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So these “indiscretions” by the American Governor in Benguet must be one of the ways how American mining companies ended up owning much of the province’s rich mines. Funny how he was only charged with “indiscretions” when he was practically stealing the land of the iBenguets. But then again, at least he was charged with something unlike Gloria and her alipores who will likely get away with their various crimes against the Republic and its peoples.

Source: New York Times

I first thought of just adding this to the quick links I posted earlier but then thought that maybe it needs a post of its own.

I think the Japanese tend to have a longer memory than Filipinos so it’s good that they continue to remind us of the lessons of the past. In the GMA News article which you will find below, two Japanese women went to Kiangan, Ifugao to apologize in behalf of some Japanese soldiers for the horrors of World War II.

I’m sure you’ll agree that apologies like these are welcome. Still, in addition to these individual apologies, the Japanese government should also apologize for forcing women to become sex slaves during the war. It’s refusal to apologize on this matter continues to be a thorn in Japan’s otherwise good relations with the Philippines as well as other parts of Asia.

Anyways, in case you missed our earlier posts on the heroism of our people during the second World War, here are the links: Those Gallant Igorots; A Video Documentary; Those Gallant Igorots: A Word From the Producers; and Major Dennis Molintas.

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Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, a man named Marcos, who fancied himself as the legendary Malakas built this monument for himself in the mountains of Tuba, Benguet.

He wanted a grand monument. It would be much much grander than Mt. Rushmore because he will have the mountain all to himself unlike Lincoln, and Washington, and that other President who had to share the limelight with the others. Co-starring lang sila habang si Marcos ay main and only feature.

But Marcos wasn’t contented to be the only dweller of the mountain, so he kicked out the Ibaloys who lived there since time immemorial.

And so the days passed. And the days turned to years. Then the century turned. Then this is what became of Marcos.

PHOTO CREDIT: Andy Zapata/Baguiocity.com

Trivia: Who were the first Igorots to vote in a U.S. presidential election? The St. Louis Public Library gives us the answer:

The Fair’s Philippine Reservation included villages for the three Igorot groups, the Bontocs, Suyocs, and Tingguianes. In the Philippines, the Igorots were farmers and miners.

Several Igorots showed an interest in the presidential election of 1904 and asked to be able to cast their ballots.

In response, two polling places were established in the Igorot village. Photographs of the two candidates Theodore Roosevelt and Alton B. Parker were placed over Igorot gongs; beans serving as ballots. Roosevelt carried the election, 83 to 2.

Earlier, we stated that the Baguio Centennial Logo looks cool. We still believe it does. However, Karla raises a valid point in the comment section which we are reprinting here.

Regarding the logo, it is aesthetically pleasing and exudes a city that is vibrant. Logo design is always a controversial process and everyone not directly involved has an opinion. Congratulations to the artist for coming up with a centennial logo that is vibrant. Baguio’s children will remember it for a long, long time because it is very colorful.

BUT it would have been better if it also made one FEEL that Baguio is located in the highlands and that it was once a dominantly Ibaloi place, had an American presence, and now a very cosmopolitan city. Possible solutions could have included an image of zigzag road somewhere, use of Ibaloi language in expressing “culture of caring”, a building reminiscent of American presence, people images that express this cosmopolitan complex.

True indeed. The logo might be a good representation of Baguio now but it says very little about Baguio’s history particularly its Ibaloi heritage. This is unfortunate because the centennial is, more than anything else, a celebration of the past. Maybe they can include an Ibaloy version of the tagline (“a culture of caring”) as Karla suggests? Or add a more distinctive Baguio/Ibaloy icon?

Of course you can say, “What about the strawberry and the sunflower”? Well, I’m not quite sure if these are distinctive enough. They are pretty generic symbols and are not really uniquely Baguio. In fact, without the headline (i.e., Baguio Centennial) you would be hard pressed to immediately identify the logo with Baguio.

Now, don’t get me wrong, the logo looks cool as I mentioned earlier. It is an inspired work and let’s give kudos to the artist who made it. There is no doubt that it is, to use Karla’s words, aesthetically pleasing. However, it lacks a certain connection with the city’s unique character, its cultural heritage, and the past 100 years. What do you think?

By the way, thanks Karla :-)

PHOTO SOURCE: Baguio Centennial Commission.

In Part 1 of this topic, we mentioned that the legend of Limahong hiding and begetting children in the Cordilleras is most likely just a legend. But how do we explain the “Chinese” features of some Igorots/iCordilleras? I think it’s because our ancestors really did come from mainland Asia as Arcibald wrote in our earlier post, .

According to the current prevailing theory, people from the Philippines came from the north and not from the south. So as Edwin writes in his post here, it would seem like the migration wave theory (i.e., the Philippines was populated by waves of Negritos, then Indonesians, then Malays) that we learned in school may not be true at all.

Anyways, going back to the “Chineseness” of some Igorot groups, did you know that Barangay Tabaao in Kapangan, Benguet has a pretty significant number of people of Chinese descent? How did this come about?
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From Time Magazine/August 13, 1945

In the steep Caraballo Mountains of northern Luzon, a battalion of the 127th Infantry Regiment last week came upon a vast road block—a chasm blasted by retreating Japs.

A battalion commander, Lieut. Colonel Powell A. Fraser, had his jeeps dismantled, called for native bearers. Scores of volunteers—sturdy, brown-bodied Igorot women —eagerly picked up wheels, engines and other parts, carried them along paths which at one point soared 2,000 feet above the road. On the other side of the chasm the jeeps were reassembled, and Fraser’s men sped after the Japs. The Igorot women stayed behind to help the engineers rebuild the road.

Related Posts:
It Was Also a Women’s War
Those Gallant Igorots