ILOCANDIA RUMBLINGS

I'm not an Igorot, but I've worked with and lived in Igorot communities, especially those ravaged by destructive corporate projects and businesses. I’m not an Igorot, but I fell in love with one, who is fierce in struggle as she is gentle to her love ones. I’m not an Igorot, but I appreciate and respect them, their culture, the landscape, and the struggles by which these noble group of people identify themselves. I’m not an Igorot, but I wish someday to wear their colorful attire which I’ve seen them wear in different occasions, events and situations - in weddings, tribal occasions, the Panagbenga, while speaking before the UN and of course, in the parliament of the street. Since the photos of G-string clad protesters from the Cordillera, beating their gongs and marching the streets of the National Capital Region hugged the headlines this month, there have been widespread criticism about the use of the traditional Igorot attire during militant actions. People, including ...

Today, September 27, the world celebrates World Tourism Day. Tourist destinations across Ilocos prepared different treats and come-ons for local and international tourists. Vigan City in Ilocos Sur leads the celebration in the province, and probably in the whole region being one of the world’s New Seven Wonder Cities. The place boasts of well-preserved Spanish houses and mouth-watering foods like empanada, bagnet, longganisa, and sinanglaw . Calle Crisologo, where most of the famed Spanish houses are located is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vigan, a small city with limited resources found its niche in the tourism world by banking on its rich cultural heritage. Policies and facilities reflect its inclination to keep this sector afloat and running to boost its economy. Looking at the industry in a wider-scale, tourism came early as a must commodity for industrialized countries. But it was only during the 80’s that the industry got a stable foothold in developing economies like the Phi...