MANUEL V.

GALLEGO
FOUNDATION COLLEGES, INC.

Name: Alexander A. Bactol CPA

Grade/Section: XII-Galileo MINI TASK
“Arts of Cordillera Administrative Region”

When we hear the place Cordillera Administrative Region, one thing will always come first to our minds. And it is
they are rich in various art and crafts forms. And that is indeed true. In fact, the region of cordillera has so many diverse
contemporary art forms. The first on the list is the famous cordillera weaving. The C.A.R is always known for its high-quality
weave cloth. They highly give value to cloth weaving because the use of cloth is involved in life from birth to death, in
sickness and health. A baby is cocooned in cloth. The sick is wrapped and healed in it. Couples are clasped in it and in
death, one is buried in it. Identity is defined when the members of a group make and wear clothing that distinguishes them
from others. Dressing styles indicate different ethnic origins. As an art form, textiles are embedded in all aspects of life from
day-to-day situations to the performance of rituals. This is how the Cordilleras gives importance to these contemporary art
forms that they have. The second on the list is wood carving and bamboo crafts. The Baguio City is always known for its
hard quality sculptured. In fact, since the '70s, they are known for their wood-carved images sold in the city market stalls.
Woodcarving, however, did not have its roots in the City. Folktale had it that woodcarving was linked to the Ifugao religion
and not for ornamentation. Wigan the god of the Skyworld showed Wigan the Ifugao of Hapao how to carve a bulul to guard
their rice granary (Lambrecht 1981). And the last but not the least is their traditional way of putting tattoo. This is they were
popular at, embodying art to the body of an individual. As a matter of fact, the ancient art of tattooing is inspired by tradition
throughout the Cordilleras. One of the most famous of all tattoo artisans is the great Maria Oggay, more popularly known to
the world by her native name Apo “Whang-od.” She lives in Buscalan, Tinglayan, Kalinga, and accommodates visitors daily
—tapping on the skin and marking her patrons with her amazing art. Apo Whang-od is also known as “the last and oldest
mambabatok” in Kalinga and is a part of the Butbut tribe. For the traditional Cordilleran, a tattoo is earned through bravery
and courage while the women see it as an expression of beauty.
We can really see that the Cordillera’s contemporary art form is beautifully unique from the others. From the making
of clothes, which they do by weaving. Which is kind of unusual, especially in today’s time. The wood carving, Cordillerian
uses strong and hard materials to curve statute and deities. And, it's traditional way of inking the body. To express
themselves and convey the art of true beauty. It was indeed mesmerizing to study and understand the contemporary art
forms of Cordillera. They really value the things that their ancestors left to them. And I hope that even many decades will
pass by, they will still give importance to it and continue practicing it.