Bsu-Css Department of History

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𝐂𝐒𝐒-𝐃𝐇𝐏 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝟒𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬’ 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐒𝐔

To celebrate the 42nd Peoples’ Cordillera Day, sectoral and indigenous groups assembled for the Aspulan: Discourse, Cross-Sectoral Exchange, and Cultural Program at the Benguet State University-La Trinidad (BSU-LT) Covered Court last Saturday afternoon, April 25.

Commemorating the martyrdom of Kalinga chief Macliing Dulag and other indigenous leaders, the event was meant to remember the struggles of Cordillerans in the past and how they relate to today’s societal issues.

“We are also aware, historically, that there were a lot of issues in the 70s and 80s that are still reverberating even at present time. We can still see them in the continuum of the resistance, the development aggression, for example, the rising cost of living, and to allow me a little latitude, I would say that they remain unresolved even at present,” College of Social Sciences (CSS) faculty Mark Joshua Balao-as prefaced the event.

In order to find solutions for these, cultural exchanges were facilitated in the form of lectures, panel discussions, and performances, which tackled the central themes of the celebration: land, life, and livelihood.

𝙍𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘿𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙜’𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙮𝙧𝙙𝙤𝙢

Cordillera Peoples Alliance co-founder Joanna Cariño highlighted the event with a historical retelling of the Kalinga and Mountain Province indigenous peoples’ (IP) fight for their land in the Chico River Dam project under the Marcos Sr. Martial Law regime.

She recounted not only the events leading up to the assassination of Dulag on April 24, 1980, but also the IP movements that transpired out of his martyrdom.

She also emphasized that the overshadowing of the Peoples’ Cordillera Day by assigning a “government-sponsored Cordillera Day” is historical revisionism, and thus, a threat to the self-determination of IPs.

“There is some rewriting of history that it attempts to do, by making Conrado Balweg and the Cordillera Peoples’ Liberation Army (CPLA) as the icons, as the Cordillera icons for regional autonomy,” she asserted.

She was referring to the July 15 Cordillera Day, which was a commemoration of the peace talks between the Corazon Aquino presidency and the CPLA that resulted in Executive Order No. 220 or the establishment of the Cordillera Administrative Region.

“They refused to acknowledge that it was the Chico struggle, that the Chico struggle actually was a successful struggle against the dictatorship and the World Bank. They tried to negate the role of the mass movement in advancing indigenous peoples’ rights and calling for regional autonomy,” she said.

𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙪𝙚𝙨

Aside from historical talks, other social perspectives were also brought in through panel discussions.

Various minority group leaders and experts covered the past and present struggles of IPs, laborers such as small-scale miners, market vendors, and farmers, youth, and urban poor.

With that, Progressive Igorots for Social Action (PIGSA) representative Margaux Sapin discussed the role of the youth in solving these longstanding struggles, especially in the time of diaspora among youth or their migration from rural communities to urban ones such as in La Trinidad and Baguio City.

“Kaya doon, nakikita natin yung kahalagahan na bilang mga kabataan ay magbalik din tayo sa ating mga komunidad, katulad nung sinabi nga ni Manong [Fernando Mangili] kanina na mga [Balik-Barrio] ng mga programa. Makita din natin at ma-expose din tayo sa mga issues na kinakaharap mismo doon sa mga probinsya natin. At makita natin ang danas ng mga katutubo doon sa mga probinsya na ‘yun,” Sapin encourage the youth.

Artistic groups in the form of Dap-ayan ti Kultura iti Kordilyera (DKK), TABAK-University of the Philippines-Baguio, and BSU Dramatics Arts Club presented cultural performances that gave life to the facts in between the lectures. They also led the tribute to the indigenous heroes to end the program.

Beforehand, a representative from Dalicno, Itogon, affected by the mining threats, also gave a solidarity message in support of the program.

𝘿𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮

Meanwhile, the hosting committee reaffirmed that universities should be the ones spearheading these types of discourse, especially for the youth.

“It matters that [an] academic space like Benguet State University is supposed to be one of the venues where we talk things like these [societal issues], because it’s always nice to be historically conscious, as I’ve said. We are not supposed to be encapsulated within the walls of not utilizing our freedom as citizens of the country,” Balao-as added in his overview of the program.

CSS-Department of History and Philosophy head Kristine Baniqued-dela Cruz also emphasized the role of leaders in this type of program in an interview.

“We are opening our place for discussion so that the leaders should have listened to the concerns of the community. And from there, that's a starting point to come up with more relevant and appropriate programs for the people. And when that happens, it also will contribute to a society that promotes the well-being of everybody,” she said.

She also encouraged the students to be more active in these types of discourse, as it is crucial in serving the community.

“I hope na for the succeeding semesters, through our Cordi 101 subject, there should be community activities. And also, sana si SSG (Supreme Student Government), because we have invited student leaders. The student leaders are the hope… And it should have been good if they are here with us, listening, so that they will be helped to understand why are these injustices happening now,” she said.

The event was organized by the university’s aforementioned CSS-DHP, in partnership with DKK and Cordillera Youth Center.

𝘣𝘺 𝘈𝘳𝘮𝘪-𝘑𝘢𝘺 𝘙. 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘴 𝘒. 𝘓𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘤
𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘈𝘳𝘮𝘪-𝘑𝘢𝘺 𝘙. 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘦 𝘖. 𝘏𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘨𝘰

Open Invitation | Documentary Screening and Talkback 🎬🎫

WASH OUT depicts the collective struggle of landless farmers in Sicogon as they unite against a powerful corporation and, soon after, face ultimate betrayal. Centered on three women whose lives are interwoven through the movement, reveals how far the powerful and wealthy would go to keep wealth well within their circle. It also highlights the state's role in land grabbing and exposes more advanced methods corporations use to suppress opposition. The film shows the strength and persistence of the weak to fight despite difficult circumstances.

Catch the free film screening and a talkback session with Dr. Herbie Docena (Filmmaker) and Lirai Cordova (Community Organizer). Serving as panel reactors are Dr. Ruth Batani and Ms. Kristine B. Dela Cruz from our very own College of Social Sciences.

🗓️April 22, 2026
📌BSU SLS Projection Room
🕐8:00 - 12:00 noon