Icelandic-American vlogger Finn Snow amazed at Kalinga's Bodong Festival Parade 2018

Bodong Festival 2019 Parade || Photo Credit @ Tabuk Life

Cordillera - Philippine newest YouTube vlogger (video blogger) Finn Snow has released this week some of the videos he took and documented when he traveled in Northern Luzon particularly in Kalinga province. 

In his latest uploaded video entitled 'Real Life Head-Hunting Tribes Coming Together', he documented Kalinga's second Bodong Festival this year in the capital city of Tabuk. 

The Bodong Festival highlights several street dancing competition, grand street parade participated by different  municipalities and organizations. 

Armed with his camera, Finn Snow joined the parade while vlogging about the events and discussing what he learned about Kalinga's ancient head-hunting practice and 'bodong' which is the Kalinga's unique way of settling disputes between warring tribes. 

Snow learned that long time ago the people of Kalinga is "one of the most hostile, skillfull headhunters and tribal warriors in the whole Philippines.

Bodong Festival 2019 Parade || Photo Credit @ Tabuk Life

"There's not much places in the world that you can actually experienced the culture and the long long tradition of beautiful and brutal history of the Kalinga headhunters... But now they are having a festival bringing all together...", Snow said.

"Being a foreigner here knowing nothing about this place and experiencing for the very first time, getting and sucking all that information about this area Kalinga, it makes me 'goosebumps' because there's not much places on earth that you can find this kind of old tradition of warriors and fearsome people,'' he added.

Watch the Finn Snow vlog below.

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US firm eyed Solar-Powered Cable car transport in Baguio City

US firm eyed Solar-Powered Cable car transport in Baguio City. Photo Courtesy || Global Times

Cordillera - A local construction firm affiliated with a US-based solar-powered surface transportation system manufacturer has offered to conduct a feasibility study on the viability of running a solar-powered cable cars in the city. 

According to Aileen Refuerzo, city information office chief, Mayor Mauricio Domogan had received an unsolicited proposal from Ryanx Construction and General Services, a local representative of US-based firm Transit X LLC to conduct the said study. 

Domogan welcomed the proposal made by Rufino Barinan, chairman of the firm and had tasked the city legal office to draft a memorandum of agreement for the study that would be done at no cost to the city.

The study that will be conducted by the local firm will include the identification of suitable areas for the alternative transport and acquisition of right-of-way easements and air rights. 

It will also include the environmental impact assessment of the project, as well as the effect on the livelihood of public utility vehicle operators in the city.

According to Transit X website, the solar-powered cable transport is a "fully-automated transportation network with high-capacity interchanges and stops that provide fast and wait-free travel." 

"Pods, each carrying a single passenger or up to a family of five, quietly cruise above traffic under a narrow tract. Destinations are entered via smart phone or kiosk prior to boarding. Passengers board pods at stops that are as convenient as taxi or bus stops. A pod takes off and cruises nonstop until landing at the destination."

If the proposal will push forward up to its construction, Baguio City will be the first in northern Luzon to have established an eco-friendly cable car transport.

source || PNA

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OWWA restores hope of an OFW from Mt. Province by giving livelihood and college scholarship to kid

Message from OWWA.  Photo Courtesy || Hans Leo J. Cacdac FB

Cordillera - The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is calling once again all OFWs to avail of the programs designed for Overseas workers who are in need of help and assistance. 

OWWA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac said, there are still many OFWs who are not aware or informed about the programs that they can avail such as the 'OFW Dependents Scholarship Program' or ODSP and Livelihood Assistance.

In his latest FB post, Cacdac mentioned two OFWs who were granted livelihood assistance and scholarship assistance for their kids who are going to college. 

Cacdac cited a story of an OFW from Mt. Province who was hesitant to go home because she doesn't have enough money to bring home after her job contract in Saudi was stopped due to maltreatment from employer. 

"May isa tayong kababayan mula sa Mountain Province, galing siya sa Saudi matapos maudlot ang  contrata dahil sa hindi tamang trato ng employer. Ayaw bumalik sa probinsya dahil walang sapat na maiuwi sa kanyang mga anak. Nabuhayan siya noong malaman niya na bibigyan ng OWWA ng livelihood at scholarship sa kolehiyo para sa kanyang anak na nasa Grade 12 at kukuha ng Kriminology sa pasukan. Uuwi na sya ngayong lingo"

The ODSP or OFWDSP is an educational assistance provided to qualified active OWWA-member who want to pursue any 4 to 5 year baccalaureate degree or associate degree in any state college or university in the country. 

Beneficiaries of ODSP can be granted financial assistance worth P20,000 per year provided that the OFW's income per month is less than $600, according Cacdac. 

Another program is the enhanced "Balik Pinas! Balik Hanapbuhay" where in returning OFWs are granted cash assistance worth P20,000 including entrepreneurship development training to equip them with the necessary knowledge to start their own business at home. 

To avail of the program, OFWs are advised to apply at any OWWA Regional Offices nearest their residence. For Cordillera region, the regional office of OWWA is located at #17 Manongdo Building, Private Road, Magsaysay Avenue, Baguio City. You can also ask question by messaging them at their OWWA Baguio Facebook Page.

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Two of the best Igorot knockout artists make their return in ONE Championship this April

Team Lakay's Kevin Belingon, Honorio Banario and Gina Iniong. Photo Courtesy || Benjo Andaya FB.

Baguio City - They are among the best knockout artist in the ONE Championship MMA sport today, both Team Lakay's Kevin "The Silencer" Belingon of Ifugao and Honorio "The Rock" Banario of Benguet will deliver yet another exciting fight this April 20, 2018 at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

ONE Championship, the largest global sports media property in Asian history described Belingon as "one of the country's most talented martial artist". It says, he is a Filipino champion and former world title challenger who is known to have the "ability to finish opponents in a variety of methods". 

29-year old Belingon has a professional record of 17-5 which seven of his victories came from huge knockouts. ONE Championship dubbed him as "the most feared strikers" in the history of ONE Championship's bantamweight division. 

This 20th of April, Belingon will headline the main-event dubbed 'Heroes of Honor' against 28-year old Andrew Leone of Cortland, New York.

Another talent of Team Lakay is "The Rock" Banario who will be going toe to toe with Adrian Pang. 

Banario has been one of the Philippines' most respected martial arts veterans and his tremendous cage experience has brought him all over Asia in many memorable battles against top divisional talents, according to ONE Championship. 

Armed with his striking strength and his vastly-improved grappling skills, Banario is more than ready to showcase his world-class wushu skills and lightning-quick strikes against Australian Adrian Pang.

ONE:Heroes of Honor will also feature martial arts contender Gina "Conviction" Iniong of Team Lakay. She is a six-time national wushu champion with a professional recod of 6-3, with four of her six victories coming by thrilling finish, including two highlight-reel submission and two knockouts. 

She will be facing former world title challenger 27-year old Jenny Huang of Chinese Taipie.

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Cordillera IT students among the best programmers in the country: Win award at PPC 2017

Baguio City - A team of Information Technology (IT) students taking up programming course from the University of Cordilleras (UC) has won award in the recently concluded programming competition of the third Philippine Programming Competition (PPC 2017). 

The team bagged the 4th place in the said programming contest which was organized by Gurango Software Corporation through CodersGuild.NET and in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NCIP). 

One student in the team is the top scorer besting 60 participants from universities all over the country. 

The PPC is an annual programming competition that aims to identify talented entry-level programmers in the country by utilizing an automated assessment tool, localized for the specific needs of the Philippine software industry. 

The PPC has opened the competition to all 3rd and 4th year college students taking up courses in programming. 

For this run of the competition, participating student teams composed of ten (10) members representing colleges and universities from different parts of the country, took the PPC 2017 examination individually. Individual scores per team were tallied and six teams with the highest average score were named finalist. 

READ ALSO: SLU among 10 Philippine universities to join PH-UK Transnational Education Program

The six colleges and universities that got into the final were Holy Angel University, Technological Institute of the Philippines-QC Campus, University of the Cordilleras, University of Cebu-Banilad Campus and Cebu Institute of Technology-University.

The competition 1st placer was a IT student team of the Technological Institute of the Philippines - Quezon City Campus.

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Honest Passenger and Driver from Tublay return Php400,000 lost cash to a former OFW owner

Mr Jimmer Denson driver and his passenger Erwil Agyapas surrendered to this office an envelop of US dollars. Owner a certain "Mark" who is a former OFW. Photo Courtesy || TublayPNP 

Baguio City - An honest passenger and a jeepney driver from Tublay have made another reason to believe and trust that when you lost valuable things inside a passenger jeepney for whatever reason, you'll expect you can recover it if the passenger and driver have a good heart like Mr. Erwil Payangdo Agyapas and Jimmer Antos Denson.

Mr. Agyapas found  a bundle of money in U.S dollar worth P421, 791 inside a jeepney and immediately informed Mr. Denson (the jeepney driver). They knew exactly what to do, they surrendered the cash to the Tublay Municipal Police Station.

Agyapas said this is not the first time he returned a lost money and said it was a natural thing for him to return the money because it is not his and he had experienced to lost something and it's painful. 

Mr. Agyapas found  a bundle of money in U.S dollar worth P421, 791 inside a jeepney. Photo Courtesy || TublayPNP

"Isublik ah ta saan ko met nga bagi ken napadas ko met nga napukawan ket nasakit," Agyapas from Barangay Basil, Tublay said. 

Read Also: OWWA restores hope of an OFW from Mt. Province by giving livelihood and college scholarship to kid

The owner of the money who is an OFW from Kapangan was very happy and relieved from worrying when he learned that his money was surrendered to the Police Station and still intact. 

Meanwhile Tublay Mayor Armand Lauro commended the honest acts of the two and said both of them will be included in the list of individuals who will receive  plaque of commendation on November this year, during the town's foundation day celebration. 

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Lauro offered a small cash reward to the two and thanked them for their honesty because they resisted temptation and returned the money without hesitation.

"With what you did, it made me believe that there are indeed people like you who return money without second thoughts. This is a good reflection for our constituents this Lenten season that there are still good and honest people in this world, worthy to be emulated," Mayor Lauro commended to Agyapas and Denson. 

Read Also: Proud Igorot from Tublay, Benguet named Youth Mayor of Frankston, Victoria, Australia

source || Baguio Midland Courier

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Two Cordilleran cadets among Top 10 of PMA's 2018 graduating class

Cadet 1CL Ricardo Witawit Liwaden and Cadet 1CL Paolo Balla Briones. | Photo Courtesy PTV Cordillera

Baguio City - Two Cordillerans from Barlig, Mountain Province and Camp Allen, Baguio City are among the Top Ten who will graduate from the prestigious Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ALAB TALA (Alagad ng Lahing Binigkis ng Tapang at Lakas).

Cadet 1CL Ricardo Witawit Liwaden from Barlig, Mountain Province is the top 2 of the graduating class. He will receive the Vice Presidential Saber award, Philippine Army Saber Sports and Physical Development plaque, Tactics Group award and Athletic Saber, according to PTV Cordillera. 

Meanwhile, Cadet 1CL Paolo Balla Briones from Camp Allen, Baguio City is in top 8 of the graduating class. 

A total of 282 composed of 207 male and 75 female cadets who joined the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ALAB TALA class will graduate on March 18 with President Duterte as the guest of honor. 

Each PMA cadet will be guaranteed a military career as an officer in the Army, Navy or Air Force upon graduation. 

This year's PMA graduation rights will be lead by topnotcher Cadet 1CL Jaywardene Galilea Hontoria from Iloilo. He will receive the Presidential Saber, Chief of staff saber, Philippine Navy Saber, Academic Group award, Australian Defense Best Overall Performance award, Spanish Armed Forces Award and others. 

Other cadets on the top 10 list are:

Cadet 1CL Jun-jay Malazzab Castro from Cagayan - top 3

Cadet 1CL Leonore Andrea Carino Japitan from Butuan City - top 4

Cadet 1CL Mark Jantzen Nono Dacillo from Zamboanga City - top 5

Cadet 1CL Jezaira Laquinon Buenaventura from Negros Oriental - top 6

Cadet 1CL Jessie Antonio Laranang from Tarlac - top 7

Cadet 1CL Jayson Raymundo Cimatu from Casiguran, Aurora - top 9

Cadet 1CL Micah Quiambao Reynaldo from Tarlac - top 10.

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Three Sons of Cordillera in Top 10 of PNPA Maragtas Class 2018

Police Cadet Francis Pang-ay of Sadanga, Mountain Province is ranked top 2 of the graduating class. Photo from || Harley Palangchao FB.

Cordillera - Three Cordillerans ranked among the top 10 graduates of Philippine National Academy's PNPA Maragtas Class of 2018.

Police Cadet Francis Pang-ay of Sadanga, Mountain Province is ranked top 2 of the graduating class. He is  the class salutatorian of the PNPA Maragatas Class of 2018. Prior to his current place, he was also ranked fourth place in the 2014 Criminology Board Exam. 

The other two sons of Cordillera in top 10 are Police Cadet Jess Torres Agustin of Kabayan Benguet in rank 3 and Fire Cadet Myrick Aquino Paldingan of Mankayan Benguet in rank 5. 

On Monday, PNP Chief Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa presented to the media the top 10 graduates as he urged them to join the elite Special Action Forces (SAF) to help the government's fight against terrorism. 

READ ALSO: Two Cordilleran cadets among Top 10 of PMA's 2018 graduating class

"Isasabak natin ito sa Special Action Force lahat. Giyera muna kayo, giyera. "Wag muna kayo pahayahay," Bato said. 

There are a total of 106 cadets, composed of 97 males and 27 females who will graduate on March at the PNPA in Silang Cavite. 

The top 10 cadets are led by Police Cadet Fritz John Napalinga Vallador from Negros Occidental, as the class valedictorian. 

Others in the top 10 are:

Police Cadet Jestony Fabro Asanon from Sta Cruz, Zambales (ranked 4th)

Police Cadet Christian Villacarlos Juego from Dasmarinas. Cavity  (ranked 6th)

Police Cadet Cherry Mae Lumogda Montano from General Santos City (ranked 7th)

Police Cadet Stephen Torrevelas Abrica from San Nicolas, Cebu City (ranked 8th)

Police Cadet Arjay Marcaida Cuasay from Paranaque City (ranked 9th)

Police Cadet Marica Sison Ansus from Baco, Sorsogon City (ranked 10th)

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WATCH: First time Igorot performers get four 'Yeses' from Pilipinas Got Talent judges

Cordillera - They call their group 'Baguio J Krayonz, a dance performers from Baguio and Benguet. In front of the four judges of the Pilipinas Got Talent (PGT) and to the thousands of viewers around the country, they proved that Igorots are truly talented and they too are world-class performers. 

All the four judges simultaneously voted a resounding yes after their performances followed by loud applause and cheering from the audiences. 

Judge Vice Ganda and Robin Padilla like the performance and were impressed after knowing that an indigenous music and dance can be integrated to modern dance and produce a fantastic result. 

"Gusto ko, kasi pwedi pala yun, yung gagamitin natin ang katutubong tugtug at musika... ng hindi nakakabawas ng performance. At tsaka yung grupo niyo madaling tandaan... kasi you embraced your ethnicity. Congratulations!", Ganda said.

Robin Padilla was also amazed of the performance and felt proud of the group for showing their culture in Manila.

"Ang galing ninyo. Naipakita niyo sa tiga Manila ang kultura natin at higit sa lahat napatitig sila at napangiti sila kasi hinaluan niyo ng modern. Ang ganda ng fusion. Swabee!" Padilla commented. 

Read Also: Robin Padilla sends heartwarming greetings to Kalinga people and Apo Whang-od

Judge FMG was also impressed of the group costumes and said he is pleased because the group is proud of being a Filipino and an Igorot. 

"I like the performance and congratulations, you did it very well." FMG told the group. 

The four judges simultaneously voted yes to the Baguio J. Krayonz which allows them to go through to the next level of competition. 

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SLU among 10 Philippine universities to join PH-UK Transnational Education Program

Baguio City - The United Kingdom and the Philippine government has forged a deal that will soon allow Filipinos to earn joint and dual degrees from top universities in the country and in the United Kingdom. 

This is made possible through the Joint Development of Niche Programme (JDNP) by the British Council and Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Through seed funding and institutional capacity building, this programmed aims to build long-term collaboration between Philippine and UK universities and established transnational education (TNE) within the country. 

Saint Louis University (SLU) and other nine universities in the country has been selected to develop new and innovative degree programmes under TNE. 

SLU in partnership with UK's Coventry University will offer an initial course in disaster risk reduction management, according to SLU Vice President for Academic Affairs Jose Maria Pangilinan. 

Citing the region's geographical terrain, the university recognizes the need to respond to the situation by conducting studies and researches on disaster risk reduction management. 

Aside from SLU, other higher education institutions with United Kingdom educational linkages are the University of the Philippines(UP) Diliman, UP Los Banos, University of San Carlos, De La Salle University, Miriam College, Siliman University, Ateneo de Manila University, Central Luzon State University and Bicol University. 

Last week, British Ambassador visited SLU as part of the "Great British Festival 2018" which was recently launched on Feb. 16 in Manila to showcase best British culture. 

UK's Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce has met with students, faculty members and university officials of SLU and told them the partnership between UK and the Philippines could boost relationship of the two countries. 

The new collaboration between UK and the Philippines will open new opportunities for students to gain access to best of Filipino and British education system, according to Ambassador Pruce.

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