Igorot Traditional Backpacks Called "Dagi" on Display in an Exhibit at the Baguio Museum

These traditional backpacks of the Igorots are called the "dagi" (also sometimes pronounced as "chagi/chagee/shagi"). In the olden days, it was a very common transport backpack for the Ibaloys of Benguet. These were usually used for transporting agricultural goods like rice, fruits, meat, and vegetables. It's often the chosen backpack when Igorots traveled to the lowlands to sell or trade goods. 

The "dagi" has two shoulder straps. It has a third strap that goes over the forehead of the carrier. This head-strap is very similar to the head-strap in the "kayabang". 

The bottom part of the pack has extended poles from the pack's rattan main frame. This enables the carrier to sit down with ease and rest while keeping the pack upright.

These are currently on display at the Baguio Museum as part of the exhibit called 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨. 

The exhibit opened on December 13. It will run until January 6, 2026. Go see the exhibit and learn more of the ingenuity and craftmanship of our people.

The Crested Myna or "Martinez" is Not Native to the Philippines

This bird is called the Crested Myna (𝘈𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴) and they are very common in the Cordillera region. People often keep them as pets. I spotted this one at an agricultural field at the Benguet State University. 

These birds are often referred to as "martinez" here in the Philippines. I'm not sure how they got that name. 

This bird is not native to the Philippines which means it was brought here. The prevailing theory is that these birds were brought to the Philippines via China in the second half of the 19th century. Some got away from their keepers. Some were intentionally released in the wild. The birds adapted very well to the new Philippine environment and their populations grew. 

#birdwatching #birdwatchers #wildlifeplanet #crestedmyna

A Mountain in Benguet Named After an Igorot Deity

A mountain named after an Igorot deity. This is Mt. Kabunian in Bakun, Benguet. It's home to community trails and sacred burial grounds that date back to pre-colonial times. 

Traditional Igorot Backpacks (Sangi, Pasiking) Made Using Plastic

Tradition meets modernity in these 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨/𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪 backpacks that were constructed using modern plastic instead of the traditional rattan and bamboo. These plastic 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨s are lighter and you could say more durable since plastic takes forever to degrade.

These 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨s with a modern twist are among the backpacks currently on display at the Baguio Museum as part of the exhibit called 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨. 

The exhibit opened on December 13. It will run until January 6, 2026.

The Future of the Baguio City Public Market is at Stake

Everything seems fine. It's still business as usual when you walk through the Baguio City Public Market. But the future of these stalls and the vendors who tend them every single day will be decided in a few weeks time.

This coming January, the city council will take a vote on the proposed development of the market through a public-private partnership (PPP) with SM. Many concerned residents, groups, and organizations have vehemently opposed the PPP modality because the details of the proposal, they believe, are akin to mallification and privatization. 

Interesting times ahead for the public market.

A Pasiking or Sangi Made from the Skins of Pythons

Here's something you don't see everyday. A 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨/𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪 made from the skins of pythons (Kankana-ey: 𝘣𝘦𝘬𝘭𝘢𝘵). These backpacks are currently on display at the Baguio Museum as part of the exhibit called 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨. 

These are just a few of the dozens of traditional backpacks on display at the exhibit. Most of these are from the collection of Armand Voltaire Cating and Maricel Cating. 

The exhibit opened on December 13. It will run until January 6, 2026.

#pasiking #baguiomuseum #indigenousculture

Why the Benguet State University Cut 151 Trees (African Tulips) In Its Campus

More than a hundred trees within the campus of the Benguet State University (BSU) were recently cut. This is actually good news. There's no need to be worried about the cutting of the trees. In fact, it's great for the environment. 

First of all, all of the 151 trees cut and removed were African tulips (𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢). There are several reasons why these trees had to be removed. 

1. African tulips are invasive species. They spread aggressively meaning they outcompete native trees and plants for resources. In short, they are harmful to local ecosystems. That's why they are declared as pest species in countries like Australia. These trees have also been named as one of the 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱'𝘀 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 by the Global Invasive Species Database. 

2. African tulips are not native to Benguet or to the Philippines. These are species introduced here mostly because of their ornamental attributes. Because these trees are not native here, they can also pose harm to wildlife like birds and insects that have zero familiarity with them.

3. There's research showing that the nectar found in the flowers of African tulips can be toxic to a wide variety of insects such as pollinators like bees. This poses ecological harm because when pollinators like bees are reduced, the natural balance is disrupted. 

4. African tulips are safety hazards especially in a school campus. African tulips are not sturdy trees. They have soft and brittle wood that can easily break due to strong winds. Their root systems are also shallow which makes them prone to toppling over during typhoons. 

In short, the cutting of the 151 trees inside the BSU campus is good for the local ecosystem, good for biodiversity, good for the bees, and good for everyone's safety. 

And according to a report by 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁, the official student publication of the BSU College of Natural Sciences, the state university has committed to replacing the cut trees with native trees. Tree planting will reportedly start by January next year.