The Tenth Ray

By Carl Cariño Taawan

The senate agreed to include a ninth ray on the Philippine flag's sun to symbolize the courage, bravery and integrity of Muslim Filipinos who fought for the nation's independence. Shouldn't the senate also include the mountain people who sacrificed so many lives to fight oppression?

Under the leadership of Bonifacio, the Filipino people started fighting the Spaniards in the late 1800's. But the Igorot people had been fighting these invaders for the 333 years they colonized the Philippines. The conquerors were not able to fully establish a foothold in the Igorot territories.

The biggest battle recorded by the Spaniards was in 1760s in Tonglo, part of the modern Tuba. In this particular battle, most of the Ibaloi warriors were united to battle the Spanish-led armada of lowland soldiers. It was during this battle that many of the brave Ibaloi warriors were killed and the town of Tonglo, one of the biggest communities of Igorots in Benguet was erased on the map.

It was only in 1846 after so many battles and so many sacrificed lives that Colonel Guilermo de Galvey was able to establish a rancheria in Benguet and named the capital La Trinidad after his wife.

In the Spanish records, when their historians first arrived in La Trinidad, there were more than 100 houses in the valley. However, in the later remarks, there were only about 30 huts. The continues battle has decimated the population of Igorots in the territories closest to the enemies.

Colonel Galvey also attacked deeper in the Cordilleras into the Mountain Provinces and Ifugao but he wasn't able to establish a permanent stronghold. Until the time the Americans bought the Philippines from the Spaniards, most of the Igorot territories are free from the foreign invaders. Practically speaking, they were not conquered by the Spaniards.

When the Americans came, the Igorots also were the last to be conquered after many bloody battles. Most of these battles were of course not recorded or in a term used by their historian William Henry Scott, these records were whitewashed by the Americans. There was a story of American soldiers who eradicated a whole community of Igorots in Ifugao. After so many battles and many more lives were sacrificed did the Americans started sending teachers to educate remnants of these brave Igorot warriors.

Of course the Americans won't be that interested to these so-called wild men of the Philippines if they will not benefit from their lands. Like the Spaniards, they were after one thing. Resources. The Igorot land was rich with gold and timber. After their conquest, they started harvesting the lumbers and mining the gold. Thankfully, even after robbing them of their riches, the Americans were able to educate these wild men and up to the present, they were among the well educated people in the Country. Another good thing about the Americans is they know how to replant the felled trees and many of those seen in Baguio today were planted by them.

So the Americans taught the Igorots a more peaceful way to live and the humbled fierce warriors abandoned their shields and spears. They now relied to the American government for protection.

After 40 years of the American invasion came another oppressors, The Japanese imperial army. After fighting so many battles with the Spaniards and Americans, and after being abandoned by the people who promised them protection if they lay down their arms, the Igorot people were easily humbled by these new invaders. However, after witnessing so much cruelty, the Igorots once again rose to fight and they created a legend that the Japanese army came to fear and the Americans came to respect, the 66th infantry battalion.

When the Americans came back to fulfill their promise, the Igorot battalion fought hand in hand with them. They were able to drive the Japanese army out of Baguio and the enemy's number dwindled after they were chased away deeper into the Cordillera Mountains. Until finally with the 66th infantry on their tail their foremost General Yamashita, the conqueror of Malaya surrendered in Kiangan, Ifugao. The Japanese armies were fearful of the 66h infantry to the end that they have chosen to surrender to the Americans.

After the war, the Americans granted the Philippines freedom and the Igorot people were free to govern themselves. The Igorots has now adjusted to modern living and they have migrated to different part of the globe providing services of their respective skills. Visiting the Cordilleras now, one would notice the American educated communities where English is understood and spoken.


The plight of the Igorot people is unknown to many Filipinos. Their name is used as a derogatory term by some. But they were people who valued their freedom like the rest of the Filipinos. They fought for it like the Filipino heroes written in history books. Is their sacrificed thousands of lives fighting for independence and exploited resources not enough to be part also of the Country's symbol?

He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother

Mr. Aaron Tudlong, a former NLRC sherif and a father of two was only 27 years old when he was diagnosed with Kidney Failure in 2006. Replacement of the kidney was the best option, however, efforts to find a donor was next to impossible. As his condition worsens, he had to give up his job. After 3 years of battling with the disease, resources of his family and friends have been depleted and became hardly enough to cover the thrice-a-week dialysis, additional medications, not to mention other family needs and the education of his children.

Hence, this appeal to generous individuals to help him with his expenses and to sustain his family's needs. Hopefully, enough funds will be raised to set up a small family business that will further help sustain his and his family's needs.

Pine Trees of the World Park
February 22, 2009 at 6 to 10 pm

Enjoy the night with bonfire under Baguio's Benguet Pine trees with round-the-clock music from Jun Utleg, Daluyon and other bands. Fight the cold night with free flowing beer and pulutan! You may even get lucky and win prizes from our sponsors!

He ain't Heavy. he's my brother Part one is a project of the Beta Sigma, Baguio Forumers Club, The Molmolites, Mid Rock Quary Brgy. in cooperation with the City of Baguio

Hans Adversity and the People He Touched

Born April 5, 1998
Died December 4, 2008

The first thing I remember of my nephew Hans Sebio, then only son of young couple Steve and Maggie, was when I was invited to attend a concert for a cause for his medical treatment. His father is a cousin and was a bassist in a band at that time. The young Sebio was diagnosed with a life threatening heart defect. Doctors diagnosed Han’s condition as “double outlet right ventricle – Taussig Bing variety with a large ventricular septal defect, right ventricular enlargement coaretation of the aorta, pulmonary artery hypertension; congestive heart failure, secondary to the above structural heart defect.”

With the rising bill for his medications, the young couple sought out good Samaritans through concerts for Hans and through the net. However, with all of their efforts they couldn’t even pay half the price of Han’s operation. They prayed for a miracle.

A miracle did happen when a New York based foundation wanted to sponsor Han’s medical treatment. Gloria Weichand, the founder and president of the Gloria’s Place of Hope asked the couple to bring the baby to New York. On September 16, 2000, Maggie and Hans flew to the big Apple and the baby was immediately brought to NYU Medical Center upon arrival at the airport.

Unable to afford a decent accommodation, Maggie and Hans stayed at the Ronald Macdonald House, a $20 dollar per night accommodation supposedly for cancer patients. When Weichand explained their predicament, the mother and child were accepted in the facility. New York became the home of Hans for the next four years.

After four years and three operations, Hans was strong enough to go back to his home. He started attending elementary school. For several years, he seems to be doing fine. He also had a younger brother Keefe to play with.

On September this year, he had cardiac arrest. The whole family decided to join Hans back to the U.S. This time the sponsor to Han’s operation was the Gift of Life International and the Verrazano Club of New York. On October 13, Maggie and Hans went to New York, while Steve and Keefe proceeded to San Francisco to stay in Vallejo with Modesto "Estoy" Aglit (a friend of Maggie and Steve).

The Foundation's representatives made sure the basic needs of Maggie and Hans were met and they were comfortable. After his checkups and lab tests, Hans' open heart surgery was scheduled on the 22nd of October. Everyone was expecting a recovery when Hans seems to be doing well. This would have been Hans' 4th open heart surgery. The whole family was supposed to stay in the U.S. until Hans has fully recovered. Their family friend Gloria Batalao was supposed to host Maggie and Hans while recovering. Gloria Batalao is also maintaining Han’s blog that she and Maggie created. http://www.anssebio.blogspot.com.

Few days before the scheduled surgery, the doctors requested a conference with both parents so Steve and Keefe left San Francisco for New York. They met with the Doctors who explained to them that Hans is too weak and his heart cannot hold another heart surgery and the only option left is a heart transplant. Han’s had to wait for a possible donor.

A few days passed and Hans suffered few more attacks. This time his fragile condition couldn’t take more punishment. No matter how he wants to hold on he succumbed to his disease last December 4 in the arms of his loving family.

In the next couple of days, many people came forward to assist. The medical staff at NYU, the compassionate Ronald McDonald House and the good people at the Verrazano Rotary Club who played a key role in his care. Members of the Verrazano Rotary (Coney Island, Brooklyn) and the Gift of Life office made the necessary arrangements to help the Sebio family bring Hans back to his home town. The staff at Ronald McDonald arranged for a memorial service and provided counseling. Even the cancer patients in the house who were fighting for their lives came to the service to bid goodbye to their friend in adversity. All good people who helped this family at such a critical time.

On the 17th of December, Hans was buried in his hometown by his loving family, relatives and friends. Reading all of the articles and bloggs written about Hans, the Gift of Life child whose few years of life taught us so many things.

Hans death is not the end of his chapter, many more chapters will be written because of him. All of the people he touched have more resolve to help the people in need. I was only able to help with that one ticket I bought for his concert and I wish I have done more. I hope I can do more next time another Hans comes knocking for help. I’m thankful that there are many people out there who have shared more than their extras. And for those who did services above self for Hans, whose ways of life are to help others, may God bless all of your efforts. Although results sometimes are not what you aspire, the hopes you bring make a big difference not only to the people you’re serving but also to the ones touched by your selfless acts.

And from Steve and Maggie here’s what they said, “To all our friends and relatives from all over who sent cash donations, messages of encouragement, and to all who prayed for Hans and our family, Thank you very much! May God continue to guide and bless you!”

A Legacy We’ll Always Remember

Carl Carino Taawan

Igorot, a name that has many faces. Their unique traits are different from those who have lost their culture and customs to the western world. People who are uninformed of their history branded them as ignorant and backwards and the name Igorot became a derogatory term for stupid people. Even some of those who are related to the name have changed it into something else. Many shunned using it to avoid the mockery.

One brave young man came out to join a talent search that will be scrutinized by millions and boldly put in his Igorot lineage. Although Marky Cielo is half Igorot and has spent years away from the Cordilleras, he courageously used the already humiliated term and faced the challenge the world will throw at him. True enough, using the name of his origin gave him the expected ridicule and the famous remark, “he should be eliminated because he’s an Igorot” came out. He stayed to the end of the competition not only to win but to educate these uninformed people of his unique origins.

His forefathers fought for freedom and independence against a European race that wants to enslave them. And while the rest of the country had been colonized, the Igorots fought losing many lives but they never lost their independence. They also defied the American colonizers when they hide the Filipino revolutionary leader in their midst. And when their existence was once again threatened by the waves of hardened armies of Samurai descents, they united and prevailed that even the great country of America was awed by their courage. They fought for their freedom and cultures and they were able to preserve it that up to the present these people still have their own unique culture and identity. Yet only a handful remained who admired them for the courage they’ve shown.

These are the people Marky represented. He may have fought in a different battlefield our forefathers faced but with the similar goal. In the end he taught not only the uninformed but also us, his kinsmen. He brought us back what many have taken for granted, the courage to fight for our unique culture and identity and the power to unite as one to defeat all the odds. We united to back him up and he won.

But what he won is not just a place in the world of showbiz. He won for all of us a place in the limelight of the real identity of the Igorots. He inspired us to keep fighting and keep teaching the world of what we really are. This is his legacy. His memory will remain not only to his fellow Igorots but to all of the people who saw and heard of this young man’s talents and courage both on and off the camera.

Kibungan: Where Monkeys Roamed

Deep gorges separating and isolating many sitios and barangays, rocky cliffs formed as human faces, and pine covered mountains that is said to resemble those of Switzerland. A place named after a primate.

In the mountains of Kibungan dwelt monkeys that are believed to have vanished because of the degradation of the forests and hunted for food. These monkeys were bigger than their common families found in the area today. The Americans named this municipality after these primates. They were called by the locals “Kibengan”.

One of the people who saw the said monkeys was Bernabe Wance. “It was probably in 1932 that they still roamed these mountains, “he said. “As the population grows, the monkeys were hunted for food. The monkeys eventually run away or have been wiped out.”

Increase of population in Kibunga escalated when the logging and mining industry expanded in the area. Bigger communities like those from Sagpat and Lobo were formed during the gold mines that closed down sometime in the 80s.

Today Kibungan is subdivided into 7 Barangays. Badeo, Lubo, Madaymen, Palina, Poblacion and Sagpat. The language in this municipality is mainly Kankanaey. It is located within a cool highland mountainous zone with elevations at more than 2500 meters above sea level. During its coolest months of December - January, Barangay Madaymen experiences chilling temperature of 0 degrees Celsius causing the famous Frost of Madaymen.

The municipality has many sites to offer but many can be reached only through hiking. Here are some of them.

Les-eng Rice Terraces
These magnificent terraces can be reached after 6-hour hike through lush pine forests in Barangay Tacadang.
Mayos River
Located at the northeastern part of Barangay Poblacion. It is approximately 2.5 kilometers in length and is about 3 kilometers awayfrom Poblacion Proper. The river originates from ridges of nearby Barangays Madaymen, Palina and Tacadang and supplies water to rice paddies and vegetable farms along the vicinity.
Palina Rice Terraces
In Barangay Palina at the foot of Mt. Kilkili believed to be a former volcano because of its conical shape. Constructed following a century-old system of rice terraces built with stone walls and neatly arranged one after the other. The rice terraces are at their best in December and June when the rice paddies turn golden yellow, near harvest time. The Palina rice terraces is known as the municipality’s rice granary.


By: Carl Taawan