CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (CAR)

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 Municipalities

Abra Bangued, Boliney, Bucay, Bucloc, Daguioman,
Danglas, Dolores, La Paz, Lacub, Lagangilang,
Lagayan, Langiden, Licuan-Baay, Luba,
Malibcong, Manabo, Peñarrubia, Pidigan, Pilar,
Sallapadan, San Isidro, San Juan, San Quintin,
Tayum, Tineg, Tubo and Villaviciosa
Apayao Calanasan, Conner, Flora, Kabugao,
Luna, Pudtol and Sta. Marcela
Benguet Baguio City Atok, Bakun, Bokod, Buguias, Itogon, Kabayan,
Kapangan, Kibungan, La Trinidad (Capital),
Mankayan, Sablan, Tuba & Tublay
Ifugao Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista, Asipulo, Banaue,
Hingyon, Hungduan, Template:Ifugao,
Kiangan, Lagawe, Lamut, Mayoyao, Tinoc,
Ifugao
Kalinga Tabuk City Balbalan, Lubuagan, Pasil, Pinukpuk, Rizal,
City of Tabuk (Capital), Tanudan and
Tinglayan
 Mountain Province Barlig, Bauko, Besao, Bontoc, Natonin,
Paracelis, Sabangan, Sadanga, Sagada and
Tadian
Table 1:Administrative Divisions

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

Provinces Total Land Areas (ha.)

Abra 397,555

Apayao 392,790

Baguio City 575

Beguet 259,778
Ifugao 251,778
Kalinga 311,974
Mountain Province 209,733
Total Land Area CAR 1,829,368
Table 2: Size of the Land of CAR

Measures of Land in the Region

450,000
400,000
350,000 397,555 392,790
300,000
311974
250,000
259,778 251,778
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000 575
0
ABRA APAYAO Baguio City Beguet Ifugao Kalinga

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

Figure 2 : The map of Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

d. Topography

Province Topographical Description

Abra The province has extremely rugged terrain with mountains and hills
rising along the periphery and in the The province interior. It has an
elevation varying from as low as five (5) meters above sea level (asl) to a
little over 2000meter asl. The topography is generally rugged but the
central portion are generally hilly to flat flying where Abra is located of
 the total land area 160,700.0 hectares. This condition accounts for the
practical non-existence of extensive arable plains.
Apayao The province has an extremely rugged terrain with mountains and hills
rising along the periphery and the interior. The elevation ranges from
below 500 meters Above Sea Level (Asl) to a minimum of 200 meters
above sea level.
Ifugao Ifugao province has an aggregate land area of 251,778.0 has out of the
total land area, 25,409.0 has are classified as for cast land and 28,467 has
are classified public for cast.
The topographical features of the province is characterized by its
mountainous are as being a part of a landscape or cordillera mountains.
It is rich in forest products water and wildlife resources.
Benguet Benguet Province is a plateae, a mass of elevated land characterized by
steep slopes deep ravines and waterways that drain into the china Sea .it
comprises the amburayan, Bued River and agno Rivers.hot spring are
also found in almost every municipality of the province.
Slopes are estimated to be 25% morr or less level 60% moderate steep
and 85% very steep slope.
Kalinga The Easter portion within the coverage of the kalinga ,particularly the
municipality of Rizal and Tabuk has a topography of rolling to moderately
steep while the Western portion ranges from steep to very steep terrain.
The elevetion ranges from 50 meters above sea level to a maximum of
2,456 meters ASL.
Moderate to steep undulating foothills. Eight (8) municipalities located at
the western central part of the province fall under the first topographical
feature while two eastern municipalities, namely Natonin and Paracelis
are covered by the second type of topographical feature.

Mt. Province The Province is frequently visited by typhoos due to its location latitude
16 to 17 degress.About 32% of tropical cyclones entering the country
 pass through the province characterize the area .One is generally rough
terrain characterized by step slopes and deep ravines and the other if
generally.
The province has a total land area of 307,100 has which accounts for
16.8% of the total land area of CAR.Pinukpuk has the biggest land area of
69,200 has. And lubuagan occupies the least with only 14,800 has.
Kalingan has about 100,619.6 has.forest of various types,mossy,pine and
dipterocarp 173,656.91 hectares is under extensive land uses while
32,823.33 has.is under intensive land uses based on NAMRIA
consolidated data of 1990.

IV. Demographics

a. Population

Figure 3: Annual Growth Rates, CAR by Province 2000, 2010 and 2015

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.

Figure 4: Quarter Total Population

A quarter of the total population resides in Benguet. The Province of Benguet

comprised a quarter (25.97 percent) of the region’s total population. It was followed by
Baguio City (20.06 percent), and Abra (14.00 percent). Among the 6 province and Highly
Urbanized City (HUC) of the region, Apayao had the least population with total count of
119,184. Apayao is considered as one of the least populated municipalities in the Philippines.

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.

re 5:

Eric de Guia

Commonly known as Kidlat Tahimik, Eric is a film director,

writer and actor who is dubbed as “The Father of Philippine
Independent Cinema”.

re 6:

Gringo Honasan

Gregorio Ballesteros Honasan II is a retired Philippine Army

officer who led unsuccessful coups d’état against President
Corazon Aquino. He also played a key role in the 1986 EDSA
Revolution that toppled President Ferdinand Marcos.

re 7:
 Robert Jaworski

Famously known as Sonny Jaworski, Robert Vincent Salazar

Jaworski is a former Philippine senator, former basketball
coach, and former basketball player.

re 8:

Quintin Paredes

Quintín Babila Paredes is a Filipino lawyer, politician,

and statesman. He was the 5th Senate President of the country.

e 10:

Lamberto V. Avellana

He was a prominent Filipino film and stage director. He

directed films such as Anak Dalita and Badjao which attained
international acclaim. He was also named by President
Ferdinand Marcos as the very first National Artist of the
Philippines for Film.

re 11:
 c. Ethnic Group
Cordillera is home to many ethnic tribes living on the Cordillera mountain range. They
are commonly referred to as the Igorot.

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
Figure 12: 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
Figure 13:
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 cañao feasts, hosted
by the wealthy class (baknang). [8]
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
Figure 14: 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.
ISNAG 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."
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
Figure 15: 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
Figure 16: 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
Figure 17: 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)

d. Religion

Majority (65.75 percent) of the population of Cordillera Administrative Region

were Roman Catholics. Evangelicals (8.85 percent) and United Church of Christ in the
Philippines (2.86 percent), followed, while 22.31 percent belonged to other religious
affiliations.

ROMAN CATHOLIC

22%
EVANGELICALS

3%
UNITED CHURCH OF
9% CHRIST IN THE
66% PHILLIPINES
OTHER RELIGION

Figure : The Percentage of Region

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 cultural
identity".

 Balangao, spoken in Natonin, Mountain Province.

 Bontoc, spoken in Bontoc, Mountain Province.

 Ibaloi, spoken in Benguet.

  Ifugao, spoken in Ifugao.

 Ilocano, spoken in Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Benguet, and Ifugao. It
is the regional lingua franca.

 Isnag, spoken in Apayao.

 Itneg, spoken in Abra.

 Kalinga, spoken in Kalinga.

 Kalanguya, spoken in some parts of Benguet.

 Kankanaey, spoken in western Mountain Province and some parts of Benguet.

B. Sample Phraseologies

English Tagalog Local Dialect

Cry Umiyak Mag'sangit
Sleep Tulog Súyop
Burn Paso Atong
Buy Bumili Tomkal
Drink Uminom Qomi'nom
Eat Kumain Ma'ngan
Choose Pili Pispis
Blow Hipan /Ihip (ma) si-buk
See Nakita Umíla
Work Trabaho Magkuwa
VII. Transportation

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 traveled, 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.

a. Land Transportation

From Time Destination

Manila going to Caloocan & 8 hours Abra

Cubao

Manila going to Kabugao to 12 hours Apayao

Tabuk, Kalinga

Baguio City 2 hours and 7 minutes Benguet

Nueva Ecija 5 hours and 2 minutes Ifugao

Baguio 5 hours and 20 minutes Ifugao
Tugegarao City 1 hours and 56 minutes Kalinga

Banaue, Ifugao, Bontoc, or 3 hours to 4 hours Mountain Province

Sagada

b. Water Transportation and Seaports

Cordillera Administrative Region is a landlocked region.

c. Air Transportation and Airports

 Airlines Terminal Travel Time Terminal
Asian Spirit 50 minutes flight but 20 Loakan Airport
minutes ride by car going to
Loakan Airport

VIII. LODGING ESTABLISHMENT

Abra

Gordion Hotel

A 3-minute walk from the Mestizo River, this

laid-back hotel with a colorful facade is also a
6-minute walk from Plaza Burgos and a 10-
minute walk from Padre José Burgos National
Museum.

Ciudad Fernandina Hotel

In a Colonial-style building dating from 1758,

this informal hotel in the historic city center is
surrounded by restaurants and shops. It's 3
minutes' walk from the Syquia Mansion
museum and 4 km from Mindoro Airport.
Apayao
 Grand Octagon Resort

Set 7 km from Laoag International Airport, this

laid-back hotel with a Spanish Colonial vibe is 2 km
from Laoag Cathedral's Sinking Bell Tower.

Fort Ilocandia Resort Hotel

Overlooking the South China Sea, this relaxed

beachfront resort is 11 km from both Aurora
Park and Laoag Cathedral, built in 1612. The
laid-back rooms and suites feature hardwood
or tile floors with antique style furniture. They
also come with cable TV and tea and
coffeemaking facilities. Suites add sitting
areas, and some also feature whirlpool tubs and/or Internet connections.
Breakfast is extra. Other amenities include a restaurant serving Chinese and Korean fare, 2
lounges, a bar, and a cafe. There's also an outdoor pool and a casino.

Benguet

Venus Parkview Hotel

Set on a busy street and overlooking leafy

Burnham Park, this modest hotel is 15 minutes'
walk from the intercity bus terminal, 4 km from
Baguio Botanical Garden and 7 km from Mines
View Park. Functional rooms sleep 2 to 5
people and feature TVs and free Wi-Fi.
Upgraded rooms have balconies and/or air
conditioning. Modern suites add separate
living areas and flat-screens, as well as
breakfast at no extra cost. Parking is
complimentary. There's also a casual bar. Event space, including a ballroom, is available.

Microtel by Wyndham Baguio

This unassuming hotel is next door to a bus station, a 15-minute walk from Baguio
Cathedral and 1 km from Burnham Park. The rooms are decorated with classic wood
furnishings, and have TVs and complimentary Wi-Fi. Suites add kitchenettes and pull-out
sofas. Kids 12 and under stay free with an adult. Amenities include complimentary
continental breakfast and a lobby lounge area.

Ifugao

Banaue Hotel

It is accessible to transportation
terminals, some restaurants, souvenir shops and
general stores. It also offers the best view of
Banaue Rice Terraces, surrounding mountains
and main town. The hotel is the ideal place for
adventurous people. Aside from complete hotel
amenities, Banaue Hotel also provides its guest a quite form of cultural overture, a good
cultural dance presentation which last for an hour. They are the only hotel that offers a
unique type of entertainment.

Banaue Evergreen Hostel & Restaurant

A place suited for travelers who want to relax

and at the same time feel at home with a nice
accomodation and hosts. Evergreen Hostel &
Restaurant is a 5 minutes walk going to the town
center of Banaue. The hostel features the most
beautiful but modest guest rooms which
includes closets and side tables, hot showers,
smoking area, free WiFi and balcony where you
can feel the ambiance of nature. For the comfort and convinience of guest, the hostel also
offers car rental, motorcycle rental, ticket booking tours, the best and well trained tourist
guides and a restaurant where we offer different delicacies and delicious foods suitable for
your taste.

Kalinga

Hotel Joselina

Along a bustling, narrow street just off the N51,

this laid-back budget hotel is a 3-minute walk
from the 18th-century baroque Tuguegarao
Cathedral and 8 km from lengthy Buntun
Bridge. Unpretentious rooms with a warm vibe
and tile floors feature complimentary Wi-Fi, in
addition to cable TV, en suite wet rooms and air-
conditioning. Amenities include a terrace and a simple lobby lounge area, along with express
checkout.

Holiday Plaza Hotel

Within 2 km from both the historic Fort San

Pedro and the 16th-century Cebu Metropolitan
Cathedral, this functional hotel is 3 km from
Cebu IT Park.- bakit Cebu? Featuring wood
furnishings, the streamlined, warmly decorated
rooms and suites come with complimentary Wi-
Fi, flat-screen TVs and minifridges. Children age
11 and under stay free. Room service is available. A subdued restaurant offers buffet dining.

Mountain Province
 Vitalis White Sands

Set in a modern building on Sabangan Beach, this

informal hotel is 2 km from MacArthur Highway
and 95 km from San Fernando Airport. The down-
to-earth rooms come with complimentary Wi-Fi,
flat-screen TVs and minifridges, as well as tea and
coffeemaking equipment. Upgraded rooms add balconies and/or beach views. Family suites
are available. Kids age 12 and under stay at no extra cost with a parent. Breakfast is free. A
bright restaurant offers a terrace and views of the beach. Other amenities include a bar, an
outdoor pool and a spa, plus water sports facilities, a beach volleyball court and karaoke.
Parking is available.

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.

Ullalim Festival (Tabuk City, Kalinga)

 February 12-16

A celebration of the founding anniversary of the province

and the Peace acts called Bodong. It’s the poetic
expression of the heroic exploits, romance, joys, successes
as well as tribulations and the way of life of the Kalingas
from birth to death. The highlights of this is the weaved clothes (laga) exhibits, world class
coffee beans and other products of Kalinga.

Say-Am-Talip-Tadoc Festival and Apayao Day (Province

Wide, Apayao) - February 14

It is in celebration of the founding anniversary of the

province and Isnag’s grandest feast or celebration A feast
featuring and ushering the traditional way of Isnag’s
thanksgiving to the Higher Supreme unseen being called
“ALAWAGAN” executed and commenced through rituals spiced with pep songs, native
chants and dances called the “TALIP and TAD-DO”. The holding and celebration of Say-am in
the older days connotes status – that the family is respectable.

Dapil Festival (Bangued, Abra) February 15-23

A festival on sugarcane which is one of the Abra’s

main agricultural products for the manufacture of a wine
called basi, vinegar, molasses called muscovado and
candies. Dapil is derived from the word “Dadapilan”,
equipment used in extacting the sugar cane juice. This
festival not only feature trade fair for sugarcane products
and other agri-based items but also basketball tournaments, beauty contests, parades and
cultural shows.

Manchatchatong Festival (Balbalan , Kalinga)

 First Week of March

"Manchatchatong" means meeting or coming together of

the people in Balbalan as a reunion. This will strengthen our
unity, cooperation and love for our municipality to gain
progress.

Iloko-Tingguian Festival (Bengued, Abra) March 9-12

Aims to celebrate the diverse culture of Abra, with

primary focus on its own indigenous people,
the Tingguians, and how they bring so much richness to
Abra's already-diverse landscape.

Laga-Festival (Lubuagan, Kalinga) March 5-6

Lubuagan is famous for the Mabilong Weaver’s Village

where backstrap weaving is the method, as opposed to
loom weaving.Thus, Lubuagan celebrates the excellence of
their weaving industry every year, on March 6, coinciding
with the day gen Emilio Aguinaldo came. “Laga” means
weaving.

Kawayan Festival (Bangued, Abra) March 6-9

There are simple people. They wrapped themselves with

the glory of their heritage, looked good. Street dancers
have with them these bamboos while they dance and sing
from the heart. With them are bamboo products that speak
deep to the soul. The geometric patterns on their woven
baskets made of thin and floppy bamboo sticks signify that their inherent artistry is so alive.
 Arya Abra Festival (Bangued, Abra) March 6-10

Is a celebration of Abra’s individuality. It features various

sectors/groups in the province together with the indigenous
people in Abra which is the Iraya Tribe. Each day is offered
to a particular group of people as a way of honoring them for
what they have done for the province of Abra.

Begnas di Bauko (Bauko, Mountain Province)March 9-11

An Igorot word that refers to thanksgiving or offering ritual.

It is a public celebration that involves feasting, drinking and
dancing held at the “at-ato” (village tribal hall) usually done
for the purpose of asking for blessings from the almighty
and/or as a cleansing ritual due to unfortunate event
affecting the whole community.

Unoy Festival (Tinglayan, Kalinga) March 15-16

This festival is held in thanksgiving to an abundant harvest

of the Unoy rice and other agricultural products of the
people of Tinglayan, a municipality of Kalinga. It also aims
to promote Unoy rice as Kalinga’s most sought-after
agricultural product.

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.

Lang-ay Festival (Bontoc, Mountain Province) April 2-8

The Lang-ay Agro-Trade Fair became a venue for sharing of

resources, crops, and products not only from local
organizations in the province but from the neighbouring
provinces.

Bendian Festival (Kabayan, Benguet) Month Long (April)

In the past, it is a sacred ritual made during abundant harvest

a thanksgiving to “Kabunian.” Today, it is an annual event
celebrated to showcase the Ibaloi Culture of the municipality.
The festival is celebrated every April to May in Kabayan,
Benguet. Bendian is performed for many reasons. Some of
which are to heal a prolong illness, relieve natural calamities such as famine and drought,
and to celebrate a bountiful harvest.

Tung oh Hungduan (Hungduan, Ifugao) April 17-19

A cultural festival celebrated yearly every third week of April,

which lasts for about 3-4 days. “Tungoh” refers to the rest
period in the traditional agricultural cycle, which is usually
after the planting season, while “Hungdu” means “a stopping
place” for travellers
 Imbayah Festival (Banaue, Ifugao)

The word imbayah itself comes from the Ifugao word bayah,
or rice wine, which signifies nobility and high stature in the
community.During the festival, rice wine from antique
Chinese jars overflows and a banquet is arranged for the
mortals and the gods. The Ifugao elderly say that this celebration has been their way of
thanksgiving and is a season of fun after a bountiful harvest.

Fortan Festival (Barlig, Mountain Province) June 16-19

It means“preserving our culture”. The community people

celebrate it with different kinds of activities and
games performed. At the “Fortan Festival,” games like tug-of-
war are given local flavor, not only because they are
christened with names like “eenat” and “sangkor” respectively.

Matagoan Festival (Tabuk City, Kalinga) June 21-24

The trade fair is the destination through the whole week to

check out the array of woven textiles used in wearable and
functional pieces. The Kalinga skirt or tapis stands out among
the other Cordillera weaves because it is embellished with
mother of pearl beads or other contemporary beads that dangle and sway as one walks. The
basket weaving and bamboo crafts of Kalinga were also displayed and sold, not to forget the
sturdy soft brooms too.

Fruit Festival (Sabian, Benguet) Sept. 2-4

The festival starts off with a Fruit Float Parade, one of the most
anticipated parts of the celebration. Thousands of people
attend the proud capital in Cotabato to witness and to
participate in the celebration of the abundant harvest of fruits in the City of Kidapawan.

Adivay Festival (Province-wide, Benguet) November

An Agri-Tourism festival focused on rediscovering the rich

history, culture, arts, trades and industries of Benguet. It was
conceptualized to gather all the tribes of Benguet and come
together to share their cultural beliefs and practices. It was
also a way of strengthening the tourism industry and allowing the increase of business
employment opportunities.

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
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”.