot Project, Victoria Village, Dontogan, Lower General Luna, Quezon Hill Proper, Dominican Mirador, Mrr - Queen Of Peace, Imelda R. Marcos, Central Guisad, Upper Quezon Hill, Middle Quezon Hill, Fairview, Lourdes Extension, Irisan, San Roque Village, Sto. Tomas School Area, Cresencia Village, Palma- Urbano, City Camp Central, City Camp Proper, Kayang Extension, Dizon Manzanillo Barangay, Bakakeng Central, Campo Filipino, Lower Rock Quarry, Camp Henry I. Allen, Upper Rock Quarry, Upper Q.M., Sto. Rosario Valley, Ferdinand, Sto. Tomas Proper, Bakakeng Norte/Sur, Pinget, Upper Market Subdivision, Pacdal, South Sanitary Camp, East Quirino Hill, West Quirino Hill, Magsaysay Private Road, Happy Homes - Lucban, and Lower Quirino Hill.

The following areas are also affected - Teodora Alonzo, Padre Burgos, Kayang Hilltop, Kabayanihan, Azcko, Andres Bonifacio, Middle Quirino Hill, Lower Magsaysay, Engineer'S Hill, Burnham - Legarda, Session Road - Governor Pack Road, Salud Mitra, Lower Q.M. Gen. Aguinaldo, Cabinet Hill / Teacher'S Camp, Alfonso Tabora, Camdas, Harrison - Claudio Carantes, Bagong Lipunan, New Lucban, Upper Magsaysay, Padre Zamora, Sto. Nino - Slaughter Compd, Lower Lourdes Subdivision, Bayan Park - Village, Malcolm Square, Holyghost Extension, Rizal Monument, West Modernsite, Brookspoint, Saint Joseph Village / Navy Base, M. Roxas, Asin, San Luis Village, Lourdes Subdivision Proper, Middle Rock Quarry, Pinsao Proper, Guisad Surong, Upper General Luna, Imelda Village, Kagitingan, Honeymoon - Holyghost, Trancoville, Holyghost Proper, East Bayan Park, Brookside, West Bayan Park - Leonila Hill, and South Central Aurora Hill.

The Cordilleran Sun file photo.

BENECO identified the following as the reasons for the power interruption:
-Line works along La Trinidad-Calot 69kV Line
-Retirement/ retrieval of existing metering points of Beneco T1 (50MVA) and Beneco T2 (20MVA) -Activation of single metering at North Sanitary Camp Substation
-Replacement of rotten primary pole along Rimando road
-Replacement of rotten pole and installation of intermediate pole near convention center
-Extension of 1-span primary line at Leonard wood road (The Camp)
-Replacement of damaged primary pole along Naguillan road

Policeman From Kapangan, Benguet Knocks Out Opponent In MMA Fight

Crisanto Pitpitunge, a policeman hailing from the town of Kapangan in Benguet, continues to make his mark as a professional mixed martial arts fighter. In his most recent outing inside the ring last Saturday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City, he made quick work of his opponent. He knocked out Alvin Cacdac of California in the very first round of their scheduled five-round fight for Pacific Xtreme Combat 48 (PXC 48).

The winner of the encounter was supposed to go home with the Pacific Xtreme Combat flyweight championship belt. Cacdac who won the belt when he bested Ernesto Montilla last year was supposed to defend it against Pitpitunge who earned the number one contender spot after wins over Josh Duenas and Rambaa Somdet.

Unfortunately, the bout was turned into a non-title fight when both fighters missed weight. Cacdac was also stripped of the strap prior to the bout. The weight limit for the flyweight division is penciled at 125 pounds. At the official weigh-ins, Cacdac weighed in at 127 pounds while Pitpitunge tipped the scales at 126 pounds. The bout still pushed through but with the flyweight title out of contention.

Pitpitunge who fights under the Team Lakay banner ended the fight late in the first round with two vicious right hands. He dropped Cacdac with a looping overhand right which landed flash on the head. He followed it up with another right hand which flattened Cacdac on the mat. The referee stepped in to put an end to the fight and save Cacdac from unnecessary punishment.

With the victory, Pitpitunge improves his record to 8 wins and 3 losses. He's currently on a three-fight winning streak. Cacdac, on the other hand, falls to 15 wins and 11 losses.

Aside from being a professional MMA fighter, Pitpitunge also serves as a cop in Benguet. He is assigned at the Regional Public Safety Battalion.

Alvin Cacdac (left) and Crisanto Pitpitunge in a striking match. Image credit: PXC via Facebook.

Two other Team Lakay fighters also fought during the event. John Cris Corton finished Rufino Mante in the first round via TKO. He put Mante on the mat, took a dominant position, and struck with his elbows which led to the TKO stoppage. On the other hand, Harold Banario had his four-fight winning streak broken after losing to Mark Abelardo via TKO.

Poorly Executed Dives By Filipino Divers At The SEA Games Got Them Zero Points And Viral Fame

As I write this, the Philippines currently occupies the 6th spot in the medal standings of the ongoing 2015 Southeast Asian Games. So far, the country has accumulated 81 medals. Leading the pack are Singapore and Vietnam with 178 and 122 medals, respectively.

The games will end on June 16 so the Philippines has at least four days to rack up medals and improve its spot in the standings. But one thing's for sure, these medals won't be coming from our athletes competing in the diving events. Why, you might ask. Well, because diving doesn't involve landing on your back nor on your feet (this would be jumping into the water, not diving).

John Elmerson Fabriga and John David Pahoyo, two divers in the Philippine delegation recently competed in a springboard diving event and their performances were really not up to SEA Games standards. This was very evident in their fourth dives in said event. Their dives were so bad that they got zero points for their efforts. Fabriga landed on his back drawing groans from the crowd. Pahoyo didn't do better.

At the end of their dives, Fabriga and Pahoyo were shown consoling each other with the latter saying, "Kinakabahan talaga ako. Hindi ko na kaya."

To be fair with the two divers, they had decent performances when they competed in another diving event, the synchronized springboard diving event. Pahoyo uploaded a video of their performance during the synchronized event and they did rather well.

Pahoyo hinted on what could have been the cause of their atrocious performance during the springboard diving event. Pahoyo said in a Facebook post that they had only four days to practice their synchronized dives. Take note that they did well in the synchronized dives. It was at the springboard event where they turned out with embarrassing performances.

When everything's said and done, this is yet another case of under-trained athletes being sent off to international games just so we can say that we have a delegation. Four days to practice their synchronized diving moves? This is simply unacceptable. That would be synonymous to Manny Pacquiao coming up with a gameplan just days before a major fight.

The Philippine government needs to stop sending to international games athletes that haven't been trained with the right facilities and the right amount of time.

Female Boxer From Baguio City Captures A Championship Belt In Macau, China

Not only is Jujeath Nagaowa back in the winning column, she also just captured the light flyweight championship belt of the Women's International Boxing Association (IBA). The 27-year-old pugilist took home the strap after eking out a unanimous decision victory over Luo Yu Jie of China last June 6 at the Forum de Macau in Macau, China.

Indeed, it's sweet redemption for Nagaowa who lost four consecutive fights prior to facing Luo Yu Jie. With the win, Nagaowa improves here boxing record to 13 wins, 15 losses, and 1 draw. She turned professional in 2006. Because she now holds the belt, her return to the squared ring could be anytime soon as she will be expected to defend it against contenders.

Nagaowa also competes in mixed martial arts. She fought twice last year in the One Championship organization. She won both fights via knockouts. She was supposed to fight for the same organization earlier this year but she pulled out of the bout due to injury (?).

One Fighting Championship (ONE FC)

ALERT: Parts Of Itogon And Baguio City To Experience Power Interruption Tomorrow

Residents in Baguio City and in the town of Itogon are being reminded of the scheduled electrical power interruption tomorrow (June 11). In a public advisory, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said that parts of Itogon and Baguio City will have no power from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The affected areas in the municipality of Itogon are as follows - Poblacion, Tinongdan, Dalupirip, Dalicno, Ampucao, and Virac.

The affected areas in Baguio City are as follows - Kias, Pinesville Subdivision, Philippine Military Academy, Fort Del Pilar, Atok Trail, Loakan Proper, Liwanag, Apugan, Voice of America, and DENR Loakan.

Additionally, the following areas in Baguio City will have no power from 10 p.m. of June 11 until 6 a.m. of the next day (June 12) - New Lucban, Teodora Alonzo, ABCR,. Sto. Nino-Slaughter Compound, Kagitingan, Malcolm Square-Perfecto, Bagong Lipunan, Harrison-Claudio Carantes, parts of Session Road (right side going up), and Maharlika Livelihood Center.

The Cordilleran Sun file photo.

Read An Excerpt From American Author Jonathan Franzen's Upcoming 5th Novel Titled 'Purity'

Jonathan Franzen, the celebrated American writer behind the novels The Corrections (a Pulitzer Prize finalist) and Freedom (winner of the John Gardner Fiction Award) is back with a brand new book that is scheduled for a September release this year. The book carries the title Purity and is a "grand story of youthful idealism, extreme fidelity, and murder".

The novel's synopsis tells us that it's about a young girl named Pip Taylor. Her real name is Purity. She is wallowing in student debt amounting to $130,000. She is living with anarchists in Oakland. She has a hazardous relationship with her mother. She doesn't know who her father is. Indeed, she has a lot of issues in her hands. As if these aren't enough, Pip encounters a German peace activist who puts even more issues in her hands.

Get a taste of what the novel has to offer by reading an excerpt from the book that Franzen published on The New Yorker magazine. Read the excerpt here. It's called The Republic of Bad Taste.

Franzen is also the author of The Twenty-Seventh City and Strong Motion. Learn more about the author here.

Cordilleran Wushu Athlete Wins Gold Medal At Southeast Asian Games In Singapore

The Cordillera region has always been a hotbed for athletes in the martial arts discipline. When it comes to exhibition and combat sports associated with martial arts, majority of the athletes that the country sends off to international competitions often come from Baguio City and nearby Cordillera provinces. This is the case in the ongoing 2015 Southeast Asian Games in the city-state of Singapore.

And last Sunday (June 7), another Cordilleran bagged the gold medal in the event taijiquan. Daniel Parantac, an alumnus of the University of the Cordilleras bested delegates from the other ten participating countries. This is the second time that Parantac won a gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games. The first time was in 2013 when he competed in the same event in Myanmar.

Parantac also competed at the Asian Games last year in Incheon, South Korea. He ended up taking home a silver medal. The 24-year-old wushu practitioner was the recipient of the Athlete of the Year award at the 2013 Kafagway Sports Achievers Awards in Baguio City.

Wushu athlete Daniel Parantac. Image credit: Parantac via Facebook.

The 28th Southeast Asian Games will end on June 16. Aside from the Philippines, the participating nations are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. As of this writing, Singapore leads the medal tally with 51 gold, 43 silver and 53 bronze medals. Thailand is second with 37 gold medals and Vietnam is third with 32 gold medals. The Philippines is currently at the sixth spot with 12 gold, 17 silver, and 27 bronze medals.

157 Sinkholes Found In Over A Dozen Barangays In Baguio City

The Cordillera office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has a hazard map showing areas in Baguio City that are susceptible to landslides, flooding, and damage due to natural calamities like earthquakes. The map shows that there are at least 157 sinkholes scattered in 14 barangays of the city. And according to the Baguio City Planning Office, there are 24 houses that stand right on top of these sinkholes.

This issue is not exactly new. The city has known for years that it harbors dozens of these sinkholes. Back in 2009, around 50 buildings in Crystal Cave were deemed to be endangered because they either stood on or near sinkholes. Visible cracks were also found in the area during that time.

It's also worth mentioning here that the 157 sinkholes that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau has in its records are just the known ones. There's a possibility that there are more sinkholes out there, they just haven't been found yet. Without your knowledge, your house may be standing on one. That said, if you ever notice something amiss in the ground where your house stands, have it investigated immediately. There are grounds that may look solid and firm but underneath them may lurk a sinkhole. The grounds over sinkholes can break down during strong quakes and heavy rains.

Here's the list of barangays in Baguio City that the MGB hazard map shows as home to sinkholes.
1. City Camp Central
2. Lower Rock Quarry
3. Pinget
4. Bakakeng Central
5. Dontogan
6. Santo Tomas Proper
7. Asin
8. Dominican Mirador
9. Lourdes Subdivision Extension
10. San Roque Village
11. Irisan
12. Middle Quezon Hill
13. Quezon Hill Proper
14. Upper Quezon Hill

Watch Ada Sibayan of ABS-CBN News Baguio's report on the issue below:

2 Honest Farmers And A Student In Benguet Return Bag Full Of Cash To Rightful Owners

Say you are walking along a road and you come across a bag. Inside are bank books, several cellphones, and wads of cash amounting to 812,000 pesos. What would you do with it? The temptation to keep the bag will probably be strong. But not for two farmers and a student in Benguet who just recently found a bag containing said valuables and cash.

In the evening of June 6, the three men stumbled across a striped shoulder bag lying on the side of a road in Poblacion, Bokod, Benguet. Said bag contained 812,138 pesos in cash, cellphones, bank books, and other documents that belonged to someone from Adereg, Gusaran, Kabayan.

The three men then flagged down a passing police patrol car and informed the police officers about the bag of cash they found. The owners of the money and other valuables were determined through a voters identification card found in the bag. The bag has now been returned to the owners. The turnover ceremony was held at the Benguet Police Provincial Office.

The three honest men who found the bag are Ryan Guinoran, Rhey Manuel, and Arjill Sanchi. Guinoran and Manuel are both farmers from Babadac, Bashoy, Kabayan. Sanchi who is from Poblacion, Bokod is currently studying criminology at the University of Baguio. He was present during the turnover ceremony.

Caught On CCTV Camera: Stabbing Incident In Baguio City That Led To The Death Of A Kagawad

In the evening of June 3 (Wednesday), a stabbing incident occurred at the O-shaped overpass near Abanao Street (at the foot of Session Road) in Baguio City. A kagawad (councilman) of barangay Kayang-Hilltop died while a tanod was injured. The suspect who was reportedly drunk when the incident occurred is currently at large and yet to be identified.

The kagawad who perished has been identified as Victor Dimayo Solomon, a 40-year-old entrepreneur and resident of Hilltop in Baguio City. The injured tanod is 22-year-old Junior Mendoza.

According to the Baguio City police, Solomon, Mendoza and an unidentified 19-year-old waitress were walking on the overpass and were on their way to the night market along Harrison Road when a man shouted at them. Mendoza approached the man to check on him. That's when the man started stabbing Mendoza and Solomon.

The two victims were rushed to the Baguio City General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC). Solomon expired while being treated. Mendoza, on the other hand, survived. The suspect was able to escape. The Baguio City police is still investigating the case.

A CCTV surveillance camera installed at the overpass caught on video portions of the incident. ABS-CBN got their hands on the video and uploaded it on YouTube. The clip shows commotion on the overpass where the incident happened. You can watch the video below. [The video contains scenes that are not suitable for very young audiences. Proceed with caution.]

Screen-grab from ABS-CBN's YouTube account.

Update On Vehicular Accident In Sablan, Benguet: 1 Killed And 9 Others Injured

Around 4:45 p.m. yesterday, a passenger bus figured in an accident along a stretch of the Naguilian Road in Banangan, Sablan, Benguet. The bus came from Baguio City and was headed to the province of Abra. One passenger died while nine others were injured. Those who incurred injuries were rushed by responders to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) for treatment.

Police investigation showed that the driver of the bus lost control of the brakes. With the bus speeding down the highway, the driver rammed it into the side of the road. If he didn't, the bus would've fallen down a steep ravine.

The lone fatality has been identified as Tommy Quesada Hipol, a 40-year-old bus washer from Caoayan, Burgos, La Union. Hipol reportedly jumped out of the bus and hit a riprap wall when the driver announced that the vehicle was having a mechanical problem.

Of the nine passengers who were injured, 7 are from La Union, 1 from Baguio City, and 1 from Sablan, Benguet. Eight of them were taken to Baguio City for treatment. One refused saying she sustained minor injuries on her feet.

The bus was carrying 43 passengers. It was on its way to Abra with a stopover in La Union. The driver will be facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide and serious physical injuries and damage to property.

Image credit: Rafael Valencia of 911 On Call: Baguio

This incident is just the latest in several vehicular accidents that occurred in the Cordillera region this year. It can be recalled that last February, one person died when a truck fell off a ravine in Bauko, Mt. Province. In March, another person perished when a truck fell in Lagawe, Ifugao. And just this past month, the driver of a van was killed when his vehicle collided with a passenger jeepney in Bontoc, Mt. Province.

1 Killed, 9 Others Injured In Vehicular Accident In Sablan, Benguet

One person died while nine others were injured when a passenger bus fell on its side along a stretch of Naguilian Road in barangay Banangan in Sablan, Benguet. Based on initial reports, the driver of the bus which was bound for La Union lost control of the vehicle's brakes causing it to turn over on its side. The accident happened between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. on Thursday (June 4).

The injured passengers were rushed to the hospital by responders. This incident is just the latest in several vehicular accidents that occurred in the Cordillera region this year. It can be recalled that last February, one person died when a truck fell off a ravine in Bauko, Mt. Province. In March, another person perished when a truck fell in Lagawe, Ifugao. And just this past month, the driver of a van was killed when his vehicle collided with a passenger jeepney in Bontoc, Mt. Province.

This is a developing story. This page will be updated when more information about the accident in Sablan trickles in. [Read the updates on the accident here.]

Updates On Alleged Abduction And Gang-Rape Case In Baguio City

Just a couple of days ago, Baguio City and the province of Benguet were rattled when news broke out that seven men allegedly abducted a 26-year-old woman in the city and then gang-raped her at a house in Tuding, Itogon. The woman hails from the town of Pozorrubio in Pangasinan and works as a waitress in one of the fast-food centers in the city.

The initial story went this way: The woman was allegedly abducted somewhere in Mines View in the evening of May 23 by seven men, brought to a house in Tuding, Itogon, and sexually assaulted in the course of several days (at least 5 days, per reports from the media). Two of the suspects are policemen assigned in Baguio City. The alleged crime was reported to the police in the evening of May 29. Four of the suspects including the two cops have been arrested (some say they voluntarily surrendered) and are now in the custody of the Itogon Municipal Police Station. The three remaining suspects are still at large.

Well, several days have passed. Police investigation is currently taking its course. The woman has been medically examined at the Baguio City General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC). We are also starting to learn more about the accuser and those accused.

For one thing, there are those who doubt the testimonies of the victim. This is largely because of the findings of the BGHMC when they examined her. There were no signs of physical and vaginal lacerations on her. Many find this to be rather strange in a rape case wherein the victim claims to have been assaulted by seven men.

But then again, the absence of lacerations or injuries doesn't mean a rape did not occur. Rape can still occur without causing any injury or lacerations.

Image credit: Dutchy4 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY SA- 3.0)

Among the victim's allegations was that one of the men who assaulted her took shabu before taking advantage of her. However, a drug test conducted on the four men in the custody of the Itogon police turned out negative. A test needs to be done on the three still-at-large suspects to determine if one of them used shabu or not.

Additionally, based on the sworn statement of the woman, she said that the seven men did what they did to her as revenge for a disagreement between her boyfriend and one of the suspects.

Just recently, the Benguet provincial prosecutor's office issued subpoenas to the four suspects under the custody of the Itogon police to file their counter-affidavits against the accusations of the victim and her boyfriend.

[Sources: Bombo Radyo Baguio, Herald Express, Police One]

Woman In Baguio City Abducted And Gang-Raped. 2 Of The 7 Suspects Are Policemen.

[Updated on June 3, 10:30 a.m.] A 26-year-old woman who lives and works in Baguio City was reportedly abducted in the evening of May 23 then gang-raped by seven men. The victim who works as a waiter in a fast-food center in the city was allegedly abducted by the seven men at a parking lot in Mines View, forced into a vehicle, brought into a house in Tuding in the town of Itogon, and repeatedly raped. According to the police, the victim is a single mother and hails from the town of Pozorrubio in Pangasinan.

The men allegedly took turns in raping the victim in the course of several days. The incident was reported to the police on the evening of May 29 by a concerned citizen and members of the Mines View Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team or BPAT. The police operations that ensued in Baguio City and Benguet resulted to the arrest of four of the seven suspects. Two of those arrested are police officers in the city.

The two police officers are investigators of Station 3 of the Baguio City Police Office. The four suspects (positively identified by the victim) are now in the custody of the Itogon police. A manhunt is ongoing for the three remaining suspects.

Police Senior Superintendent Rolando Miranda of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) told the local radio station in the city Bombo Radyo that he personally talked to the victim and that he isn't fully convinced of the complainant's testimonies. The BCPO is also conducting its own investigation into the case. Some policemen in the city are also questioning the victim's account of the alleged abduction and rape. According to them, a medical examination of the victim showed the absence of lacerations in her body. This, they added, doesn't fit the complainant's story that she was assaulted by seven men.

[Sources: Bombo Radyo Baguio, Herald Express]

Mountains surrounding Baguio City. Image credit: Dutchy4 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY SA- 3.0)