The assertions of “Igorotak”

 Richard Kinnud

IGOROTAK is a very popular one-word sentence that is often found printed on shirts and other souvenir items sold here in the Cordillera region.  One of the t-shirt designs defines “Igorotak” as “a statement asserting one’s ethnic origin as in ’I am an Igorot’”
    One definition of the word “assert” is to express something confidently and with importance.  Thus, Igorotak seems to aim at convincing people born in the region and those actually residing in the region to call themselves as Igorots.  This is the reason why I never got to buy one of those shirts nor souvenir item even if it was tempting to do so, considering that it could also be being proud to be from the region.  I have my reasons for preferring not to be referred to as an Igorot.  I favor the term Cordilleran to generally refer to the citizens of this mountain region.
    But I love the term “Igorotak” for another message that it conveys.  The word “assert” also means declaration of a rightful entitlement to something.  The term thus reminds that there is that certain thing that a united people whether called “Igorots” or “Cordillerans” can rightfully claim.
    A student of the Constitution in the late eighties up to the present might easily give a guess to what I am referring to.  There is that provision about the establishment of an autonomous region in this part of the country. 
    Two of the words that often stand out during autonomy campaigns are “self-determination” and “land.”  These are often presented distinctively but certainly are entwined concerns.  Advocates would say, the people of the region should be in control of growth and development of the Cordilleras, thru a government autonomous from the national leadership, with the ultimate goal of uplifting people’s living.  Recognizably, when development is talked about, discussion on issues pertaining to land as an important resource cannot be separated.
    The Constitution is now more than thirty years old though and what have been had so far is a separate administrative region for the Cordillera and two plebiscites that rejected separate organic acts for an autonomous region.   The push though for the realization of the constitutional provision haven’t yet fizzled.  Those campaigning for it still voices out as a reality that the rationality of autonomy still stands. 
    The people have a right for self-determination and fight for their land.  And this this also could be what “assertion of one’s ethnic origin” say the “Igorotak” or the many of its variations in the words of other ethnolinguistic groups in the Cordillera like “Ifugawak” or “Ibaloi-ak”, truly means. 
    Macli-ing Dulag whose death anniversary is commemorated at about this time of the year has been presented as icon on these.  He was a member of a community that was part of group of communities that opposed a dam project that was perceived to be inimical to land.  Their act is certainly an exhibit of self-determination and defense of land. 
    The events were before this constitutional provision on autonomy.  It goes to show that whether an autonomous government would be realized or not, the nobility of these mindsets was deep-rooted and should not be diminished.
    There is this story about someone who during the foundation day of a certain province here in the Cordillera, in private celebration, posted in Facebook nature tourism destination in all but one of the municipalities of the province.  When asked about why he has not posted about that municipality, he replied, “Aw tan ginaldin yu met amin din bantay yu.” 
    On the other hand, there is that story of a community from where a mining company has long departed.  What has been left behind were areas in risk of major sinking and an open pit that has soon become a lake.  There were intentions for companies to go back again for mining but the people spoke against it.  Instead, they are now developing this lake that has sprung into a tourism site.
    I think these stories, far from being grand as the Dulag and other similar experiences, are expressions of realities of how people see self-determination and the land as a resource for progress.  They are interpretations and ways of living that popular word “Igorotak” and other similar terms.
    A vote on Cordillera autonomy is at this point far yet from happening.  But as illustrated the essence of self-determination and fight for land are always present in daily living.  Also, there is the upcoming elections as a venue for collectively voicing out how we want ourselves be governed and led individually as provinces and to some extent collectively as a region.  The vote surely has implications on the development of the land as at present we listen to candidates expound on their stand on “galdin”, mining, natural resources, and tourism among other subjects.   The result will somehow show how people elucidate meaning of “Igorotak.”