Igorots Versus Racism

The Philippines is populated by various groups of people who almost look similar in all aspect except when they wear their traditional costumes but ordinarily all Filipinos are similar whether they are Tagalogs,Ilocanos,Visayans,Muslims,Igorots,aetas and etc. An Igorot however is always projected as ugly, unkempt, rugged and undisciplined among the other Filipinos. In fact even one of the Philippine's great statesman and well known diplomat said that Igorots are not Filipinos,in the movie industry igorots are always projected as ugly, dirty and undisciplined, television networks are depicting the igorots in a totally different and confusing background, artworks show them as funny and idiotic. these are some of numerous instances where Igorots were maligned in pubic fora, movies, TV and other media outlets by no other than their Filipino brethren. No wonder some Igorots would rather hide their identity and let his kindred suffer the stigma inflicted by the other groups including aliens as well.
For many centuries that passed,very little is known about the igorots except those misconceptions imputed to them. The high mountains and rough terrains protected these people from constant contact with the outside world so that there was no change in their dress code and social adaptations of other cultures. They developed a culture peculiar and unique that an outsider can only make external assessment but not the psyche that envelope these igorots. The long isolation of these people from the outside world did not diminish their intelligence nor their wisdom, the truth is, they developed a sustainable food production methods that the Philippine government thought it's obsolete and tried to change them. Now, it is encouraging the Igorots to go back and maintain the old ways since it is more profitable and sustainable in the long run. These igorots created rice terraces and complex water systems that require an excellent degree of intellectual capacity, songs,chants,and poetic expressions that entails good memory and analytical mind, art creations that are unique and unrivaled, there are more to tell but let modesty aside as I am carried away by emotions in defence of my fellow igorots. The law makers should put teeth on laws that prohibit discrimination's and enact new ones that prohibits discriminatory broadcast, TV, movie and theatrical shows that directly or indirectly place the Igorots as a lower kind of people. If the other nations are discriminating against the Filipinos let us not entertain these kind among our selves and allow charity to begin at home.

tribal murders

The cordilleras is one of the northern hinterland regions of the Philippine archipelago. It is occupied by various tribes and sub tribes who maintain their independence from one another and at times engage each other in a tribal war. Innocent victims have lost their lives from numerous senseless cold blooded killings that can happen anytime, peace and order is very illusive and still far from being resolved despite the advance of technology and education. There are contributory factors that are hindering the peace initiatives of concerned citizens who are weary of tribal killings. Firstly, the tribes cannot forget the murdered tribe members who were killed by the other tribes. Generations will pass but the clamor for revenge is handed down to the younger ones till their death is avenged. Secondly, the law enforcers who are members of a tribe are protecting their tribe mate whenever they are involve in troubles with a member of another tribe. In other cases a police officer will walk away from his duty to save or protect human lives just to prevent his tribe from being involved in future troubles. At this point in time they are so ineffective that crimes are never solved and the culprits are not arrested though publicly known. Thirdly, after a tribal killing the leaders of the tribe together with local elected leaders gather and try to come up with a resolution. In most cases the payment of a blood money to the victim's relative is enough and the criminals go free. The payment of blood money should be punitive to prevent the wrong doers from committing more crimes but the total contribution of the culprits is just a small portion, the bulk of the amount is a contribution of the community and from the coffers of local government. These practices should be stopped because it is just a temporary solution of a case but did not solve the problem. They are actually encouraged to commit another crime because they did not feel the pain of punishment. Fourth, The murderers are given a heroes welcome by their tribe after a tribal killing, the women would hang decorations on the neck of these criminals during a celebration and the young ones are encouraged to follow their steps of bravery. Fifth, the tribal community is a perfect hiding place of the culprits who do not know what is justice since the protection of their tribe member is paramount to anything else. they would utterly disregard the crimes committed no matter how horrible it may be. These and other social difficulties on the part of the government and the communities need extra attention for indeed human dignity is violated against the poor and innocent victims who have died without Justice.

Water Controversy in Bontoc

Patch up and cover up best describe the Bontoc waterworks project in mountain province Philippines. This project cost the Philippine government 60 million plus pesos of tax payers money.It was conceptualized during the term of congressman Roy Pilando of the lone district of Mountain Province. The purpose was to provide a potable water supply to four barrios of Bontoc namely Caluttit, Poblacion,Bontoc ili, and Samoki. Mainit an upland barrio of Bontoc was identified as the water source because the local residents were amenable to it. The project was ready to start then but the opposition of certain groups against the project was filed to the office of the Department of public works and highways holding the project in abeyance.Its implementation was stopped because it was overtaken by the 2003 national election. When congressman Victor Dominguez took over he initiated the the realignment of the project from Mainit to Bayyo, another barrio of Bontoc. This was the start of a series of demonstrations by the Bayyo and Bontoc people who were against the transfer of the project. Series of consultations were conducted to iron out their differences, it was during these consultations that the engineers of the DPWH presented a very attractive technical plan that divided the opposition for some time. Immediately thereafter the waterworks at Bayyo that started raising eyebrows. Hardly did the project project made a headway when the people renewed their resistance against the project due to violations of agreement by the DPWH and the good congressman. Another reason for the opposition are as follows, first,the people had bad experience regarding the use of questionable plastic pipes a few years back when plastic pipes were installed to carry potable water from Talubin to Bontoc. Every now and then the pipes would burst causing lots of inconveniences to the populace specially to the business sector and the hospital. Ultimately nothing was left of those plastic pipes because they were replaced with G.I. pipes. Now the DPWH are again installing plastic pipes that experience taught them is impractical. It is practically spending 60 million pesos for nothing and wasting taxpayers money. Second, the DPWH engineers presented a proposal that is a bit acceptable but in the implementation of the project it is totally different. This maneuvers of the DPWH is contrary to the informed and prior consent provision of Philippine laws and international principles. They tell one thing and do another, obviously the purpose of this is for profit.
The author believes that a test must be performed on these plastic pipes to analyze whether or not the plastic pipes are safe. That there is no guaranty that the project is operational for 50 years as promised by DPWH engineers.who is to blame when the project becomes useless? The first project was useless and no one was answerable. Three years ago these problem started and again it was overtaken by another election in 2007, maybe this can go on and on.Before we know it this controversy will just be forgotten and the poor Igorot beneficiaries will just sit in silence and sleep on a nightmare and wake up as if nothing happened.

foreign aids and developement

Meddlers on the spending of government funds are frowned upon by the community, in fact some were harmed and others were threatened because they were critical of substandard project implementations.We had very bad experience with the community people in barrio maligcong Bontoc mountain province regarding our fight against the corruptions and misspent foreign funds .

Me and my companions filed a case against our barrio chairman and members of the department of environment and natural resources for misappropriating five million pesos, a part of a multi- million loan-grant by the Asian development bank for reforestation project in maligcong bontoc mountain province. The purpose is to help in the reduction of the green house effect that is endangering the earth. But the people who are supposed to benefit from this project which include of course their future generation do not see the good side of its success. Their eyes are focused on the small amounts given to them and a few crumbs of bread distributed. They hated us for our exposure of the anomalies but are blind to the millions pocketed by these corrupt people.
They were willing to sign affidavits to support corruption even though the evidence of corruption is very clear[video/photos]. We brought our case to the Sangguniang Bayan of Bontoc for investigation but it was dismissed, the members of the municipal council including the vice mayor decided to support their colleague for political reasons and for indirect benefits they received. We were not satisfied with our municipal leaders so we elevated our case to the ombudsman, that was almost a year now yet there was no concrete action on the case. We followed it up personally,by emails and through notarized letters yet there was no viable answers, Philippine laws mandates a certain number of days to act on verified complaints submitted to them, yet there was no action until now, a classic example of justice delayed is justice denied.

Foreign aid continue to pour to the Philippines but not to the Filipinos, the documents tell the Benefactors everything is clean and well done but the physical evidence of corruptions are shouting at the top of their voice!. To those who have ears please listen to the silence of the igorots.

WT round up

Before anything else, I would like to thank Google and its people for allowing this kind of media outlet to people who cannot afford media mileage. News and other information are the monopoly of selected few individuals and corporations specially here in the Philippines. The rich get the juiciest part of media coverage while the majority of the ordinary citizens are on the limelight only when tragedy strikes. The television and radio stations are confined mostly on advertisement and concentrated on self promotions with lopsided interest while more priorities are relegated to the background. with Google let the voice of the dumb be heard to all the four corners of the world. Let then the four winds carry the good news to all people, to the igorots wherever they may be.

Peden