TRIBUTE
Abigael
Anongos
The Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA)
pays tribute to one of its finest leaders since its establishment in 1984. Padi
(Father) Eduardo Solang, and Anglican priest, is simply extraordinary in all
aspects of life. Despite being small, Padi lived like a giant and prevailed
amidst the most difficult times of CPA. His passing reminded us how Padi lived
his life to the fullest for his family, country, and God.
People from all walks
of life have something to say about Padi. According to Jun Verzola, writer and
a friend of Padi, “Describing Padi Eduardo Solang could sound somewhat like the
song that describes Maria von Trapp in the famous 1960s musical hit, The Sound
of Music: “a flibbertigibbet, a will o’the wisp, a clown… how do you catch a
cloud and pin it down?”
There are a few other
parallels between Padi and Maria: their religious background, and their love of
the hills “alive with the sound of music,” for example. But these points are
mostly superficial. In more substantial matters, Padi Solang is sui
generis and sans rival, full of elan and eclat and panache and
all other superlative Latin and French terms I could think of.”
“Padi is always on the
go. He hates having to wait for the jeepney to arrive to pick up passengers.
He’d rather start walking in the direction of his destination, whether it’s
five or 50 kilometers away. Once I asked him, “But Padi, what if the jeepney
finally arrived, and you missed it because you were already on the road?” His
response: “Oh, I’m sure they will have extra space for an old man when they see
me. And so what if I missed it? At least I’ve made a head start, I might even
get home earlier, and in any case, another jeepney will surely come along,”
added Verzola. Verzola continued by saying that “Padi is an advocate of
indigenous culture, almost to a fault. Those who have ever seen or joined him
leading a ballangbang dance, i-Aplay style (aka pattong), should realize that a
Padi-led Igorot war dance is a life-changing experience if not a trigger for
heart attack—for those who are in no shape for the whole-body aerobics, nay,
acrobatics that it entails. When he sees how young folk perform an indigenous
dance, often I see him shaking his head quietly.
One time he muttered
to me, “That is not how it’s done, ay Apo. Isn’t anyone teaching these kids how
to properly do it?” I tried to explain to him about the nuances of
popularization and raising of standards, which I think should apply to
indigenous culture as well.”
Joanna Carino, Member,
Advisory Council of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance, recollected the major
contributions of Padi Solang from the formative years of CPA until to the
present day. “Padi Solang was elected as our first secretary-general, with
Atty. Billy Claver as the chairperson and Fr. Pat Guyguyon as the vice chair.
At the CPA Congress the following year (1985), Padi was elected as one of the
two vice chairpersons. And when Atty. Claver had to leave the position as
chair, having been appointed as the OIC governor of Kalinga after EDSA 1, Padi
assumed as chairperson of CPA. He continued to be actively involved with the
CPA both at the regional and provincial levels even after he passed on the
chairmanship in succeeding reorganizations,” said Carino.
“In the early years of
CPA, as the popular resistance to Chico and Cellophil and the martial law
dictatorship spread throughout the region, there were numerous human rights
violations committed by the AFP. Fact-finding missions had to be mobilized to
look into these incidents. Padi Solang joined many of these fact-finding
missions. He put his life on the line having to go through military checkpoints
or be on the negotiating panel with the fascist troops,” added Carino.
Carino further
added that, “In 1986, in the wake of the confusion caused by the formation of
the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army and its attacks on the CPA, Padi Solang
steadfastly stood in defense of our Alliance at the risk of life and limb. He
went to the United Nations and exposed the crimes of the CPLA. We believe that
this is one reason why Cory Aquino, who supported the CPLA, failed to win the
Nobel Peace Prize.”
“Padi Solang
lived simply, even sparingly, and advocated a healthy lifestyle. He was a great
believer in the powers of ginger/salabat, which he often carried around with
him. He would tell us to eat more vegetables and less meat to remain healthy.
He did not drink nor smoke. He scolded me that I allowed myself to eat too much
and grow fat. Padi Solang was also both an indigenous elder and an Anglican
priest, and he did not let these two personas conflict. He was grounded in his
indigenous community values and he was a man of God. He could speak on
indigenous knowledge, as much as he could make reference to the Bible. His
spirituality comes shining through in his songs,” continued by Carino.
In conclusion, Carino
made this poem:
He was steadfast in
his commitment,
and tireless in
passing on the positive cultural values of indigenous society
He was grounded in the
past, but was forward looking
and working for a
better future for his children and for all children
He was a man of
the cloth and he spread the word of the progressive Jesus
He was innovative, and
open to new ideas and constructive suggestions
He actively helped
build unity among the indigenous peoples of the Cordillera, and with other
oppressed sectors of Philippine society
He was a
political activist for indigenous peoples rights, national freedom and
democracy
He was our elder, and
he inspired and gave strength and courage to the militant mass movement in the
Cordillera region.
(Abigael Anongos is
CPA secretary genera)
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