By KATHLEEN T. OKUBO
www.nordis.net

This time it is from under this pangdjet (the Ibaloi turban), because I, as a descendant of two Ibaloi chiefs who once settled a boundary dispute by wrestling somewhere in the once vast plateau now called Baguio City, would like to invite all my Ka-et to a potlock commemoration of the first IBALOY DAY in the middle of Baguio City.

Through the one hundred years that my people (on my maternal and paternal side of my genealogy) have disconcertingly or otherwise, struggled for the recognition and respect of their history as a people; of their territories and ancestral land rights as individuals, families, clans or tribesmen; of their culture and traditions as Ibaloys and as part of the wider Filipino population. I believe we should come together on this City government recognized Ibaloy Day as a first (tiny or large) step to unite our ranks for the wholesome development of our communities as against the imposed systemic marginalization, subdued and shiay mango corner we have been.

Besides your company and morale support, do carry some food or something you can share with your clansmen and other Ibaloys to this gathering on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at the area between the Orchidarium and Children’s playground in Burnham Park. The Iblaoy day will open with the Owek in the opening ritual at 6am. The program starts at 9am with an ecumenical prayer led by the reverend Bishop Carlito Cenzon. And, a few speeches, as many cultural performances and workshops we can share to fill the day long observance. We also may take a corner to discuss how we shall celebrate this day annually and for what purpose every year.

It is also expected for the clans and everyone to contribute compositions, stories of old, skill demonstrations or workshops to liven-up our gathering, something or anything to warm up the re-union, friendships, to pass-on to the young, and relations. Kaledjo, mangdot kito. The only thing is, we carry cooked food to share in this potluck, picnic gathering. There will be a parachut set up for shade and some chairs and in the ritual we shall butcher some pigs to offer and cook there.

Also, there is a proposal to plant a time capsule for this Ibaloy day, the clans are invited to contribute small items into the time capsule for posterity. Call or see Ruby Giron or Leo Camilo for this.

Ayshi mkapiyan eh pan uuwapjo
Though I had to beg-off an invitation to the recent celebration at the WW Coral because I had an earlier arranged commitment that day; I am, most of all, one with the issues raised by my Carino cousins that has very recently hit the press against the NCIP commission en-banc.

That to me spells-out 329 protests or one issue raised for each day of the year against those who processed the CALT. I am so ashamed that even the bond of friendship and blood relations can not already endure the culture of impunity launched by the present dispensation against ordinary constituents like the original settlers of Baguio, the Ibaloys.

As a descendant of Mateo Carino of Kafagway, Bayosa Ortega of Chuyo and Balakbak, of Karyas in Duakan, I am so personally offended, very hurt and angry at the series of manglings done on the history and memory of my ancestors that was used to justify the titles issued to Happy Hallow and in Chuyo.

It must be an unfathonable shame for the ancestors of the title recipients have to suffer for those who wronged the Ibaloy’s honored memory of these communities or ancestral domains. # nordis.net