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04.16.08Boundary 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)
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04.05.08Interesting, Very Interesting
It’s not often that Cordi legislators land in the news for their legislative initiatives so this news report is interesting. Not sure what to say about it yet but we hope to get a copy of the bill to understand it more clearly hehe.
Based on the report below however, it seems like the bill is out to do a lot of things: sanction impersonators (does this include anti-Gloria impersonators?); prohibit religious or racial discrimination; prevent unnecessary, unjustified, illegal and degrading search because of his or her clothing, religion, color, creed and ethnic identity; discrimination of job applicants because of his or her name, religion or ethnic background; etc.
Quite a tall order. By the way, I heard some stories about our Muslim brothers and sisters having to change their names to non-Muslim sounding ones just so they can have a chance to get employed. Apparently, some employers/recruiters will reject a candidate’s resume simply because of his/her Muslim name.
How bad is that? Very bad. And we have the gall to call ourselves “the only Christian nation in Asia”. What a shame, no?
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04.05.08Coming Up Too: First Benguet Country Fair
Seems like a lot of interesting events will be coming up these coming weeks. First, we told you about the Strawberry Woodstock. Then, there’s Cordillera Day which will be celebrated by our friends from the left. Then, now we have a Benguet Country Fair intended to showcase Kabenguetan’s love for everything country.
First Benguet Country Fair slated
Sunstar BaguioTHE Benguet people’s passion for western themes will be highlighted as the province hosts the first Country Fair, an event spearheaded by the newly organized Benguet Visitor’s Bureau (BVB).
Organizers of the 10-day activity said the affair will showcase the things about country lifestyles, which have become hit to the province’s constituents.
“This event is inspired by the Benguet people’s love for horses, jeans, boots, line dancing, country music and anything that makes a country type of lifestyle,” lawyer Damaso Bangaoet said.Bangaoet is one of the organizers of the first Benguet Country Fair.
The event is initiated by the BVB, in coordination with the Department of Tourism (DOT).
BVB executive director Gregory Loy said while the affair would focus more on getting the constituents appreciate their potentials, the event will serve as added tourism attraction for Benguet.
The activity will run from April 25 to May 4 at the Palmaville in Puguis, La Trinidad.
Aside from the booths and exhibit areas that will display western materials, country fair-related competitions will also be held.
Organic products will also be featured as the bureau gears towards the promotion of organic production in the province.
The BVB, an organization aimed at coordinating the tourism activities of the province and its 13 towns, is initially composed of seven members — all from the private sector. (JC)
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04.02.08Girls and Boys and Their Big Toys
Here’s a video of an airsoft group based in La Trinidad, Benguet. The video gets repetitive when you reach the midpoint but the soundtrack still makes it interesting to watch. Nice editing too.The group has a website here for those who are interested in joining STEALTH a.k.a. Special Tactics and Extreme Airsofters of La Trinidad Highlands.
VIDEO CREDIT: rastah87
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03.29.08War of the Day: Mandapat vs. Fongwan
Cartoon source: Hindu BusinessOnline
Word war. Word war. We love us some word war between top government officials in the region hehe. The issue appears to be whether public utility vans (FX?) should be banned in Kennon Road. Mandapat has banned them. Fongwan objected to the ban.
We honestly don’t know who is right here. But shouldn’t the ban be based on how heavy or how big/bulky a vehicle is? Not whether it is public or private?
If we remember correctly, and we may be wrong, trucks and public buses were first banned in Kennon mainly because they’re either too big or too heavy and their size/weight will affect the “safeness” of Kennon Road.
Now, if public utility vehicles are really just like private vans in terms of size and weight, then what’s the rationale for banning them that doesn’t apply to private vehicles? But as we said, we haven’t really delved into this issue to know who got it right in this debate. Maybe some of you can enlighten us.
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03.26.08I’m Kinda Confused
Medyo hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang relasyon ng noodle factory sa gulay. What ingredients do they exactly use to make noodles? Isn’t it mostly starchy products like cassava, rice, etc. Maybe they can use potatoes and carrots to make noodles? What about cabbages, green pepper, sayote, etc?
Anyways, just asking because I don’t really know. Maybe some of you know how noodles are manufactured from highland vegetables.
Noodle factory seen to further improve vegetable industry of Benguet
BAGUIO CITY, March 25 (PNA) — An official of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) on Monday said the proposed P10-million noodle factory to be built in Benguet Province will further boost the vegetable industry in the area which became a very viable export since five years ago.NEDA assistant regional director Leon Dacanay said the factory will help the industry in terms of more stabilized prices of vegetables, generation of local jobs and assurance of ready market for farmers’ bumper harvests.
Records show that it was Dacanay in 2005 which made the assessment that a factory which makes use of the great volume of vegetables grown yearly in Benguet will further fortify the excellent agriculture sector in the locality.
In that year, the NEDA official likened the establishment of a tomato paste factory in Ilocos Norte in the late 1970’s when farmers were able to sell their produce even during the peak vegetable season.
Records show that tomato is so adopted to the soil and climate of that province that during summer, tomato farmers sell their hundreds of tons of tomatoes at bargain prices because of the oversupply.
Dacanay said the factories which serve as processing plants for the bumper harvests of the farmers normally stabilize prizes throughout the year even the “off-season” of the products like some vegetables which would not be grown during rainy season except in greenhouses. (PNA)
UPDATE: Hehe. I’m no longer confused. Apparently, Benguet State University has come up with a method to produce “veggie noodles”. Read more about it here.
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03.23.08Gloria Kamaptengan?
Because I am a Gloria hater, oops maybe hate is not the right word, I just dislike her because she cheated her way to the Presidency. So let’s change the H word to something else; besides hating someone is not good for our mental health. Now, because I dislike Gloria, I’m irritated to read this news that a sweet potato variety is being named after her cheating ass.
From GMA News:
A new blight-resistant variety of potato has been named after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Benguet University, Malacañang disclosed Saturday.The variety, sourced from the Centro Internalionale de la Papa (International Potato Center) in Lima, Peru, was named “Gloria Kamaptengan,” after “mapteng” meaning “good” in Ibaloi and Pangasinan dialects.
“‘Kamaptengan’ means ‘the best of all,’” Rogelio Colting, president of the Benguet State University (BSU) after more than two years of research from 2005-2007, told Mrs Arroyo during her visit to a vegetable trading post in Betag district.
Arroyo was in Betag to see off trucks laden with local vegetable produce bound for the metropolis.
Colting showed her the first-generation tubers of the potato variety, initially codenamed 13.1.1, and said the BSU “would like to name it in your honor.”
A Palace statement said the BSU chose the name “Gloria” because of “her commitment in the development of the agriculture industry in the country.”
The best of all? Huh, Rogelio. I guess the BSU President’s got to do what he’s got to do but I’m kinda hoping that members of the academic community don’t go about acting like politicians trying to please Gloria. You are intellectuals, for Christ’s sakes.
But then again, they are naming a camote variety after Gloria so maybe there’s an inside joke there somewhere. After all, we all know that the song most famously associated with camote goes something like:
“Eat camote, the musical fruit
The more you eat, the more you toot.”Come on, Rogelio, fess up! What’s the real deal in naming this camote after Gloria? To honor her? Or to remind us that Gloria smells like something?
We’re just asking,you know. No offense meant. No offense intended.
UPDATE: My bad, we didn’t read the news carefully or our dislike for Gloria has clouded our vision such that we misread the story. They’re actually naming a potato, not a sweet potato, after Gloria. So maybe there’s no inside joke as we hoped there was. My apologies, folks.
