the long and rugged road

The long and rugged road to Barlig, Mountain Province. Travelling on your high class cars is not advisable for this kind of road better use Motor bikes and turn your travel into adventure.. )

Bontoc Rice Terraces, Bontoc, Mountain Province

Meet a proudly Igorot artist; Jordan Mang-osan

Meet a proudly Igorot artist; Jordan Mang-osan

HE was once a nobody in the “elite” world of the artists, until one day he became someone who is not only recognized but multi-awarded with his great skill in drawing and painting.

Jordan Mang-osan started drawing as a hobby since elementary until he was awarded as “Artist of the Year” upon graduation in Pico Elementary School, La Trinidad, Benguet back in 1981. The recognition inspired him to continue his hobby and eventually it became his career when he was 19 years of age.

He first attended charcoal drawing in BSBT to develop his skill in drawing which qualified him to become a member of the Baguio Artist Guild in 1988.

The Tam-awan circle of artist

WHEN the Tam-awan Village is on track of development in 1985, Jordan became the care taker until the Chanum Foundation Inc. was established in 1986 that he became an automatic member as well as the Tam-awan circle of artists.

Starting to be an artist he said entailed a lot of struggles. Being born from a not so well-off family, being an artist as a profession is like a joke, with the revenue not even enough to feed him.

“In the beginning as usual if you are an artist the primary problem is the financial especially if you are still an aspiring artist not known in the world of famous artists,” he said.

But he said that the lack of finances did not hinder them not to pursue their career as artist. They made remedies by printing t-shirts, tarpaulin and cards so they could have a source of income to sustain their daily needs. “This became our bread and butter at the same painting”, he added.

Jordan is a full-time artist in the Tam-awan Village together with other artists.

His encouragements as an artist

MORE than the fame of being a locally and nationally known artist, Jordan said that what matter to him most being an artist is the help that he renders to the community for every masterpiece he makes that depicts the culture and tradition of the Cordillerans.

“For me as an Igorot artist, I think that it is big help in tradition and culture because as an artist you can preserve, develop or show to other cultures the Cordilleran culture through art specially that our culture is already changing”, he said.

Moreover, he said that the role of the Tam-awan artists is to bring to life the Cordilleran culture and tradition that the next generation will see what happened before and today. This he said is one way of preserving the vanishing culture of the Cordillera.

This can be evidenced with his works with most of his subjects presenting the culture, tradition, images and landscape in the Cordillera. He likewise focuses on motif and symbols of the Cordillerans although he said that he change subjects when he go to exhibits depending on the theme.

The Tam-awan artists have already been joining local, national and international exhibits which he said had slowly uplifted their economic status in life.

“We inspire workshops for the young and we encourage building of talents in art through workshops so that the next generation will continue what we have started as a legacy to the Cordillerans”, he added.

The medium he uses

JOARDAN specializes in solar drawing, charcoal, acrylic paint, mix media and the latest which is pyrography.

Pyrography is the art of decorating wood or other materials with burn marks resulting from the controlled application of a heated object also known as wood burning. Pyrography means “writing with fire” and is the traditional art of using a heated tip or wire to burn scorch designs to wood or leather.

Pyrography is using electrical burning pen while solar drawing is using magnifying lens and heat of the sun. Drawing using pyrography would consume about seven days of straight working while the solar drawing would require a longer time depending on the light of the sun.

Awards and Exhibits

JORDAN had received several awards in his lifetime career as an artist. He was recognized as the Outstanding Artist in 1993 during the 84th Anniversary of Baguio City’s Charter Day and in 1994 he was awarded the Special Recognition for Arts and Culture during the 44th Foundation Day of La Trinidad, Benguet. The same title was awarded to him in 1997 by the Baguio Midland Courier on its 5oth Anniversary.

In 1999, he was nominated to the Annual Search for Baguio City’s Outstanding Citizens and was also given a Special Recognition in the Field of Arts and Culture by the Department of Tourism.

He won first prize in 2002’s Cordillera Ecological Painting Competition held in Baguio City and landed finalist in 2005’s Phillip Morris Philippine Painting Competition held in National Museum in Manila. He was also included in the Top 10 during the Philippine Regional Art Award in 2007 held in National Museum, Manila.

He had individual exhibits first of which was in 1992 entitled “Kaigorotan” held in Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet followed by another exhibit with the title “Cordillera Day” held in Melvin Jones, Burnham Park, Baguio City and “Launching of the World Indigenous People” in New York City, USA. He also exhibited in the “International Year for the World Indigenous People Poster Exhibit in 1993 at New York City; “Igorot in the Moon” held in 1994 at Mt. Provinces Museum, Baguio City; “Tribal Art Performance” in the same year at Tokyo, Japan.

Following that, he had exhibitions in South Korea in 1995 with the themes; “The International Nature Art Exhibit and Symposium” in Kong-Ju City; Dot Seom Biennale” in Masan City; “Puyo Art Festival” in Puyo; and “Environmental Art Festival” in Seoul.

The year after, he held the exhibit “Peace Pact” at Christine’s Gallery in Baguio City; and in 1998 he was in Kula Lumpur, Malaysia for the 13th ASEAN Art Exhibition. He had his first Solar Paintings exhibit in 2001 at the Tam-awan Village Art Gallery in Baguio City and in 2002 he had “Kawing Gawa” in Darwin, Australia.

Other exhibits that he had include; “Motifs and Images” in 2003 and “One Man Show” in 2004 both held in Tam-awan Village; “Solar Painting II” in 2005 at Hotel Tepeyec, Baguio City; and “Rituals of the Igorot” in 2007 held in Pasay City.* originally published in Baguio Chronicle

“Tawid ti banbantay, tawid ti puli” The UC ‘Hapiyo Mi’ cultural performing group

“Tawid ti banbantay, tawid ti puli” The UC ‘Hapiyo Mi’ cultural performing group

THE University of the Cordilleras’ cultural performing group, Hapiyo Mi, is no doubt one of the best groups that has keep its vision of preserving the cultural heritage of the Cordilleras through their performances depicting the traditions, rites, and rituals of the indomitable people of the Cordillera from an evolving contemporary perspective.

They awed the nation with their authentic performance of the cultural dances of the Cordilleras that won them 1st runner-up honors in the Sayaw Pinoy Category of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Academic and Cultural Festival held on March 1-5 last year in the University of the Philippines, Diliman Campus.

The grandeur of their performances has challenged the curiosity of this writer to know more about the group beyond their colorful costumes and their fascinating dances.

The Hapiyo Mi started from a Social Science class (society and culture) handled by Professor Maria Catbagan Aplaten under the College of Criminology in 2000. The class is composed mainly of male students from the Cordilleras, fresh from their native towns or ili. To make the subject interesting, Aplaten thought of asking her students to show their love of culture through a class presentation.

What followed is a stunning realization of how the students have authentically presented their cultural dances in class with their complete indigenous costumes.

“I was shocked when my students presented. They dance gracefully and they played the gongs very well. One of them has performed a “baki” in class”, Aplaten related.

A baki is a ritual of prayer offered during wedding, thanksgiving, funeral, and other occasions by a Mumbaki (an Ifugao religious specialist or high priest usually an elderly).

After the class presentation, she initiated the formation of a group to represent the college during intramural intermissions and inter-college sports festivals. Eventually, the group has grown in number from 15 original members, all from Ifugao until it has attracted other indigent students from the different provinces in the region.

“At the back of my mind there was this hope that if the group is adopted by the University, then that is a good start to help the members maybe through a scholarship because I understand they are indigent, and even though we do not like to accept that we are poor, I know that my students are also having financial constraints”, she recalled.

The group was then named Hapiyo Mi, an Ifugao word meaning ‘our shield’ with Professor Aplaten as the adviser. They have struggled to keep the group and performed during occasions even though more often than not they are burdened as to where they would source out their materials for their productions.

“We performed in various places for various organizations before we were adopted as the official cultural group of the University of the Cordilleras in 2001 and upon the request of the school, the group was renamed “Kalasag” (the name of UC’s dance troupe in the 80’s), a Kankana-ey term for “shield”. They were awarded 15 scholarship slots, boosting the group’s morale to perform better”, she revealed.

Since then, Kalasag has become a regular performer of various Cordillera music, dances and practices for local, national and international organizations. The group has also welcomed and performed for various local and foreign visitors and different activities in Baguio City. Further, the Baguio Tourism Office in 2005 requested the group to represent Baguio in the activities conducted for the “Wow Philippines” program of then Tourism Sec. Richard Gordon.

The biggest production of the group was a play held on February 22-23, 2003 at the Baguio Convention Center Entitled “Nan Nataguan Tako”. It showcased Cordillera traditional attires, music, dances, and cultural practices, and was considered as one of the highlights of the Baguio Flower Festival celebration that year.

The old name of the group which is Hapiyoh Mi was reinstated on November 27, 2009 replacing Kalasag to give honor to the pioneers of the group who named it.

“The term Hapiyo Mi for me is unique as compared to the Kalasag that has been used commercially already, it’s like when you hear the word Hapiyo Mi, it sounds like Japanese or Chinese”, Aplaten joked.

Training new members

SINCE the original members of the group have graduated, new members have to be trained to replace them and keep their torch burning as the official cultural group of the university.

Aplaten said that since 2005 had been conducting summer cultural workshops for five days and the fifth day is the recital or production of the trainees. This is where the group identifies those who have potentials commendable of a scholarship.

“What we teach them during the workshop is the proper way of dancing, singing indigenous songs, playing of instrument, and theatrical movements as well as I give lecture on proper way of wearing the attires like the g-string. I also explain to them how to use it and when to use the different attires including the meaning of the colors of the fabrics. After that, we observe on how they will use the attires, if the length is right, whether the g-string is tied properly, and if the overlap is correct”, she furthered.

But she said they also accept those who are interested to join the group even in the middle of the term. They will undergo training also although there are some who join who are excellent enough so immediately scholarship is granted to them.

“We justify the scholarship through capability and performance of the individual not on how long you have been a member”, Aplaten stressed.

Giving back

AS scholars, the Hapiyo Mi cultural group also supports elementary and high school scholars through the UC’s project HELEN (Health, Education, Livelihood, Environment, and Nurturance).

“We are maintaining ten scholars in Yagyagan, Tuba, Benguet. We committed financial help for them until they graduate in high school”, she stated.

Giving back is the most important thing a member of the group must learn as well as paying forward through what they have learned within the Hapiyo Mi family.

“I am just an instrument to help the Cordillera indigents, because financially I cannot help them but in other ways we can be a leader that’s why I always tell them to give back to the community”.

On commercialization of culture

BEING a cultural performing group, the issue on commercialization of culture is also disturbing the group like any other group promoting culture for tourism purposes.

“That is a very vague issue, that’s why when we are performing I always have to study on how we should present so as not to be charged with commercializing the culture. It’s a broad topic and it depends on who is looking at your performance and to what perspective they are looking at”, Aplaten said.

But she said so far they have not been charged of commercialization of culture.

“I make sure that we only perform the authentic, even in the way we use the attires. I do not like seeing g-strings hanged anywhere because it seems to bring a message that you are displaying your brief in public, that’s the symbolism of it”, she mused.

She added that “if there are those who tell us that we are bastardizing the culture, we say please explain to us why. And if there are those who say that what we are doing the wrong thing we are very much willing to learn, as we always say what we perform are the things we have researched, what we have learned from the community and what was taught to us”.

The group continues to grow, and as they look towards new horizons, Hapiyo Mi challenges its fellow Cordillerans to join them in their advocacy of promoting and preserving the Cordilleran culture. As people of the Cordillera region, and as Filipinos, it is our role to promote and preserve the living heritage of our people; a task taken to heart by Hapiyo Mi.* originally published in Baguio Chronicle newspaper

Climate Change body lauds IP practices in preserving the environment

Climate Change body lauds IP practices in preserving the environment

By JESSA MARDY N. POLONIO

Originally Published in Baguio Chronicle

THE Philippine National Climate Change Commission or PNCCC said it appreciates the indigenous people’s (IPs) practices in preserving the environment specifically in protecting the remaining forest areas of the country.

Speaking before the 1st Philippine Councilor’s League Summit held last Friday at the Baguio Convention Center, PNCCC Vice Chairman and Secretary Mary Lucille Sering said that “the time is now for us to understand and act on the effects of climate change since we’ve already finished the 18-year National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) as the basis for the local government units in coming up with their own action plans.”

Sering added that even before the completion of the NCCAP, a lot of LGUs are already asking the commission on how they should respond to climate change.

The cooperation of the LGUs, she said, is very encouraging but they should be ready on how much the national government can provide especially on the budget to support the implementation of their action plans.

In Baguio City, the city council on Monday’s regular session passed a resolution requesting the city government of Baguio and the barangay units to formulate and implement a local climate change action plan.

This is in accordance with RA 9729, an act mainstreaming climate change into government policy formulation, establishing the framework strategy and programs in climate change, creating for this purpose the climate change commission and for other purposes that was enacted in 2009.

It mandates all LGUs to formulate, plan and implement their respective climate change action plans prioritizing climate change issues and implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation as one of their regular functions. The said law also directs LGUs to mobilize and allocate necessary personnel, resources and logistics to effectively implement their respective action plans.*

An environmentalist by heart Getting to know Michael Bengwayan

An environmentalist by heart Getting to know Michael Bengwayan

By JESSA MARDY N. POLONIO

Originally Published in Baguio Chronicle February 2012

“FIGHTING poverty and environmental decay through social change.” This is rather too bold an idea that Dr. Michael Bengwayan wants the world to learn as he speaks in the “Nature’s Call: a Forum on the environmental State of Baguio”, Friday at the Bulwagang Juan Luna, University of the Philippines-Baguio.

Bengwayan was regarded as the prime mover in the January 20 mass rally against the giant SM Prime Holdings Inc., to expand its mall and earth-ball some 182 trees with its tree cutting permit issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources through Secretary Ramon Paje.

Bengwayan is a journalist, an environmental specialist, and agriculturist. He is in a post Ph.D. in Public Policy at the JFK School of Public Policy, Harvard University. Holds a Ph.D. in Development Studies from the University College of Dublin, Ireland; a Masters Degree on Environmental Studies ain Leuven University, Belgium; a Masters Degree in Rural Development Studies at the Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet; a Bachelors Degree in Agriculture; and a Diploma in Advanced Journalism in Kalmar University, Swededn. He has 20 years experience in journalism with Press Foundation Asia and in several national dailies and local newspapers. Had working stints in India, Taiwan, Indonesia, Ireland, Tanzania as agriculturist, environmental officer and writer.

He authored two books entitled: Intellectual and Cultural Property Rights of the Indigenous and Tribal peoples of Asia and Dam the Rivers, Damn the People, San Roque Dam.

Going back to the forum, I heard him say: “we know that the environment matters but we do not want to do something to protect it; we do not want to act”.

The audience seems to ponder on his idea and fell to intent listening while taking down notes as he continued his speech on nature.

In his speech he said that “the impact of climate change is not a funny matter that is why we have to do something that is tailored to saving what is left in our environment and I do not understand why a very simple idea like that is hard to grasp by our political leaders”.

“If we do not give importance to the environment, let’s look at the cultural and medical importance of it,” he added.

At the end of the forum, I heard him say: “I was born an environmentalist and I make paths for others to follow”.

In a short interview after the forum, he related that he was born and raised in Baguio City.

“I am a communitarian environmental worker, journalist and writer and educator”, he said.

His wife, Grace Taguba just finished her doctorate study on immigration. His eldest daughter Abigail is the secretary general of the Cordillera Peoples’ Alliance. She graduated from the University of the Philippines. The second is Grail, a teacher at Saint Vincent, Baguio City. Phyllis his third child graduated medicine at the Saint Louis University. The only boy Michael Jr. is a graduate at SLU with a degree in Information Technology while the last, Frances, is taking up BS Biology at BSU.

“There is nothing more that I like doing than caring for the earth. I love planting. I love working to see to it that soil is not wasted away by slides, erosion and mudflows,” he said. “Whether I plant trees, crops or anything that has roots reaching out for the soil, I like feeling the soil in my hands knowing how much it does to make the world live.”

According to him, “the soil is treated by most people as worthless.”

“They walk on it, tramp it, dump their trash on it, dig and throw it away, build buildings and choke it. People bomb it, kill all that live in, yet at the end of the day, the food they eat, the clothes they wear, the things they use and need, come from Mother Earth’s unrecognized, disrespected, uncared soil,” he said.

Bengwayan is likewise the Director of the First Cordillera Pine Tree Festival slated December 17-18 in 2011 at the Benguet State University Grounds and in Longlong Communal Forest, La Trinidad, Benguet attended by almost 5,000 participants.

The event highlighted seminars and symposia on status of pine forests in the Cordillera Administrative Region, indigenous forest conservation practices, environmental laws, pine tree researches, forestry strategies in pine tree management and conservation.

He said the intention of the event “is that the Benguet pine tree (Pinus Insularis) should be recognized for all its contributions to the people and land of the Cordillera region. My goal is to celebrate through a community-participated, educational, re-creative and entertaining festivity with relevance of the pine tree and to spark widespread propagation, sowing and planting of pine trees to the Cordillera region, in particular, and to the country, in general. The long-term goal is to widen and in-depth support education, conservation, research of pine trees”.*