presentation dr caridad fiar-od

8/11/2019 Presentation Dr Caridad Fiar-od

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Preservation and Promotion of the

Cordillera Cultural Heritage andAddressing Prevailing Issues

in Society

4thInternational Conference of BIBAK in EuropeDublin, Ireland

CARIDAD B. FIAR-OD, PhDCollege Vice President, MPSPC

Council of Elders, Igorot Global Organization


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The Philippine Cordillera located in the north-central

part of Luzon

dubbed as watershedcradle of North Luzon

has a mountainoustopography with toweringpeaks, plateaus, valleys,

winding rivers thatcontributed to thesignificantly unique lifestyleand culture of the people.


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The 1987 PhilippineConstitution finally

recognized the clamorof the Cordillerans forautonomy which isexpected to promote

development. The Cordillera

Administrative Region(CAR) was created by

virtue of EO 220 issuedby President CorazonC. Aquino on July 15,1987


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. however, the organic act thatwould have granted the region its

autonomy was rejected twice by the

people of the Cordillera in 1990 and

in 1998 hence, CAR remains an

administrative region instead of anAUTONOMOUS region


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CordilleraAdministrative

Region (CAR) Abra

Benguet

Ifugao

Kalinga Apayao

Mountain Province

Baguio City

76 municipalitiescomposed of 1172barangays.


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BAGUIO CITY

regional center

Summer Capital ofthe Philippines


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NATURAL RESOURCES Gold and copper mines Climate suitable to upland

vegetables, fruits andornamental plants -

cabbage, celery, carrot,potato, beans, lettuce,sweet peas, broccoli,beets, mushroom, banana,

pineapple, strawberrycitrus, persimmon, passionfruit, several varieties ofcutflower, coffee, tobacco,

mango, apple and pears


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Banaue RiceTerraces

Maligcong Rice

Terraces Sagada Caves

TOURIST DESTINATIONS

Benguet Flower

Gardens

Handicraftindustries


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LANG-AY PANAGBENGA

ADIVAY

ARYA ABRA

ULLALIM &

PINIKPIKAN

IMBAYAH or

GOTAD

SINURSOR/

SINANGDILA


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the identity of every province is capturedin each provincial seal


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1. Abundant God-givenresources-symbolized by themountains, valleys, hills, riversystems, water falls, majestic

terraces, green fields that carrywith them the peoplesresilience, steadfastness, andself-reliance in the face ofadversity and challenge. Amongthe Igorots are their innateindigenous engineering skills,and agricultural potentials todevelop tourism landmarks.

The commonality of all provinces as reflectedin the seals are the following:


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2. Heavenly Bodies.The stars and

sun in emblems give impression ofsun rays at day break heralding thedawning of a new era. The starssignify that the region is integral

part of the Philippines contributingsubstantially to nationaldevelopment. The rising sun depictsthe glories of the peoples past. Therays of the sun symbolizes thepeoples indigenous knowledge asthe light in attaining the peoplesvision.


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3. Gong.This instrument

gives sound to conveyunity, cohesion andsolidarity towards theattainment of a

singular and unifiedvision for developmentand industrialization. Italso symbolizes the

highland culture of theCordillerans beingoptimistic in theiroutlook.


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4. Shield/Spear andHead Ax.These

gadgets speak of thecourage of the people,the traditional weaponfor self-defense. Theseare all symbolic

weapons of war,protection againstignorance, apathy andintolerance. They alsosymbolize the Igorotsindomitable spirit ofpreserving their way oflife, their environment,their customs and

traditions.


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5. Symbolic shapes. Thetriangular shape manifestsstability and strength. The

circles and wheels stand forthe earnest vision of everyprovince towardsdevelopment and

industrialization.


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2. Tangible heritage - ourdifferent bamboo/rattancrafts, our costumes, theengineering structureslike the rice terraces, the

farm implements andthe rice granaries, aswell as the man-madedams


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Guidelines on chants, dances, costumes

1. Among the Benguets, most gong-dancesare to be performed by elders only and notto be performed by the teenagers or childrensince the music of the gongs are part of the

ritual to appease or drive spirits. Gong-dances are played during wakes. Allowingthe young children is a taboo since they donot understand the ritual. On the contrary, inMountain Province, gong-dances are not onlypart of ritual but part of communitycelebrations like weddings, welcome parties,family reunions.


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2. As a Cordillera cultural protocol, thespecific ethnic culture should berespected in terms of the performance ofchants and dances. The Bendian danceamong the Benguets, victory or festival

dances among other provinces may belearned, performed with the appropriatecostumes for identity. There arecommonalities and differences in steps

and arm positions as well as specificcostumes that should be properlyfollowed.


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3. If cultural presentation or performance isto satisfy viewers, the original ethnic danceshould be differentiated fromchoreographed presentations. Originality ofdances is hardly maintained since most

cultural artists have the tendency to dochoreography. In most choreographedIgorot dances, steps of Muslim dances are

integrated. To some extent, costumes aremisused.


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4. To maintainoriginality, the properuse of costumesshould be observed.The tapisamongwomen is worn knee-level or below the

knee. The g-string isworn with a knotworn without brief.


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5. When rituals are to bepresented for informationpurposes, it should be

accompanied withliterature and the actualbutchering of animals on

stage be stopped unlessthe ritual is performed forits actual specific purpose.


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6. In order not to mislead viewers, it should be

made clear if the dance is choreographed and hasintegrated several dance steps and costumes.


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IDENTITY OF CORDILLERA ETHNIC GROUPS

1. Rice wine or anyother wine is alwayssipped to maintainfriendly relationship

with the living and thedead. It is to beoffered freely asmeans to acknowledge

the bountiful harvestfrom Kabunyan, the

Almighty.


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2. Gong-dances are always in circulararrangement as a sign of unity, solidarityand teamwork and with specific purposes.


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3. Wisdom in elders is manifested in theirindigenous knowledge of extemporaneous

recital of prayers during rituals; narration ofhistorical events, commitment in doingassigned tasks for the communitys welfare.


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4. Dance-chantsperformed by bothsexes during

festivities or wakesare common amongall ethnic tribes inCordillera.


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5. Rattan or bamboo wares and

other farm implements wereoriginal among the Igorots asmeans to maximize theirresources and for specific

uses. While these antiquesreveal the ingenuity and tellsthe life of Igorots in the past,it is getting lost due to lack of

appreciation and advocacy. Asa result, remnants of suchancestors legacy have gone toworld museums for exhibits.


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6.The indigenous

knowledge of backstrap weaving,tattooing,mummification, food

preservation, stoneengineering, ricefarming, cooperatives,local governance is

innate among theIgorots.


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7.The spirituality of the Igorotsin general is encompassed

in their strong belief on thepower of the Almightyreferred as Kabunyan,

Alawagan, Lumauig or

sometimes termed asAdikaila, NintotongdoorManakaalin.With such belief,the core values of inayan,

laton, maykasiyana,lawlawabaw etc. are their guidingphilosophies in theireveryday living.


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Recommendations:

1. Documentation of tangible andintangible heritage should becopyrighted as the Igorots

intellectual property before theyare pirated by other artists orauthors.

Towards the abatement of such societalissues, the following recommendations

are posed:


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2. There should be continuing advocacy and

promotion of the Igorot culture throughconferences, symposia and other forms.

3. There should be an aggressive continuingeducation among the youths on the dances,chants, indigenous technologies for them to

understand their implication for development.


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4. A Guidebook for tourists or travelers should bemade as to the DONTs, and DOs when in theCordillera.


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