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LESSON MODULE
Lesson Number

5
Lesson Title

CAR REGION
Introduction/Discussion of Content
I. Introduction
The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) of the Philippines is a land-locked region consists of the provinces
of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Apayao. Baguio City is the regional center. The Cordillera
region encompasses most of the areas within the Cordillera Central mountain range of Luzon, the largest range in the
country. This region is home to numerous indigenous tribes collectively called the Igorot. The Cordillera
Administrative Region is the “only landlocked region” in the country.

Administrative Divisions
Provinces Cities
Abra
Apayao
Benguet Baguio City

Ifugao
Kalinga Tabuk City

Mountain Province

The Cordillera Administrative Region Comprised of 6 provinces, 2 cities 76  municipalities and 1,176 barangays.

II. History
During the Spanish occupation of the Philippines, Christianization and eventual subjugation of the mountain
region proved difficult for the Spanish colonial government. Several comandancias were established by the Spanish
colonial government in strategic areas of the mountain region. Among them were Amburayan, Cabugaoan, Kayapa,
Quiangan, Itaves, Apayaos, Lepanto, Benguet, Bontoc, Banaue, and Tiagan.
On August 18, 1908 during the American regime, Mountain Province was established by the Philippine
Commission with the enactment of Act No. 1876. Ifugao, which was part of Nueva Vizcaya province, and the former
Spanish comandancias of Amburayan, Apayao, Benguet, Bontoc, Kalinga and Lepanto, were annexed to the newly
created province as sub-provinces. Amburayan was later abolished in 1920 and its corresponding territories were
transferred to the provinces of Ilocos Sur and La Union. Lepanto was also reduced in size and its towns were integrated
into the sub-provinces of Bontoc and Benguet, and to the province of Ilocos Sur.
On June 18, 1966, Republic Act No. 4695 was enacted to split Mountain Province and create four separate and
independent provinces namely Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao, and Mountain Province. Ifugao and Kalinga-Apayao
were placed under the jurisdiction of the Cagayan Valley region, with Benguet and Mountain Province placed under the
Ilocos Region.

III. Physical Geography

a. Size of the Region

Measures of Land in the

Region
500,000
400,000
300,000397,555 392,790
200,000 311,974
259,778 251,778
100,000
0
ABRA APAYAO 575
Baguio Beguet Ifugao Kalinga
City
Figure 1: Measures of Land in the Region
b. Territory
The region is bounded on the northeast by Cagayan Province, on the south by Pangasinan and Nueva
Vizcaya; on the east by Isabela ; and on the west by Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union.
As physical region, the Cordillera — Gran Cordillera Central, to be complete — is a row of great mountain ranges
occupying half of Northern Luzon in the Philippines. Its rugged mountainous backbone contains many peaks exceeding
2,000 meters in height, with rolling hills and stretches of river valleys along its flanks.
It is around 230 km long and 120 km wide, with an irregular shape, the mountainous region's estimated total
area is about 17,500 square km. Thus, the Cordillera is both the highest and the single largest mass of mountains in the
entire Philippine archipelago.

c. Map
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IV. Demographics
a. Population
Population increases by 12 persons per year for every 1,000
persons. The increase in the Cordillera’s population translated into an
average population growth rate (PGR) of 1.2 percent annually during
the period 2010 to 2015. This means that there were about 12 persons
added per year for every 1,000 persons in the region.
The 2010-2015 annual PGR was lower compared to 1.7 percent
during the period 2000 to 2010 and at 2.3 percent during the period
1990 to 2000.

b. Famous people
Famous People with Cordillera Heritage

Whang-od Oggay 
Known as Maria Oggay, is a Filipina tattoo artist from Buscalan, Tinglayan, Kalinga.
She is often described as the "last" and oldest mambabatok (traditional Kalinga
tattooist) and is part of the Butbut people of the larger Kalinga ethnic group.

BONTOC A Bontoc woman with a snake skeleton in her hair. Skeletons serve as a charm
against lightning.
The Bontoc live on the banks of the (Chico River in the Central Mountain Province
on the island of Luzon. They speak Bontoc and Ilocano. They formerly practiced
head-hunting and had distinctive body tattoos. The Bontoc describe three types of
tattoos: The chak-lag′, the tattooed chest of the head taker; pong′-o, the tattooed
arms of men and women; and fa′-tĕk, for all other tattoos of both sexes. Women
were tattooed on the arms only.

IBALOI The Ibaloi (also Ibaloy and Nabaloi) and Kalanguya (also Kallahan and Ikalahan)
are one of the indigenous peoples of the Philippines who live mostly in the
southern part of Benguet, located in the Cordillera of northern Luzon, and Nueva
Vizcaya in the Cagayan Valley region. They were traditionally an agrarian society.
Many of the Ibaloi and Kalanguya people continue with their agriculture and rice
cultivation.
Their native language belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian
languages family and is closely related to the Pangasinan language, primarily
spoken in the province of Pangasinan, located southwest of Benguet. Baguio City,
the major city of the Cordillera, dubbed the "Summer Capital of the Philippines," is
located in southern Benguet. The largest feast of the Ibaloi is the Pesshet, a public
feast mainly sponsored by people of prestige and wealth. Pesshet can last for weeks
and involves the killing and sacrifice of dozens of animals. One of the more popular
dances of the Ibaloi is the bendiyan, a mass dance participated in by hundreds of
male and female dancers. Originally a victory dance in time of war, it evolved into a
celebratory dance. It is used as entertainment (ad-adivay) in the cañ ao feasts,
hosted by the wealthy class (baknang).
IFUGAO The Ifugao (also known as Amganad, Ayangan, Kiangan, Gilipanes, Quiangan,
Tuwali Ifugao, Mayoyao, Mayoyao, Mayaoyaw) are the people inhabiting Ifugao
Province.
The term "Ifugao" is derived from "ipugo" which means "earth people", "mortals" or
"humans", as distinguished from spirits and deities. It also means "from the hill", as
pugo means hill. The country of the Ifugao in the southeastern part of the Cordillera
region is best known for its famous Banaue Rice Terraces, which in modern times
have become one of the major tourist attractions of the Philippines. The Ifugaos
build their typical houses (bale), consisting of one room, built on 4 wooden posts 3
meters off the ground. There is a detachable ladder (tete) for the front door
(panto). Huts (abong) are temporary buildings. Rice granaries are call alang,
protected by a wooden idol (bulul). Aside from their rice terraces, the Ifugaos, who
speak four distinct dialects, are known for their rich oral literary traditions of
hudhud and the alim.
SNAG The Isnag, also Isneg or Apayao, live at the northwesterly end of northern Luzon, in
the upper half of the Cordillera province of Apayao. The term "Isnag" derives from a
combination of is meaning "recede" and unag meaning "interior." Thus, it means
"people who live inland."
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The municipalities in the Isneg domain include Pudtol, Kabugao, Calanasan and
Conner (Peralta 1988:1). Two major river systems, the Abulog and the Apayao, run
through Isnag country, which until recent times has been described as a region of
"dark tropical forests," and endowed with other natural resources.
In one early account, the Isneg were described as of slender and graceful stature,
with manners that were kindly, hospitable, and generous, possessed with the spirit
of self-reliance and courage, and clearly artistic in their temperament. The Isnag’s
ancestors are believed to have been the proto-Austronesians who came from South
China thousands of years ago. Later, they came in contact with groups practicing jar
burial, from whom they adopted the custom. They later also came into contact with
Chinese traders plying the seas south of the Asian mainland. From the Chinese they
bought the porcelain pieces and glass beads which now form part of the Isnag’s
priceless heirlooms. The Isnag have been known to be a head-taking society since
recorded history.
KALINGA Children from Lubuagan, Kalinga perform the muscle dance. The Kalinga, also
known as Limos or Limos-Liwan Kalinga, inhabit the drainage basin of the middle
Chico River in Kalinga Province. The Kalinga are sub-divided into Southern and
Northern groups; the latter is considered the most heavily ornamented people of
the northern Philippines.
The Kalinga practice both wet and dry rice farming. They also developed an
institution of peace pacts called Bodong which has minimised traditional warfare
and headhunting and serves as a mechanism for the initiation, maintenance,
renewal and reinforcement of kinship and social ties.
They also speak the Kalinga, Ilocano, and (Limos languages. Kalinga society is very
kinship-oriented, and relatives are held responsible for avenging any injury done to
a member. Disputes are usually settled by the regional leaders, who listen to all
sides and then impose fines on the guilty party. These are not formal council
meetings, but carry a good deal of authority.
KANKANAEY A Kankanaey chief from the town of Suyoc, in Mankayan, Benguet (taken c. 1904).
The Kankanaey domain includes Western Mountain Province, northern Benguet
and southeastern Ilocos Sur. Like most Igorot ethnic groups, the Kankanaey built
sloping terraces to maximize farm space in the rugged terrain of the Cordilleras.
Kankanaey houses are built like the other Igorot houses, which reflect their social
status. Two famous institutions of the Kankanaey of Mountain Province are the
dap-ay, or the men's dormitory and civic center, and the ebgan, or the girls'
dormitory where courtship between young men and women took place.
Kankanaey's major dances include tayaw, pat-tong, takik (a wedding dance), and
balangbang. The tayaw is a community dance that is usually done in weddings it
maybe also danced by the Ibaloi but has a different style. Pattong, also a community
dance from Mountain Province which every municipality has its own style, while
Balangbang is the dance's modern term. There are also some other dances like the
sakkuting, pinanyuan (another wedding dance) and bogi-bogi (courtship dance)
Table 4: Ethnic Group

V. Economy
Regional economy of the Cordilleras is diverse; mining, agriculture, export processing zone, tourism are among
economic activities in the different provinces of the region.
The region is abundant with mineral reserves. These include metallic ores such as gold, copper, silver, zinc, and
non- metallic minerals like sand, gravel and sulfur. Mineral reserves are found in all the provinces. However, mining is
concentrated in Benguet.
Its timber resources has dwindled since the introduction of slash-and-burn method of farming in all parts of
the Cordillera mountain range. Vegetable crop production is well developed in Benguet, rice production in Ifugao and
Abra, corn production in Mountain Province, and Kalinga.
Baguio City and La Trinidad are considered as the industrial centers in the region. Baguio City hosts Baguio
Export Processing Zone where operations of big companies like Texas Instruments, and MOOG are located. The city
also hosts offshore and outsourcing companies operating call centers. The primary growth centers of the region are
Metro Baguio and the Eastern Cordillera Growth Corridor.

VI. Languages
A. Dialects
The region has been called "the most diversified ethno-linguistic region in the Philippines" with the many "sub-
dialect variations" of its major languages. This diversity has been attributed to the mountainous topology of the region.
However, this did not lead to variations in "cultural development", and the majority of the people share a "similar

VII. Transportation
Kennon Road vs. Naguilian Road
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Table 6: Kennon Road vs. Naguilian Road

Kennon Road has significantly improved. If you are in Baguio, the best route would be to take Naguilian road in
going down to San Fernando. From Naguilian road, you will exit at Bauang tow, then San Fernando. This is much close
to your destination than both Marcos Highway and Kennon. 
It takes an average of six hours to travel the 250 km distance between Manila and Baguio by way of Kennon
Road. It is about fifteen minutes longer through the Marcos Highway and could take three more hours when going
through Naguilian Road, which is the usual route for travellers from the North. Kennon Road is occasionally blocked by
landslides during the rainy season and the same problem occurs on the other two access roads. The route to Baguio
through Kennon Road is as scenic as it is dangerous. There is another access to Baguio from Aritao in the province of
Nueva Vizcaya but this is less ravelled, the road is not well maintained, and public transportation through this route is
not as regular. Another road, Halsema Road (also known as “Mountain Trail”) leads north through the mountainous
portion of the Cordillera Autonomous Region. It starts at the northern border of Baguio, in the Municipality of La
Trinidad (Trinidad Valley).
There are several bus lines linking Baguio with Manila and Central Luzon, and provinces such as Pangasinan, La
Union, and those in the Ilocos region. Most transportation companies also offer express and air-conditioned buses at a
much higher fare, though some minibuses offer cheaper fares. Bus services that ply Baguio include Philippine Rabbit,
Dangwa Tranco, Dagupan Bus, Victory Liner, Partas, Genesis, Saulog Transit, Viron Transit, and Greenland, as well as
minibuses that come from other provinces.

IX. FESTIVAL
Etag Festival (Sagada Mountain Province)
January 30 – February 4
Etag, also known as “Igorot smoked meat,” “smoked mountain ham” or “smoked
bacon” is salted pork, regarded as part of the life of a Cordilleran from the time of
birth until death. “Panag-etag” (etag making) is the process whereby the best parts of
the freshly butchered pig is rubbed
generously with salt before it is cured.
Flower Festival / Panagbenga (Baguio
City)
(February) Month Long
Panagbenga Festival which is celebrated in February. The festival focuses on
Baguio as the Flower Garden City of the North. Highlights include flower
exhibits, lectures, garden tours, floral competition and a parade.

Strawberry Festival (La Trinidad, Benguet) March 9-27

An event and celebration in many towns in North America. People come from all different
places yearly. They get to enjoy the environment and consume strawberries in a variety
of ways. The Strawberry Festival has also been around for many years, and as of today
they continue to celebrate it in many towns in North America.

Pinikpikan Festival (Rizal, Kalinga)March 24-25

A festival is any occasion for celebration, one which commemorates an anniversary or
another significant event. It came from the word “PINIKPIKAN”, a soup dish prepared in a
traditional way. It is a festival celebrated to commemorate and to show respect and gratitude to their rich culture
which they have learned and adapted to their ancestors.

X. PRODUCT
A. Delicacies with Sampling
ETAG OR KINIING
This is salted meat that's preserved by either drying it under the sun or smoking it. Yes, it's
basically ham. Igorots usually don't cook and eat them as is. The meat is mostly used as an
added ingredient forpinikpikan. It also tastes great when cooked alongside white or black
beans or any other legume. The preservation process is also very efficient that the dried
meat can last for months or years if stored properly.

TAPEY (OR TAPUY, TAPUEY)
This is the Igorot people's version of the Japanese sake (rice wine). The great thing
about tapey is that its taste depends on the amount of time it spent inside the fermentation jar.
The older the wine gets, the more bitter it becomes. Tapey that are a few weeks or a few
months old have the fresh and sweet taste attributed to rice wine. If the aging time goes beyond
a year, the taste drastically changes. The liquid starts tasting like whiskey or brandy. 

PINIKPIKAN 
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is a common soup dish among the provinces in the Cordillera Region. However, instead of
using native chicken, Apayao's version of Pinikpikan found its taste with native ducks. It
is much more tastier and gives a much stronger soupy taste according to the locals.

ABUOS 
Abuos or the eggs of big red ants is a famous exotic food in Abra
especially during the summer season. These are collected
through poking hole in the treetop nests of the red ants. Abuos are then sauteed together with
garlic, onions, and tomatoes. Because of its rich and tangy taste, it is indeed a rare delicacy one
should try!

SINUMAN AND PATUPAT

Sinuman and Patupat are the local version of rice cakes in Abra. The taste is even comparable
to a world-class dessert! Sinuman is a triangular-shaped rice cake that is served as it is. Patupat
on the other hand is served with muscovado sugar.

STRAWBERRY JAM
Baguio Strawberry Jam, Honey & Nuts – Products That Taste No Less Than Real Fruits. The jams
are widely common in all parts of the world. Baguio Strawberry Jam has a special name to it for
its quality and taste. Made of fresh premium whole berries, it is fine to taste.

PEANUT BRITTLE
One of the negative comments about Baguio’s Peanut brittle is how they package the product.
Consumers feel as if they’ve been ripped off by thinking as if the container is filled with peanut brittle
yet opening the container, they would see it was hollow inside. A popular product to choose was the
Romana peanut brittle, which uses whole peanuts and the containers are really filled inside. 

B. Crafts and Pasalubong

CLOTH WEAVING
One of the most precious living traditions that are still kept until today is weaving. Originating
in the precolonial times, the art of weaving of the Cordillera tribal groups in the North is still
existing despite the threat of the more practical mass production of cloth. The natives use
backstrap loom to produce blankets and articles of clothing.

BASKET WEAVING
Baskets are mainly used by the Cordilleras for their occupation. They use them as a storage for
their food when they need to go to mountain terraces to cultivate their lands. 
A basket is needed for carrying grains, hunting animals, and fishing in the streams. Baskets
made of bamboo become their fish traps; the shape and size of baskets are according to the
kind of fish they want to catch. 

LOCAL WOVEN PRODUCTS MAKE GAINS

Paracelis has its unique Balladang woven materials resplendent in red and bright pinkish
colors accompanied with small white beads. Sagada weaves, just like traditional Bontoc
weaves have bright colors of red and green in their woven products including tapis, bags and
wallets. Sadanga highlights the blue color. Sabangan and Bauko specialize in table linens with
shades of orange, blue and white. Besao produces woven wall decors.

THE BAMBOO SPLIT WEAVERS

The Tingguians, also called Isneg, are engaged in various crafts. The most important of which is
bamboo crafts production. It is for this reason that Abra is aggressively positioning itself as the
“Bamboo Capital of the Philippines”.

XI. Tourist Attractions

A. Religious Sites
Name/ Location Description Picture
Baguio Cathedral One of the familiar landmarks in
(Benguet) Baguio. The structure with its twin spires
and one hundred steps sits on top of a small
hill in the heart of the city, offering
churchgoers and visitors a chance to get a
bird’s eye view of the entire commercial
hub. It was opened to the public last
November 25, 1990 during the Christ the
King celebration.
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Bell Temple This cluster of temples is located on
(Benguet) the border of Baguio City and Trinidad
Valley. Its exotic oriental architecture
features pagoda roofs, an ornate gateway,
dragon ornaments and Buddha guarded
windows that gaze from atop a hill. The Bell
Temple priest practices a mixture of
Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and
Christianity. One may even try having his
fortune told.

Natural (Island, Mountains, Flora & Fauna)

Name/ Location Description Picture

The Halsema Crop terraces viewed from the highest
Highway highway in the Philippines, the Halsema
(Benguet) Highway. The highest mountain range in the
Philippines happens to have one of the most
scenic drives in the country. The highway
even climbs up to 2,200 meters above sea
level in a section of the road near Atok in
Benguet.
Mount Pulag Mount Pulag rewards trekkers with the
(Benguet) most spectacular view of its sea of clouds.
Being the highest peak in the Philippine
Cordilleras and on Luzon island and the
second highest peak (or third, depending on
which survey you follow) in the Philippines,
Mount Pulag attracts trekkers far and wide.
The peak features seemingly barren terrain
full of dwarf bamboo and no tall trees or
shrubs.

Hanging Coffins
(Benguet)
The small town of Sagada in the Philippine Cordilleras has often been described as Baguio many years ago. I cannot say
that for certain as I never saw what they were many years ago. What I can say is that the distinctive customs of the
locals of Sagada here such as hanging the coffins of their dead on the side of the cliff are worth coming here.

Banaue Rice Terraces (pronounced bah-nah-weh)

(Benguet)
No other image best represents the Philippine Cordilleras other than the rice terraces
which generations of local Ifugao people have constructed here in a bid to temper the
land that they have been given. The grand green terraces are indeed a sight to behold
that UNESCO noticed and named it a World Heritage Site. Banaue is just the jump-off
point.

Burial Caves
(Mountain Province)

Figure 14: Sagada This burial caves are definitely getting a lot of attention especially to foreign
tourists. The site is an ancient burial ground with coffins hanging. This incredible
site is in the municipality of Sagada which is nineteen kilometers west from
Bontoc.

Rice Terraces
(Mountain Province)
The pride of the Sagada people is their rice terraces which is as magnificent as the
Banaue Rice Terraces.

Barlig
(Mountain Province)

This is a village which is popular for its basket weaving. Other weaving houses
found in Mt. Province are the Samoki Weaving House, Sabanagan Loom Weaving
and Sagada Weaving House.
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Lomiyang Cave
(Mountain Province)

A big cave where piles of coffins of the town's ancestors are kept.

Man Made
Figure 19: Barlig
Name/ Location
Description

Picture
Botanical Gardens

(Benguet)

It is also called the Igorot village, which used to feature native huts typical of Cordillera architecture. This village
captures the ethnic spirit and cultural legacy of the Igorot dweller. The garden is also a site of cultural presentations
and other tribal meetings.

Burnham Park

(Benguet)

It is the oldest of all Baguio parks. One can unwind from the tension of the day-to-
day bustle by biking, skating or simply reflecting on the day’s experiences amid a
soothing backdrop of colorful flowers.

Camp Johnhay

(Benguet)

It is still the extraordinary beautiful base, which the American forces turned over
last July 1, 1991 to the Philippine government. It is now open to the public. Its
excellent cottages, golf courses, bowling lanes, dining places and natural ambience are all preserved and maintained.

Mines View in Benguet

Appropriately named for its breathtaking views of mountain ranges and Baguio’s

“mineral bowl” where gold, silver and other ores were once quarried. There are
now numerous souvenir shops around the park offering such items as
woodcarvings, woven cloth, ashtrays, shell products and other curio items.

Wright Park

(Benguet)

It is sometimes mistakenly called “Ride Park” by some who identify this pine tree
park reserve for its kiddy horse rides. A long stairway leads to the “Pool of the
Pines”, a 100 meter long pool of water lined on both sides by the famous Baguio towering pine.
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B. Historical
Name/ Location Description Picture
Kennon Road Kennon Road is the
shortest and the most scenic
(Benguet) highway linking Baguio and the
lowlands. This was named after
Col. Lyman W. Kennon who was
its final builder. The industrious
Cordilleras and foreign workers
assisted him. The road was
substantially finished in 1903.

Teachers Camp It was through the

vacation normal school that
(Benguet) teachers from all over the islands
were able to have a respite and
have some time for studies. In a
letter to the Secretary of Public
Instruction, Governor William
Pack outlined his plan to set up a
camp in Baguio where teachers
can be accommodated. The plan
was approved on January 8, 1908
and was opened on April 6, 1908.

Mansion House The imposing and

majestic Baguio Mansion House
(Benguet) has housed a long list of Filipino
presidents and American
governor-generals. It has an
elegantly structured building and
guesthouse. Its gate is patterned
after that of London’s Buckingham
Palace.

Philippine Military Academy The Philippine Military

Academy is the Philippine’s
(Benguet) premier military institution. It has
complete training and educational
facilities to mold the future
officers of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines.

National Museum The Kabayan Branch Museum

(Benguet) was established to ensure the
proper implementation of P D.
260 which declares the Kabayan
Mummy Caves of Kabayan,
Benguet a National Cultural
Treasure

C. Cultural
Name/ Location Description Picture
Woodcarvers Village Along the way to Asin, about
5 kms from the city, is an Ifugao
(Benguet) wood carving village, which sells
beautiful carved curio items at
very low prices.

Alab Petroglyph Alab A huge rock with bows and arrows

(Mountain Province)
and human beings etched on its
surface. The etching of human
beings are believed to be images
of warriors burried in the Ganga
Cave at the foot of the mountain
where the rocks Stands.

D. Special Interest
Name/ Location Description
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Picture The oldest tattoo artist in
Apo Whang Od the world, and the first female
tattoo artist in the Philippines,
(Kalinga) Whang-Od isn’t so much an
inspiration as an institution—as
much a part of the ButBut tribe’s
culture and history as the ancient
Kalinga mountainside they call
home.