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04.05.08Coming Up: Cordillera Day 2008
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.
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03.13.08Balweg Widow Dies
From Sunstar Baguio we learn that Corazon Cortel-Balweg, widow of former rebel priest Conrado Balweg died of a heart attack last Monday. She is survived by five children the youngest of whom is still in elementary school. Our condolences to her family.
Corazon Cortel-Balweg, a New People’s Army (NPA) active amazon in the 1980s and widow of rebel priest Conrado Balweg, died Monday afternoon of cardiac arrest at Camp Upi in Gamu, Isabela.
Corazon, 48, and her group were on their way to the Philippine Army’s (PA) 5th Infantry Division camp to follow up and monitor livelihood programs for members of the Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA) when she felt heart pains then collapsed.
Mrs. Balweg is the CPLA’s chief of staff, a position she held since the assassination of the rebel priest in his hometown in Malibcong, Abra on December 31, 1999.
Former Bucloc, Abra mayor Mailed Molina, the incumbent CPLA chairman, confirmed the death of Mrs. Balweg after receiving a call from Major General Melchor Dilodilo, commander of the 5th ID in Gamu.
Colonel James Jacob of Camp Upi in a text message said Mrs. Balweg died at 5:30 p.m. Monday.
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02.28.08They Serve Again in Tineg
Oops. This is a better late than never kind of post. It’s old news (reported weeks ago) but it’s interesting enough so we are going to blog about it hehe.
Apparently, the peace and order situation in the the town of Tineg, Abra has been bad during the past years so government officials held office in Bangued, the provincial capital. Thankfully, things have improved now so, for the first time in six years, Tineg’s public servants are back to where they should be serving. Good for the people of Tineg. We hope it continues that way.
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01.20.08Vanishing Arts
Here’s a short video on the art of tattooing in Kalinga. Towards the end of the video you’ll see some footages on the Tingguian’s “abel” or handwoven cloth. -
12.30.07Healthiest Lolo/Lolas
.Never thought there is such a contest like this healthiest lolo/lola thing but apparently there is. From the DSWD-CAR website:
Three senior citizens from Tabuk, Kalinga and one from Dolores, Abra were declared Healthiest Lolo and Lola during the awarding ceremonies for the Search for Healthiest Lolo and Lola in CAR 2007 held at the DSWD Conference Hall last October 4.
In the young-old category (60-69 y/o), 62 year-old Flaviana Pacapac of Dolores, Abra won against two other nominees. In the old-old category (70-79 y/o), 71 year-old Rosario de Jesus and 76 year-old Ireneo Uyam clinched the titles, and in the oldest old category, 81 year-old Aurelia Flores was declared winner. The three hail from Tabuk, Kalinga.
Congrats to the Cordillera’s healthiest senior citizens. Read the full article here.
INFO/PHOTO CREDIT: DSWD-CAR
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12.28.07Update: The Bangued Christmas Blast
The Abra police, led by Supt. Alexander Pumecha, is still investigating the matter but those hurt in the blast are now recuperating. According to one of the victims, whatever caused the explosion may have been presented (disguised?) as a gift to the Luna family.
Read our earlier posts here and here.
VIDEO CREDIT: GMANews.tv
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12.27.07Photos of the Day
Above photo shows Abra Representative Cecy Luna who survived an explosion which rocked her home, December 25. Police authorities are still investigating the cause of the explosion. The theories so far: The blast is either politically motivated or it could have been an accident. The accident angle is mainly due to the fact that the Lunas’ stored firecrackers in their garage where the explosion occurred.
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