Sleeping Beauty of Tinglayan

Our Land, Our Life

A documentary film regarding the violations on IP rights in the United States. They are the Western Shoshone People who have been threatened to be pulled out from their ancestral land but they fought and continue fighting for their rights as IPs to be recognized.

First Aid Kit (America)

La Trinidad launches zero waste facility

By ALMA B. SINUMLAG
www.nordis.net

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — In its program to reduce the garbage problem “not only for today but also garbage problem in the future”, the municipal government here on November 4 launched a 58-million peso zero waste management technology that its fabricator called the “Super Black Hole”.

Brewing coffee the right way

When coffee is great. Experience it with the ones locally producing it. 

Where the roots are found

Bound to Ag-agama, Western Uma, Lubuagan, Kalinga

On the top of the world

Sagada forms women rights defenders group

By Alma B. Sinumlag

BAGUIO CITY — In a phone interview with the Cordillera Peoples’ Alliance (CPA) Mountain Province, they announced that a Human Rights defenders group of women was just formed on July 19, 2012 in the municipality of Sagada with an objective to monitor violations on human rights and popularize the human rights campaign in the municipality.

Dominga Gaspar: Among the women fists on air in the defense of ancestral domain

By: Alma B. Sinumlag 

“Saan a lapped ti pagkababaem a mangitakder iti kailiam” (Being a woman is not a hindrance in defending your people). Dominga Gaspar, 54 years old recalled that these were the words told to her by one of their elders that had given her inspiration to fight and continue fighting along with her people against the mining company intruding their land. She added that these words summoned all her strength amidst the challenges in building unity among her folks, in the massive information education campaign, in lobbying to the duty bearers, in marching the streets and in setting up a barricade to register resistance in the corporate funded mineral exploration project that threatens their land, life resources. These are words of trust that she has hold on to in what she said as the unending struggle against corporate plunder.

The majestic Himalayas in Nepal.

Who want to eat KRAZY cheese balls? Come on! Go get the Balls.

The spirit still lives in Nepal.

The emerging city of Kathmandu, Nepal. A view from the top of the Dharahara tower.

A taste of home in the foreign land.

An amazing cloud formation in Dhulikhel, Nepal.

Having fun with the women of Nepal during there celebration of some sort of women's liberation.

Crossing the river in Tumba en-route to Amtuagan, Tubo, Abra.

Sagada, Echo Valley

Fashion show in Echo Valley. :)

Bayyo, Mt. Province, Cordillera, Philippines

A road of trippers and the beautiful payew of Bayyo..

The wrath of typhoon Mina in Halsema Highway

Teachers fighting vs. education budget cut

Bamboo for sale in Halsema Highway in North Philippines

Waiting for the president despite the pouring rain

Makan a la Pinoy: Jiaozi

Ni BRENDA S. DACPANO
www.nordis.net
Chinese New Year ti kapategan ken kaatiddogan nga holiday kadagiti Chinese nga agbayag iti dua a lawas. Maysa kadagiti napateg a paset ti baro a tawen ket dagiti maidasar a taraon. Tunggal makan ket adda kaibatogan na a kaipapanan wenno simbolo. Kas ti dumpling wenno jiaozi iti Chinese a simbolo ti kinarang-ay wenno kinabaknang gapu ta ti langa daytoy ket kasla kadaanan a pirak ken gold ingots (gold bars).
Iti rabii ti media briefing idiay Hotel Supreme, insuro ti maysa a chef ti hotel no kasano ti agaramid ti dumpling. Napalamanan daytoy ti giniling a karne, kutsay, bassit a laya, natimplaan ti asin ken paminta. Maipaburek ti dumplings iti danum. Idasar nga addaan sawsawan a Chinese black vinegar wenno soy-vinegar. Gapu ta saan met a naited idiay demo ti resipe ti dumpling, ‘toy sumaruno ti bersyon ko iti panagaramid ti dough ti dumpling.
Ramen:
2 tasa nga arina (all-purpose flour)
¾ tasa nga kaburburek a danum
Preparasyon:
1. Iti dakkel a malukong, ikabil ti arina ken agaramid ti kasla bubon iti tengnga a pangibukbukan ti napudot a danum. Agusar ti aklo a kayo wenno kawayan a pangkiwar bayat nga in-inot nga ibukbukbok ditoy ti napudot a danum. No naikiwaren amin a danum, imasa ti dough. No saan pay a nagdedekket amin nga arina mabalin a nayunan ti sanga-kutsarita wenno sanga-kutsara a napudot a danum.
2. Imasa ti dough iti counter, lamisaan wenno kneading board. No kasapulan nga ikkan ti arina ti kneading board ket warakiwakan bassit tapno saan a dumket ti dough. Imasa iti agarup dua minutos, saan a sobraan ti pannakamasa daytoy tapno saan a natangken. Ikabil ti dough iti malukong santo kaluban iti cellophane/cling wrap wenno ikabil iti uneg ti plastic bag. Bay-an nga aginanga ti dough iti room temperature iti 15 minutos wenno agingga dua nga oras tapno umalsa (rise).
3. Iporma ti dough tapno agbalin a wrapper ti dumpling. Pormaen iti nagbukel nga agarup maysa pulgada iti diametro. Pagdaplaken daytoy babaen iti rolling pin a bassit wenno ipidas babaen iti cleaver knife (badang) iti kaingpis a 1/8 pulgada ken naing-ingpis pay iti igid na. Makaaramid ti 25 agingga 35 a wrapper.
4. Palamanan ti wrapper iti giniling a karne, pasayan, ikan, manok wenno natnateng a natimplaan ti kutsay wenno tinadtad a lasona/leeks, bawang , asin ken paminta. Adu ti mabalin nga ipalaman ditoy, mangamong kayon no ania ti kayat yo nga ipalaman.
5. Adda tallo a klase iti panagluto ti dumplings: impaburek, pinasengngawan ken pinirito.
Impaburek. Agipaburek ti danum iti nauneg a kaserola. Ipisok dagiti dumplings ditoy, kiwaren tapno saan nga agdedekket. No nagtapawen dagiti dumplings bukbukan ti nabaaw a danum tapno bumaba ti temperatura daytoy. Pagbureken manen santo adawen ken paik-ikan.
Pinasengngawan. Agusar ti kaserola a pagpasengngawan, ‘tay adu a kadsaaran (3-4 a tukad) wenno agusar ti basket/tray a kawayan a mabalin a pagtutuonen a pagpasengngawan. Punasan iti mantika ti uneg ti pagpasengngawan tapno saan a dumket dagiti ikabil a dumpling. Ikkan ti danum ti akinbaba a kaserola ken ipaburek. No agusar ti kawayan a basket/tray, ipaburek ti danum iti dakkel a pariok wenno silyasi santo ditoy nga iparabaw dagiti basket/tray. Bayat nga ur-urayen nga agburek ti danum, iplastar dagiti dumpling kadagiti basket. Iparabaw dagiti basket iti kaserola/silyasi no nagbureken ti danum. Kaluban. Pasengngawan iti agarup 20 minutos wenno nabaybayag bassit depende no kasano kadakkel ti inaramidyo a dumpling ken no ania ti linaon daytoy a palaman. Pinirito. Ipaburek wenno pasengngawan nga umuna ti fresh dumplings sakbay nga iprito. No agusar ti wanton wrapper, saanen a kasapulan nga ipaburek wenno pasengngawan pay, diretson daytoy nga iprito. Ipapudot ti pariok ken ikabil ti mantika (shallow frying). Ikabil ti dumplings. Balikiden daytoy no nagmaris light brown daytoy, adawen no naluton ti agsumbangir.#

Kalinga elders appeal to youth; Revive cultural integrity

Follow the link.

http://www.nordis.net/?p=11657

Daybreak in Tadian, Mt. Province

A morning view of Kayan, Tadian in Mt Province before the wrath of typhoon Pharma in 2009.

The gently rolling hills in Paracellis, Mt Province

This place is such a beauty. However, it is hidden by the poverty and government neglect. It has a big potential in tourism though.

The mighty River in Lacub of the Province of Abra

Stop Violence Against Women

Save the Trees from SM's Corporate Greed

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3151785280117&set=o.111901418879681&type=1&theater

Successful Marriage

Northern Dispatch Weekly

http://www.nordis.net/?s=slt

Benguet Ibaloi Bendian Dance

Students pay elders tribute at SLT graduation

By: Alma B. Sinumlag

www.nordis.net

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - As a tribute to their elders, students of the School of Living Traditions (SLT) on Performing Arts in Lower Wangal of this town held their graduation ceremony during the Senior Citizen's Christmas Party on December 27, 2011.

The said SLT which is the first for this town had just finished its third level, (Phase 2) with 31 students that mastered most of the Ibaloi dances and music. In the presence of the elders who they considered as 'living traditions', they presented an Ibaloi song that they composed and the ba'diw, Ibaloi dances that includes Tayaw, Takik, Bendian and Singin.

The students danced with pride and mastery. Most of them however were nervous because of fear that they are performing the said dances in a wrong way and the elders would scold them.

Project Coordinator Maria Seraida Caga then told the elders after the performances that they are open to any comments and suggestions so that the original steps of the dances which will be passed on to the next generations will not be distorted.

She added that the students of the SLT will be the cultural masters in the future that is why they should be learning it the way it is correctly performed.

She admitted that in the preparatory phase of the SLT, they added Kalinga musical instruments specifically the Tambi and Tongatong in their lessons. Although they are teaching Ibaloi performing arts, she said, it is not bad to teach some of the good musical instruments in the region specially if it adds beauty in the song performances when it is accompanied.

In the Teodora Esteban’s response, the representative of the elders, expressed her happiness that children now have a venue to revive the cultural practices of the Ibaloi specially the dances and the songs.

They are hopeful that the cultural practices will not vanish. She was also glad at some innovations in the dances and music however, she stressed that the original way of performing the dances should be pursued. The elders, she said, will be helping the teachers and the students to learn more of these practices.

Municipal Administrator Charles Canuto who spoke in behalf of La Trinidad Mayor Greg Abalos said that it was nice to have the SLT graduation with the elders there to critique and add up to the performances.

He appreciated the said program of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) because he witnessed how it boosted the confidence of the children in the practice of their traditions.

However, he said apart from the performances, other traditional and good practices of the Ibaloi should also be inculcated among the students.

Moreover, Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan said that the students are very lucky to have availed of the SLT. A lot of barangays of this town, he said, are envious of Wangal for having been granted the project. A lot of young people today, he added, are ashamed to perform any of their traditions specially in the town centers because its either they do not know how to do it or they are not proud to perform it. It is then heartwarming, he further said, to see children with pride and mastery in performing the dances. He mentioned that since the project started, the provincial government down to the barangay unit had full support.

Caga and Cony Dangpa–Subagan, the project consultant, expressed their gratitude to the all the people who had helped in the project’s success namely the provincial government for the musical instruments, the municipal government for the devit (girls’ ethnic attire), the barangay council for never ending support, parents for allowing their children to attend the SLT among others.

Wangal SLT beginnings

According to Subagan, the project started when they discovered a young church choir of the barangay singing Ibaloi songs. They then wrote a proposal with an objective to form a cultural group from the choir that will represent the said barangay. However, when the proposal was approved by the NCCA, there was a suggestion that the students should not only come from the church choir but from the community as a whole. They then decided that the proponent will be the Wangal Elementary School thus, most of the students came from the school.

Subagan added that they formed a committee composed of the proponent, the Barangay Council as partner, cultural master Felix Taynan and the coordinator. In the preparatory phase 2009, there were only 15 students who were chosen by the committee that prioritized children belonging to the Ibaloi tribe.

Their lessons focused on musical instruments mainly bamboo and basic orientation on Cordillera culture. Subagan recounted that the students were instructed to interview elders who are knowledgeable of Ibaloi traditions.

Moreover, in its Phase I in 2010, instead of 30 students they accomodated 40 because a lot of children were interested to join. They added Solibao, gongs (pinsak and kalsa), and tiktik to the musical instruments and started teaching dances like Tayaw-Sarong.

In Phase II Subagan said, the number of students declined to 31. One of the highlights of this phase, she said, is the teaching of Ba’diw. It was harder than teaching the dances and instruments.

The students did not only represented the barangay but the municipality and the province as a whole when they took part of the Dayaw Festival held in Tagum City in Davao last October among more than a hundred tribes nationwide.

The question of continuity

Subagan clarified to the community that Phase II will be the last that NCCA will grant. According to her, in their talks with the commission’s representative, the students are already good with their craft therefore, they will no longer extend grants to give chance to other SLTs. However, the objective of the project, she said, was to form a cultural group that represents the barangay in any ocassions. The continuity is now a challenge to the proponent and partners, she added.

She said, even without the fund from the commission, Lower Wangal Cultural Group will maintain the group. With the support of the community and the local government unit, she optimistically said that they will be institutionalizing their existence by forming an organization in order to continue passing on the songs and dances to the youth. #

Handwoven bag

A bag made out of plastic wrappers. Some items are wallets and laptop bags.

Mountain of Houses

Baguio City that is known for its lush green environment has become a city full of houses.

Previously a mountain of tall trees now become a mountain of houses.

Kalinga Moves

Students from Rizal National School of Arts and Trades (RNSAT) in Kalinga Province awed the audience with their moves during the cultural dance drama contest in the First Pine Tree Festival held at Benguet State University (BSU), La Trinidad, Benguet.

The group bagged the 1st award.

Toxic Gold in Mankayan, Benguet

This photo was taken at the runway of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company overlooking the Tailings Dam 5A where all the toxic chemicals in the mine site are dumped.

This is the only one left among many tailings dam of the mining company. The others collapsed poisoning the Abra River and communities along the river.

A movement called Save the Abra River Movement (STARM) was created in order to monitor the effects of the mine activities in the river's biodiversity.

Warm morning on the road

A one way road going to one of the Sitios in Liwan West, Rizal, Kalinga during a hot summer of 2011.

Electricity had just reached the sitio at this time.

Cold Morning in Mt. Data

It feel cold and "cool" being on top of a mountain specially in Mt. Data, Bauko, Mountain Province where everything feels like "Nature".

La Trinidad launches zero waste facility

By ALMA B. SINUMLAG

www.nordis.net

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — In its program to reduce the garbage problem “not only for today but also garbage problem in the future”, the municipal government here on November 4 launched a 58-million peso zero waste management technology that its fabricator called the “Super Black Hole”.

Mayor Greg Abalos said, the concept of the facility is like that of the black hole in outerspace where any matter entering the hole becomes nothing. “It is like a decreation process where a creation is disintegrated,” Wisdom Amahah, representative of NGO support system said during the press conference.

The facility, Akio Shigeta, the inventor said can process all waste materials except ceramics, glass and metal. Even radioactive materials like used batteries can be decomposed by the Super Black Hole, he added. This kind of facility, he further said, is the first time to be launched in the whole world and he is thankful that the municipality accepted their proposal. There is one similar facility existing in Japan but it is smaller. La Trinidad’s facility, he said, is customized for the kind of waste materials that the municipality is generating.

Amahah pointed out that the Super Black Hole’s best characteristic is that it can operate without fuel or electricity. It only uses 400-watt electricity he said for the blower that ignites the heat inside the facility. Moreover, he explained that the black hole has three layers namely the Dehydration, Decomposition and the Ash layers where in the temperature is from 30ºC to 350ºC.

The Dehydration layer dries up the waste materials before it goes down to the Decomposition layer where the highest temperature is 200ºC to be able to disintegrate the materials before it goes down to the ash layer where the highest temperature is 350ºC. The earlier facility, Amahah said, in Japan produces water vapor and very little amount of ash. But instead of water vapor, the new facility, he added, is producing wood vinegar (muko sako) that can be used as pesticide, soil moisturizer and deodorant.

How the Black Hole was realized

Abalos recalled that the municipality used to have an open dump in Buyagan that was opened during the term of former Mayor Galwan. However, when Abalos assumed office, there were petitions to close the dump from nearby residents. As a result of his ocular visit to the area, Abalos realized the need to close it because the leachate from the garbage was flowing to the river.

Thus, on January this year, they decided to use the Engineered Sanitary Landfill (ESL) built in 2006 during the term of now Provincial Governor Nestor Fongwan. Sometime in March, his attention was caught by the ‘black hole’ solid waste management proposal because among the many proposals, the black hole was distinct to the point that they thought they were being fooled. He then indorsed the proposal to the Sangguniang Bayan and the proponents were invited to present it in April.

Further, the municipality had to pay for the facility to be shipped from Japan. They sought help from concerned private sectors and the Cooperative of Bank of Benguet, he said, was kind enough to give 18 million pesos. The municipality hopes to complete the payment with the help of other entities.

Not an absolute solution to the garbage problem

“Garbage is a problem existing anywhere at this point in time,” Abalos said adding they as the local government unit should initiate solutions specially that La Trinidad is growing faster.

However, he stressed that the new facility is not the absolute solution to the problem although it will be a big help. The people’s discipline he pointed out is still the most effective way to solve the problem. That is why, while the machine can process almost all waste materials, they (municipal officials) are encouraging their constituents to raise discipline and continue segregating their waste.

Approximately, La Trinidad is generating 40 tons of wastes daily and another 40 tons from the vegetable trading post, Abalos said. Those that come from the trading post are hauled directly to the town’s aerated composting plant just above the land fill.

“We are hoping that this facility will maintain the volume of garbage hauled at the dumpsite or even lessen it,” Abalos added. They started using the facility on November 3 and he has observed that the Black Hole can process five tons every four hours.

The machine will operate 24 hours in the first six months before they (proponents) will open it for cleaning and maintenance. #

A foot path in Tinongdan Village in Itogon, Benguet gave me tingles as I reminisce my childhood in my village back home.

Less than an hour ride from the urban area in Baguio City however, this place looks like miles away from a town center with accommodating people specially the cultural master who was kind enough to host me in their home.

Buntun Bridge in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan at twilight during the summer season of 2011.

A beauty untold was captured in my camera.

Baguio sued over trash slide

By ALMA B. SINUMLAG

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — In the cry for environmental justice, communities affected by the collapse of the Baguio City’s dumpsite and concerned individual citizens petition for the writ of Kalikasan and a writ of Continuing Mandamus with prayer for temporary environmental protection order (TEPO) against the City.

The petition was filed on December 15, 2011, assigned docket number 199486 before the Supreme Court.

As a result of the series of consultations held in Tuba, Benguet, petitioners decided to file for the mentioned writs to achieve justice for the victims in an environment disaster brought by a trashslide on August 27 during the wrath of typhoon Mina last year that buried six people alive, swept and destroyed homes, and the widespread pollution of their water sources.

Petitioners include: Congressman Ronald Cosalan, Benedicto Cabrera (BenCab) with residence in Asin Road, Tuba, Benguet, Provincial Boardmember, Johnny Waguis, Leonardo Taganas of Irisan Dumpsite, Pedro Buyagao, Mike Bunnol, Erlinda Soriano, Elisa Mariano, and Hilario Palos all residents of Sito Cinco of Barangay Tadiangan, Tuba, Benguet, and Vice Mayor Eric Sibuma of Aringay La Union with the members of the Sangguniang Bayan of the said town namely Charlie Cirilito Juloya, Benjamin Sibuma, Emelio Roland Yaranon, Teresita Garcia, Vito Balangue, and Romeo Cariño.

The respondents of the petition are Mayor Mauricio Domogan, Baguio City represented by Domogan, Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas with all the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, City Solid Waste Management Board chaired by the Mayor, City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) represented by Cordelia Lacsamana and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“The tragedy of the trashslide cuts deeper than the cruel physical scar that continues to be visible up to the present day. There is a clear, present and continuing danger to the constitutional and statutory rights of the petitioners and other citizens and residents in the City of Baguio, Province of La Union and Province of Benguet, to a balance and healthful ecology,” the petition read.

Moreover, the petition stated that the tragedy was a predictable disaster that was waiting to happen. “It can never be said that the tragedy was an act of God that was unexpected or unavoidable,” it further stated. As a proof, as early as March 7, 2007, former city councilor Galo Weygan in a letter to one of the respondents predicted that “the mountain of waste overlooking the creek below within Asin Barangay is imminent danger of eroding or crushing down anytime when it is triggered by strong rain or water current”.

It also mandated the city government in the said letter to take immediate action necessary to minimize an undesirable event to happen.

However, the petition said that it was not sincerely heeded by the city government.

Basis of the petition

The grounds of the petition as it explained were city government’s violation of the provisions of the R.A. 9003 otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Program being primarily responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the said act pursuant to the Local Government Code. Also, in the Clean Water Act, LGUs it has the responsibility in the management and improvement of water quality within their territorial jurisdictions.

Moreover, according to the petition the city violated the mandatory implementation of Section 17 (h) and Section 37 of the said law that prohibits open and controlled dumpsites after five years from the implementation of the Republic Act.

Also, the petition mentioned that the DENR under Section 8 of the R.A. 9003 is mandated to enforce and ensure strict compliance to the provisions. It is also the lead agency responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act.

Further, the petition showed that years back, there had been agreements to stop dumping in the said dumpsite with the affected residents near the site and communities downstream because the garbage leachate continues to pollute their common water sources.

However, the commitments made to the residents of Irisan and Tadiangan were betrayed by the city. This, according to the petition, is an open and blatant violation of law with total disregard for the lives, safety, security, sanitation and welfare of the petitioners and those that they represent.

Days before the tragedy, the petitioners observed signs that the retaining wall will give up. Among the signs were horizontal and vertical cracks and slight bulging of the middle portion indicating that the wastes materials being backfilled by CEPMO “exceeded the staked-out height limit”.

On the other hand, affidavits were attached to the petition that the communities of Irisan and Tadiangan, Tuba have since 1990s suffered the ill effects of the odor emitted by the dump.

“There had been an observed increase in respiratory-related and skin-related illnesses in the communities peripheral to the dumpsite,” the petition added.

Further, the petition claims that the respondents have demonstrated their failure to immediatley act on the total closure of the dump as begged for by the affected residents.

The respondents according to the petition relied on “hauling trash to the nearby towns and provinces which has caused alarm, protest and uproar from the residents” and operation of two extravagant and unreliable ERS machines.

Also, the continued operation of the Irisan as an open dump as the petition claims is unconstitutional and illegal “and presents a clear and present danger that lives will be lost, health will be destroyed and environment damage would continue with another trashslides that will be brought by saturation in the next rainy season”.

Petitioners’ prayer

Because of the said danger and imminent future threats due to the continued operation of the dump site, the petitioners pray for the issuance of TEPO to order the city government to cease and desist from utilizing the said dump while waiting for the final issuance of the SC of its judgment granting the privelege of the writ of Kalikasan and writ of Continuing Mandamus.

If the writ of Kalikasan be granted, petitioners asked for a commanding relief making the TEPO permanent; directing the respondents specifically the city officials to protect, preserve, rehabilitate and restore the environmental and physical conditions of the Irisan dumpsite; direct the respondents to come up with a comprehensive rehabilitation program of the communities affected by the August 27 tragedy; removal of the garbage from the dumpsite to prevent further pollution on water sources; survey on the impact of the trashslide to environment and health; complete rehabilitation of contaminated water sources; the respondents should designate a body to implement the rehabilitation program in coordination with the municipalities of Tuba, and Aringay, La Union which will be monitored by an independent body composed of residents, non-government organizations and civic organizations.

Moreover, if the writ of Continuing Mandamus be granted, the respondents are to pay the damages sustained by the petitioners and the communities they represent. #