Activism, human rights

Prosecution Fails to Present Evidence; Jose Cawiding Released

What an injustice to the man. Hinuli siya, ikinulong, tapos wala naman palang ebidensiya laban sa kanya. Anya met.

From Sunstar Baguio: THE Benguet Provincial Jail practically became the residence of Bayan Muna leader Jose Cawiding, since his detention in October last year.

But in an order signed last March 16 by Bontoc Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 35 Presiding Judge Joseph Patnaan, Cawiding and co-accused Leticia Banasan were ordered released and charges against them provisionally dismissed.

The prosecution failed to present their witnesses despite a series of hearings scheduled for the presentation of evidence.
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Agriculture, Benguet

Dear Ignacio: No Need to Be Ashamed

Our kailiyan Ignacio Canuto should not be ashamed for billing Gloria. Ket inala met ni Gloria diyay strawberry, di dapat lang nga bayadan na. That’s P6,000, pare. Malaking pera iyon. Dapat talaga nga mabayadan.

If anyone should be ashamed, it should be Gloria’s staff because this is something they should have handled smoothly. Isuda ti dapat nga maba-in. Otherwise, Gloria will be liable for stealing if this is what happens wherever she goes, i.e., that she and her people harvest the produce of others without paying.

Ano kaya ang masasabi ng ating kailiyang si Presidential Assistant on the Cordilleras sa bagay na ito? Hehe

Farmer ashamed on billing Arroyo for harvest of strawberries
From GMA-7: The farmer who billed President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the strawberries that she picked is now the one with the “strawberry” cheeks.

Ignacio Canuto wrote a letter to La Trinidad Mayor Artemio Galwan saying that the whole thing was “an unfortunate and embarrassing experience.”

Canuto said that it wasn’t him who personally asked that Mrs Arroyo pay P6,000 for the 60 kilograms of the strawberries that she and her entourage picked from Canuto’s farm in Betag village last Black Saturday.
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Benguet, History

Blast From the Past: American Governor of Benguet Investigated

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

Benguet

Boundary Disputes

One of the biggest problems in the Cordilleras (and the whole country as well) is the boundary disputes between local government units. It is a problem that mostly simmers under the surface but it has the potential to blow up especially if contested areas are rich with resources or offers high income opportunities.

In the article below, an official from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) suggests that elders should be involved in settling boundary disputes. There is nothing wrong with that of course, it’s better that these things are decided by more people rather than by a few officials. However we are, by the day, losing our elders who really know the boundaries of the past. [In fact, are our earlier concept of boundaries really the same as what “boundary” means today?] The other thing is that I’m not quite sure if the elders could be impartial if they are members of communities in dispute. But, as mentioned earlier, it is better that they are involved in this process.

Elders seen to best solve boundary disputes
Sunstar Baguio

WHILE the resolution of political boundary disputes is delegated to elected officials, the identification and settlement by tribal elders is yet the best way to solve these kinds of tiffs.

Recto Alawas, community relations officer of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) regional office, said the best way to settle boundary conflicts is through the council of elders in areas where these disputes exist.

Since elders are more knowledgeable on the borders of their respective places, having lived long in their areas, Alawas said their decision could be used as a basis by politicians in settling boundary conflicts.

He made the suggestion to municipal officials of Tublay and La Trinidad on their standing disputes involving two villages of their respective localities.

Both municipalities are claiming portions of Barangay Shilan, La Trinidad with Caponga, Tublay; and Barangays Alno, La Trinidad with Tuel, Tublay.

Alawas said boundary conflicts are best resolved through the elders, as they are not afraid of losing their careers with whatever decisions they make, unlike politicians who are apprehensive of coming out with their stand lest they lose their supporters.

“When the decision on political boundaries is made by the elders, politicians need not worry of losing their votes, as they only base their stand on the people who are more knowledgeable on their borders,” he said, adding that elected officials are afraid of defining their positions for fear that they might be accused of giving up their territories to other areas.

“But if their basis would be the decision of the council of elders, then they could not be blamed,” he said. (JC)

Outside Cordi

Igorots/iCordilleras in Switzerland

The BIBAK group in Switzerland perform during the Philippine Independence day. Video courtesy of igorotland.

Ifugao

Cool Ifugao Humor

The humorous side of the Ifugao people
By Delmar Cariño/Philippine Daily Inquirer

BANAUE, Ifugao – The jokes are still on them, but the Ifugao have managed to keep things in stride. And just like those who have heard the funny stories, the people themselves relish listening to the stories.

The so-called Ifugao jokes have made the natives popular, making others want to know more about them as indigenous peoples, next to the curiosity over their woodcarving skills, world-renowned rice terraces, and years of chewing muma (momma) or betel nut.

Ramon Dacawi of Hungduan town, Baguio City’s public information officer, brought the house down during the Igorot International Consultation (ICC) at Banaue Hotel when he dished out samples that ribbed the delegates to the hilt.

Here are some of them:

An Ifugao flagged down a Dangwa Tranco bus bound for Baguio. When the bus stopped, the conductor asked where he was going. The man answered, “Ket siempre dita oneg a (There, inside),” meaning, he would go inside the bus.

The man had a pig placed in the bus compartment. When the conductor asked him to pay for the cargo, the man said, “Damagen a no adda pagpliti na (Ask the pig if he has money for fare).”

Evolution of jokes
Dacawi’s jokes, narrated with native accent and facial expression, were enough to generate discussion on their evolution.
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Mt. Province

GMA News Video: Lang-ay Festival 2008

Here’s a video report from GMA News on the recently concluded Lang-ay Festival. The video itself isn’t very good (it’s blurred in some parts) but it features an interview with Governor Maximo Dalog, the wedding of Dave and Janice Gulian in Sagada, and some shots of our favorite Anglican priest, Fr. Ben Solang.

Related: Lang-ay 2008 Video

Video source: GMANews.TV