3 Baguio City village officials pass on; cited

BAGUIO CITY -- Mayor Benjamin Magalong ratified separate city council resolutions mourning the recent demise of three barangay officials of the Summer Capital.
    Resolution no. 516, series of 2023, expresses the city’s “deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences” to the bereaved family of the late Florentino Rivera Diaz, who served as kagawad of Engineer’s Hill barangay from 1991 to 1997.
“As kagawad, Diaz demonstrated unwavering dedication, integrity, and a sincere devotion to the barangay’s betterment. His tireless efforts and selfless service have etched a permanent impression on Engineer’s Hill barangay, creating a remarkable legacy of public service that touched the lives of numerous residents,” the resolution said.
    Resolution no. 517, series of 2023, gives the same sentiments to the bereaved family of the late Glenda L. Santioque, who served Cabinet Hill-Teacher’s Camp barangay first as nutrition scholar starting 2019 then as treasurer until her passing on August 7, this year.
    “Throughout her tenure as a public servant, she consistently and skillfully carried out her duties, contributing significantly to the betterment and advancement of the community. Her dedication to public service, as well as her active participation in the programs and activities of Cabinet Hill-Teacher’s Camp barangay and the city of Baguio is praiseworthy,” the measure disclosed.
    Meanwhile, resolution no. 521, series of 2023, cited the late kagawad Eric Gambican Tauli of East Quirino Hill barangay who passed away on August 13, this year.
    “The people of the city of Baguio honors his memory and commends his invaluable contributions, particularly in his role as the head of the committee on transportation and livelihood services, which has significantly contributed to the betterment of the community,” the measure stressed.-Gaby B. Keith

 

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Baguio dads mourn death of b’gay exec, Beneco lineman

By Gaby B. Keith

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin Magalong signed separate City Council resolutions expressing the Summer Capital’s “deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences’ on the passing of a barangay kagawad and a Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) lineman.
    Resolution No. 480, series of 2023 cited demise of former kagawad Jefferson B. Lawiyan of Malcolm Square barangay that he served in said position from 2007 to 2013 “where he exemplified dedication, integrity and a genuine commitment to the welfare of the barangay.”
    “Lawiyan’s tireless efforts and selfless service have left an indelible mark on Malcolm Square barangay, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of public service that touched the lives of countless residents,” it stated.
    Meanwhile, resolution no. 479, series of 2023, also cited the passing of lineman Jessie D. Balacdao Jr., who died on July 25 after 16 years in the service of Beneco “where he exemplified the true essence of courage, dedication, and selflessness in the service of the people of Baguio city and Benguet province.”
    “As a lineman, his dedication and commitment to ensuring a reliable power supply, especially during challenging weather conditions and emergencies, have made a lasting difference in the lives of countless people,” the resolution stated.

    It added: “Balacdao Jr. will be remembered for his exemplary professional skills, selflessness and his willingness to work tirelessly in the face of danger and adversity. He not only displayed exceptional technical expertise but also a genuine care for the well-being of others. He was a shining example of professionalism, integrity and unwavering devotion to his responsibilities.”

 

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Tribute given to outgoing Baguio mayor Domogan

By Dionisio Dennis, Jr. and Argielynne Gem Ramos

BAGUIO CITY -- City government employees, the private sector, and residents paid tribute to the “invaluable contribution” of outgoing Mayor Mauricio Domogan, who served the city for more than 30 years in different positions.

 “He is known as the 'janitor', the city’s longest-serving executive, 30 years, who led us all in the city to make Baguio rise again and progress,” said Association of City Executives (ACEx) president and budget officer Leticia Clemente during the tribute.

Domogan was cited for leading the people of Baguio in rising from the 1990 quake devastation.

“All the departments have been very supportive of his advocacies and programs as they would and will always do for all administration before or after him. He too reciprocated, the reason why there were many innovations that have taken off the ground sustaining good public services at all times,” Clemente said.

Domogan joined the city government as councilor from 1998 to 1992.

In the 1992 polls, he ran and won as vice mayor but it did not take a day before he was appointed as OIC-mayor after the Commission on Elections issued a disqualification order against former mayor Ramon “Jun” Labo due to questions on his citizenship.

He served as city mayor from 1992 to 2001; congressman from 2001 to 2010 and back as mayor from 2010 to present.

“We have seen the best in local governance from what maybe termed as the Domogan lens, proven by the numerous awards that the city has received thru him, notably the cleanest and greenest city where the city won in three consecutive years thus attaining its hall of fame status. The child-friendly city award, ten next wave cities in ICT, presidential ‘Gawad Pamana’ award, top 20 in the cities competitiveness evaluation, seal of good governance and many more,” Clemente said.

It was during his three consecutive terms as city mayor when Baguio opened doors to various global platforms, counting the city as one of the pioneer signatories in globally sanctioned sustained development declarations in the Asia-Pacific region.

Clemente cited the Asian Development Bank-initiated sustainable water integrated management, which paved the way for the crafting of the first Water Code in Southeast Asia where Baguio City and Domogan were declared as “water champions”.

The United Nations program on Cities for clean energy and clean air program helped the city craft Baguio’s clean air ordinance, which led to the establishment of the roadside inspection, testing and monitoring of vehicle emissions.

“Despite public resistance, we have sustained its implementation as our local commitment to contribute to improved health and achieve better air quality,” Clemente said.

She added that Clean Air Asia has pledged to support the city’s implementation of its clean air initiatives and give its support to help the technical staff enhance their skills to achieve better air quality.

“Because of this single sustained activity of the city, we are one of four cities in Asia given a recognition as a city for clean air and we are waiting for technical assistance for the formulation of a new city clean air action plan," she said.

The program gave the city the ticket to be enrolled in the Breathlife network that also engaged the Health Service Office to help monitor the health impacts of air pollution.

Baguio was one of the two Philippine cities, which were signatories of the Happy City Declaration in Suwon, South Korea in 2017 that aimed to help cities realign their current social development programs to enhance the happiness index of constituents based on globally set parameters.

Domogan has also touched lives in his 30 years of service.

Dr. Elmer Fabito, medical officer III at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) in a video-taped testimony talked about his becoming a doctor, which was made possible through the full scholarship from Domogan.

"The scholarship program was indeed a great help to us beneficiaries because it eases the burden of our parents, families who are doing all means just to send us to school," he said.

Regional Development Council co-chairman Milagros Rimando also shared how Domogan inspired other local chief executives to attend the meetings of the highest policy-making body of the region, which in the early years was impossible considering the distance of the different provinces in the Cordillera region.

Dr. Virgilio Bautista, a former member of the Constitutional Commission created by President Rodrigo R. Duterte to review the 1987 Constitution and who also hails from Baguio, also presented a token from the private citizens of the city and thanked the mayor for his services.

Domogan lost in the May midterm polls in his bid for a congressional seat representing Baguio, ending his three decades of continuous service in the country’s summer capital. -- PNA

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Mildred

HAPPY WEEKEND

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- Known for her happy disposition, Mildred Dewey is the only one named Mildred I know in Sagada.

Mildred is a friend, a sister, a neighbor having stayed a house away in La Trinidad and some 12 houses away from my house here in Sagada.

Fondly called Mortecia or Mertet, good humored  Mildred laughed a lot despite life’s travails. So when she left this physical world on Sept. 8, she is remembered for her jolly soul.

Blessed with a happy disposition, it was a joy to receive a hello, a smile or a jolly laugh from her whenever I saw her. She shared happiness and joy. Not pain. Everyone has his or her own pain. Mildred was not one to spread pain, anxiety or suffering.  

No matter what time of day or whatever state of mind or feeling she was in, she never failed to greet me with a happy smile and a remark to signify it’s a fine morning or afternoon.

She did not bother anyone knowing a sad face depresses people. Better a happy face that brightens the day of people than depress them. She made people cheerful even if she was feeling bad As the Bible says in Matthew 6:25-34, do not worry.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life]? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Life in this world cannot be held on to forever. Life is fleeting. Any minute situations change – like when Yolanda destroyed Samar and Marawi was shattered by bombs and bullets.

Anything can happen. Possessions can be lost anytime and can be gained anytime.  Loved ones die comes a time. Loved ones, friends move to their own directions. Feelings change. People have their own lives. This world is molded by outside factors and everything can’t be controlled.

While this is so, life is meant to be taken responsively and responsibly.    

Mildred reminds that. Life is a fleeting thing so take life one moment in time. Deal with what life offers. Mildred was cheerful and responsible.  As Mildred, an Anglo-Saxon name of Old English origin means "gentle strength," she was that. She took care of her son Marvin till he graduated from college and had his own profession. She was a dutiful wife to her husband Onangey. She took life responsibly with gentle strength and a positive disposition. Live life. It doesn’t pain to share happiness and be cheerful – like Mildred.   

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Mother Petra ‘Tannaw’ Macliing: mother, activist

TRIBUTE

By Innabuyog

Petra, as a given name is the feminine form of Peter, which is derived from the Greek word, petros meaning, “stone or rock”. Fitting is her given name for Mother Petra Macliing really is like the stone terraces adorning our mountains standing tall with her courage and determination to defend the land that nourishes life – our life. She is also like a rock providing a solid foundation and stable source of inspiration not only for her 8 children but for all the children of the Cordillera. And for that, she is embraced by all of us. She has become the mother of us all – nurturing and life-sustaining.

Mother Petra hails from the humble community of Mainit, Bontoc, Mountain Province. Her husband died after the birth of her last child. And so, Mother Petra raised her family on her own – supporting them by farming, raising pigs, and keeping a sari-sari store. Being a single parent and the hard life in the ili did not hinder her activism for indigenous peoples rights to self-determination and ancestral land. This only made her more resolute in pursuing a better future for all of us and strengthened her role as a mother.

In the 70s through the 80s, Benguet Corporation Incorporated (BCI) forced its way into Mainit for mineral exploration. This was opposed by the Mainit people because of the destruction that it would cause to the environment and to the livelihood of the people. Mother Petra was quoted saying, “There is gold in our mountains but that does not nurture us – the rice fields, swidden lots and hunting grounds do. Our forefathers have said it before and I will also say now: of what use and good would gold be to us when it means destroying our rice fields? What good will it be to us to have glittering gold to adorn our bodies if there is no food and our stomachs will be eternally famished?”

She and other women from their community took the lead in confronting mining engineers who wanted to survey their ili and in 1975, they went on hunger strike to show their opposition to the entry of corporate mining in their territory. Also, as President of the Mainit Irrigation Association (MIA), Mother Petra led an irrigation project that would improve and expand rice farming and in turn strengthen the ili’s opposition against BCI’s mineral exploration echoing the organization’s call, “Rice not gold. You do not eat gold.”

In 1980, even with the country at the grips of Martial Law, Mother Petra again united the Mainit women to take the lead role in confronting BCI which was hell bent in exploiting the gold under the community’s rice terraces. At that time, there was heavy military deployment in Mountain Province and Mother Petra was marked as a supporter of the New Peoples Army and was branded a communist by the military and the government because among the opposition against the Mainit mines, her voice was the loudest. However, she was not cowed and her courage and determination became a shining light during those dark times.

Along with other Mainit women, she initiated dialogues with BCI engineers. However, these proved ineffective since BCI was still able to continue its exploration in Mainit and was able to set-up a camp in the community. To avert any violence that would have resulted from Mainit men wanting to physically assault the BCI camp, Mother Petra led the women in looking for other ways to drive away BCI for good.

With the men not far behind, she and the women, arms linked together went to the BCI camp and demanded the engineers to leave their land. Drawing strength from their collective anger and rage against the repeated violation of their rights as indigenous peoples, they burnt the campsite and threw BCI’s equipment into the river. Some even took equipment that they could carry and brought it to BCI’s office at Poblacion, Bontoc so that company will have no reason to go back into their mountains.

Some of the older women stripped their clothes and exposed their breasts to curse, shame and drive away the engineers. This form of protest is derived from the culture of Bontocs where it is taboo for men to see their mothers and grandmothers – those where they came from, unclothed lest, they will suffer an endless occurrence of bad luck. Also, the women, in their determination to drive away BCI forever, squeezed the testicles of the engineers while chasing them away. And so, BCI left Mainit never to return.

At the time that Mother Petra and her community were confronting BCI, the struggle against the construction of the Chico Dams and against the logging activities of Cellophil Resources Corporation (CRC) was raging in the region. Villages along the Chico River, from Bontoc to Kalinga opposed the construction of the Chico Dams for these will submerge their rice terraces and their homes – their source of livelihood and identity as indigenous peoples. Moreover, the umili of Abra resisted the logging activities of CRC since its continutation would mean the complete denudation of their forests.

Mother Petra and her community actively participated in these struggles. Through her, Mainit women forged solidarity with the women of Kalinga and Abra. They conducted sharing of experiences, especially among the women of the Butbut Tribe and the women of Bugnay. In mass mobilizations in Mountain Province, they would speak and relate their struggle against BCI to the anti-CRC struggle in Abra. There were also several times when Mother Petra would troop to Manila, along with other leaders and elders of the region to speak about what is happening in the Cordillera. Mother Petra’s voice, along with other Bontoc, Kalinga and Abra leaders rang loud and true until finally, the construction of the Chico Dams were put on hold and the logging activities of CRC was stopped.

Mother Petra’s role and contribution to the Cordillera peoples fight for land, life and honor is recognized, not only by the communities in the region but by the international community as well. In 2009, she is one of the awardees of the Women’s World Summit Foundation’s (WSSF) Laureate Prize for Rural Women in honor of her creativity and courage in contributing in the improvement of the quality of life in rural communities, for protecting the environment, transmitting knowledge and standing up for human rights and peace. She is also one of the six Filipino women who was awarded by the Asian Rural Women’s Coalition during the 5th International Day of Rural Women in 2012 for advancing indigenous peoples rights, promoting civil rights, combating violence against women, and for seeking better treatment of the rural poor, political prisoners, farmers and children.

Indeed, Mother Petra’s story echoes that of honor, creativity and women power. – (Innabuyog is a group of women’s groups working for indigenous people’s rights in the Cordllera)

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Remembering Rep. Maximo Dalog Sr.

By Gina Dizon

Everyone will remember Congressman Maximo Dalog Sr. as the Father of Lang-ay Festival when he started the province’s celebration of the annual held event in 2005 in joint observation of the province’s founding anniversary held first week of April.  

And so it is during every 7th of April,  the province’s constituents come together and celebrate the day when the Provincial legislative Board in 1967 passed the first resolution declaring the birth of a new district and separate Mountain Province followed by Proclamation 144  signed by former president Fidel Ramos declaring April 7 as the Mt Province Foundation Day. 

During the festive Lang-ay Festival,  the five major tribes-Kankanaey and Aplai from western and southern Mt Province, Bontoc from the northern part of the province, Balangao and the Baliwon from the eastern part congregate to celebrate their diversity as cultural tribes and oneness as one people of the province.

This is what former governor of Mountain Province and Congressman Maximo Dalog wanted to happen -- unity of the people of Mountain Province, economy to flourish amidst a peaceful community, educated children and youth, living in a healthy and sound environment. 

Clean and healthy households  was what the former governor wanted and started a program to have each house installed with a toilet bowl. This was an advocacy which the provincial government in 2007 did by then partnering with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) who provided 6,366 free toilet bowls for distribution to households without sanitary toilets 2007 won to 2008. 

The capital town of Bontoc then had 1,307 households without sanitary toilets; Bauko, 1,282; Paracelis, 998; Sadanga, 826; Natonin, 509; Sagada, 374; Tadian, 283; Sabangan, 249; Besao, 233 and Barlig, 229.

Intensive campaign was then conducted by concerned agencies and a memorandum order was issued by Dalog to government employees and local officials to construct their own sanitary toilet. It also required all provincial government department heads to convince households without sanitary toilet to construct their own, and for all provincial government employees to help in the sanitary toilet construction campaign.

Each household was given one toilet bowl and these were given only after a septic tank has already been constructed and after the health worker has inspected this.

Dalog pursued this program during his years as solon of the province in 2016-2017 before his death on June 3 due to sepsis secondary to pneumonia.

Dalog wanted bus companies not to collect fees from passengers who use toilets in bus stations. His House Bill 725 obliges bus companies to provide free use of toilet for passengers in bus terminals.

S for Social Services

Dalog’s advocacy for sanitation was an S for Social Services in his program PRESTIGE which started during his years as governor in 2004-2010. He became governor of the Province in 1992 and re-elected in 1995.

As congressman in 2010-2017, social services  was one of the solon’s major directions. Dalog filed Bill 282 to increase the bed capacity of Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital (LHMRH) to 200.  The LHMRH has 100 beds.
Establishing the nationalization of secondary schools to become independent high schools is a favorite of the solon having been a teacher in schools Mountain Province State Polytechnique College (MPSPC) and Baguio City High School.

He finished bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and pursued Bachelor of Laws.  

Dalog in 2010-1017 authored House Bill 721 establishing the Mabalite National High School in Tadian. His other Bills pursued to become Republic Acts 0839 and 10840 converting the Sadanga NHS and the Saliok NHS into technical-vocational high schools.

Republic Act 10583 which aims to convert the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College into a state university was filed by Dalog. A law which intends to see MPSPC a University and which every constituent of the province surely would like to have a university to let other educational programs reachable within closer access among college students of the Province.

Dalog’s competent administration skills was noticed in his PRESTiGE’s  R which stands for Reliable-responsive-efficient-and-effective-leadership and G for Good Governance. 

His administration implemented peace and order in the province.

P for peace is in acronym PRESTIGE.

As governor from 2004-2010, the province was awarded Best Provincial Peace and Order Council for five consecutive terms.

As presiding chairman of the PPOC, he wanted membership of the council to include elected municipal mayors, all heads of national offices and semi-government as well as non-government agencies and heads of offices in the provincial local government units; and sectoral representatives to include religious groups, women organizations, council of elders, senior citizens, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, youth and the business sectors.

The cooperation of each member and the PPOC as representative  body made  the  Mountain Province PPOC adjudged 2nd  in the national search for the best provincial peace council for the year 2006 among  the first to third class provinces category.

The national search is an annual activity of the National Peace and Order Council chaired by the Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary to strengthen peace councils in all levels in effectively coordinating public and private sector involvement towards the attainment of peace and order in the country.

The province being a  national awardee as best PPOC was not only achieved during his term in 2004-2010 but also during his earlier term as governor in 1996. The PPOC was a hall of fame awardee under the fourth to sixth class province bracket after it consistently placed first since 1996.

The Mt. Province PPOC won the award from 1996 to 2001 and was a consistent national finalist for the 1st to 3rd class category since 2003.

It was selected as the best council in 2004 when it first joined the upper category then was among the five national finalists the following year.

Town meetings were then conducted and issues raised were given immediate attention. The role of the PPOC was crucial in handling problems like tribal conflicts.

E for Environment and a Million Trees

Dalog, as governor in 2004, wanted a sound environment and wanted  every individual  to plant at least 10 fruit bearing or forest trees in a year through his 1 Million Tree Project.

He initiated planting of a million trees to help sustain the province as watershed cradle of the northern Luzon. Mountain Province hosts headwaters of Chico, Agno, Abra and Ibulao and Siffu rivers. These rivers supply irrigation systems of the province on for the rice fields downstream of Tabuk, Kalinga and Cagayan and lowlands and headwaters from the province powers the electric dams in Northern Luzon.

He filed a bill in Congress to reforest 50,000 hectares of deforested, denuded and open bush lands and grasslands in six towns of the province.

House Bill No. 2760 sought to reforest and rehabilitate denuded mountains, forests and open grasslands and bush lands in the municipalities of Paracelis, Natonin, Sagada, Tadian, Besao and Bauko.

I for Infrastructure

His program on infrastructure was highlighted in the building of the provincial capitol in 2007 which houses provincial government  offices. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan building built during his term in 2005-2006  now houses legislative office and commercial building co- built with  Bontoc local government in 2006. Provincial roads were also built during his term after he filed bills in the 15th Congress like road conversions from local to national roads to include HB 722 converting the Mountain Province-Aguinaldo Ifugao Road into a national road; HB 723, converting the Maba-ay-Abatan Road into a national road, and HB 285 converting the Sagada-Besao-Quirino Ilocos Sur Road into a national road.

T for Treasury and Finance 

The province was elevated to third class category during his term in 2005- 2008 from a persistent fourth class.

Former governor and congressman Maximo Dalog Sr. led, administered, and legislated for the people of Mountain Province with his leadership slogan “Gawis ay Mountain Province (Good Mountain Province)”. -- With reports from Juliet Saley, Andrew Doga-ong, Angel Baybay, and Erlindo Agwilang

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TRIBUTE to Rep. Maximo Dalog Sr.

By Angel Baybay

(Angel Baybay is former provincial information officer during the term of former Gov. Maximo Dalog Sr and currently executive assistant to the Office of the Provincial Governor. This tribute was read during the wake of Congressman  Dalog at the provincial capitol grounds June 6 in Bontoc, Mountain Province) 

We are here to pay tribute not to a political figure. Rather, we are here to pay respect to a leader, friend, and father.

Governor Maximo Dalog is one of the inimitable leaders our province ever had. For almost two decades of service as governor then later on as congressman, he exemplified unique leadership qualities. He was  a visionary, manager, and a result oriented leader.

 As a visionary, he conceptualized the  vision of a “Gawis ay Mountain Province” which could be realized through an eight-pronged program of government popularly known as “PRESTIGE”. This vision became the rallying point of his administration. In his passion to implement programs and activities towards this vision, he earned monikers – monikers that stink like a toilet. But despite this, he never gave up.  Guided by his program of government, the Provincial Peace and Order Council of Mountain Province was chosen as the best in the country for six successive years qualifying it to the Hall of Fame Award. The province was likewise a consistent national finalist in the search for the cleanest and greenest province.

 His ability as a manager is undebatable.  Under his watch, he organized the provincial workforce into a dynamic machinery ready to serve the clients.  

He is a result oriented leader. He may had been strict in imposing timeliness and other disciplinary measures but what counts big at the end of the day is the output.  He would call you at a time you least expect it and ask for updates or how far you have gone on your assigned task.

 Governor Dalog is a true friend. Behind his seemingly intimidating demeanor is a soul whom you could trust and depend on. His being straightforward had been misread as being insensitive but mind you, if a friend will tell you what you want to hear, only a true friend will tell you when your face is dirty.

 Aside from being a model father to his children, Governor Dalog had also been a real father to the provincial government family. Through all his years with us, he supported us build our strengths and overcome our weaknesses. He also taught us not to be afraid but to learn from our mistakes.  More than these however, he taught us the value of leadership by example.

Truly, to the employees of the provincial government, you were and will still remain to be the leader, the friend, and the father. If we only have our way, we won’t let you go.  We cannot do anything though because  our Ultimate Redeemer sounded his call. 

To the family, we thank you for sharing to us a great leader.

 To our leader, friend, and father we thank you for spending your most productive years with us. And now, on your journey to the life beyond, we will not say goodbye because when our time comes we will see each other again. We can only say farewell, till we meet again. 

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‘Padi Eduardo Solang: Hero of the Cordillera people’

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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Remembering Ama Daniel Ngayaan

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

(Windel Bolinget, secretary general of Cordillera Peoples Alliance writes this week’s issue)

In a simple occasion, his family joined by at least 100 elders and the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) paid tribute to Ama Daniel Ngayaan and other martyrs in the Cordillera on Oct. 5, 2015 in Baguio City to honor his important contributions in defending land, life and resources.

The tribute was also a pledge of commitment for the continuing challenge to strengthen the role of elders in building consensus and unities within and among tribes to continue the legacy of defending and nurturing the land.

Daniel Ngayaan was abducted and killed in Cagaluan gate, Pasil, Kalinga province, by the Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA) on Oct. 5, 1987 when he attended the regional council meeting of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) in Baguio City. At that time, he was also the chairperson of the Cordillera Bodong Association. 28 years after his death, his remains were never found. 28 years after his abduction, his family, clan, friends, and kailyan have yet to say that justice has been served.

From 1955-1960, his leadership earned his appointment as barangay captain of Tanglag. In 1974, he was one of the elders who stood up and actively participated and led the opposition against the World Bank-funded Chico River Dams project during the Marcos dictatorship. Ama Daniel significantly contributed in uniting the elders of his community, being an influential peace pact holder himself for the Tanglag tribe.

Through his participation in bodong conferences in Buscalan, Tanglag, and as far as Metro Manila, community opposition was strengthened and consolidated. From these bodong conferences, elders forged a pagta expressing opposition to the dam project in 1975, in the spirit of the defense of ancestral heritage.

His leadership figured as well in spontaneous actions against the dam such as the dismantling of the National Power Corporation camp in Mosimos, Tomiangan, Tabuk, Kalinga. Affected communities including a huge number of women marched down from Tomiangan to Camp Duyan in Bulanao, Tabuk to return parcels of the dismantled camp in 1976.

Threatened by the growing opposition, the Marcos government later sent presidential assistant on national minorities Manda Elizalde to the province. Panamin was used as a divide and rule mechanism against the tribal peoples just so the dam project would push through. Scholarships were offered to families, including cash and canned goods. Ama Daniel was among the first to expose the real motives of this agency.

Like thousands of mass leaders and members of the progressive organizations illegally detained during the Martial Law, Ama Daniel, together with other 150 leaders, elders, oppositionists of the Chico dam was arrested in 1976.

They were detained in Camp Olivas in Pampanga, charged of hampering a government project. They were released the following year with the help of different support groups from the church, the Free Legal Assistance (FLAG) and Amnesty International.

His arrest and detention, did not, however, water down his determination against the dam construction and his people's fight, as he continued to figure in the struggle against the dam. Being a peace pact holder, he was among those who actively participated in the formation of the KalingaBontoc Peace Pact Holders Association (KBPPHA) in 1982, where he became an officer.

In 1983, the growing and widening Cordillera people's movement gave rise to the birth of the Cordillera Bodong Association, which he later chaired. During the second congress of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance, Ama Daniel was elected vice chairperson, In October 5, 1987, Ama Daniel was homeward bound to Tanglag after the CPA Regional Council Meeting when he was abducted by elements of the CPLA in Cagaluan gate.

Justice for Ama Daniel 

Justice for Ama Daniel remains elusive. It remains so even with the knowledge that the CPLA is accountable for his death, and later on RomyGardo of CPA-Abra. Even with CPLA's criminal activities and the complaints lodged against it, the CPLA remains scot-free and is fact coddled by government, the latest act of which is the CPLA's integration into the Armed Forces despite its criminal records under the Arroyo government, virtually forgetting the CPLA's crimes. For this, the state remains culpable of denying justice to Ngayaan, his clan, tribe and the Cordillera people's movement.

Thus, as we remember Ama Daniel, we shall not let our guard down and continue to expose the CPLA for its criminal acts and human rights violations. We shall continue our calls for the immediate abolition of this paramilitary group and make it answer for its crimes against the Cordillera people.

More than two decades after his abduction, we come to remember the life of our martyr Ama Daniel Ngayaan-his great contributions in the defense of our ancestral lands, his thoughts and deed as a progressive tribal leader. We also remember the brave people of Kalinga and Bontoc who stood up against the dam. Today, the Chico River runs free and flowing.

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The power of presence

BENCHWARMER

Ramon Dacawi

{This piece was written after the SAF heroes  remains were returned home early last February. The homecoming haunts us still, as it should, for the gallantry and heroism of the native Cordillerans who perished should be part of Cordillera memory.   RD)

Many in the early morning crowd  a-forming at Camp Dangwa felt no  need for them to say a word. All they needed to do-and did - was to be there in silence - in and around the chapel of the regional police headquarters. All they wanted was to witness,  in their  anonymity, the  solemn, final arrival home of the fallen warriors of the Cordillera.

Less is more, we, verbose journalists are reminded now and then. The less words there are, the clearer the message becomes. So  was  the  silence of the  crowd gathered a fitting and most powerful expression of the common grief and sense of community- and loss - of this region s people triggered by the violent deaths of  15 of their  young warriors. Coming from all walks and hardly knowing each other, they kept coming in to witness the dignity of the  slow, unhurried, respectful pace with which the mortal remains were borne on the shoulders of the heroes  fellow officers of the peace.

There were 15, not 13, sons of the Cordillera among the 44 members of the Special Action Force of the Philippine national Police who fell in that battle in Mamapasano, Maguindano. The biggest number coming from this region, they  were the latest in a growing roster of Cordillerans who, over the years, made the ultimate sacrifice in the protracted struggle for peace in the troubled Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

From their ranks as junior officers (Police Officer 1 to Chief Inspector) and photographs,    we presume most   if not all   were in their 20s or early 30s, born  after Sept. 13, 1986. That was the month, day and year when rebel priest Conrado Balweg of the Cordillera People s Liberation Army signed the “sipat” (cessation of hostilities”) with then Philippine revolutionary government President Corazon Aquino. 

True to that truce,  the Cordillera Administrative Region that was formed stood faithful to that agreement forged in Mt. Data. Still, the date, despite being termed “historic” then, now hardly comes to memory. (The only and most feeble attempt I remember to mark its significance was when retired regional director Henry Aliten of the Department of Agrarian Reform mounted a “sipat” anniversary chess tournament a few years ago.)   

Given our wanting of a sense of history, chances are  the gallantry and heroism of the 15 SAF members from the Cordillera and those of the rest from various parts of the archipelago, would soon be forgotten, slowly erased, yet as brutally as some of their identities were mangled by the overkill with which they were peppered after they had fallen.  

What happened was a “pintakasi”, as an ARMM official  said it, with several forces coming in to fight a common enemy, in this case the SAF officers and men.

The prayer, the hope is that the sense of community at Camp Dangwa that week-end when the heroes  remains came home would transform into action so that this part of the history of this region of warriors, gory as it was, would be taught to our children. The fear is that it would be lost and unlamented,  as many of us lost, or  never knew of the heroism of our forebears against foreign intrusion and domination, first marked by the successful resistance of our Ibaloy ancestors in the un-remembered Battle of Tonglo.   

Two of the 15 Cordillera heroes who fell in Mamapasano were not officially listed as from the Cordillera as  their addresses were in Region 2: P03 Rodrigo F. Acob Jr. of Kalinga whose address  was in Isabela, and P02 Joel B. Dulnuan of Kiangan,  Ifugao  who was a resident of Barangay Ocapon, Villaverde, Nueva Vizcaya where he was laid to rest last Monday.

Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan found it only proper their inclusion in this week-end s obituary page tribute of the city government to the fallen Cordillera warriors.

At the honor rites inside the chapel in Camp Dangwa (named after Maj. BadoDangwa, the Igorot warrior and guerrilla fighter from Kapangan, Benguet ), Cordilleran regional police chief, Chief Supt. Isagani Reyes called out the names of his fallen comrades: Chief Inspector Gednat GarambasTabdi of La Trinidad, Benguet; Senior Inspector Cyrus Paleyan Anniban of Tabuk, Kalinga; ; PO3 Robert Domollog Allaga of Banaue, Ifugao; PO3 Noel Onangey Golocan of Baguio City; P02 Peter Indongsan Carap  of Kabayan, Benguet; PO2 Walner Faustino Danao of Baguio City; P02 Franklin Carap Danao of Tinoc, Ifugao; P02 Jerry Dailay Kayob of La Trinidad, Benguet; P02 Noble Sungay Kiangan of Mankayan, Benguet; P02 Nicky de Castro Nacino Jr. of Baguio City; P01 Russel  Bawaan Bilog of Baguio City; P01 Gringo Charag  Cayang-o of Sadanga, Mt. Province; and P01 Angel Chocowen Kodiamat of Mankayan, Benguet. 

Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan fought off tears narrating how Chief Insp. Tabdi was brought home to La Trinidad, Benguet for an overnight vigil, after which his remains were to be transported to Zamboanga where his wife, Leah Mefranum, a nurse from Basilan who is  six months pregnant, waited for him to finally come home.

Three other sons of Ibaloy couple Garcia and Edna Tabdi are in the police force.  One is assigned in Laguna, another in Pampanga, and still another is under training with the SAF.   

The firefight was termed a “mis-encounter”. It could have been,  if only it had  lasted far short of  the 10 hours that it actually raged,  against combined forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, its break-away  Bangsamoro Islamic  Freedom Fighters   and other forces only known to but repeatedly disowned in the aftermath by the  MILF rebels.

Also termed as a “carnage”, the firefight drew lingering suggestions, demands and questions needing answers. On top of these is the cry for justice from the relatives and fellow officers of the slain police officers that ranking SAF officer, Superintendent Jonathan Calixto pointed out at the honor rites in Camp Dangwa.

In the wake of this latest carnage in Maguindanao, Mayor Mauricio Domogan,  a leading advocate of autonomy for the  Cordillera who admits the bill seeking self-rule here pales compared to the new one being pushed by the national leadership and the MILF in the ARMM , strongly suggested a review of the Bangsamoro Basic Law being rushed for passage in Congress.

Baguio Rep. Nicasio Aliping Jr. had enough reason to say he and Benguet Rep. Ronald Cosalan  wouldn t push for the passage of the BBL until justice for the fallen soldiers is served.

Noting the huge crowd of mourners,  La Trinidad Mayor Edna Tabanda found consolation in the sense of community of Cordillerans who  feel the need to be there in  wakes and funerals, even  for “kailians” they had never met until the final rites.

Such is the soothing, consoling and healing power of presence, of ordinary people being there when grief strikes a fellow Cordilleran s family and kin. (e-mail: mondaxbench@yahoo.com)

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Have you reached 100? LT giving cash to centenarians

By Susan C. Aro

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Attention, residents here who reached the age of 100 -- the local government unit here pays tribute to its residents  blessed with long  and healthy life.

Only a few reach the age of 100 years or more, thus the Sangguniang  Bayan saw it fitting to recognize  and reward these  elderly citizens   through  Municipal  Ordinance No. 16-2014 entitled “Tribute to Centenarians of La Trinidad”.

Penned by Councilors Horacio Ramos and Estrella Adeban,  the ordinance  grants  to qualified  centenarians rewards  of  P10,000 one time cash incentive, P5,000 annual medical assistance, and P10,000 funeral benefit, in case of death.

 To qualify, the elderly citizen must be at least 100 years old  prior to the effectivity of the ordinance; bonafide resident of the town for at least 10 years with barangay certificate of confirmation and  a registered voter of the town. 

He or she should present certified true copy of birth certificate/marriage certificate, and valid document attesting the true birth date or age.

The appropriate awards and recognition will be presented during the  Senior Citizens Month celebration every October. 

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March 28 concert set for 14 slain Cordi SAF heroes

By Ramon Dacawi

BAGUIO CITY -- Cordillera journalists and police officers have taken the cue from  Paul Simon’s “He Was My Brother” song lyrics  to jointly mount a concert-for-a-cause on March 28 at the University of Baguio gym in honor of the 44 members of the Special Action Force who were killed last January 25 in Malasapano, Maguindano.

 
 Newscaster Dhobie de Guzman of  ABS-CBN, as the president of the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club, and Chief Supt. IsaganiNerez. police regional director, called on the community to support the two-hour folk and country music treat, proceeds of which will be distributed  equally to the orphaned families of the 14 members of the SAF who were slain in the massacre. 

 “Like us, many other Cordillerans feel for the families of the 44 SAF members, especially for the kin of the 14 police officers from the Cordillera, in the same token that our region loves folk and country music,” Nerez said.  

“The rendition of folk and country by our musical talents here will surely help in our healing and at the same time help the closest of kin of our brave soldiers in coping with the tragedy.” 

 De Guzman said the musical was inspired by the culture of sharing that pioneer folk and country musicians here launched in the ‘70s, when they started using their gift to reach out to indigent patients through concerts. 

Senior Supt. Jimmy Catanes, head of the regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said the musical show is supported by the Philippine National Police Academy Alumni Association-Cordillera, Baguio-Cordillera Folk and Country Musicians, in partnership with the University of Baguio. 

 “We are supporting this because we are one community, and  more so because many of our present crop of police officers studied at the University of Baguio,”    said former city mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr., a university official and president of Sun-Star Baguio Daily. 

Among those invited to perform are pioneer concert-for-a-cause mainstays the likes of lawyer Jose “Bubut” Olarte, journalists March Fianza and Alfred Dizon, businessman Sammy Comiles, lead guitarist ArsenMarzan, soloists Alma Angiwan, Liza Noble, Kenneth and Zeny, the Seldom Seen Band, Slow Speed Band, Paul Cuyopan, La Trinidad administrative officer  and The Edralins. 

Together with expat soloists Conrad Marzan and Mhia Tibunsay, most of these artists performed last March 1 in “Down Memory Lane”, a reunion concert of the Foggy Mountain Band that raised some P50,000 for Quakelyn Lisayen, a 24-year old girl stricken with kidney failure who is struggling towards an organ transplant. 

 The girl received last Thursday a P10,000 support from the Regional PNP through Chief Supt. Nerez. 

It was the latest contribution towards a fund drive mounted by a committee led by former city prosecutor Gloria Agunos to raise P640,000 for the transplant.  

Earlier, Baguio Rep. NicasioAliping Jr. set aside P200,000 from his Priority Development Assistance Fund to jumpstart the fund drive for the girl. His elder brother, Bob, a retired U.S. Navy officer, also knocked on doors of fellow expats in the
United States. collecting $1,300 he sent for Quakelyn’s fund. 

In return, Bob delivered to them his “Booba Songs,” a collection of his folk and country compositions. 

For the March 28 concert for the fallen SAF heroes, tickets, pegged at P100 each, are available in Baguio media outlets, police stations and at the information division of the city mayor’s office.

                          

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