Cordillera Voice

28/04/2025

End Game - Closing my Cordillera Journal on Regional Autonomy.
By Art Tibaldo

I was young, adventurous and daring with a deep passion of exploring and understanding more about my roots and the culture of the Cordilleras.
After my college days in the early 80s, I found myself hooked in the field of journalism which wasn’t part of my early aspirations as an artist.
From news-magazine photographer, editorial cartoonist to network TV news video editor, I eventually joined the Cory revolutionary government by August 1986 as a Public Information Officer.
To cut my story short, there was a clamor for a regional autonomy in the Cordilleras and a move to unite the fragmented upland provinces that were split and became part of Regions 1 and 2.
Since my office was likened to be the ‘mouthpiece and eyes and ears’ of the Cory government, we helped in the conduct of consultations and ensuing and peace talks, rubbed elbows and shared roofs with former rebels turned Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army.
I came to learn about the Bodong system of self governance and Fr. Conrado Balweg, an SVD priest who led the CPLA in championing the concept of an autonomous region was the person that every news reporter wants to meet and interview.
From the Mount Data and Mansion House dialogs, ARMM Consultations in Mindanao, Manabo Pagta and Baay-Licuan ambush in Abra, I was with the group of Balweg as a media representative of the which was formed in 1987 by virtue of EO 100.
After two failed attempts at Autonomy during plebiscites, the passing of notable Bodong elders including Balweg and the changing times in the advent of the 21st century priorities, I now believe that the elusive autonomous dream may no longer be achieved.
I can say that I did my part as both artist and newsman having produced AVPs, posters, news releases and even a campaign logo for this elusive dream of regional peace and unity.

As my wife and I motored to Sallapadan to attend the wedding of the youngest daughter of Fr. Conrado Balweg, the Waze that we followed led us to pass by the longer, bumpy and dusty route via Manabo which was the site of the .
We arrived at the Sallapadan Church just in time for the entourage formation. The children of the rebel priest were there in festive mood glowing with enthusiasm. I was paired with Marcelina Bahatan, the surviving spouse of peace talks co-convenor Jun Bahatan during the sponsors entourage and seated next to Prof. Bienvenido Balweg during the wedding celebration.

The wedding of Dia Felice “De-i” Balweg to Oscar Naungayan Jr. is another story to behold. It should have happened four years ago but the pandemic halted many events including another marriage vows of our foster son.

It was a moment of love and unification of families bonded with Christian faith joined by the community in a culture-based celebration.
This recent travel to Abra at a time of electoral period was after all a memorable journey to me and my wife as Helen was able to reconnect with her former staff Christian and Jamie of Abra Infocen after her retirement from the service. I was also able to fulfill an invitation from the daughter of a remarkable person who I consider a Cordillera Hero.
More of my stories @ and

04/04/2025

20/12/2024

The Supreme Court (SC) affirmed that Baguio City is exempt from ancestral claims under Republic Act No. 8371, or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA).

The SC denied the motion for reconsideration filed by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the heirs of Joan L. Gorio and Lauro Carantes (Carantes). The motion challenged SC’s July 11, 2023 Decision which held that under Section 78 of the IPRA, the law shall not apply to the City of Baguio. Instead, its own charter shall determine land rights within the city.

The heirs filed an ancestral claim for parcels of land in Baguio City, claiming they belong to the Ibaloi indigenous cultural community. The NCIP granted their claim and issued in their favor certificates of ancestral land titles, ruling that the heirs’ ancestral rights over the land remained even after these were proclaimed as a government reservation, or land reserved by the government for a specific use. In 1907, Baguio City was proclaimed as the Baguio Townsite Reservation.

The Republic, through the Office of the Solicitor General, challenged this, arguing that the land within the Baguio Townsite Reservation can no longer be registered because Baguio City is exempt from the IPRA. Section 78 of the law states that Baguio City shall remain governed by its charter, and that all lands part of its townsite reservation shall remain as such unless reclassified by law.

The SC, in its July 11, 2023 Decision, ruled in favor of the Republic. The SC held that Baguio City is not subject to the IPRA due to its designation as a Townsite Reservation. It emphasized that the IPRA does not override earlier proclamations granting property rights, in this case, in favor of the government.

However, even if Baguio City is exempt from IPRA’s operation, indigenous people may still establish their ownership over their lands if they can prove continuous occupation and possession of the land since time immemorial, even within a reservation. The SC stressed that this is different from the recognition of ancestral rights established under the IPRA.

In the case of Carantes’ heirs, however, they failed to prove that they and their ancestors have traditionally occupied and continue to possess the land.

The SC thus set aside the rulings of the CA and the NCIP, prompting them to file a motion for reconsideration, which the Court denied, affirming Baguio City’s exemption from the IPRA, except for native title to land, or ownership since time immemorial where the indigenous peoples are still in actual possession of the land.

The Resolution was from the Supreme Court En Banc written by Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen.

Read the full text of the press release at: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/sc-affirms-that-baguio-is-exempt-from-ipra/

Read the full text of the Decision at: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/209449-republic-of-the-philippines-vs-national-commission-on-indigenous-peoples-register-of-deeds-baguio-city-land-registration-authority-heirs-of-lauro-carantes-dimson-manila-inc-joan-l-gorio-and-cer/



Copying of this content is subject to the SC PIO’s Credit Attribution Policy: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/credit-attribution-policy/

19/11/2024

22/10/2024

Eduardo Masferré: The Igorot-Spanish Father of Philippine Photography

Eduardo Masferré, born on April 18, 1909, in Sagada, Mountain Province, is celebrated as the Father of Philippine photography. This Filipino-Catalan artist devoted his life to capturing the culture and traditions of the Igorot people and other indigenous groups in the Cordillera region.

Masferré was the son of a Spanish soldier who immigrated from Spain and a mother from Sagada. Growing up as one of six children, he had a firsthand view of the rich culture and stunning landscapes of the Mountain Province. In 1914, his family moved to Catalonia for educational opportunities, but they returned to the Philippines seven years later. From that point onward, Masferré dedicated himself to documenting the life and traditions of his homeland.

A self-taught photographer, Masferré focused on the everyday lives, ceremonies, and rituals of the Igorot people, providing an authentic representation of their culture. After World War II, he opened a photographic studio in Bontoc, where he produced an astounding collection of work, totaling an estimated seven million photographs. His portraits are more than mere images; they encapsulate the rich narratives of a people deeply connected to their heritage.

Masferré's contributions to photography gained him significant recognition, beginning with his first major exhibition in Manila in 1982. This success paved the way for international showcases, including the prestigious Les Rencontres Internationales de La Photographie in France. In 1990, the Smithsonian Institution acquired 120 of his original prints, further solidifying his legacy in the field of photography.

Eduardo Masferré passed away on June 24, 1995, but his impact endures. His photography serves as a vital record of Igorot heritage, ensuring that their stories and traditions are preserved and honored for generations to come.

06/10/2024

26/09/2024

Traversing the Cordilleras