Introduction

Welcome to Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the home of one of the well-known
indigenous people in the country collectively known as the people of the mountains or
Igorots. Gawi-gawis ay agew mo or should I say
a very beautiful day to you.
Let’s travel and see the fascinating sights and
cultures of CAR in its different provinces which
are Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga, Ifugao,
and Mountain Province together with the
different kinds of Igorots that are living here.
The Igorot were about 1.5 million in the early
21st century that makes up almost all population
in the region and are composed of various
ethnic groups and subgroups or tribes. They are living in highlands, foothills, plateaus and
river valleys of the Cordillera mountain range. The major ethno-linguistic groups in the
Cordillera are the Kankanaey, Bontoc, Ifugao, Kalinga, Ibaloy, Isneg and Tingguian.
(pakiinclude yung other tribes sa pic from other provinces within CAR thanks). And their
languages belong to the northern part of Luzon, a subgroup of Philippines Languages, which
belong to the Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) family.

Indigenous People and their Ancestral Domain

BENGUET
In this province where the famous summer capital of the Philippines or Bagiuo City is
located, many tourists have come to see its view and different activities I think for relaxation
most likely. The province of Benguet have four kinds of Igorots that belong to those groups
of Indigenous Peoples in our country and those are Kankanaey Ibenguet, Kalanguya, Ibaloi
(Ibaloy, Nabaloi), and Karao (Karaw).

1. KANKANAEY
IBENGUET
ORIGIN - The Kankanaey are the
descendants of the semi-literate Malays
who immigrated to the Philippines
through the Lingayen gulf.
ANCESTRAL DOMAIN - The
Kankanaey were among those who
developed sloping farms including the
well-known rice terraces to expand the
land of the Cordillera. Those pure
 Kankanaey are located in the Western, Northern, and Eastern parts of Benguet and are
known as Kankanaey Ibenguet. But because of intermarriages, the number of people
staying in this area is on a decreasing rate. The municipalities where Kankanaey
people are living are Atok, Bakun, Buguias, Itogon, Kabayan, Kapangan, Kibungan,
La Trinidad, Mankayan, Tuba, Tublay in Benguet.

2.
KALANGUYA
ORIGIN – The main
origin of the Kalanguya
people are from the
adjacent communities of
Ahin, Taboy, Tucucan
and Tinoc, Ifugao.

ANCESTRAL DOMAIN
– the Kalanguya people
are full of hardwork as part of their daily living in order for them to have something to
eat and sustain their daily needs. Some kalanguya people were living in the Southern
part of Benguet but most are in Nueva Vizcaya. Those who are living in the province
of Benguet are can be found in the municipalities of Bokod, Buguias, Domolpos,
Kabayan, La Trinidad, and in Tuba.

3. IBALOI
ORIGIN – The word
Ibaloi means “peoples
who live in the houses”.

ANCESTRAL DOMAIN
– They are living in the
Southern part of
Cordillera Region
(Cordillera Region have
features of having high
mountain ranges and are
located in the Northern
Philippines). Maybe
because of their
geograpical setting plus
their undoubtful skills on
huntings, they have
outlasted the conquering Spanish, Americans and Japanese who took timber and ore
from their land often destroying farmlands in the process. Also, in the province of
Benguet they are living in the following municipalities which are Bokod, Itogon,
Kabayan, Kapangan, La Trinidad, Sablan, Tuba, & Tublay.
4. KARAO
ORIGIN – The ancestors of the Karao people in Benguet are the Panuy-puys
(puypuys). The Panuy-puys had migrated from Palileng, Bontoc to Diyang in Nueve
Viscaya, and finally settled in Karao, Bokod, Benguet in the latter part of the 19th
century.

ANCESTRAL DOMAIN – They have migrated but then, they are now living in the
different municipalities within the province of Benguet. The different places in
Benguet where they are living is in Karao, Bokod, Benguet.

HISTORICAL RECORD AND HIGHLIGHTS

 In 1904, a
group of
Igorot
people were
brought to
St. Louis,
Missouri,
United
States for the
St. Louis
World's Fair.
They
constructed
the Igorot Village in the Philippine Exposition section of the fair, which
became one of the most popular exhibits. The poet T. S. Eliot, who was born
and raised in St. Louis, visited and explored the Village. Inspired by their
tribal dance and others, he wrote the short story, "The Man Who Was King"
(1905). In 1905, 50 tribespeople were on display at a Brooklyn, New York
amusement park for the summer, ending in the custody of the unscrupulous
Truman K. Hunt, a showman "on the run across America with the tribe in
tow."
  The Banaue Rice Terraces (Filipino: Hagdan-hagdang Palayan ng Banawe)
are terraces that were carved into the mountains of Banaue, Ifugao, in the
Philippines, by the ancestors of the indigenous people. The terraces are
occasionally called the "Eighth Wonder of the World". The rice terraces
helped the Ifugao resist spanish colonization.

CULTURE
These group of people possess similarities in their culture, but they differ in their
dialects.
 BELIEFS
They believe in
anito or
underworld gods,
who stay in our
lakes, oceans,
forest, caves and
other form of
nature. They give
offerings in
exchange of their
wishes such as
good heath of the
members, good
weather for their
crops and the
such. Some of them already accept some religion and have been
Christianized. Many are now Catholic and Protestants, some have joined
Iglesia ni Cristo. Although many became a believer of Christ, they make it
to the point that they still pratice their rituals.

For example, during a marriage ceremony, they will butcher animals. And
they practice parental marriage.

 CUSTOM LAW
Like any other ethnic tribes, there are no such written law for our Benguet
folks. There are laws that are incorporated in their customs and traditions,
which are observed with percepts.

For example, a couple who wish to divorce due to infertility is acceptable and
allowed. And a husband who divorces its wife without any valid reason will
leave any of its property to the wife and children.
  LIVELIHOOD
Igorots are one of the
best vegetable grower
in the country. They
are very innovative
and they practice
proven technlogy in
terms of irrigation and
construction of rice
terraces. They are also
miners, sine they territory yields lots of gold and minerals. Hunting and
fishing is also their thing. They catch fish using bamboo traps. Most of their
women are into weaving. Kankanaey are considered are the best in Benguet
Province. They make clothes, blankets and sweaters. Thay also make pots,
baskets, and furniture that are marketed in Baguio city.

PRESENT ISSUES AND CONCERNS

 ECONOMIC POVERTY
Land is considered as the most valuable asset for them, but they doesn’t have
access to the lands. This is because, many multinational company own it, turn
it to minery and some of this are in the care of the government.
 SOCIAL POVERTY
Igorots are usually excludedand considered to be primitive and backward
tribe. They also experiencing discimination in general.
 POLITICAL POVERTY
It is very difficult for them to participate in democratic system of the country
such as voting.

References
INFORMATION:
https://kaigorotancountry.blogspot.com/2016/01/mini-igorot-dictionary_1.html
https://guides.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/c.php?g=105238&p=687381
https://www.ifad.org/documents/38714170/40224860/philippines_ctn.pdf/ae0faa4a-
2b65-4026-8d42-219db776c50d#:~:text=The%20major%20ethno%2Dlinguistic
%20groups,%2C%20Ibaloy%2C%20Isneg%20and%20Tingguian.
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12497/RP
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalanguya_people
https://ncca.gov.ph/about-ncca-3/subcommissions/subcommission-on-cultural-
communities-and-traditional-arts-sccta/northern-cultural-communities/manuscript-on-
kalanguya-cultural-communities/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibaloi_people
 http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/2017/12/30/the-ibaloi-people-and-their-
ancient-traditions/
http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/people/ethnic-groups-in-the-
philippines/karao/
http://benguet.gov.ph/benguetssm/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Ancestral-Domains-
in-Benguet.pdf

IMAGES:
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