Cordilleran priest from Kalinga receives numerous recognition in California

Photo Courtesy || Leonard Oakes

Reverend Leonard Oakes from Tabuk, Kalinga Philippines received numerous recognition from different government officials and the Embassy of the Philippines in San Francisco California.

The Holy Child and St Martin Episcopal Church  in Daly city held a big celebration for Father Oakes' 10 years in service as a Vicar on November 17, 2018. It was celebrated joyfully with different individuals, groups, friends, families and "kakailyan" who showed their warm and loving support through music with Choirs singing hymns, worship and traditional songs, and the traditional Kalinga dance.

"His party was very organized. He had many guests coming from Baguio and Benguet. They also had canao" Ohmee Cortez, a  resident of Daly City California said.

 "God bless your work. God bless your weaving and may your tapestry continue to reveal God's unshakable and expansive love and commitment and presence in this corner of God's creation" was the heartfelt  and uplifting message of the Diocese of California, Rev. Canon Abbott Baily, to Father Oakes  during the mass.

Father Oakes was ordained Sacred Orders of Priest in August 1997 and Migrated to the US with his wife Haidee Salbino.  He was then chosen as the third priest for HCSM in 2008

Aside from serving as a Vicar, he expands his ministry reaching out and contributing to the community. He is a member of BIBAK California and the serving president for 2019.

He extended his passion and commitment for his ministry outside his church and he is being appreciated for promoting and encouraging programs for the welfare and development of his congregations and community in San Francisco.

Because of his big contributions at the bay Area, he was given recognition by the San Francisco Philippine Consul  General Henry Bensurto.

Photo Courtesy || Leonard Oakes

Father Oakes was also recognized by the Colma Mayor Joanne del Rosario, Daly City Mayor Juslyn Manalo, and San Mateo County Board of Supervisor David Canepa declared Novemeber 17 as Rev. Leonard Oakes Day.

 Rev. Leonard Oakes  gave an inspiring message for everyone  by saying, "Each one of us is  our own gifts of ministry. We need to recognize that. Share and shine that others may see that all things come from God and all things are being put into being".

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Michael Kimmayong, First Igorot serving at Canada's Royal Police Force

Photo Courtesy || Michael Kimmayong

Cordillera - Another Filipino has been added to a few numbers of Filipino law enforcers who are joining Canada's Police Force. 

This time, he is a proud Cordilleran. According to the Association of Cordillerans in Manitoba, Michael Kimmayong successfully passed the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Force with flying colors. 

 "We, the members and officers of the Association of Cordillerans in Manitoba, wish to congratulate our ACM Vice President Michael Kel-mi YoungKim-ay Kimmayong for successfully passing with flying honors in entering the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Force," ACM posted in its FB page.

"Kim, as he is fondly called, finished the rigid training course held in Regina, Saskatchewan, it added.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCPM) internally known as the Force is the the federal and national police force of Canada. They provide policing in the eight provinces of Canada and responsible for enforcing federal laws throughout Canada.-wikipedia.

Kimmayong now joins fellow Filipino Don Laurel who is serving as a constable in Toronto, Canada.

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Laurel is a former child actor who he appeared on several Philippine TV dramas and films back in the '90s. For the past six years, he has been a frontline police officer of the 32nd Division of the Toronto Police Department.

Congratulations! sir Michael Kimmayong. You made Filipinos and Cordillerans so proud. 

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MUST WATCH: Top 10 incredible videos that will inspire you to visit Cordillera

The Cordillera region in the Northern part of the Philippines, also known as the Igorot land is being loved, protected and worshiped by its people as it offers tremendous beauty, inspiring culture and unique traditions.

These phenomenal grandeur of the Cordillera are captured, recorded and made available to us by tourists, vloggers,  and video enthusiasts who visited the land and wanted to share the magnificent view they have witnessed.

Here are top 5 of them.

TOP 5:  Hungry Syrian's Native Ifugao Cottage experience.

How does it feel living in a unique Ifugao hotel in Banaue. Basel, a Philippine-based vlogger from Syria shares his experience. 

 

TOP 4:  Banaue and Batad are Insane - Loz's Liesure 

Visiting for the first time, Loz's adventure to Batad rice terraces is insane. "Can't believe the northern Philippines rice terraces are this beautiful" he titled his vlog.

TOP 3: My Journey into Norther Luzon Philippines - Gareth Leonard

In his vlog - Gareth Leonard shares his travel experience to Bila, a small town in the municipality of Bauko, Mountain Province. The town is a developing tourist destination under the initiative of Eddie, a resident of the place and the founder of Tao Philippines. Leonard experienced unique Igorot culture and total hospitality of the locals.

TOP 2:  Finn Snow's Kalinga Bodong Festival Experience

He titled his vlog, LAND OF NO RETURN. When you visit Kalinga, experience their wonderful culture while you immerse your self with the people, going back home won't be in your option. You want to stay more days and enjoy the many things, Kalinga could offer. 

 

TOP 1: Kyle Jennerman (Becoming Filipino) - Road Trip From Bontoc to Kalinga.

Kyle Jennerman popularly know by his Filipino street name 'Kulas' documented his road journey when he visited Cordillera. " This could be not just of the greatest mountain roads to drive in the Philippines...but in the Wordl! Wow! Driving along the mountain sides in Kalinga is beyond breathtaking, and at times very intimidating," Jennerman wrote is his video description. 

Indeed, Cordillera has a lot to show to the world. To name a few among the many wonders of Cordillera, it  includes the breathtaking scenery, amazing culinary experiences when it comes to food and coffee, wonderful people, diverse culture and unique tradition to experience and learn from. Thus, it is undeniably true that Cordillera is one of the best place in the Philippines to visit. 

Searching for unique travel experience this Christmas season? Cordillera is waiting for you. 

Video and Photo Courtesy || The Hungry Syrian, Loz's Adventure, Gareth Leonard, Finn Snow and Kyle Jennerman YT channels.

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Cordillera Indigenous fabric 'INABEL' goes international, recognized at New York Fashion Week

Photo Courtesy: Tracy Dizon FB

Cordillera - The traditional Cordilleran fabric "Inabel" is already having an international recognition as it made its  way to the New York Fashion Week which was held last week.

Filipina fashion designer Tracy Dizon with the help of a fellow Cordillera designer Harvic Dominguez made the effort for this traditional Inabel fabric to be recognized abroad. 

Photo Courtesy: Redford Mancio via spot.ph

With her fascination with textiles from different regions in the Philippines, she has created numerous dresses which include a baby doll dress made with Cordillera fabrics. The dress can be used in any formal or casual occasions. 

One of her award winning collection is the Cordilleran ensemble worn by Filipina actress and singer Johanne Morisette Daug Amon, better known by her stage name, Morisette.

Photo Courtesy: Tracy Dizon FB

Among the attire showcased in the Fashion show were fabrics made with Ifugao textiles, Cordillera fabrics, Yakan and Iloko Inabel. 

Dizon will be showing her Pinoy Pop Life fashion collection for Spring Summer 2019 at the prestigious New York Fashion Week and will be putting Filipiniana-inspired designs and indigenous fabrics.

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In 2017, Tracy Dizon won the Rise Art & Design Fashion Designer Competition in New York City with her Southeast Asian-inspired fashion collection besting many talented NYC fashion designer contender. 

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Bontoc municipality bags highest award for good governance in 2018

Photo Courtesy: Municipality of Bontoc FB

Cordillera - The local government of Bontoc, Mountain Province received the 2018 National Seal of Good Governance (SGLG) during the Awarding Ceremony held at Manila Hotel on November 6, 2018. 

The SGLG is one of the highest recognition awards given by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to LGU which recorded exemplary performance in government service. 

For the record, Bontoc is the only municipality in Mountain Province, and one among the only seven Local Government Units (LGU) in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) that received the award.

Among the awardees in the Cordillera region are the municipality of Bucay, Dolores, Penarrubia, La Paz, San Juan and Tubo, which all from the province of Abra.

Bontoc successfully passed the seven required core areas to include financial administration, disaster preparedness, social protection, peace and order; business-friendliness and competitiveness, environmental management, and tourism, culture and the arts.

As a reward, Bontoc received the 2018 National SGLG Awardee marker and is entitled to the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) in the amount of P3.2 Million which is allotted by the national goverment to the LGU-SGLG recipients for funding projects.

Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey personally received the award and expressed his gratitude to everyone and credited the award to all the employees of Bontoc LGU and partner agencies who worked together to achieved their goal.

"All our efforts have paid off. This award is for all of us. The municipal government cannot claim full credit for passing the SGLG national assessment. This success is due to the concerted efforts of all stakeholders," Odsey said. 

source || Municipality of Bontoc FB

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Watch: Banaue Rice Terraces featured in National Geographic YT Channel

Cordillera - The National Geographic YouTube Channel has featured the scenic Banaue Rice Terraces of the Cordillera Region.

Published on September 1, 2018, the video has now over 44,000 views and counting. The channel described Banaue Rice Terraces as a preserved cultural landscape that was passed down for 2,000 years.

Here is the additional description from National Geographic:

"A living cultural landscape is nestled into the remote slopes of the Cordillera mountain range in the Philippines. It serves as an example of sustainable agriculture with traditional techniques. For 2,000 years the mountains of Ifugao province have been cultivated with terraced fields that climb thousands of feet. These fields, and the knowledge to farm them, have been passed down from generation to generation for centuries. They have long been central to the survival of the Ifugao peoples but they also occupy a central importance within their culture. Entire communities cooperate on seasonal systems of planting, pest control, and harvest. The coordinated efforts are tied to lunar cycles and sometimes accompanied with religious rituals. The UNESCO site encompasses five different clusters of rice terraces in the area. The Banaue Rice Terraces are the most famous of the lot. Banaue is approximately 230 miles north of Manila, and buses depart daily from the capital. It can take up to ten hours to make it up the mountainous terrain to the rice fields."

Watch the video below:
video credit: National Geographic

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LOOK: High-tech Areal Spraying Drone tested in La Trinidad Farms

Photo source || Manny Pinol FB

Cordillera - Benguet farmers will soon get into using cutting edge technology such as areal drones when it comes to spraying their crops as the Department of Agriculture (DA) successfully tested a remote-controlled drones which is capable of spraying vegetables from above. 

According to DA Secretary Manny Piñol five thousand hectares of vegetable farms in Buguias town and other selected towns of Benguet Province will serve as the pilot area of the newest farming technology which the department of Agriculture is adopting. 

The areal spraying drone was tested in vegetable farms in La-Trinidad witnessed by the Japanese Embassy and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) officials, Benguet Governor Cresencio Pacalso and some curious vegetables farmers. 

DA Sec. Piñol said the use of drone technology in farm operation will be the fist time the Department is utilizing. 

He also said the farms in the Cordillera Region is ideal for the said technology because most of these are carved out of the mountains and the task of going up and down to spray the crops is costly to farmers. 

Agricultural drone technology has been improving in the last few years and many farmers are ready to adopt the use of it in improving their farm productivity. 

Drone applications in farming can range from surveying and mapping to cropdusting and spraying. 

Areal Spraying Drones can carry tanks of fertilizers and pesticides in order to spray crops located in higher elevated slope where traditional spraying method is hard to operate. The use of areal drones can also protect the farmers who spray crops manually from the risk of potential pesticide exposure. 

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Cordillera records fastest economic growth in 2017 according to PSA

Baguio City - The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has recorded the fastest among the 17 Philippines region in 2017 in terms of economic growth, the Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA) said. 

According to a data from the PSA, CAR showed a growth of 12.1 percent last year in terms of economic expansion. 

Main contributor of the positive growth are the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province including Baguio City. 

In a news published by BusinessWorld on Friday, it says the CAR's growing economy last year was lifted by the industry sector which is the region's main source of revenue output accounting for 52.1% of its gross regional domestic product (GRDP). 

Another driver to the growth last year was the infrastructure development, according the Union Bank of the Philippines chief economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion.

"Current trends indicate that real estate developments are growing in non-traditional economic centers," Asuncion said. 

Asuncion also added that CAR and Central Luzon are host of recent game-changing infrastructure projects like the SCTEX (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway), NLEX(North Luzon Expressway), and TPLEX (Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway), which he believes have direct impact on local economies.

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

Frankston Mayor Hampton shakes hand with newly appointed Youth Mayor Gerard Felipe. Photo Courtesy || Frankston City Council FB.

Cordillera - 19-year-old Gerard Felipe was very excited and rapt to take on his new position as the new Youth Mayor for the municipality of Frankston, Victoria, Australia. 

Gerard Felipe was a proud Igorot and Cordilleran from Tublay, Benguet. 

In his message on Facebook, Gerard thanked everyone who supported him and also very proud of being an Igorot.

"I am proud to serve as the first youth Mayor for the municipality of Frankston, Victoria, Australia as an Igorot", Felipe wrote. 

"I continue to take pride of sharing our rich culture abroad, and look forward to encouraging the youth within the community to reach their highest potential. But most importantly, I will never forget where I come from. "

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Felipe will serve for 12 months working together with the local community and local government of Frankston as part of the program designed to allow the youth aged from 18 to take an active role in the community. 

Part of his role as youth mayor is to meet regularly with the youth council and attend regular council meetings, as well as working with the youth council to address youth disengagement, bullying and mental health. 

On taking his new role as youth mayor, Felipe said he was motivated by Gandhi's quote: "Be the change you want to see in the world."

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His inspiring message to the youth: "Be informed and don't be afraid to speak up for what you believe is right."

Frankston's Mayor Colin Hampton was optimistic about Felipe role, "Gerard is sure to be a fantastic representative for Frankston City's local youth and I look forward to working with him".

"Gerard sees the youth mayor role as a great opportunity for young people to be heard with programs for youth to be more involved and active within local community," Hampton added.

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

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New North Cagayan Airport opens up first direct flight from Cagayan to Macau

Aerial View of the New North Cagayan International Airport. Photo Courtesy || Cagayan Province FB page

Cordillera - The North Cagayan International Airport also known as Lallo Airport located in Cagayan province has successfully launched its first Inaugural commercial flight from Macau on March 23. 

The P.1.67-billion new airport in Cagayan will be catering different international flights to Macau and other destinations in China in a regular basis by the fourth quarter of this year, following the installation of important navigational tool for pilots to help them acquire safe landing, according to Raul Lambino, administrator of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA).

The airport which is managed by the Cagayan Premium Ventures Development Corporation, a joint venture company developed by CEZA and a private company is now expected to accommodate bigger aircraft like the Airbus 320 and Boeing 737 that can cater international tourists coming to visit Northern Luzon. 

Following its successful inaugural flight, the airport can provide many different aviation services such as park and hangar club, aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul, test flight for schools offering aviation courses and other services. 

The airport can also be used by the Philippine Air Force as their Northern Luzon Hub. 

But, the main plan for the airport, according to Lambino is to establish an open gateway to serve regular flight for local tourists and international tourists visiting Northern Cagayan, Apayao and Ilocos Norte. 

The airport also expects to serve domestic flights starting in April this year to accommodate local tourists coming from different places in the country to visit North of Luzon. 

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