𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻?

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻? There are several theories on how these animals came to our region.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝟭: Horses arrived in the Cordillera region way before the Philippines was colonized by Spain. Chinese historical accounts show that there were busy trading ports in what is now modern Pangasinan and La Union. Merchants from China and Japan arrived at these ports to do business. Merchants during these times didn't just trade goods, they also traded animals. It's possible that their ships came with horses. 

It's also an established fact that pre-colonial Igorots often went down to the lowlands (Agoo, etc.) to trade. So it's possible that Igorots bought horses with their precious gold. 

However, this theory is contested by many historians citing that there's no record of horses from China/Japan being traded in Pangasinan/La Union trading ports. They add however that there's evidence of donkeys being carried by these trading ships. A Chinese shipwreck for example, contained donkey bones, not horse bones.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝟮: Malaysians brought horses to southern Mindanao (also in pre-colonial times). Through trade and ports, these horses made their way to Luzon and eventually to the mountains of the Cordillera region. There's very good evidence that horses were indeed brought to Mindanao from neighboring Malaysia. However, there's no evidence that these horses found their way all the way to Luzon. 

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝟯: Horses were introduced by the Spaniards. This is the most accepted theory as it's backed by historical evidence and accounts. The Spaniards tried numerous times to put the Igorots under their control. Expensive expeditions were launched to map the Cordillera region and subjugate the local populations. Hundreds of horses were used during these expeditions. 

The Spaniards were able to set up many command posts (comandancias) within the Cordillera region. Travel to these comandancias often utilized horses. 

*The accompanying image is from the digital archives of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. It shows a young man and a pony in Bontoc, Mountain Province. Taken between 1898 and 1912.

Happy "International Day for Biological Diversity"!

Today is 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆. This is celebrated annually on the 22nd of May. It aims to bring into focus topics and issues related to biodiversity. This year's theme is "𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵." Individuals, organizations, and communities are encouraged to take action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.

The Cordillera region, due to its mountains and forests, is a biodiverse region. It's home to a wide and rich variety of living things. 

Let's take Mt. Pulag for example. Mt. Pulag, especially at the summit looks like it's devoid of native wildlife. But that is not the case. As the infographic guide (Mammals of Mt. Pulag National Park) that accompanies this post shows, the mountain is home to a diverse wildlife which includes the imposing Warty Pig and the very elusive Greater Dwarf Cloud Rat. 

This infographic and guide was created by the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago with the help of the DENR and the National Museum of the Philippines. The guide was based on a biological survey conducted in Mt. Pulag and nearby areas in 2008.

Pasiking or Sangi Made From Plastic Materials Instead of Bamboo and Rattan

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴. There's an ongoing exhibit at the Victor Oteyza Community Art Space (VOCAS) in Baguio City that features a large collection of traditional backpacks from the Cordillera region. These are called "pasiking" or "sangi" by Igorots/Cordillerans.

Among the exhibited items are a few pasikings with a modern twist. They were made from plastic materials, not from the usual bamboo and rattan materials.

These plastic pasikings will surely raise some eyebrows, especially among purists. That's good. Because it encourages people to discuss these instances of modern sensibilities clashing with material heritage.

I've posted about these plastic pasikings before because these same backpacks were previously exhibited at the Museo Kordilyera at the University of the Philippines Baguio and then at the Baguio Museum. 

A common comment from some readers is that these should not be called pasiking because they are not made of bamboo and rattan. Some agree with the argument. Some don't.

A Rosy Trumpet Tree (𝘛𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘢 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘢) Inside the Benguet State University Campus

This is a rosy trumpet tree (𝘛𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘢 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘢) planted inside the campus of the Benguet State University. Other common names for it are pink poui and pink trumpet tree. It's often mistaken as a Japanese cherry blossom (sakura). It's also very common in Malaysia that it's often referred to as Sakura Malaysia.

This flowering tree is 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 to the Philippines. It was introduced here as an ornamental tree and it adapted very well to our tropical climate. It's native to southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.

Today is Macliing Dulag's 46th Death Anniversary

Forty-six years ago (April 24, 1980), this man was assassinated for his opposition of the Chico Dam project. 

"𝙈𝙖𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘿𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙜: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙣 𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝘿𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝘿𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙖, 𝙄𝙩𝙨 𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚, 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄𝙩𝙨 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨"

If you are to mention the name of Macliing Dulag to a Cordilleran, you are going to get three possible responses. One, the person has no idea who Dulag was. Two, the person has heard of the man but can't exactly pinpoint where Dulag's place is in Cordillera history.

And three, the person knows Dulag fully well. That he's a David who bravely went to battle against a Goliath. However, unlike the popular tale, Dulag triumphed but perished in the process.

It's sad to say that many Cordillerans don't have the awareness of person three. In a piece for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, professor of social anthropology Analyn Salvador Amores wrote, "Today, Macliing’s grave is a playground for children, a resting place for village dogs on a warm afternoon, or a meeting place for Butbut teens for their evening chats. Many of the children who play on the grave do not know who Macliing was."

Even those who play upon his grave do not know who he is and what he stood for. That's a shame considering the fact that Dulag only fell around four decades ago.

Dulag deserves recognition. Dulag deserves a mention in the nation's history books. Dulag deserves a place in every Cordilleran's heart. Anyone who would put his life on the line just so others can prolong theirs deserves a hero's treatment and remembrance.

A very common question from the ranks of the uninitiated is, "Who is Macliing Dulag and why should he be revered as a hero? What did he do?" Good question. After all, someone's hero can be somebody else's villain.

In a nutshell, here's what transpired that led to the elevation of Dulag as a local hero:

1. In the 1970's, the Marcos administration planned to dam the Chico River to generate hydroelectric power. The project which was worth millions of dollars was to be funded with the assistance of the World Bank.

2. Because the dams would drown lands in Kalinga and Mountain Province, Macliing Dulag was among those who opposed the dam project and he helped rally Cordillerans to join him in the cause.

3. Government soldiers killed Dulag in his home in Kalinga in 1980.

Dulag wanted just one thing. That the land he had always called home remain intact. The Chico River Dam Project planned to build at least four dams in the river. The trapped waters would have drowned thousands of hectares of land including villages, pasture lands, ricefields, sacred burial grounds, and communal forests.

On the night of April 24, 1980, government soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division under Lt. Leodegario Adalem sprayed bullets into Dulag's home in Bugnay, Tinglayan, Kalinga. Dulag died that night. The regime thought they can silence Dulag by sending him under the ground. Here lies the irony because Dulag accomplished more when he was six feet under the ground than when he was above it. His death further solidified the opposition against the dam projects. The World Bank which was supposed to fund the projects backed out.

Dulag's character is one that's been built upon immense courage. It takes bravery to oppose the dictatorship of the Marcos regime. When most men shuddered in fear, Dulag went all out in his opposition. Who knows where he developed such unbridled courage. Wherever he honed it, he started early. After all, as a young man, Dulag served as a porter for Filipino guerrillas fighting the Japanese invaders during World War II.

One lesser known accomplishment of Dulag was his role in uniting the Bontoc and Kalinga tribes in opposing the dam project. This came at a time when the tribes were constantly engaged in heated altercations (often violent) due to issues like land disputes and thievery. Dulag helped in gathering them, sitting them together, and uniting them in pursuing a common goal.

The Fruits of the Akfab or Akbab Plant

These are the ripe fruits of a plant they call 𝗮𝗸𝗳𝗮𝗯 in Barlig, Mountain Province. We call the plant 𝗮𝗸𝗯𝗮𝗯 in Kankana-ey. The fruits are edible and eaten raw. They're almost flavorless so I remember that we used to dip the white flesh of the fruit in salt or vinegar.

I saw these at the booth of the Slow Food Community of the Indigenous Agroecological Producers of Barlig at the Mangan Taku: Cordillera Food Fair in Baguio City.

The Wood Ear Mushroom or Rat's Ear Mushroom as a Ingredient in Kalinga Delicacies

These are wood ear mushrooms or rat's ear mushrooms often used as an ingredient in delicacies in Kalinga particularly in the 𝗯𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗿. These grow on decaying wood. In parts of western Mountain Province, we call it 𝗶𝗻𝗴-𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮 in the Kankana-ey language because the mushroom has features similar to that of an ear. 𝗜𝗻𝗴𝗮 is the Kankana-ey word for ear. 

I saw these at the Kalinga booth at the Mangan Taku: Cordillera Food Fair in Baguio City.