If you’re looking for something to do these next three weeks, joining the Cordillera day celebration would be a good option. Apparently the celebration will be held in Baay-Licuan, Abra this year so it is a good excuse to visit Abra province. Visit the CPA website for a background on Cordi Day.
Cordi day celebration goes to Abra
By Rimaliza Opiña
MINING and the government’s approval of explorations in minerals rich areas in the country will be theme of this year’s celebration of 24th Cordillera Day Celebration.
To be held in Abra on April 23 and 24, the event will be hosted by the local chapter of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), the Kakailian Salakniban Tay Nagtaudan (Kastan)
This celebration of Cordillera Day is one of the three celebrations spearheaded by several groups here, two of which are led by the Cordillera Regional Assembly and local government units.
The event will also advance the call for the immediate implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) for it to be meaningful in the recognition of indigenous peoples’ collective right to self determination, the CPA said in a statement.
The CPA is a staunch oppositionist of mining activities in the region because of its impact on environment as well as it displaces indigenous peoples in areas where mine exploration are done.
Pending mining applications of local and global mining giants cover 1.2 million hectares or 66 percent of the Cordillera land area, the CPA said.
Celebration of Cordillera Day has also expanded abroad in Hong Kong, Belgium, Macau, Taiwan, and Japan. These are organized by migrant workers together with international solidarity partners and advocates of Cordillera struggles and indigenous peoples’ rights.
“More than just a gathering, Cordillera Day is a political statement on present realities by the militant Cordillera people’s movement. It carries with it the historical advances of the mass movement for self determination and national democracy,” the CPA stressed.
Ahh Quebec, the land of the Quebecois or that “other” Canada which every now and again dreams of becoming a separate nation. Because of its politics, we must say that Quebec is probably the most interesting part of Canada. No offense meant to the ROC (rest of Canada), you’re all fine and dandy but sometimes we want us some off-kilter political action and we’re more likely to see that in Quebec than, say, New Brunswick.
Of course, for tourism purposes, Quebec is also an interesting place so those of you planning your upcoming vacations may want to consider it as your next destination. Now, if you’re looking for luxury hotels Quebec, you might want to check out blueberrylake.com where you can have a “true country experience in a well-appointed Quebec-style log home, with first class client services”. Cool, eh?
By the way, here’s a tip we once got from an Anglophone (that means English speaking, dear reader) friend which we’re gonna share with you because you might need it if you ever find yourself in Quebec: If you talk to someone in English and s/he snottily responds to you in French, you should use a language other than English (say Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog, etc) and that person you are talking to will use English faster than you can say, “Mont Tremblant”.
