MORE NEWS, BENGUET

Philex donates P1M to school for mine course

TUBA, Benguet – The management of the Philex Mining corporation here donated P1 million to the St. Louis University (SLU) in Baguio City to boost the continuous offering of the Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering course to sustain the availability of mining professionals to cater to the increasing demand of such as a result of the reinvigorated mining industry not only in the country but also in the various parts of the global village despite the current global financial crisis.

The donation of the company to the higher education institution was embodied in a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) entered into between Philex represented by Jose Ernesto C. Villaluna, president and chief operating officer and Engr. Eulalio Austin, vice-president for operations and resident manager and SLU represented by Rev. Fr. Jessie Hechanova, president.
Under the agreement, the donated amount shall be used for instruction, research and community extension relative to the offering of the mining engineering course.

At the same time, Philex shall also rehabilitate SLU’s existing mining engineering laboratory equipment to ensure that students will be provided with the latest trends in the lucrative mineral industry.

Villaluna said the company is remain committed in encouraging the youth to take the mining engineering course because of the promising trends in the global mineral industry which perks up the economies of various developing countries.

On the other hand, SLU shall allow its existing mining laboratory equipment to be pulled out from the institution and rehabilitated at the Padcal mine site of Philex and recommend incoming fourth year students of the mining engineering course to undertake on-the-job-training (OJT) program for a minimum of 384 hours at the mine site.

However, there will be no employer-employee relationship between Philex and SLU OJT students or client-supplier or principal-agent relationship between Philex and SLU with the said agreement.

SLU is considered to be an excellent, accredited and autonomous higher education institution offering quality undergraduate and graduate courses in the country.

In view of the positive developments in the local and foreign mining industries, it has re-opened the Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering program which requires the exposure of students to the actual operations of mining companies that involves mineral exploration, mining operation and mineral processing.

Philex is a reputed company with extensive operating experience in the country which can provide sufficient and realistic material resources and technical know-how to the re-opened mining engineering course of the school.

Both parties acknowledge and believe in the need to establish academe-industry linkage that will develop the Filipino graduate to become globally competitive and enable the country to be the top provider of technically-competent and dedicated mining professionals not only in the Philippines but also overseas.-- Dexter A. See


Symbols in Benguet native clothing under study at BSU

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The iBenguets will soon be aware on the meanings associated with the native cloths they are buying and using.

A study on the cultural implication of the Benguet native attire is being conducted by researchers from the Benguet State University. The study, under the joint efforts of BSU and CARASUC with funds initiated by Senator Angara, aims to document the meanings of the symbols, colors and patterns found in the ethnic Benguet costume accessories and woven products.

The documentation will serve as basis for the improvement of the native designs for commercial purposes. The study also aims to preserve and advocate the culture embedded in native clothing of the iBenguets to pass on the culture and innate artistry to the next generation.

History accounts reveal that Benguet people are more inclined into farming thus their cloth are being weaved by the Ilocanos, Mt. Province and Kalinga people. Though Benguet people do not originally weave their own clothing, their own clothing identifies them from other ethno linguistic groups in the region. Same with other tribes, every linings, designs, motifs, and colors depict something related to the lives of the Benguet people.

Apparently, these native attires appeal to the public especially the tourist and these are easily bought to be used as curtains, wall décor, and table runners without knowing the cultural implication attached with them.

To some, these are being altered or mixed with other designs in order to meet the demand of mainstream fashion. Ignorance on the significance of the color combination and design will eventually lead to the loss of native Benguet attires. With this dilemma, the DTI advised these weavers and sewers not to use these native attires with cultural meanings as curtains, table runners and the like.

Benguet is composed of different ethno-linguistic groups so the uses, meanings, traditions and rituals vary from one place to another. Exact meanings can not be determined because culture has been passed on to these old folks through oral tradition. This somehow differ their interpretations regarding the meaning of the symbols, color combination and patterns found in these native attires.

During the initial data gathering, each municipality has different meanings in the use of these attires. It depicts the social status and gender of the person using certain clothing. For example, the alahdang blanket can only be used by a person who has performed the highest level of cañao. Second in rank is the dilli (kn) Shengdi(Ib) that can only be used by men who have performed second level of cañao.

However for the Ibaloi, the use of shengdi is hereditary, wherein a person can only use it when his great/grand fathers have used it. This cloth is also used when executing the tayaw(men's dance) during festivities. It is also notable that there are so called "eyes" in the native blankets like in the dilli/shengdi and pinagpagan, the salibobo, a head turban. These "eyes" depict the number or level of cañao the user has performed.

The status blankets are characterized by the combination of red, black and white with symbols and patterns in them. The kolebaw (ib) bandala and bayaong (kn), combination of black and white are usually associated with the ordinary status. These are plainly combination of color black and white with no designs in them. These native cloth are used also to wrap the corpse and as offering during rituals and ceremonies.

Colors signify the status of the user. Aside from the blankets, this can also be seen with the women dresses. Colors being used for the kambayashu show the status of the user. Black and white is said to be for women of ordinary status. The kambayashu with different color combination like green, red and yellow are considered from a high status.