Background on the Celebration of Cordillera Day
April 24 is a very significant date for the peoples of the Cordillera. It was in the evening of this day in 1980 that soldiers belonging to the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division, under Lt. Leodegario Adalem, fired at two houses in the village of Bugnay, Tinglayan, Kalinga. The attack meant to kill two prominent leaders of the Kalinga and Bontok peoples opposed to the World Bank-funded Chico River Basin Hydroelectric Dam Project of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. These were Ama Macliing Dulag and Pedro Dungoc. Macliing Dulag, a respected pangat (tribal chieftain) of the Butbut tribe, died from multiple gunshots while Pedro Dungoc survived. Pedro Dungoc later joined the New Peoples Army (NPA) and died a red fighter.
If there is one thing positive in this military terrorism and cowardly act, the Macliing assassination served to strengthen the determination of the Kalinga and Bontok tribal people. It further strengthened their unity to defend their collective rights over their land and resources and against a common enemy – the Marcos dictatorship and the world-bank funded Chico dams. Rather than intimidate the people into passivity, state fascism since the early ‘70s was a major factor in firming up the commitment of the Chico communities to the anti-Chico dam struggle. This later broadened into a mass movement of the Cordillera peoples and advocates into the struggle for the defense of ancestral land and for genuine regional autonomy.
The commemoration of the death of Macliing Dulag from 1981 to 1984 was called Macliing Memorial. But with the broadening of the Cordillera mass movement encompassing all the provinces of the Cordillera, the commemoration started to be called as Cordillera Day in 1985 to symbolize the widening unity and solidarity amongst the different indigenous peoples of the Cordillera, and with advocate and support groups at the regional, national and international levels. The first celebration of Cordillera Day was held in Sadanga, Mountain Province. It was also in June 1984 that the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) was founded and took the lead in the celebration of Cordillera Day.
Since then, Cordillera Day has been held all over the Cordillera region with particular focus per celebration, in consideration to burning regional issues, and major national and international developments as well as the urgent issues of host community. The past celebrations were attended annually by delegates ranging from 3,000 to 4,500 individuals. It has become the biggest annual political solidarity gathering of indigenous peoples in the Cordillera with friends and advocates. The general programme for the two- day celebration includes workshops on major issues affecting indigenous peoples, presentations on the regional and national situation and challenges; on experiences and lessons from struggles in defense of indigenous peoples rights and human rights and various cultural presentations presenting the issues of communities and sectors, commemoration of Cordillera martyrs, and lots of mass dancing, playing of gongs and community chanting. The festive atmosphere of each celebration remains political but colorful and inspiring.
Salamat po kay Airah ng Stand up,at CPA.
