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The tradition

The tradition is on its 21st year. Having evolved from a memorial gathering in honor of a slain tribal leader, the event has persisted with a broader reach and more militant atmosphere.

To so-called veterans, it has become a yearly pilgrimage, not exactly religious in nature but a travel with a strong sense of personal and political commitment and fervor. To many, especially those from other regions and countries, their participation is a clear indication and affirmation of solidarity with the indigenous peoples’ struggle. It is an annual event an activist or indigenous peoples’ advocate clearly marks on his or her planner at the beginning of each year. Always, failure to be part of this makes one rue and regret. To budding activists, it is a mixture of wondrous adventure in the countryside coupled with concrete political awakening and reckoning.

Still, others, perhaps partly due to insufficient briefing and orientation, grapple with awe and shock at how a tiny, far-flung mountainous hamlet can enfold in its hearth hundreds, even thousands of delegates to a historic event, and proceed with its daily survival after four days of intensive hosting.

The four-day activity commences not without the thrill and tension of hurdling treacherous mountain roads and river beds and occasional bad weather, not to mention military checkpoints in some isolated areas during critical periods. The host community is different annually, with months of preparations in terms of mobilizing the locals to take a leading role in the activities. The lead organization, the Cordillera Peoples Alliance ensures the program of activities in coordination with the host community. Invitations are sent months ahead to local and international groups and individuals. Tasks and responsibilities are well-defined. Preparations go high gear a few days before the travel.

Cordillera Day is more than a pilgrimage, or a commemorative outdoor conference of magnitude. It is a tradition of militancy and a renewal of commitment to a cause. The four days are defined by integration of participants with the community, involvement in discussions and workshops on various issues, attention to speeches and reports or situationers, participation in cultural presentations, and adapting though briefly, to the huge collective life. That is the very core of celebrating Cordillera Day.

Remembering Macliing Dulag’s death on April 24, 1980 as he led the Kalinga and Bontoc tribes in their fight against the Chico Dam, brings to mind the many others who took similar paths and whose acts of courage are honored in the four-day event. This year’s Cordillera Day theme “Fight Destructive Mining and Intensified Militarization” brings the long struggle of the indigenous peoples to a definitive stage. The struggle for land, life and resources continues today with particular focus on the anti-mining campaign. Affected communities in the Northern Luzon regions have vowed to exert all possible means to prevent the implementation of large-scale, commercial and destructive mining by multi-national corporations in their respective areas. We expect this pledge to be formalized in rituals and declaration of unity in the coming days, April 22 to 25.

During the four days, listen to the beating of the gongs and thunderous dances in far-away Abra. Listen to the chants that have turned to statements of protest against plunder of resources and denial of indigenous rights. The spirit of Cordillera Day has been kept alive, is being enriched with the unflinching commitment of the people to bring its aspirations to fruition. #

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