2. Topics to Cover:
Foreword
Benguet
Kalinga and Apayao
Ifugao
Mountain Province
Bontoc
3. Foreword
The Cordillera Autonomous Region is the only land-locked region in the
Philippines and home of indigenous tribes collectively called Igorot. They
are the hillside dwellers with most of them being farmers because of the
fertile soil and cool climate in the region.
4. Benguet
It is the homeland of three tribes – the Ibaloi in the southeast; the Kankanai
in the northwest; and the Kalanguaya in the east. All these tribes live in
single room houses raised on posts and topped by a pyramidal-thatched
roof. They share common beliefs and observe common rituals. Their main
source of income is through wood carving, basket making, weaving, and
flower growing.
6. Kalinga and Apayao
Kalinga and Apayao used to be a single province until they were split into
two to better service the needs of the individual native tribes in the
provinces.
Kalinga people are great weavers. Their cloth weaving and basketry are
among the finest products in the region. Kalinga textile consists of dominant
red stripes and motifs of geometric patterns and nature symbols with white,
yellow and black fibers.
8. Ifugao
Ifugao means people from the hills, that is why non-Cordillerans called them
Igorots. Their arts and culture revolves around rice as a prestigious crop.
Ifugao legend believes that the first grains of rice were given to men by the
gods as evidenced in their wood carving called bulul, a rice god figure and
Ifugao basketry weaving for rice storage.
10. Ifugao
Weaving in Ifugao is an exclusive task done by
women. The Ifugaos weave a loincloth in a
process called ikat with motifs characterized
by diamond stripes of white, red, and blue.
They are also known for amulets made of
beads, gold, bronze, and other materials called
lingling-o o dinumug used as a fertility symbol
worn around the neck.
11. Mountain Province
It is known for its hanging coffins, mummified
bodies, and their kadangyan burial cloth used to
bury rich people.
12. Mountain Province
They are also used famous for their tattoo art which is
considered clothing and decoration.
13. Bontoc
The people of Bontoc are great weavers
known for their different types of baskets
such as bobo, akob (used for storage), and
suklang. Ikat weaving is also important
among the Bontoc people and it is
considered as an important part of dowry.