CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

WRITTEN REPORT IN

CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

                                              

Cordillera Administrative Region is located in the north-central part of Luzon and dubbed as “watershed cradle of North Luzon”. It has a mountainous topography with towering peaks, plateaus, valleys, winding rivers that contributed to the significantly unique lifestyle and culture of the people. Regional economy of the Cordilleras is diverse; mining, agriculture, export processing zone, tourism are among economic activities in the different provinces of the region.

Province/City	Capital	Population (2010)[1]	Area (km²)	Pop. density (per km²)
Abra	Bangued	234,733	3,975.6	59.0
Apayao	Kabugao	112,636	3,927.9	28.7
Benguet	La Trinidad	403,944	2,826.59	142.9
Ifugao	Lagawe	191,078	2,517.8	75.9
Kalinga	Tabuk City	201,613	3,119.7	64.6
Mountain       Province	Bontoc	154,187	2,097.3	73.5
Baguio City	—	318,676	57.5	5,542.2

HISTORY

The 1987 Philippine Constitution finally recognized the clamour of the Cordillerans for autonomy which is expected to promote development.The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) was created by virtue of EO 220 issued by President Corazon C. Aquino on July 15, 1987 giving the region formal autonomy as part of her political compromise to the Cordillera People's Liberation Army, a rebel group operating in the mountain region. On February 14, 1995, Kalinga-Apayao, one of the five provinces of the region was split into two separate and independent provinces of Apayao and Kalinga with the enactment of Republic Act No. 7878

NATURAL RESOURCES

Cordillera is rich in gold and copper mines.Climate suitable to upland vegetables, fruits and ornamental plants - cabbage, celery, carrot, potato, beans, lettuce, sweet peas, broccoli, beets, mushroom, banana, pineapple, strawberry citrus, persimmon, passion fruit, coffee, tobacco, mango, apple and pears

TOURIST DESTINATIONS

Banaue Rice Terraces is self-proclaimed "eighth wonder of the world." The Philippines considers Banaue Rice Terraces as its "Eighth Wonder of the World." The Banaue terraces, ancient sprawling man-made structures from 2,000 to 6,000 years old, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Another tourist attractions in the region are Maligcong Rice Terraces, Sagada Caves, Benguet Flower Gardens,Handicraft industries and Mount Pulag, the highest mountain in Luzon, and second highest mountain in the Philippines

Ethnic People

Cordillera has many ethnic groups such as Tingguians that composed of sub-groups known as the Itneg tribes which include Adasen, Balatok, Banaw, Belwang, Binungan, Gubang, Inlaud, Mabaka, Maeng, Masadiit, and Muyadan or Ammutan. Isneg,  Ibaloi Kankanaey Ifugao Bontoc, Balangao,  and Baliwon. Based on the 2000 census survey, half of the population is Ilocano 50.82% and almost 1/3 of the population is Isnag 29.95%. Other ethnic groups living in the province are the Malaueg 3.69%,Isneg 3.48%, Kalinga 3.08%, Ibaloi 1.01%, Kankana-ey 1.24% and Bontok 1.04%.

Languages

Tribes and immigrate speak different languages such as Tagalog, ilocano, Bontok spoken in Bontoc, Ifugao and Isnag spoken in Apayao

Climate

It is characterized by relatively dry and wet seasons, from November to April, and wet during the rest of the year. Heaviest rain occurs during December to February while the month of May is the warmest.

CULTURE

The Cordillera region is known for its unique musical instruments including the gangsa kalinga, nose flute, bamboo flute, buzzer, bangibang, tongatong, diwdiw-as, saggeypo, and bamboo zither.

The region also has various festivals. Some of these are Panagbenga or Baguio Flower

Festival which is celebrated in February. The festival focuses on Baguio as the “Flower Garden City of the North”. Highlights include flower exhibits, lectures, and garden tours, floral competition and a parade of floats. Imbalayah or Gotad is a festival celebrated every 3 years."Bumayah" referring to a well-to-do who celebrates his good health or ripe old age with gong-beating and dancing culminating in the feast. Adivay festival in Benguet which means "coming together of people to celebrate" is celebrated every month of November. The month-long activities highlight the Agro industrial and trade fair which showcase the different products of Benguet. Lang-ay Festival in Mountain Province celebrated every April 7. This is a week-long agro industrial trade, tourism and cultural fair with tribal dances and songs. Kulpi ad Asilo is a town fiesta adopting the ritual term "kulpi", a family thanksgiving after transplanting the rice seedlings. Ullalim Festival in Kalinga which is celebrated every February 14. It is in celebration of the founding anniversary of the province and the Peace acts called Bodong.  And Tabuk Matagoan Festival which features G-String marathon (runners wear G-String only), cultural dances and songs. The festival showcases the different products of tabuk coming from the different parts of Kalinga such as the aromatic Kalinga coffee

IDENTITY OF CORDILLERA ETHNIC GROUPS

Rice wine or any other wine is always sipped to maintain friendly relationship with the living and the dead. It is to be offered freely as means to acknowledge the bountiful harvest from Kabunyan, the Almighty. Gong-dances are always in circular arrangement as a sign of unity, solidarity and teamwork and with specific purposes. Rattan or bamboo wares and other farm implements were original among the Igorots as means to maximize their resources and for specific uses. The indigenous knowledge of back strap weaving, tattooing, mummification, food preservation, stone engineering, rice farming, cooperatives, local governance is innate among the Igorots. And the spirituality of the Igorots in general is encompassed in their strong belief on the power of the Almighty referred as Kabunyan, Alawagan, Lumauig or sometimes termed as Adikaila, Nintotongdo or Manakaalin. With such belief, the core values of inayan, laton, may kasiyana, lawlawa baw  etc. are their guiding philosophies in their everyday living.