The Cordillera Administrative Region of the Philippines is composed of 6 provinces and 1 city located in the mountainous Cordillera Central range. The region is ethnically and linguistically diverse, with various languages and dialects spoken among the indigenous Igorot tribes. It has a long history of regional formation and attempts at gaining greater autonomy. The economy is based on mining, agriculture, industry and tourism, showcasing the region's natural attractions and cultural heritage.

2.  The Cordillera region is the most diversified ethno-
linguistic region in the Philippines with its major languages
having sub-dialect variations. The topographic formation of
the Cordillera mountain range, which has greatly
influenced the upstream migration of peoples in the
Cordillera into the hinterland, corresponds the various
dialects pattern formation. The disparity in linguistic
ethnicity however, did not form variation in cultural
development as almost every Cordillera people shares
similar cultural identity among different tribes.
 Bontok – language use in Bontoc
 Ifugao – language use in Ifugao Province
 Isnag - spoken in Apayao

3. The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is
a region in the Philippines composed of
the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet,
Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province, as
well as Baguio City, the regional center. The
Cordillera Administrative Region encompasses
most of the areas within the Cordillera
Central mountains of Luzon, the largest
mountain range in the country. It is the
country's only land-locked region. The region
is home to numerous indigenous
tribes collectively called the Igorot.

4.  On June 18, 1966, Republic Act No. 4695[2] was enacted to split Mountain Province into
four separate and independent provinces ofMountain
Province, Benguet, Ifugao and Kalinga-Apayao.
 Prior to the formal creation of Cordillera Administrative Region, as a consequence of the
constitutional mandate under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the former four provinces
was loosely under Cagayan Valley Region while the fifth province Abra was grouped
under Ilocos Region.
 On July 15, 1987, President Corazon C. Aquino issued Executive Order No. 220 which
created the Cordillera Administrative Region, that included Mountain
Province, Benguet,Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao and annexed the province of Abra as part of the
Cordillera Administrative Region, giving the region formal autonomy as part of her political
compromise to the Cordillera People's Liberation Army, a rebel group operating in the
mountain region.
 On February 14, 1995, Kalinga-Apayao, one of the five provinces of the region was split
into two separate and independent provinces of Apayao and Kalinga with the enactment of
Republic Act No. 7878.[2]
 Several attempts at legalizing autonomy in the Cordillera region have failed in two
separate plebiscites. An affirmative vote for the law on regional autonomy is a
precondition by the 1987 Philippine Constitution to give the region autonomy in self-
governance much like the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao in southern Philippines.
The first law Republic Act No. 6766, took effect on October 23, 1989 but failed to muster a
majority vote in the plebiscite on January 30, 1990.[3] The second law, Republic Act No.
8438 passed byCongress of the Philippines on December 22, 1997, also failed to pass the
approval of the Cordillera peoples in a region-wide referendum on March 7, 1998.
 At present, a third organic act of the Cordillera is in the offing supported by the Cordillera
Regional Development Council.

5. Province/City Capital Population Area Pop.
(2010)[1] (km²) density
(per km²)
Abra Bangued 234,733 3,975.6 59.0
Apayao Kabugao 112,636 3,927.9 28.7
Benguet La Trinidad 403,944 2,826.59 142.9
Ifugao Lagawe 191,078 2,517.8 75.9
Kalinga Tabuk City 201,613 3,119.7 64.6
154,187 2,097.3 73.5
Mountain Province Bontoc
Baguio City 318,676 57.5 5,542.2

7. History of regional formation
June 18, 1966, Republic Act No. 4695[2] was enacted to split Mountain Province
into four separate and independent provinces of Mountain
Province, Benguet, Ifugao and Kalinga-Apayao.
Prior to the formal creation of Cordillera Administrative Region, as a
consequence of the constitutional mandate under the 1987 Philippine
Constitution, the former four provinces was loosely under Cagayan Valley
Region while the fifth province Abra was grouped under Ilocos Region.
On July 15, 1987, President Corazon C. Aquino issued Executive Order No. 220
which created the Cordillera Administrative Region, that included Mountain
Province, Benguet, , Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao and annexed the province of Abra
as part of the Cordillera Administrative Region, giving the region formal
autonomy as part of her political compromise to the Cordillera People's
Liberation Army, a rebel group operating in the mountain region.
On February 14, 1995, Kalinga-Apayao, one of the five provinces of the region
was split into two separate and independent provinces of Apayao and Kalinga
with the enactment of Republic Act No. 7878

8. Regional economy
Regional economy of the Cordilleras is diverse; mining, agriculture, export processing
zone, tourism are among economic activities in the different provinces of the
region.
The region is abundant with mineral reserves. These include metallic ores such as
gold, copper, silver, zinc, and non-metallic minerals like sand, gravel and sulfur.
Mineral reserves are found in all the provinces. However, mining is concentrated
in Benguet .
Baguio City and La Trinidad are considered as the industrial centers in the
region. Baguio City hosts Baguio Export Processing Zone where operations of
big companies like Texas Instruments, and MOOG are located. The city also
hosts offshore and outsourcing companies operating call centers.
The primary growth centers of the region are Metro Baguio and the Eastern
Cordillera Growth Corridor.

9. Tourist attractions
Tourist attractions in the region include the world-famous Banaue Rice
Terraces in the province of Ifugao. Nations around the world boast of their
own self-proclaimed "eighth wonder of the world." The Philippines considers
Banaue Rice Terraces as its "Eighth Wonder of the World." The Banaue
terraces, ancient sprawling man-made structures from 2,000 to 6,000 years
old, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are part of the Rice Terraces
of the Philippine Cordilleras, widely found in the provinces of Apayao,
Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province.
Natural attractions of the region include the Sumaguing Cave in Sagada and
the mummy caves of Benguet and Mt. Province. There are four National
Parks: Cassamata Hill, Mount Pulag, the highest mountain in Luzon, and
second highest mountain in the Philippines, following Mount Apo of Davao,
with an elevation of 2,922 meters above mean sea level, Mt. Data, and
Balbalasang-Balbalan, located in the province of Kalinga. Kalinga also offers
world-class white water rafting along the Chico River. The summer capital
of the Philippines is Baguio, within the Cordillera Administrative Region.

10. Languages in the Cordilleras
The Cordillera region is the most diversified ethno-liguistic region in the
Philippines with its major languages having sub-dialect variations. The
topographic formation of the Cordillera mountain range, which has
greatly influenced the upstream migration of peoples in the Cordillera
into the hinterland, corresponds the various dialects pattern formation.
The disparity in linguistic ethnicity however, did not form variation in
cultural development as almost every Cordillera people shares similar
cultural identity among different tribes.
 Bontok - spoken in Bontoc
 Ifugao -
 Isnag - spoken in Apayao

11. Culture
The Cordillera region is known for its unique musical instruments
including the gangsa kalinga, nose flute, bamboo flute, buzzer,
bangibang, tongatong, diwdiw-as, saggeypo, and bamboo zither.
The region also has various festivals. They include:
Panagbenga Festival
Panagbenga / Baguio Flower Festival which is celebrated in February. The
festival focuses on Baguio as the Flower Garden City of the North.
Highlights include flower exhibits, lectures, garden tours, floral
competition and a parade of floats.
Adivay Festival
Adivay festival in Benguet which means "coming together of people to
celebrate" is celebrated every month of November. The month-long
activities highlights the Agro-industrial and trade fair which showcase the
different products of Benguet.

12. Ullalim Festival
Ullalim Festival/ in Kalinga which is celebrated every February 14. It is in
celebration of the founding anniversary of the province and the Peace acts
called Bodong. It is the poetic expression of the heroic exploits, romance,
joys, successes as well as tribulations, and the way of life of the Kalingas from
birth to death. The Festival highlights the weaved clothes (laga) exhibits,
world class coffee beans and other products of Kalinga.
 Lang-ay Festival
 Lang-ay Festival in Mountain Province celebrated every April 7. This is a week-
long agro-industrial trade, tourism and cultural fair with tribal dances and
songs. Lang-ay is a native term which describes the tradition of the people of
Mountain Province to celebrate festivities, share happiness, foster family
solidarity, hospitality and nurture friendship - all with a toast of home-brewed
wine.
 Ifugao Festivals Kulpi ad Asipulo (Asipulo, Ifugao - April 16–19) Town Fiesta
adopting the ritual term "kulpi", a family thanksgiving after transplanting the
rice seedlings.
 Tungoh ad Hungduan (Hungduan, Ifugao - April 17–19) Town fiesta adopting the
cultural festival term "tungoh", where the community celebrates the end of
rice planting season.
 Gotad ad Hingyon (Hingyon, Ifugao - April 23–25) Town fiesta adopting the
festival term "Gotad" which is culminating activity of a "bimmayah" - a well-to-
do.
 Kulpi ad Lagawe (Lagawe, Ifugao - April 25–27) same as that of Asipulo
 Urpih Bannawar (Banaue, Ifugao - April 26–27) Town fiesta also performing the
cultural ritual of the "urpih" by the town mayor. Similar to the kulpi of Lagawe
& Asipulo except that Banaue has no "K" in their dialect.

13. Immbayah (Banaue, Ifugao - April 27–29) A festival celebrated every 3
years. The event title was coined after the term "bumayah" referring to a
well-to-do who celebrates his good health or ripe old age with gong-
beating and dancing culminating in the feast.
Gotad ad Kiangan (Kiangan, Ifugao - April 30 - May 2) Same as that of
Hingyon where the program includes cultural dances, presentation or
Contested ethnic songs and games.
Ammong ad Alfonso Lista (Alfonso Lista, Ifugao - May 11) Town fiesta
adopting the Ifugao term "ammong" which means a gathering.
Matagoan Festival
Tabuk Matagoan Festival which features G-String marathon (runners wear
G-String only), cultural dances and songs. The festival showcases the
different products of tabuk coming from the different parts of Kalinga
such as the aromatic Kalinga coffee.