Itogonians Opposing Large-Scale Mining Expansion in Dalicno, Itogon

Itogonians opposing the expansion of large-scale mining in Dalicno participated in the protest/program in Baguio City on Bonifacio Day, November 30. Here are some of them on stage presenting their cause during the program proper. 

The DASSMA on the sign is an acronym for Dalicno Small-Scale Mining Association. 

The smaller sign behind the group says "No to APSA 103". They are calling for the rejection of the Application for Production Sharing Agreement (APSA) 103. This is an agreement between the government and the mining firm Itogon-Suyoc Resources, Inc. (ISRI). 

Those opposing the agreement claim that the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process wasn't properly conducted and that the expansion of large-scale mining in the area will affect water sources and ancestral lands.

#dalicno #virac #itogon #benguet

Madi Mi Ti Minas, Period!

This placard was held by a woman at the protest in Baguio City on Bonifacio Day, November 30. Among those who joined the protest were people from Itogon who are against large-scale mining in the town. 

"𝘔𝘢𝘥𝘪 𝘮𝘪 𝘵𝘪 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘴! 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘥!" says the sign. These were also the words of Satur Anton, the barangay captain of Bulalacao in Mankayan, when interviewed about mining companies entering their agricultural lands. People in Bulalacao and Guinaoang who are against mining have been maintaining a barricade there  to prevent the entry of a mining company.

Artists Fight Back!

"Artists and scientists are activists. They look at the world as changeable and they look upon themselves as instruments for change. They understand that the slice of world they occupy is only a fragment but that the fragment is intrinsically connected to the whole. They know that action matters."

- Anne Bogart; 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺: 𝘌𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘈𝘳𝘵, 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼: A protester at an anti-corruption program in Baguio City on Bonifacio Day, November 30. Bandanna says "𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘍𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘉𝘢𝘤𝘬!"

Anti-Corruption Protest in Baguio City on Bonifacio Day

In commemoration of Bonifacio Day and in solidarity with mass protests happening nationwide, an anti-corruption protest was held today, November 30, in Baguio City.

Groups, organizations, and concerned citizens marched from the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center to the Juan Luna Drive in Burnham Park where a program was held. Speakers from various sectors took to the stage to speak out against the social ills plaguing the country.

It was a peaceful march/program participated in by students, artists, activists, writers, community leaders, market vendors, jeepney drivers, teachers, religious leaders, and anti-corruption advocates. 

This event is the latest in a series of protests held in Baguio City and Benguet within the last three months.

Kalinga Culture-Bearer Alonzo Saclag Sr. Passes Away

This is Alonzo Saclag Sr., a culture-bearer from Kalinga. He passed away today as confirmed by family members and reports from the Lubuagan LGU and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). 

Saclag dedicated much of his life to learning, preserving, and teaching the music and dances of Kalinga not only to younger generations of Kalingas but to non-Kalingas as well. He was the founder of the Kalinga Budong Dance Troupe.

For his work, Saclag was conferred the Manlilikha ng Bayan in 2000. He's one of only three Cordillerans who were given the award.

Philippine cobra (𝘕𝘢𝘫𝘢 𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴) Spotted in Kabayan Barrio, Kabayan, Benguet

This is a Philippine cobra (𝘕𝘢𝘫𝘢 𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴) spotted in barangay Kabayan Barrio in Kabayan, Benguet. It's also called the Philippine spitting cobra or northern Philippine cobra. It's called 𝘶𝘭𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘨 in Tagalog and 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘦𝘯 in Ilocano. 

This species is highly venomous but it still plays a very important role in maintaining balance in ecosystems.

When encountering one, the first thing to do is back off, maintain a safe distance, and let the snake pass or get away. Many snake-bites happen when people approach to either antagonize or try to hurt the snake. Getting close to the snake only puts you at risk of being bitten.

People in areas where cobras have been spotted also need to learn what should be done in case of snake bites especially from highly venomous species like the 𝘕𝘢𝘫𝘢 𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴. There are many misconceptions out there about treating snake-bites. Contrary to popular belief, applying a tourniquet, cutting the wound, or trying to suck the venom are not effective first-aid procedures. These can do more harm than good. 

The proper first aid procedure is the 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗴𝗲 (𝗣𝗜𝗕). This is a first-aid technique that involves firmly bandaging the affected limb and then immobilizing it with a splint while waiting for rescue and medical assistance. Learning this procedure is important. 

[Image source: Philippine Snakes ID as posted on the group by Ishel David]

Throwback: Dongba Ni Kavajo in Adivay Festival

Throwback to many years ago when one of the highlights of the Adivay Festival were horse-racing and horse-riding exhibitions. These events have been removed most likely because there's no place to stage the events. 

Horses played a very important role in the history of Benguet from the arrival of the Spaniards to the construction of trails and roads that connected the province to its neighbors. 

#AdivayHistory #BenguetHistory

Market Vendors Join Protests Against Proposed Redevelopment of the Baguio City Public Market Through PPP

ATM: Protesters composed of concerned residents, market vendors, organizations, and groups have converged at the Malcolm Square in Baguio City to speak out against the proposed redevelopment of the public market through a public-private partnership (PPP) between the city and SM. 

Among the protesters are vendors from the public market who marched from the market on their way to the square.

The signature campaign to reject the proposed project is also ongoing.

#baguiocity #publicmarket

"Balay" by Salidummay: The Story Behind the Song

You know it's a song by Salidummay just by listening to the first strums or picks on the guitar. This guitarist along with the Dap-ayan ti Kultura iti Kordilyera (DKK) group performed the Salidummay song 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺 at the protest program yesterday in Malcolm Square (November 26). 

According to the DKK:

""Balay," composed by Ani Bongaoen and collagues from the Organisasyon Dagiti Nakurapay iti Syudad (ORNUS), tells the dire situation of the Baguio urban poor. It is a result of a Salidummay song-making workshop after a demolition of homes in Irisan, and was recorded by Salidummay's 2000 album "Diway"."

The Salidummay band is the group behind timeless Cordilleran songs like 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘮, 𝘋𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘭𝘢, 𝘙𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯, 𝘖 𝘋𝘦𝘮 𝘋𝘦𝘮, 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘴𝘰𝘥 𝘯𝘪 𝘈𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, and more.

Benguet is a Melting Pot of Different Cultures

Benguet is now a melting pot of different cultures, both highland and lowland cultures. This is especially true for centers of trade like La Trinidad and Buguias and cultural crossroads like Tuba, Itogon, and Sablan. 

Modern Benguet culture is not exclusive to the cultures of the Ibaloys, Kankana-eys, Kalanguyas, Iwaks, and other indigenous groups in the province. It now includes the introduced cultures from its highland and lowland neighbors. 

Culture is not static. It's malleable. It's influenced and shaped by factors like migration, shifts in populations, technology, environmental changes, political movements, etc. 

But the biggest changes in a region's culture are often attributed to interactions with other cultures.

Benguet culture evolved with the arrival of the Spaniards, the arrival of the Americans, and the arrival of Japanese/Chinese workers to help build the region's roads. This cultural evolution continues to this day as i-Benguets interact everyday with other people from other cultures.

#benguet #culture

Media and Corruption: Ethics, Survival, and Accountability (Forum)

A forum tackling the most pressing issues in Philippine journalism was held today, November 25, at the Teatro Amianan of the University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB). Organized by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in partnership with UPB and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), the forum titled 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝘀, 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, was in commemoration of the 16th anniversary of the Ampatuan Massacre.

Jonathan de Santos, chairperson of the NUJP delivered a talk which dug into several issues hounding journalists today. These include unstable compensation, susceptibility to libel cases from people in power, the tendency to fall into unethical practices, the very slow pace of justice for incarcerated journalists, and the harrassment that journalists often receive from the public. 

Four media practitioners served as reactors/panelists during the forum. 

1. Io Jularbal, dean of the Department of Communication in UPB

2. Rolly Fernandez, former Inquirer Northern Luzon Bureau Chief of the Philippine Daily Inquirer and retired journalism professor at UPB

3. Dionisio Dennis, President of the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club 

4. Josiah Jeshua Bruno of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines and member of the staff of 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲, the official student publication of Saint Louis University

On the Exploitation of Artists in Baguio City and Benguet

The exploitation of artists in Baguio City and Benguet is an open secret. It's currently a hot topic in social media because many artists are finally speaking out and are directly confronting the people and institutions they believe are enablers of this exploitation. Their gloves are off. Their voices are unfiltered.

Just yesterday, as the closing ceremony of the Ibagiw: Baguio Creative Festival was ongoing at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center, there were artists outside the building lighting candles and staging a silent protest. 

One of the protesters is Angelo Aurelio, an artist whose mural graced a wall beside the building's entrance for years. The mural was replaced in this year's edition of the Ibagiw Festival. There's no issue in the replacement of the artwork. This regularly happens in annual events where the branding or vision of the event changes or evolves. It's the way it was removed that angered many artists. The mural was removed and dumped like it has no value. 

Worse, the artist was reportedly not informed of the removal of the mural. Even if the artist was compensated for such work, it's still common courtesy to inform him that his work is going to be taken down.

This is not the first time that this happened in Baguio City. Remember the stone sculptures that used to grace Session Road rotunda? Those were works by Gano Alberto. Nobody knows where those stone sculptures are now. 

These are just the tip of the iceberg. If you talk with artists in the city (and Benguet), you'll hear horror stories about being unfed, unpaid, or simply insulted. Most of these stories come from performers (i.e. singers, cultural performers, dancers).

"Adda inted da ngem sakto lang nga pamasahe mi paawid idiay Irisan. Hihi." This is a message from a member of a cultural performing group who was among those who participated in an event earlier this year.

On Complaints About the Adivay Festival

Do organizers of the Adivay Festival hold a post-event evaluation meeting to assess what they did right and what they did wrong? If they hold such a meeting, then this would be an opportunity to invite people who want to air their grievances about the festival and seek redress. 

There are a number of complaints on the conduct of the festival circulating online. These are serious complaints that need to be addressed. Given the scope of the festival, it's understandable that the main organizers don't have full control over everything. Still, addressing these complaints is their responsibility.

You can't blame people for airing their grievances online. Because where else will they complain?

Man Wearing a "Buwaya" and "Suklong"

He's wearing a "buwaya" (the necklace) and a "suklong" (the hat). The "buwaya" is a necklace made from boar tusks and intricately-weaved rattan/bamboo. 

The barely visible little hat is a "suklong" or "saklong". This hat is either plain or with decorations. This one has beads and boar tusks attached to it. Other terms for the "suklong" in the Cordillera region: 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗸𝗮, 𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗹, 𝗸𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗮, 𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝗱.

Common Medicinal Plants of the Cordillera Region by Leonardo L. Co (Book)

Learned today that there's a book on medicinal plants in the Cordillera region and it was written by the one and only Leonard Co. Google his name for those not familiar with his work. 

📖 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯

✍️Leonard L. Co

A Lecture-Workshop About the Bontoc Safeng

𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗴: 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗰 '𝗟𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗼𝗿' - This was the title of a lecture-workshop by Earl Reishi Lo-Soliven and Hayden Cayson that was held today (November 21, Friday) at the Museo Kordilyera Mini-Gallery at the University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB). 

The 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘨 is a beverage made through fermentation with water, boiled cassava (or boiled sweet potatoes) as the main ingredients. Optional ingredients like corn and bones may also be added to the concoction.

Lo-Soliven and Cayson discussed in depth the history, uses, preparation, and cultural significance of the 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘨. As a communal beverage, the 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘨 plays a major role in Bontoc rituals and community gatherings. 

After the lecture, in the workshop proper, they showed how 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘨 is prepared and stored with real ingredients. They also presented how it can be used as a base liquid for cooking. They added the beverage to boiled rice. Live mudfish and pre-chopped tilapia were then added to the mix. 

Members of the audience were given the chance to taste both the 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘨 and the food cooked using the beverage as a base. 

This lecture- workshop is part of the 𝘜𝘗𝘉 𝘈𝘳𝘵 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺: 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘷𝘢𝘴 𝘓𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴.

BSU Management Endorses Solidarity Event After Initially Discouraging Students to Participate In It

Public pressure works. Yesterday, the BSU management released a public statement saying that they have "𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥" the scheduled walkout event on November 18. This event which will be participated in by universities in Baguio City (UB, SLU, UC, UPB) plus BSU in La Trinidad is a protest against education budget cuts, a call for higher state subsidies for the educational sector, a call for quality education, a protest against corruption, a call for accountability, etc. 

People voiced out their disagreement with the BSU management's stance. Students, alumni, and even faculty members defended the rights of students to protest. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻, the official student publication of BSU, released a statement supporting the rights of students to protest. The 𝗕𝗦𝗨 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 released a similar statement of support. 

Today, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻 reported in an update that Kenneth A. Laruan, the president of BSU, has now endorsed and approved of the event. It will be held starting at the frontage of the BSU Library from 12 noon to 1:00 PM on Tuesday. 

Colleges and universities in Baguio City will be doing similar events. Participants from the involved schools will then hold a centralized program at Malcolm Square, Baguio City starting at 5:00 PM. 

This change in tune of the BSU management is a testament to the power of public pressure through the collective voice of the people. If people didn't protest online to voice out their concerns, this change of stance probably wouldn't have happened. 

Public pressure works. It's effective. And what drives public pressure? 𝗔𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿: Protests, both offline and online.

Protesting Is One of the Highest Forms of Critical Thinking

Many are disappointed with the recent statement by the Benguet State University about the scheduled walkout and protest by students of universities in Baguio City and La Trinidad this coming Tuesday (November 18). The BSU administration's statement is a veiled attempt to discourage students from participating in the event.

The university's statement also tells students to exercise "𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙮𝙨𝙞𝙨" about such events.

But here's the thing:

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴. People who protest know what's up. They are aware of the injustices. They've done their research. They are aware of the flaws in the system. And they know something needs to be done. That's critical thinking. That's thoughtful analysis.

The upcoming walkout protest is a call for: 

 1. Increased state subsidy for educational institutions. 

2. An end to the budget cuts for educational institutions. 

3. The upholding of quality and affordable education. 

These are real issues that badly need real solutions. Also, the activities are in observance of International Students Day.

Historical Landmark for the Philippine Commission First Sessions in Baguio

Not many people are aware of it but this historical marker erected beside the parking lot of the Baden Powell Hotel along Gov. Pack Road marks a very important site in Baguio City's history. It was here that the Philippine Commission held its first sessions in Baguio for a couple of months in 1904.

Here's what the historical marker says: 

𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻'𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗼

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘉𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘰 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘈𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘭 22 𝘵𝘰 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘦 11, 1904, 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘰 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴’ 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰𝘳-𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘓𝘶𝘬𝘦 𝘌. 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘏𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘺 𝘊. 𝘐𝘥𝘦, 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘊. 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘛. 𝘏. 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘰 𝘥𝘦 𝘛𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢, 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘢, 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘙. 𝘥𝘦 𝘓𝘶𝘻𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘢, 𝘑𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘍. 𝘚𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘩, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘞. 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘦𝘴. 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 74 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 273 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥.

#baguio #baguiohistory

Suklong or Saklong: Traditional Igorot Woven Hat

This traditional woven hat is called a 𝙨𝙪𝙠𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 or 𝙨𝙖𝙠𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜. There are other terms for it depending on where you are in the Cordillera region. 

It's often customized with adornments like feathers, beads, or clam shells. 

#igorotculture #igorottraditions

Dapilan: A Traditional Wooden Machine Used to Extract Juice from Sugarcane

This is called a 𝙙𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣 in Kankana-ey. It's among those displayed at an art exhibit at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center. This is not a replica. It's a real 𝙙𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣 reassembled in the exhibition area. 

The 𝙙𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣 is used to extract juice from sugarcane. Its main components are the two wooden cylinders that squeeze juice and the large pole attached to the cyclinders as a turning mechanism. A carabao or a cow is hitched to the pole. The beast walks around in circles thus turning the cylinders. 

A person pushes sugarcane stalks between the cylinders. The squeezed raw juice is collected and cooked in a 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝘆𝗮𝘀𝗶 to produce a variety of products like muscovado sugar.

For many areas in the Cordillera region, harvesting sugarcane and extracting juice from them at the 𝙙𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣 is a community event.

Sunrise in Mt. Tabayoc, Ballay, Kabayan, Benguet

A beautiful sunrise over a sea of clouds as seen from the summit of Mt. Tabayoc in Ballay, Kabayan, Benguet. Standing at 2,842 meters or 9,324 feet, Mt. Tabayoc is the second highest mountain in Luzon and the sixth highest in the country. 

Mt. Tabayoc is listed as an inactive volcano by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

There are two routes to the summit of Mt. Tabayoc. You can either climb from the side of Tinoc, Ifugao or from the side of Kabayan, Benguet. Most hikers climb from the Kabayan side. 

#mttabayoc #kabayanbenguet

Contemporary Art Exhibit in Baguio City

A contemporary art exhibit has opened at the basement of the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center. Curated by Clinton Aniversario, the exhibit features Cordilleran artists working in various medium. So painters, sculptors, weavers, photographers, and experimental artists are well-represented in this exhibit. 

The exhibit is called 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀. It's among the events lined up for the ongoing 𝗜𝗯𝗮𝗴𝗶𝘄: 𝗕𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹. The art exhibit will run until November 31. No entrance fee.

#Ibagiw2025 #CreativeBaguio #TraditionsRootedFuturesRouted #BaguioCreativeFestival #IbagiwFestival

Puket, Pulet, Puriket

Terms for this in Cordilleran languages: 𝗽𝘂𝗸𝗲𝘁, 𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘁, 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘁. They easily stick to clothing. This is why they are called hitchhiker plants. Kids play with these to annoy and prank their friends. 

The green ones are easier to remove. If the ones stuck in your clothing are the brown, completely dried ones, you might have to scrape them with a sharp blade. Or remove them during laundry washing. They're easier to remove when wet.

At the Grand Opening of the 8th Ibagiw: Baguio Creative Festival

The 8th 𝗜𝗯𝗮𝗴𝗶𝘄: 𝗕𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 kicked off today (Friday) with an opening program at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center. This year's celebrations have the theme "𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙙, 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨 𝙍𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙙". There are events lined up until the first week of December.

Gracia Burnham in Tadian, Mountain Province

"𝘑𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵, 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘒𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯."

Thus says the caption for this photo of Gracia Burnham in her book "𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀" which was published in 2003. Burnham released the book just a year after being freed from the clutches of the notorious Abu Sayyaf.

Back in 2001 and 2002, the story of Gracia Burnham, her husband Martin, and more than a dozen people taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf dominated the national headlines. 

Gracia and Martin Burnham were Christian missionaries who decided to move and work in the Philippines in 1986. 

In 2001, during a trip to a resort in Palawan to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary, they were abducted along with 17 other people by heavily-armed men who turned out to be members of the Abu Sayyaf. They were brought to Basilan where the Abu Sayyaf had a stronghold.

The story of the Burnhams and their fellow captives gripped the nation's consciousness for the next 13 months. The hostage crisis ended in June of 2002 during an encounter between the Abu Sayyaf and the Philippine military. Gracia Burnham got injured but was freed. Unfortunately, her husband Martin and a Filipina nurse captive, Ediborah Yap, were killed during the encounter. 

After returning home to the United States, Gracia reportedly helped in translating a comic book series about the bible into the language that the Abu Sayyaf spoke.

This photo was taken somewhere in Tadian, Mountain Province.

The Gray Taxis of La Trinidad, Benguet

Been seeing these gray taxis in La Trinidad for a while now. There's reportedly 40 units of these gray taxis exclusively operating within La Trinidad and nearby Benguet municipalities. They can't operate within Baguio City. They are owned by Highlanders Taxi and Tourist Transport Service Cooperative (HTTTSC), a La Trinidad-based cooperative.

Why Was the Non-Compete Clause in the Proposed Baguio City Public Market Redevelopment Project Excluded/Removed?

More people should be aware of this. In the proposed redevelopment of the Baguio City public market through a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme between the city and SM, the commercial center that SM will build beside the public market will be selling vegetables, meat, and fish. This means that the commercial center will be directly competing with vendors at the public market. 

This was divulged in a news article by the 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘓𝘶𝘻𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳. [𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁.]

Last Tuesday, November 11, the city council and the government-led technical working group (TWG) held a closed-door session at Camp John Hay to discuss the proposed market redevelopment deal.

According to the 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘓𝘶𝘻𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳, they had a source at the meeting, an unnamed councilor who told them that Mayor Benjamin Magalong was present at the closed-door meeting. Magalong reportedly confirmed that SM will also be selling vegetables, meat, fish, and other goods in the commercial center that will be built beside the public market. 

Here's an excerpt from the article:

"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘯𝘰𝘯-𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 h𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘚𝘔 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘩, 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴." 

A non-compete clause is supposed to protect vendors in the public market because the clause will prohibit SM from selling goods that are being sold in the market. The purpose of the non-compete clause is to prevent competition between the public market and the SM-managed commercial center. The exclusion of the non-compete clause in the version of the project that was discussed in the closed-door meeting should definitely raise alarm. 

Also, it should be noted here that the non-compete clause was included in earlier talks on the redevelopment project. Why was it suddenly excluded? 

You Have the Right to Criticize BENECO's Management and Board of Directors

When people criticize BENECO, the criticisms are towards the management and the board of directors. Nobody is trying to insult or discredit the linemen who are hard at work rain or shine, wind or no wind. The linemen's dedication to restoring power is highly appreciated. The linemen are not the problem. No one's questioning their hard work. 

Members and consumers have the right to criticize and question BENECO's management and board of directors. Their questions are valid:

1. What is BENECO doing to upgrade its systems and infrastructures?

2. Why is it that it's often the same feeders encountering the same problems over and over again? 

3. What are the long-term solutions being implemented by BENECO to address these recurring problems? 

Power interruptions exceeding 24-hours could mean losing clients or losing jobs for the thousands of members/consumers with work-from-home setups. Their frustrations aren't coming from an empty vacuum. No one's criticizing for the sake of criticizing. 

Better systems, better infrastructure, and preemptive policies mean less problems. And less risks to limbs and lives for the "warriors of light".

On the Use of AI to Anthropomorphize the Sierra Madre, Cordillera Central, and Caraballo Mountains

"𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘈𝘐-𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦."

That's a message from Katy, a meteorologist who is one of the admins of a weather update page here in the country. 

She's right. These types of AI-generated content should not be normalized.

Content about mountain ranges and their interactions with weather disturbances should be science-based. There are tons of photos, maps, and data-based infographics out there on the Sierra Madre, Cordillera Central, and Caraballo Mountains. Why not use these instead? 

There was a study done by two scientists (Gerry Bagtasa and Bernard Alan Racoma) on the Sierra Madre and how it interacts with typhoons. These are the types of content that should be highlighted and amplified because they explain things based on actual research and data.

Photo Exhibit and Signature Campaign Against "Mallification" of the Baguio City Public Market

A photo exhibit was held today at the Malcolm Square in Baguio City. Feauturing "palengke" photographs by Baguio City street photographers, the exhibit is part of the campaign to raise awareness and encourage people to get involved in rejecting the proposed redevelopment of the Baguio City Public Market through a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme with SM. 

Also held at the venue is a signature campaign against the mallification of the public market. The gathering of signatures started several days ago. 

Both photo exhibit and signature campaign will continue tomorrow, Thursday, from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

What's the Solution to Flash Flooding Problems in Cebu?

In the aftermath of flash floods in Cebu, dozens of scientists and experts have chimed in or have been interviewed and asked 𝗮𝗻𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗮𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗺𝗮𝘂𝗹𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘆𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗿𝗶. 

The most common answers from them are:

1. Plant trees. Reforestation should be implemented on barren hills and mountains. 

2. Stop destructive activities like logging, open mining, quarrying, etc.

3. Land-use planning and strict implementation of zoning regulations. 

They rarely mention flood-control projects like dikes as solutions. In fact, Mahar Lagmay, a geologist and a resilience expert from the UP Resilience Institute said that dikes are the last option. 

The Philippine government spends billions of pesos every year on dikes which scientists and experts say are not very effective and not sustainable solutions to flash floods and other disasters.

Etag Polvoron and Etag Biscuits/Cookies

𝙀𝙩𝙖𝙜 polvoron? 𝙀𝙩𝙖𝙜 cookies?  

These home-made snacks are being sold by the Mountain Province booth at the Cordillera Festival of Festivals Exhibit in Malcolm Square, Baguio City. 

Bought a few just to give them a taste. The 𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙜 biscuits taste just like regular biscuits. Or maybe it was just my taste buds.

But for the 𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙜 polvoron, you can actually taste the 𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙜 flavor. It has a unique smoky taste. It tastes good. Give it a try if you happen to pass by their booth in Malcolm Square. The exhibit will run until tomorrow only.

𝙇𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙩 𝙏𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙖𝙜: 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙔𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙣𝙜 𝙉𝙪𝙚𝙫𝙖 𝙑𝙞𝙯𝙘𝙖𝙮𝙖.

This is the Nueva Vizcaya that most people don't see. I got this book in Kayapa about two years ago. It's a travel guidebook featuring the natural wonders of the province. These are the natural wonders that will be at stake if corporate mining is allowed to take root in the province. 

Mining companies have already entered the municipalities of Kasibu and Quezon. Now they're trying to enter Dupax del Norte. Actually, they have already entered Dupax and have started exploring there. They've already done some physical damage in the area. If you follow the pages and updates of residents there, you will see pictures and videos of the damage to the landscape.

These are just a few of the sites featured in the book. There are dozens more. Name of the book is 𝙇𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙩 𝙏𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙖𝙜: 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙔𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙣𝙜 𝙉𝙪𝙚𝙫𝙖 𝙑𝙞𝙯𝙘𝙖𝙮𝙖.

"Ayaw niyo ma-improve ang ating merkado publiko?"

"Ayaw niyo ma-improve ang ating merkado publiko?" 

This is a very common question being thrown to those who are against the proposed partnership between SM and the city of Baguio in redeveloping the public market. 

The people who were at the Save the Baguio City Public Market solidarity event last Sunday at the public market made it very clear that they are for redevelopment. Everybody wants a better and improved market. What they are questioning is the method in achieving that goal. They are opposing the modality of the redevelopment. And that would be the proposed public-private partnership (PPP) between SM and the city. 

The public-private partnership (PPP) modality is not inherently bad when it comes to public projects. Local government units don't always have the capacity to pursue expensive projects on their own. So it makes sense that sometimes it's necessary to get help from the private sector. 

However, if you read the terms and details of the proposed partnership between SM and Baguio, there's a lot of red flags. From the time that SM submitted to the city their unsolicited proposal five (5) years ago to the city council deliberation last week, there's a lot of questions in need of honest and transparent answers. 

Everybody should at least watch the city council deliberation last week on the proposed project. The video is still on the city council's Facebook page. Watch it then read articles and reports about the proposal from the last four years. Then come up with your own opinion if the SM and Baguio proposed partnership is a good idea.

Everybody wants a better and improved public market. Nobody is opposing the redevelopment of the market. That's clear. 

If you read the history of the PPP proposal, you will learn that there are other options on how to redevelop the market. There are other modalities that the city can potentially pursue. These are options that don't include leasing out huge sections of the market to a corporation for half a century. However, these didn't seem to have been been explored and studied as deeply as the PPP modality.

Save Baguio Market

Conversations about the proposed redevelopment of the Baguio City Public Market mostly revolve around the market itself. Not as many people are talking about the construction of a 7-level parking building and a 3-level commercial center beside the market as part of the proposed redevelopment project. 

According to the proposed project, the parking building and the commercial center will be developed by SM and will be leased to them by the city for 50 years. This means the shopping giant will manage and control a huge piece of critical city infrastructure for half a century. 

Let's talk about the commercial center. It's huge because it has 3 levels. What goods and services will be sold in this commercial center? Will these goods and services be the same as the goods and services being sold by vendors at the public market? 

It was revealed at the city council deliberation about the project last October that the non-compete clause in the redevelopment plan has been removed. This non-compete clause basically assures vendors that the commercial center won't be selling goods and services similar to those being sold at the market. Why was this non-compete clause removed?

Save the Baguio City Public Market

The proposed redevelopment of the Baguio City Public Market by SM won't just affect vendors that are already within the market. 

It will also effect the hundreds of small businesses and shops from nearby streets and communities. Many of these businesses rely on the foot traffic going in and coming out of the market's multiple entrances and exits. 

If the SM and Baguio City partnership pushes through and SM goes on to build the multi-level commercial center and the multi-level parking building beside it, what do you think will be the net effect not on just market vendors but on nearby shops like grocery stores, bakeries, etc.? 

Remember that SM will be managing and controlling the commercial center and parking building for 50 years. You can bet that the parking building will be designed in such a way that there's an easy transition from the parking building to the commercial center. 

Many people seem to have been fed the idea that the proposed public-private partnership is the only way to move forward in redeveloping the market. That's not the case. If you listen to the deliberation by the city council last October, it was pretty clear that there are other options but these weren't studied and explored as deeply.

Build Forests, See Less Flash Floods

Build forests and you'll see less flash floods. If you dig into the root cause of flash floods in this country, 99% of the time it's because the trees in the area (and nearby areas) have been significantly reduced or completely wiped out due to human activities like logging, mining, quarrying, and clearing to transform previously forested lands into agricultural or residential areas.

If the trees are no longer there to stop water run-offs, every drop of water goes rushing to the valleys below. Barren hills and treeless mountains are a recipe for disaster. 

Flood control projects can help reduce the impacts of floods. But these projects are often band-aid solutions not to mention the fact that they are often sub-standard which means they cause more harm than good. 

Imagine if those billions of pesos wasted on unnecessary and sub-standard flood control projects are used instead in reforestation projects.

Etiquette in Covering Festivals and Events Featuring Performances by Indigenous Peoples

Content creators covering events like festivals where indigenous peoples showcase their music and cultures should upload videos of the performances 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘀. Don't add overlay music or sound that completely drowns out or replaces the original sounds of the performers.

If the performers are beating gongs, then the sounds should be those of gongs. If the performers are using bamboo instruments, then the sounds should be those of bamboo instruments.

Many content creators often replace the original sounds of the performers with trending songs or music on reels. This is a disservice to the performers and their unique sounds. 

📷 Image from the Cordillera Festival of Festivals Facebook page.

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Should Go Through a Referendum

Yung mga public-private partnerships (PPP) like the proposed Baguio-SM partnership dapat talaga dumadaan sa isang referendum. The people should vote on it. Let everyone cast his/her vote. Let democracy take care of the rest. 

Very problematic yung current sistema na it's the voting among the city councilors that will decide the matter. 

Yung public consultation kanina, less than one half ng city councilors ang present. Ano yun? Yung future ng public market for the next 50 years is at stake. Yung mga councilors ang boboto whether to proceed with the project. Tapos more than half sa kanila wala sa public consultation.

Keep in mind that the city council has until the second week of January next year to decide on the project. So it's very close.

What Does a Typhoon Landfall Mean?

Many people seem confused on what landfall means in the context of an incoming typhoon. Landfall occurs when the center of a typhoon crosses from the sea to land. For example, if the center of a typhoon crosses from the Philippine sea to the Isabela coast, then it made landfall on Isabela. 

Because of this sea-to-land definition, landfall can occur multiple times with the same typhoon. This is very common in the Visayas region. A typhoon makes multiple landfalls as the typhoon crosses from sea to island to sea then to another island.

Typhoon Uwan is projected to make landfall on the province of Aurora tomorrow evening (Sunday).

The Abandoned Boneng Mines in Lubo, Kibungan, Benguet

This is the site of an abandoned open-pit mine in Lubo, Kibungan, Benguet. I took this photo maybe 2018 or 2019 when we went there to distribute books and school supplies to elementary schools in the area as part of an outreach program. 

Called the Boneng Mines, this open-pit site was operated by the Western Minolco Mining Corporation in the 1970s. They abandoned the site in the early 1980s.

It looks green now but according to the locals it was a wasteland when the mining firm abandoned it in the 1980s. That's nearly 50 years ago. Be that as it may, the landscape in the area has not fully recovered from the effects of open-pit mining.

When the mining firm left, development and rehabilitation of the site largely relied on the locals and communities near the site. 

This is a mine that had substantial impacts on three Benguet towns - Kibungan, Atok, and Kapangan. 

Mining firms always say they bring development to the communities and lands they mine. Do they? The answer lies in the scarred landscapes they leave behind and the stories of the locals who had to rebuild these sites once mining firms abandon them.

"Kalsada mi tupay ditoy ket lubak-lubak." Kuna diay maysa nga local in Lubo a few years ago.

When Displaced I-Benguets Moved to Nueva Vizcaya

When the Ambuklao Dam in Bokod, Benguet was built in the 1950s, many of those who were displaced by the dam moved and relocated to nearby Nueva Vizcaya. Many of the descendants of these movers/evacuees (𝘣𝘢𝘬𝘸𝘪𝘵) are now facing another threat to their new lands. And that would be mining companies. 

These mining firms have already entered the towns of Kasibu and Quezon. And they are now trying to penetrate Dupax del Norte. 

Novo Vizcayanos resisted. They set up barricades and organized mass protests and rallies. These movements worked. The congressman of Nueva Vizcaya and the mayor of Dupax del Norte (who happen to be brothers) had to face the ire and anger of the protesters in front of the Dupax del Norte municipal hall.

This is yet again a testament that the people have the power, not the politicians. The people just have to exercise that power. Politicians are powerful only when the people stay silent.

"Haan kayo ag-rally ditoy Benguet nu haan kayo taga-Benguet."

"Haan kayo ag-rally ditoy Benguet nu haan kayo taga-Benguet."

Daytoy ti maysa nga most common nga comment dagiti critics ti napalabas nga protests/rallies against corruption ditoy Baguio ken Benguet. 

Today is October 20. Ada ti scheduled nga protest rally idiay Capitol Grounds ti Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. The Vizcayanos will be there to protest the entry of a mining firm in Dupax del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya. They were forced to organize a mass rally ta kasla agtatalna metten piman diay congressman, governor, ken other leaders da.

Now, ada ti nag-organize nga taga-Benguets nga apan maki-rally idiay. Ta very similar ti sitwasyun idiay Dupax del Norte ken idiay Guinaoang/Bulalacao, Mankayan. Sunga kuna da apan da maki-rally diay Bayombong. 

Using the logic dagidiay mangibagbaga nga haan dapat agral-rally dagiti haan nga taga-Benguet ditoy Benguet, does that also mean haan dapat apan maki-rally dagitoy kakailyan nga taga-Benguet idiay Nueva Vizcaya ta haan da met taga-Nueva Vizcaya? 

Mali diay logic da di ba? 

A person's right to protest doesn't depend on where he's from. If you're from Batanes, you can still protest and join rallies in Tawi-Tawi.

On Critics of Protests and Rallies in Baguio City and Benguet

This is a friendly suggestion to people, especially media practitioners with substantial followers, who keep on discrediting and unfairly criticizing the efforts of people in Baguio and Benguet to protest against corruption. 

Maymayat siguro no next time nga ada ag-protesta wenno ag-rally ditoy Baguio/Benguet, ag-attend kayo kuma ngay. Tapno makita yo with your own eyes ken mangeg yo with your own ears ti mangmangyari during these anti-corruption protests. See the whole picture nga kuna da. Tapno haan met ah nga "selective" diay atake yo. 

As media practitioners, you know the rule that in order to offer a balanced report or commentary on a specific event (especially an event happening in your own backyard), it's best that you are there on the ground. 

Diay ibagbaga yo ngamin nga "sablay" ken diay kanayun nga pang-question dagidiay followers yo no taga-Benguet ba talaga dagiti umattend ket very far from the truth. It's very UNFAIR to the people who made efforts to be there. They are being being made fun of and insulted by too many people. Their indigeneity are being questioned. They are being redtagged. They don't deserve it.

In the recent protest in La Trinidad, all of those who spoke during the program are i-Benguets. They even spoke in our Cordilleran languages. 

Ada ni sir Pablo from Mankayan who spoke about their current fight against proposed mining in their communities particularly in Bulalacao and Guinaoang. He raised concerns on how these communities can be turned upside down once the machineries of mining enter their lands. 

Ada ni ma'am Emy, a senior citizen who spoke about the Igorot concept of 𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘯 which she described as the Cordilleran equivalent of the golden rule: do unto others what you want others do unto you. 

Ada ni ma'am Betty who spoke in Benguet Kankana-ey about her work in an advocacy organization serving and helping our less-fortunate kakailyans. 

Ada ni sir Armi-Jay, a student in BSU and an i-Benguet. He talked about the budget cuts in the national budget in the education sector which will significantly affect the building, upgrading, and maintenance of BSU's physical assets and infrastructure. 

Ada ni sir Kenneth, a youth leader and also an i-Benguet calling for what everyone is calling for: accountability, transparency, and good governance. 

Ada pay diay daduma nagsao idiay. 

The point is that the protest achieved its goals. It was not "sablay". The persistent insinuations that the protesters are not from Benguet are false. 

As to the term "Benguet, tumakder ka", let's not interpret it literally. It's simply a call to action. As sir Pablo from Mankayan said about proposed mining in their communities, "Tinmakder ti ili nga Mankayan particular ti Bulalacao ken Guinaoang nga mangbarikada kanya da." 

That's what the signs and placards meant when they say "Benguet, tumakder ka". Tumakder against destructive mining. Tumakder against budget cuts in state universities like BSU. Tumakder against government policies where people have to beg officials for basic services. 

Dagitoy ti mangmangyari in these protests and rallies ditoy ayan tayo. 

Ti question met ti kinabassit ti napan naki-rally, that is irrelevant. A protest is a protest whether maysa nga tao wenno one million katao ti napan. A protest is not defined by how many people attended. It's defined by what the protester or protesters are fighting for. 

Again, kadagiti critics, maymayat ladta nu ag-attend kayo mismo diay protests and rallies. Uray ag-attend kayo not as protesters but as neutral observers. Tapno makita yo mismo. Adu-adu ti ibato yo after the protests ngem kasla awan kayo met idiay. Nag-atiddug essays ken articles yo about diay protests ngem kasla awan kayo met idiay. Nagadu i-content yo about diay protests ngem kasla awan kayo met idiay. 

Ti event, kasla pelikula wenno libro dayta. Bagum nga ireview ken icriticize, maymayat no buyaem pay or basaem pay tapno ada basis ti criticism mo.

So next time nga ada protest ken rally, sapay kuma ta ada kayo idiay nga ag-dengeg ma'ams and sirs. Mas credible diay after-event commentary yo no it's based on what you personally saw, heard, and experienced.