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

Bloody Demolition in Kalinga

Rizal Mayor Marcelo de la Cruz implements Municipal Ordinance #2005-005 that prohibits land squatting in Rizal town.Sending Demolition crew with police escorts at Barangay San Pascual Rizal Kalinga which resulted to the death of 9 people and wounding of 10 police officers. the gunmen were ordered to surrender but refused and kept firing at the government forces, resulting in sporadic gunbattles that lasted throughout the day.
The squatters dug foxholes and refused to vacate the area, armed with automatic rifles they begun firing at the demolition team in which the police are forced to return fire.


The policemen immediately called on reinforcements from the Kalinga Provincial Police Office and Regional Mobile Group and the Army’s 21st Infantry Battalion.

Tabuk is now a city

Tabuk on became a city on Sunday after a successful plebiscite.

With the plebiscite, Tabuk became the only component city in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Baguio City, the other city in the region, has been a chartered city since 1909.

According to figures released by the Commission on Elections in Cordillera, 17,060 approved the proposal while 2,333 objected against the move to declare Tabuk a city.

Tabuk has 44,128 registered voters. Velasco claimed only 44 percent went out to participate in the historic plebiscite.

Comelec regional director Armand Velasco said that the canvassing ended Sunday

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