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