YES my friend..... This will happen

Yes my friend...this will happen...

By LTC Francis Eugenio L Lardizabal, CO, 21ST IB, 5ID, PA

Fresh flower plants around the oval surround the White Carabao marker. There was a heavy volume of vehicle, but traffic was smooth. The traffic light that was installed hanging at the center of the oval was very precise, that even in the absence of police officers; everybody was much disciplined to obey the traffic rules.

In front of the Saint Williams Parish is an information booth for tourists. Foreigners and local tourists trying to find ways to inquire where they could get accommodations before they could go to their own destinations packed it. It is the season for the much-awaited White Water Rafting at the Chico River. For other tourists, it is the time for the sight seeing tour to the splendid numerous waterfalls of Lubuagan. But there seems to be a shortage of hotels, both in Dagupan and Bulanao of Tabuk City. But even though, the usual practice of offering some private homes as motel has always served the visitors. Anyway, turning homes into inns became a lucrative business for everybody in town.

Meantime, the grounds of Rizal, Kalinga was also jump-packed by people coming from as far as Visayas and Mindanao to attend to the Annual Pinikpikan Festival. Yah... even foreigners were invited to attend and participate to the celebration! The Provincial and Municipal Government are hosting the affair, where prices were at stake. Contests like Duck-Relay, Duck Cooking, Duck-Beauty Pageant, Biggest Duck, Smallest-Duck, and many more involving ducks were on the line. The municipality became the Duck Capital of the North.

The province was so alive that wherever you go, festivities seem to be a normal affair. Over in Tinglayan, foreigners and local tourists are busy buying their own costumes to participate in a Play. The Legend of the Sleeping Beauty, a Play that was inspired for its cultural richness became a success after it was shown at the Cultural Center of the Philippines some years back. The Play is a three day affair. Tourists in costumes act as members either of warring tribes, or maybe with any cast whom they prefer. This is a tourist package where one experience living in the traditional Kalinga houses, hike near the splendid waterfalls of the municipality, and visit more spots that could not be found anywhere in the world.

The former mining area of the Batong Buhay Gold Mines Inc (BBGMI) has become a main attraction of the province. Waiting list in the reservation line reaches at least two weeks before one could get an experience in the place. Families line-up, and could stay two days in make-shift bunkers near the tunnels. The bunkers were turned into some sort of inns with basic amenities. It is the experience of getting inside the tunnels, collecting and milling their own piles that give the visitors a taste of adventure. One family was so lucky to get ten grams of gold, and this was made into a ring as a souvenir at the nearby goldsmith inside the mine compound.

The first-born ladies of Lobo in Tanudan have returned! They were forced to get back to their homes, and stay there permanently with their families to take care for a very promising future. Students, couples and other people from the metropolis now swarm their locality. Their rice terraces has become the alternative of the Banaue Rice Terraces. The clean waters of the Tanudan River gave splendid moments to the visitors to dip their bodies, and stay away from the pollutions of the city. Tanudan also became a favorite place for honeymooners and environmentalists. The ecosystem was preserved in the municipality, despite the 45 minutes ride towards Tabuk City.

And who could prevent people from going to Balbalan, and have a look at the awe-inspiring parks with roaming deers and other wild animals. The place was practically turned into a National Wildlife and Reservation area. The municipality became the Worlds Second Tourist destination, overtaking Palawan. Despite the tour package price ranging from $2000 to $3000 dollar per person, reservations are pouring in for the whole year. The Eco-Walk alone, stretching kilometers of forest land, reaching Abra and Apayao Provinces is one of its kind in the world. It is one package where visitors can enjoy nature at its best. Some former rebels were turned into tour guides, while others as zoo keeper.

The Ilocanos of Kalinga has something to be proud of. They were hired as cooks in restaurants, demanding good pays to serve original goat delicacies all over the province. Pinukpuk and Nambucayan of Tabuk City became the Center for goat raising of the province. Restaurants serving said delicacies became a normal attraction in every municipality of the province. It is only in Kalinga where one could eat goat delicacy to his heart’s content, and at the cheapest price. Moreover, businessmen from other provinces and cities come in close contact with our local raisers in order to be prioritized with their orders. The situations seems to have changed now-a-days…they, the people from other places now seems to come without reservations.

The Province has recently received the prestigious Most Developed Province award. It has surpassed by an average 55 percent in tax collection for the last five years. Employment before was a big concern. The tourism industry alone has a shortage of at least 3000 tour guides for the last 5 years. Hotels sprout like mushrooms in every municipality, and the province alone could not satisfy the demand. Almost every sector faces the challenge of looking for capable employees. As a result, workers have to imported and trained from nearby provinces just to satisfy the requirement.

The Weaving Industry contributed a lot to the coffers of the provincial treasury. Tourists and locals buy the product, and this became a backyard industry especially to the retired citizens. The approved resolution made years back, adopting the Kalinga dress as the official daily uniform for all government workers down to the barangay level worked. This has actually helped in the promotion of tourism in the province.

Though the province has reached its boom, the ecosystem was preserved for this is the main resource not available anywhere else in the country. The exception however is the electricity provided by the waters of Chico River. The lands submerged in Pasil proves to be a good sacrifice, as the town and its people are the direct benefactors of the hydro-electric plant that was completed five years ago. The fishing industry is owned by the people themselves through their cooperatives, and resorts at the nearby dam has brought tourism at its best.

The problem of Peace and Order in the province is a thing of the past. The Kalinga Police Provincial Office (KPPO) was placed at the Hall of Fame for being adjudged as the best peacekeeper of all time. For five consecutive years, there was a 98 percent crime rate solution. Practically, criminality is unheard-off in the province. Most cases heard in courts are on family settlements like battered husbands, or maybe boundary disputes. Thanks to the experience of the province on the Malapiat incident wayback in 2007, all major land disputes were solved.

The NPA’s were never again heard after the successful dialogue made some years back. The people talked in that dialogue, where they gave an ultimatum to the insurgents. The people did not understand any ideology, and their only concern are their children’s future. The people, as if begging to the insurgents during the dialogue were very successful. Majority from the Kalinga Group went down, and this became the beginning of everything.

Yes, its really nice to stay or visit the province. As each visitor leave the portals of Kalinga, maybe along any of its five gates (Tinglayan-Sadanga, Balbalan-Abra, Pinukpuk-Tuao, Rizal-Solana, and Tabuk-Isabela), one could really notice how this area, once notorious for its culture of violence, became to what it is now. The people have learned the hard way, and it is the sacrifice of accepting change and realities that helped each individual shape the province.

As I leave the portals of Kalinga…driving my vehicle and already an old timer and a tourist, I stopped and looked… and there it was…the immortalized scriptures at the goodbye sign…”NEVER AGAIN WILL THERE BE VIOLENCE!”.

Riiiiiiiiing!, Riiiiiiiing!, Riiiiiiing! Wow, it’s five in the morning. Have to go to work. The alarm is a real savior for a man like me. But my dream…it’s a very a very wonderful dream. So my friend…I bet you, this will happen.

A climb to the Forehead of Sleeping Beauty

I was in Baguio when my visitors arrive here in Tabuk on Oct. 28, 2007, from October 29 to 30 we had our pre climb training and seminar at Saint William's Academy, and we rappel at pasunglao bridge in preparation for the climb. On October 31, we boarded a 6x6 truck bound for Tanudan , It was a rugged 8 hours journey to our jump off site. Riding in a 6x6 truck is like riding in a roller coaster. It was a muddy road, sometimes we have to walk.Although the condition of the road is too bad, it gives pleasure and enjoyment to the mountaineers. The road is very dangerous for first timers, it's a one way lane beneath high ravines. at 1200H, we had our lunch at barangay Se-et Tanudan, supposed to be it is our jump off site and the start of our climb. By foot it would take six hours to reach Mt. Tatakkan (Jump Off site)traversing 3 mountains (Mt. Gimma, Mt. Kokok and Mt. Alli) atleast each mountain has an elevation of 1800meters above sea level. then a three hour hike to the village Barangay Lubo, base of Mt. Patukan or the Sleeping Beauty Mountain.
At 1600H, October 31, 2007 we finally arrived at Barangay Lubo. This area would be the start of our journey to the forehead of the Sleeping Beauty.Mountaineers from Manila are very surprised with the hospitality of the people, we stayed at the House of Mrs. Conchita Baggas a kagawad at the barangay. As usual with the Kalingas, it is a pleasure to have guest in our house, and butchering of the pig is a way of celebrating and welcoming the guest.We had a meeting with the villagers with regards to environmental awareness.

0700H Nov. 1, 2007 (The real Journey Begin)
(They Thought it was one mountain, how wrong they were. At the back of my mind is to traverse atleast 4 mountain before the final assault to Mt. Patukan (yan lang ang pwedeng daanan e.)
26 Participants join the Climb, 14 are from Manila and 12 are from Tabuk City Kalinga
at around 1100H we reached the summit of Mt. Dulliyao (First Mountain). We have to cook for our lunch their because it is the only place where water is available.At 0100H it is our assault to the top of Mt. Borngong (2nd Mountain), then Mt. Wagod our gateway to the jungle. Moral now is becoming low, leeches (alimatek or "matok") is everywhere, their are no existing trail so we had to clear our own way. Much worst, it rains. As a lead man, i am the one answering questions from the mountaineers "Nats Malapit na ba tayo?" and my usual answer that i inherited from the folks is "Malapit Lang, dyan lang" then they usually answer me back with "Hayop naman yung malapit, e indi na namin mabilang kung ilang bundok, akala namin iisang assault lang sa tuktok" "nats ilang oras pa?" sagot ko: Siguro mga 1 hour na lang..then after 3 hours sasalita na naman sila "Grabe naman yang time mo, sabi mo 1 hour e 1 min 3 hours na"
then finally at 1800h, after a tiresome hike, soaked and wet we are now in the summit of Mt. Patukan. We are welcome by fogs, wala kaming makita na view.

0600H (Wake up Call)
We are welcome by the beautiful scenic view of Bangad Tinglayan in the morning (syempre picture taking.Pero mga 15min lang nakalipas covered na naman ng fogs), we eat our breakfast then pack up for the much worst traverse route trail.
As a lead man, my original plan is to rapel a 90 degree waterfalls but my guide who is a hunter misunderstood me.Instead he guided us to a 60 degrees waterfall approximately 120 meters. At 1100H we cook our lunch in a small cave. Then a 2 hour hike down to the waterfalls top.2 of the mountaineers have cheated death during our descending, thanks to the rope.At 1400H we have to go down again a ravine at least 60degrees 180meters. Salamat at hindi umulan kundi patay na yung iba.. That ravine is very slippery even when it is dry, the chance of survival when falling is at least 10%.

1800H to 2400H (River Trekking at night Gappu River)
at last we reached the river by 1800H, a 6 hour river trekking without the chance of cooking food and coffee. we are all soaked and wet. everybody is low morale, everybody's feeling weak..We are blinded by total darkness navigating thru the lumination of some flashlights and headlamps whose battery are still working.Jump,slide,soaked and crawl.Some of the mountaineers requested me to set up an emergency camp but i refused due to my fear that when it rains, their's the possibility of flash flood.and now comes midnight and the promising sight of the hanging bridge...morale boost high... by 0030H we reached the village, then an all morning celebration!!!shot shot shot

0800H nov. 3, 2007 we proceeded to a small village near the tanudan river.. same all day we had funs with the natives teaching them how to rapel in a hanging bridge at Pugo Tanudan...same enjoy enjoy ..butchering of pigs...eating from one house to another...invitations from left to right....

0700H Nov. 4, 2007 (Good Bye Tanudan, welcome tragedies and storm)
1000H we reached Tatakkan then we aboard a 6x6 truck again! same roller coaster experience until Mt. Siblu where one of the crew of the truck was being hit by the rear wheel...The truck was trap,in the middle of a storm....

The mountaineers training have paid off during their return to Tabuk. One of the crew of the 6x6 truck have been hit by the rear wheel causing the truck to be traped in the middle of a storm, up in the mountain, exposed in open cold wind, from 10:30 AM until 6:45 PM. Along with the trap passengers are 3 infant babies bound to Tabuk for a check up. With no hesitation, members of the Sagka and Kalinga Mountaineering society responded to the victims with their first aid kits, medicines and bondages. “Habang binibigyan ng first aid yung victim, yung ibang mountaineers inilabas na lahat ng mga portable stove para magpa-init ng tubig para sa gatas ng mga bata, tsaka para magluto ng kape dahil sa sobrang lamig. Nilabas na rin naming lahat ng thermal blanket kasi nanginginig na lahat nung mga pasahero sa truck, pati mga ground sheets. Dahil Sa sobrang lakas ng hangin at ulan. Hindi kami nanghihinayang na naputol yung climbing rope namin sa panghatak sa sasakyan kasi nga nakatulong naman kami. 3 tons lang capacity ng climbing rope e yung sasakyan halos 15 tons kasi.Kahit sobrang mahal ng climbing rope hindi kami nanghihinayang. Ang nasa isip lang naming nun mga panahon yun ay madala yung biktima sa ospital baka matetano kaya pinalakad na naming ibang members hanggang barangay seet Tanudan. Para magtawag ng sasakyan.” (Quoted from: Noel Montano a movie director and the head of SAGKA)

atlast by 2100H andito na kami sa Tabuk!!! but we are welcome by brown out...all night party till morning!!!!!

0900H Nov. 5, 2007 (Looking for souvenir shops in Tabuk)
shopping shopping
1200H Lunch Lunch Lunch (we are invited at Crispin Gayagay's house as usual butchering of pigs!!)
1630H good Bye Kalinga!!!!

****Kalinga May not offer the highest mountains to climb, but it offers what it takes to enjoy your Journey and adventure****

Mt. Patukan is 1906 meters above sea level


DURING OUR PRE CLIMB



AFTER THE CLIMB (SOCIAL LIFE WITH THE NATIVES)

Kalinga Villagers ok geothermal exploration

VILLAGERS from six sub-tribes of Kalinga have given their consent to the proposed exploration project on geothermal energy in Pasil.

Natividad Sugguiyao, provincial officer of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)-Kalinga, said a memorandum of agreement (MOA) and a free prior and informed consent (FPIC) signed by the council of elders from each community affected reflect the decision of all members of the tribes after undergoing the process of grassroots consultation and consensus building.

“The application for a geothermal service contract of Aragorn Power and Energy Corporation-Guidance Management Corporation (Apec-GMC) filed with the Department of Energy (DOE) covers a total of 14,724.16 hectares of ancestral domain. It affects 1,074 households of 6,500 indigenous peoples in Kalinga,” Sugguiyao said.

Sun.Star Baguio

Featuring "Kesu"

Finally, the Probe Team Documentaries goes to Kalinga to meet with folk artist Alonzo Saclag. Saclag known to his students as “Kesu” is a Kalinga master of dance and performing arts. Growing up in Lubuagan, Kalinga, the third capital of revolutionary government of the Philippines, instilled in him a sense of nationalist pride about his ethnic Kalinga heritage. In 1974, he single-handedly formed the Kalinga Budong Dance Troupe. The group has so far won 5 national folk dancing awards since its formation. Ultimately he dreams of building an ethnic village -- a living museum and a thriving testament to the uniqueness of Kalinga culture. JM Cobarrubias puts on the traditional Kalinga garb and learns the dances of the Kalinga.

AMUNG 2007 – A SHOW OF COHESIVE AMONG OVERSEAS KALINGAS

Once again, some 250 Kalinga folks in the United States, Canada and other countries including a few from the Philippines gathered last July 20 – 22, 2007, at Arlington, Virginia, for the International Festival of Kalinga Arts and Culture, dubbed “Amung” – the Kalinga term for a village celebration.

It was the 4th “Amung” and grand reunion sponsored by the Kalingas – North America Network (KaNA), a non-profit, public service corporation, founded in 2000 primarily to promote, preserve and perpetuate the traditional arts and culture of the Kalinga and other indigenous groups of the Cordillera region of northern Philippines. The event is held every two years.

The first day activities included the display and sale of Kalinga native crafts and an evening informal reception party for the early arrivals with native and modern dancing.

The second day was highlighted by the much attended workshops for youth groups and adult attendees on the Kalinga traditional dances and musical instrumentations along with a seminar on the peace and order situation of the Kalinga province in the Philippines. Resource speakers during the seminar were Kalinga ex-Governor Dominador Belac, former Kalinga provincial board member Iluminada Duyan and Dr. Manuel Belandres.

According to Marshall A. Wandag, KaNA’s current president and board chairman, an ad hoc committee will soon be formed with representatives from the various organizations in the United States and Canada with Kalinga memberships. The committee will strive to come up with strategies on how overseas Kalingas could help in the peace and order problems of Kalinga province.

The evening of the second day was capped with a dinner-dance highlighted with special presentations of Kalinga native dances and musical instrumentations by the youth and adult members who attended the cultural workshops, as well as performing troupes of the United Kalinga Apayao Association, the BIBAK club of Washington, D.C., and the sponsoring organization. Plaques of recognition were handed to the special guests from the Philippines and drawing of raffle winners. Modern dancing followed all through the night.

On the third and final day, an ecumenical mass was officiated by Bishop Prudencio Andaya of the Kalinga Roman Catholic vicariate. A picnic lunch was held and followed by an open forum with Gov. Belac and Bishop Andaya.

The “Amung” was coordinated by Connie Baluyan-Alfrido as chairperson. Other planning committee members included – Edwin and Mia (Apolinar) Abeya, Steve and Ester (Manangbao) Hogye, Phil and Patz (Acuat) Cabase, Elpidio and Gloria (Amiling) De Guzman, Henry and Nellie (Abeya) Pit-og, Tom and Joanne (Masadao) Skeel, Tommy and Junie (Belandres) Todas, Gary and Bridgette (Bondad) Sallidao, Julie Sawil-Morgan, Liza Agsib-Johnson, Anat Acuat-Alegre, Ted Acuat, Andrew Dompao, Michael Wandag, Janice Sugguiyao Shiu, Joe Alfrido and Adele Sugguiyao-Wandag.


The KALINGAS-NORTH AMERICA NETWORK, Inc. (KaNA), organized 2000, is a duly incorporated non-profit and public service corporation for cultural, educational and charitable purposes, primarily for the promotion, preservation and perpetuation of the traditional arts and culture of the Kalinga (and other Cordillera) indigenous groups of the Philippines. It has been granted tax-exemption under IRS Section 501(c)(3). Donations to KaNA are tax-deductible. Please consult with your tax advisor. Thank you for your support.

Marshall A. Wandag
President & Chairman of the Board
(323) 665-9771
email: kananetwork@sbcglobal.net

Death of a friend

I considered Maj. Gacadan as one of a friend and barkada..I remember the days when we all drink together, go to the bars and eat together with some of our friends..The last time i met him is during the Kalinga foundation Day where we had our drinking spree at home, he is 15 years older than me but we have something in common, he is a product of PNPA...yesterday is just a very sad news..just because of the very sad news i have cut and paste some articles about his death..
by Grace @ 8:01 pm. Filed under News

By Ernie N. Olson Jr.

BAGUIO CITY -– A ranking police official and an alleged drug pusher were killed while a government agent was seriously injured after an anti-drug operation ended up in a shootout in Bangued, Abra before noon Wednesday.

Cordillera Police Regional Director Raul Gonzales identified the fatalities as Chief Inspector Dante Gacadan, chief of the Abra Provincial Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group (PAIDSOTG) and Aga Ato, 21, a native of Mamantao, Lanao del Sur, who was reported to be a known drug personality operating in Abra and the Ilocos Region.

The wounded policeman, on the other hand, was named as Police Officer 2 Renato Guerrero of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) field office there.

According to Gonzales, Gacadan and Guerrero were conducting surveillance on Ato’s illegal drug operations, when the latter was seen armed with a handgun in front of the Benesa compound at around 11:15 a.m. last July 11.

“The suspect, who was on board a motorcycle, sensed the approaching personnel and fired at them. A hot pursuit operation then ensued, which resulted to a shootout, where Gacadan and Guerrero were both hit,” Gonzales reported.(Sun.Star Baguio)


A RANKING police official and an alleged drug pusher were killed while a government agent was seriously injured after an anti-drug operation ended up in a shootout in Bangued, Abra before noon Wednesday.

Chief Superintendent Raul Gonzales, director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) in the Cordillera, identified the fatalities as Chief Inspector Dante Gacadan, chief of the Abra Provincial Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group (PAIDSOTG); and Aga Ato, 21, a native of Mamantao, Lanao del Sur, who was reported to be a known drug personality operating in Abra and the Ilocos Region.


View here the list of local winners

The wounded policeman, on the other hand, was named as Police Officer 2 Renato Guerrero of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) field office there.

According to Gonzales, Gacadan and Guerrero were conducting surveillance on Ato's illegal drug operations, when the latter was seen armed with a handgun in front of the Benesa compound at around 11:15 a.m. last July 11.

After Gacadan called for backup, personnel of the 1601st Provincial Police Mobole Group led by their group commander, Senior Inspector Larry Baunsi, immediately proceeded to the area.

"The suspect, who was on board a motorcycle, sensed the approaching personnel and fired at them. A hot pursuit operation then ensued, which resulted to a shootout, where Gacadan and Guerrero were both hit," Gonzales reported.

Although both of them were immediately rushed to the Abra Provincial Hospital, Gacadan was pronounced dead upon arrival there, while Guerrero underwent medical treatment and was subsequently confined there. The suspect was also hit and died on the spot.

Recovered by a responding scene-of-the-crime operations team in the area was one Mark IV cal. 45 pistol bearing serial number 180852.

A follow-up operation conducted by a composite team from the PRO-Cordillera Intelligence & Investigation Division, the PNP Intelligence Group 14, the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Abra Provincial Police Office led them to the boardinghouse of the suspect, which is owned by Jerry Colet of Danglas, Abra.

They recovered one small weighing scale and several amounts of suspected shabu placed in a heat-sealed sachet there.

Gacadan’s body was transferred to the Baquiran Funeral Homes, while the cadaver of the suspect was brought to Pineda Funeral Homes.

Gonzales said the case is still undergoing follow-up investigation as of presstime Wednesday.

Kalinga Visitors are protected by the Bodong

Killing someone's visitor is just like killing a family member of the host..In the old tradition of the pagta "You have to avenge the killing of your visitor"but the new revised pagta still considers killing a visitor a taboo but avenging it is not permitted..

Section 5 Article 7 of the pagta
Section 5. Wakwak - Any binodngan who kills a visitor whether a binodngan or not at his house or outside the house within the bugis within twelve (12) hours is liable. The offender, in addition to the penalty of the crime committed, shall pay a fine (multa) of one (1) carabao to be given to the host of the victim.



To a Kalinga, killing a visitor who ate and drunk the food and water of his host is tabooed (paniyaw/kaniyaw). It is believed that the offender will not live a long and happy life.



It is the highest form betrayal for you have fed him, only to bring out the food from his stomach. Wakwak literally means “killing a person whereby the food eaten by him is spilled”.


CASES:
Traders went to Lubuagan to sell goods. They were fed but they were killed. That is wakwak.



Another example of wakwak is the root cause of the tribal war between Lubo and Tulgao. Some men from Tulgao passed through Lubo. They were fed there, after which they proceeded to Mangali. While there, they were killed for unknown reasons. The people of Lubo resented the killing and avenged their death. Thereafter, they went to report the incident to Tulgao for the tumo.



Instead of giving the customary thanksgiving, the people of Tulgao killed them - that sparked the tribal fight in 1939.



That was the way in the past. You have to avenge the killing of your visitors. But Christian as we are, we have to obtain justice in a way consonant to the present view that killing as a way dispensing justice is prohibited. The offender now is liable to pay a fine of one (1) carabao whether the case is filed in court he is still obliged to pay the damages under the bodong.The bodong recognized our justice system.and the bodong is outside the decision of the court.

Binodngan= any member of a tribe within a bodong
Bugis= Territory of the bodong