THE HISTORY OF CODILLERA CORDILLERA 101 LESSON 2

LECTURE SLIDES

1. The Cordillera Administrative
Region: A Journey Through
History and Culture

2. THE CORDILLERA
●The Cordillera Administrative
Region (CAR) is the only landlocked
region in the Philippines
●Located in the central part of
northern Luzon
●Known for its mountainous terrain
and rich indigenous culture
How does a landlocked region differ
from others?

3. Historical Background:
The Mountain Province
●August 19, 1908: Act No. 1876
created the Mountain Province
●Covered the entire mountainous
region of central northern Luzon
●Samuel Kane was appointed as the
first governor
●Bontoc was named as the capital

4. The Division Law of 1967
●April 7, 1967: Republic Act No. 4695 (Division Law) was
enacted
●The Old Mountain Province was abolished and divided
into 4 independent provinces:
1. Benguet (capital: La Trinidad)
2. Ifugao (capital: Lagawe)
3. Kalinga-Apayao (capital: Tabuk)
4. Mountain Province (capital: Bontoc)
Why do you think the government decided to divide the
old Mountain Province?

5. Regional Affiliations Pre-CAR
1972: The provinces were split between two
regions
●Benguet and Mountain Province
-Region 1 (Ilocos)
●Kalinga-Apayao and Ifugao
-Region 2 (Cagayan Valley)
How might this division have affected the cultural
unity of the Cordillera people?

6. The Rise of Cordilleran Consciousness
●1970s and 1980s: Emergence of a new regional
consciousness
-Driven by perceived injustices and threats to
indigenous rights
-Rise of organizations defending land and rights
of the people.

7. The Sipat: A Turning Point
●September 13, 1986: President
Corazon C. Aquino meets with
Cordillera representatives
●Exchange of peace tokens (sipat) with
Fr. Conrado Balweg
●Acknowledgment of aspirations for
Cordillera Autonomy
●Joint memorandum signed between
AFP and CPLA for cessation of
hostilities
Why was this event significant for the
Cordillera people?

8. Constitutional Provisions for Autonomy
●February 1987: Ratification of the new Philippine
Constitution
●Article X provides for the creation of an
autonomous region in the Cordillera
●Cordillera People's Alliance (CPA) lobbied for
inclusion
How does constitutional recognition impact
indigenous rights?

9. Birth of the Cordillera Administrative Region
●July 15, 1987: President Corazon
Aquino signs Executive Order
220
●Creates the Cordillera
Administrative Region (CAR)
●Composed of Abra, Benguet,
Kalinga-Apayao, Mountain
Province, and Ifugao
●Baguio City designated as seat
of regional government

10. The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA)
●October 29, 1997: Republic Act 8371
(IPRA) signed into law
●Authored by Senator Juan Flavier
●First legislative act in Asia explicitly
protecting indigenous peoples' rights
How does IPRA empower indigenous
communities in the Philippines?

11. Key Provisions of IPRA
●Recognizes rights to ancestral domains
and lands
●Affirms right to self-governance and
empowerment
●Protects cultural integrity
●Ensures social justice and human rights
Which of these provisions do you think is
most crucial for indigenous peoples?

12. Legal Bases of IPRA
●1987 Philippine Constitution
●ILO Convention 169
●UN Draft Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples
●Native Title (Mateo CariñoCase, Cariñovs
Insular Government)

13. Constitutional Framework for Indigenous Rights
●Article II, Section 22: State
recognizes and promotes
rights of indigenous cultural
communities
●Article XII, Section 5: Protects
rights to ancestral lands
●Article XIV, Section 17:
Recognizes, respects, and
protects indigenous cultures
and traditions

14. The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
●Created by IPRA
●Primary government agency responsible for
formulation and implementation of policies
for ICCs/IPs
●Tasked with protecting and promoting the
interest and well-being of ICCs/IPs

15. Provinces of the Cordillera Administrative Region
●Abra (joined CAR in 1988)
●Benguet
●Ifugao
●Kalinga
●Mountain Province
●Apayao (separated from Kalinga
in 1995)
What unique characteristics define
each of these provinces?

16. Baguio City: The Summer Capital
●Only chartered city in CAR
●Seat of the regional government
●Known as the "Summer Capital of the
Philippines"

17. SeparationofKalingaandApayao
●Kalinga and Apayao were separated into two
provinces onFebruary 14, 1995, by Republic Act No.
7878. This act was passed after a plebiscite was held
on May 8, 1995, where the majority ofvoters in
Kalinga-Apayao approved the separation.
●The separation was done to better serve the needs of
the different ethnic groups in the region.

18. Cultural Diversity in the Cordillera
●Home to numerous indigenous ethnic groups
●Rich traditions in weaving, woodcarving, and
metalwork
●Unique agricultural practices (e.g., Ifugao rice
terraces)
●Vibrant festivals celebrating indigenous culture
Which aspects of Cordilleran culture are you most
interested in learning more about?

19. Economic Landscape of CAR
●Agriculture: Rice, vegetables,
fruits, and coffee
●Mining: Gold, copper, and
other minerals
●Tourism: Natural attractions
and cultural heritage sites
How can the region balance
economic development with
environmental and cultural
preservation?

20. Challenges Facing the Cordillera Region
●Environmental concerns (deforestation, mining
impacts)
●Preservation of indigenous culture in face of
modernization
●Economic development and poverty alleviation
●Pursuit of regional autonomy
What solutions would you propose to address these
challenges?

21. The Future of the Cordillera Administrative Region
●Ongoing efforts for regional
autonomy
●Balancing tradition and progress
●Empowering indigenous
communities
●Sustainable development initiatives
How do you envision the Cordillera
region in 50 years?