Colorful Kalinga Costumes

Vibrant colors characterize the Kalinga costumes. The "bongol" or necklace are precious stones from barter or trade with the Chinese, which are used as wonderful accessories.

Beautiful Women of Kalinga

When was nudity considered a crime and an act of public disturbance? Since people began perceiving it as malicious and a demonstration of bad manners.

In my homeland, nudity is not an issue. This goes to show that our perception of things affects the way we react. Look at this beautiful Kalinga woman who sees the world around her as pure and good. The men respond in kind and respect their women. We are more civilized than most people, methinks! Lol


These pictures are from a superb photographer Nats Dalanao, who has taken upon himself to record them as colorful and significant aspects of the Kalinga heritage. Thanks again Nats, for allowing me to use your pictures.

Visit his blog "Kalinga, the Land of the Brave" and read more interesting stories of the fascinating Kalinga culture.

Lubo, Tanudan in the Eyes of Nats

These are scenic views of Lubo, Tanudan from the mountain crest. The scenes are picture perfect and breathtaking. You should see them in person to appreciate them more. These are only some views that can captivate you. Try the bubbling Chico River, the incredible flora and fauna and the amazing landscape, and you will know what paradise on earth means.

Tanudan is composed of three barrios or villages, Lubo, Mangali and Taloctoc. These three places hold their own attraction and natural beauty: verdant, towering mountains, azure sky with white fluffy clouds drifting by, and the clear, rambling Chico River.



Nats Dalanao took these beautiful pictures and I thank him for allowing me to use them in this blog to let other people know how beautiful Kalinga is, particularly Lubo.

Nats says: “This is my job, administering all the computer network infrastructure of the City Hall, making it sure that everybody is connected to the database on the central server...”

I am sure he does his job well aside from being an artist and a superb photographer. Enjoy these pictures, which were taken firsthand by Nats himself.

More Panagbenga Pictures and Others

Panagbenga again...These past few days I was so busy working to earn a living. How ironic, at the pace that I’m going I’d probably be gone before I could even enjoy life. Anyway, there are lots of stories I would like to share in this blog and lots of pictures I would like to post too. So watch out for them. I am leaving you with this picture for now. Watch out for the next ones. Back to work. lol.

Baguio City Pictures

Indigenous People of the Cordilleras: How Are They Treated?

The Cordillera region includes the provinces of Kalinga- Apayao, Bontoc, Ifugao and Benguet. In the old days, indigenous people had difficulty adapting to the urban life and are therefore treated as naive and ignorant by people in the cities. Oftentimes, they are employed as household help, laborers or gofers.

This changed however when more and more natives earned proper education from the neighboring towns. Alongside with this, progress came through accessible roads and establishment of more educational facilities.

The construction of roads led to an increased exchange of commercial products and also more interaction between villages and towns. Natives learned more of the city life and had brought this knowledge home with them.

The proper education had allowed their active participation in a more national scope. At present, there are popular and famous natives who occupy key positions in local and national government. One can no longer differentiate accurately a native from the city dwellers. Those who still think of indigenous people as ignorant and naive are frowned upon.

Although the physical features are one indication that the person is from the indigenous tribes, this does not indicate that the native is less intelligent. At times, they're even more gifted than their city counterparts.Generally, the Kalinga-Apayaos are usually tall, lanky and dark; the Benguets - sturdy and fair-skinned; the Ifugaos - darker and smaller in built.

The towns and villages also became populated with city people as intermarriages occurred. The children have now inherited both genes and are a new generation of people. The thin line between the indigenous tribes and the people from the lowlands had finally merged into a unique entity.

These children borne of these types of marriages have lost some of the physical traits of their forefathers. You would never guess that a person has a native blood unless he/she reveals it.

Today, indigenous tribes are treated with respect and dignity. They are looked up to in several categories. In fact, even educational institutions recognize the brilliance of the brains of the indigenous tribes. One very good example is St Louis University in Baguio City, which is now considered a center for academic excellence, even better than most schools in the National Capitol Region (NCR). The school has produced graduates who had made it to the top ten of their specific professional licensure examinations.

Although Baguio City is no longer officially a part of Benguet Province, it is still an active participant of the Cordillera's affairs and will continue to be considered its prime city.

The Cordillera indigenous people have come a long way and are now considered as productive members of the Filipino society.

Kalingas in Baguio City, Philippines

Kalingas went to Baguio for the Panagbenga Festival and they won the Street Dance Contest. After the dance, however, I can no longer identify them as they went back to wearing the street clothes of city people. I was more impressed seeing them in our native costumes. The colorful ginamat and ba-ag looked stunning in their semi-naked bodies. I should have taken a picture of them, but my cam decided to bogged down on that particular time. Next time perhaps.

How the Native Kalinga Maintains Peace

Up to this day, the bodong still plays an important role in the lives of Kalingas.
In the province of Kalinga one of the provinces in the Cordillera Autonomous Region of Northern Luzon, Philippines, the tribes are bound or beholden to each other by a system called the "bodong" (peace pact).

The bodong is similar to the international treaties, in that it has provisions, constitutions, and by-laws that include, territory, people and government which are covered by the terms and conditions of the "bodong".

The provisions also include the following: care, assistance, protection, as well as imposing penalty on cases of violation of these provisions. The "bodong" protects people and visitors from both tribes, especially in emergencies.

The system has an oral constitution and by laws which is called "pagta" (oral statement of the terms and conditions, manner , limitations, ways and means in business, in emergencies in the relationship of all persons within the territories of both agreeing tribes). The penal code is orally given for specific violations. When a problem arises, the leaders of both tribes would convene and would recall the "pagta's" oral provisions relative to the case at bar; and then and there, solve the existing problem.

The bodong is usually established when an individual member of a tribe or barrio has a business relationship with another person from the other tribe. This is a specific example: Mr. Suma-il of Barrio Taloctoc, Tanudan living on the eastern slope of Mt Patokan bought a carabao from Mr. Dumawig of Tanglag, Lubuagan. Dumawig then will barter goods also - a coconut for a cup of beans, etc. - this is called "abbuyog' (sharing).

From there the relationship intensifies; Suma-il now sends a spear or javelin to Dumawig. Dumawig in turn sends a bolo (big knife). This is called "allasio" (the beginning of the peace pact). The People involved may or may not retain the original partners but in most cases, the people retain the original partners out of respect.

During the celebration of the "allasio", the parties may discuss the arrangement for the "inum" the preliminary celebration of the bodong.

When the "inum" is celebrated the discussion on the permanent pact holders may be brought out for deliberation. This maybe the original people involved or their nearest next of kin.

The final selection will be based on the required qualifications of the peace pact holder.