WOW! Lola from Ifugao can still read the Bible without wearing eyeglasses

Photo Courtesy || Josie Zynbak

Cordillera - Our vision normally weakens as we age. When we reach our 60s, our eyesight begins to deteriorate and it can be difficult to read or see small objects. So we need the aid of reading glasses.

But this Lola from Ifugao can still read her Bible even without wearing eyeglasses. 

Read her story below and learn her secrets.

Her name is Bugan Datong and she is known as the Oldest Woman in Gohang, Banaue, Ifugao, Philippines. Every morning she wakes up early and sits in front of her house. With her naked eyes, she reads her Bible from morning until evening. Most of the time she reads orally that you can hear what she is reading. Her eyes and her Bible can only rest when she eats her meals and during the night time when she's sleep. According to her, it is her joy and pleasure to read he Bible every day. She had been doing this for five years from now. Her neighbors always see her reading her book.

In front of her house is a public passage way. Passers by especially those whose first time to see her were surprise upon looking at her reading her book without wearing eyeglasses. That even while they were walking they kept looking back at her saying with one another: "Look, that Old Woman knew how to read! Her eyes can see the letters and the words clearly!" Some of them stopped walking and paused for a while to hear if she reads the words correctly. When they proved that this Old Woman read it correctly, they smiled at her and expressed their praise and appreciation to her. They said to her in a joke: " Bless us grandma that we may also live a long life like you." We rarely see an old aged like you reading with her naked eyes." Then she smiled at them and replied positively.

Indeed, she never wore eyeglasses ever since she was young up to present. She used to read the English Bible, "King James Version." Recently her nephew and niece donated  a Bible translated in "Ifugao Version" which she is using now. This Old Woman is a widow with six (6) children. She is kind and generous. Her husband, Bacnis Hinnayyop passed away on December 2008.

 Moreover, she only finished grade IV but she also memorized some of her favorite Christian Songs even without looking at the a copy or "Codigo." Her memory is as strong as her vision as well. Furthermore, she knew how to dance the "Ifugao Native Dance" but can't do this time for she is physically weak due to her age. Above everything, her hidden secret is very simple. Ever since she was still strong she was very industrious. She worked hard in the rice fields and in the mountains. She only ate food from her own plants and meats from her own fowls which she raised at home. In short, her foods through out her whole life were all Organic.

Many people believed that these Organic Foods are the major factors why she lived a long life with a strong vision which is true. Christians are also aware that it was all her blessing from God Yahweh in heaven which is also true. Hence, her Hidden Secret is now revealed.

source || Josie Zynbak 

Read More

Still Undefeated: Ifugao boxer Carl James Martin WINS again via TKO

Carl James "Wonder Boy" Martin is still undefeated
Photo courtesy || Alvin S. Go/Rappler

Cordillera - Ifugao's youngest and undefeated boxer Carl James "The Wonder Boy" Martin was victorious yet again as he floored his opponent via technical knockout on Saturday at the Manila Arena.

The 20-year old Martin was able to keep his undefeated record when he defeated challenger Philip Luis Cuerdo via TKO in the 3rd round for the Philippine Boxing Federation Bantamweight crown.

Martin as expected delivers exciting fight as he unloaded powerful punches to Cuerdo through out the contest.

It was in the 3rd round that Martin caught Cuerdo with a powerful left hook that sent him to the canvas. 

Cuerdo was able to recover, but the younger Martin's hunger to finish the fight took the shaky Cuerdo with series of punches to the body and head. 

The fight was halted when the Cuerdo's coach came to stop to prevent further damage.

Martin, from Lagawe, Ifugao has never been defeated in his 15 bouts, with 14 wins came via knockouts.

Martin is currently reigns as the World Boxing Organization Oriental Youth bantamweight champion which he won on April 2018 by beating Hashimu Zuberi of Tanzania.

In 2017, he took the Interim World Boxing Council and Asian Boxing Council Continental bantamweight crown by defeating Artid Bamrunguea of Thailand via TKO.

His recent fight prior to facing Cuerdo was in June 10, 2019 when he beat another Thai fighter Yuttichai Wannawong. 

Congratulations  Carl James Martin of Ifugao.

Read More

Meet Rambo - Batad's friendliest and intelligent four-legged tour guide

Photo Courtesy || Department of Tourism

Cordillera - Are you planning to take a vacation or a trip to the most beautiful place in Cordillera, the majestic rice terraces of Batad in Ifugao? There is a chance you'll meet Rambo, the four-legged intelligent dog standing by waiting for you and ready to tour you around.

At Batad rice terraces, Rambo is known for helping tourists by becoming a tour guide. Rambo knows well about the top spots in Batad and he can guide tourists go to these places. 

The trusty canine will walk you through centuries-old terraces, passing by traditional huts where you can catch stories of folklore from friendly locals, according to the Department of Tourism. 

In fact, Rambo became the town's unofficial cultural ambassador for helping in the preservation of Ifugao old traditions. 

Ramon Vinaled, the master of Rambo and the owner and manager of Ramon Homestay said that Rambo learned to guide tourist since he was still young.

"When Rambo was still young, he goes with me anywhere I go, he learned from there. Then later, without me, he goes with the other tour guide until he knows what to do, he just follow," Ramon Vinaled said.

Rambo is very friendly like the locals too. When he sees guest walking around, he goes and accompany them towards their destination. Along the way, Rambo waits patiently for the guests to rest and always stayed with them.

The 10-year-old Rambo can be found at the drop off point in Batad.

You can ask Rambo to guide you for free, but don't forget to give him the best treats he deserves.

Read More

Ifugao runner Maria Cecilia Kiswa - The first female to finish grueling 160-Kilometer race in Quezon

Photo Courtesy || Sandugo FB

Cordillera - Maria Cecilia Kiswa was among the top finishers in the recently concluded local running competition Sandugo Pacific Coast Ultra 100 held at General Nakar in Quezon last October 4 - 6.

Kiswa from Ifugao province was the first female champion to finish the 160K distance for the Sandugo Pacific Coast Ultra 100, 3rd Edition. 

Prior to participating in the Sandugo PCU this year, Kiswa maintained her winning streak in every racing competition making her one of the best female runners in the country. 

The 3rd Edition of the Sandugo Pacific Coast Ultra 100 took runners in a 100 mile footrace at the coastal town of General Nakar in the Province of Quezon. 

READ ALSO: Cordilleran Marathon Queen Christabel Martes among Filipinos who dominated the Laguna Phuket run

The Ultra trail running event's course passes through rolling hills, lush green forests, placid rivers and the town's pristine shoreline facing the Pacific Ocean. 

There are other Cordillerans who joined the race and emerged as top finishers.

READ ALSO: Cordilleran marathoner James Tellias successfully finishes most difficult trail run in France

Mankayan native Jovencio Luspian finished second in the male category of the 160-kilometer race.

Read More

Young student from Ifugao awarded Most Outstanding Delegate in UN conference event

Photo Courtesy || Michah Dayag Salvador FB

Cordillera - When a young accountancy student was awarded the most outstanding delegate in a recently concluded Asia Youth International Model United Nations 2019 (AYIMUN) event held at Putrajaya International Convention Center in Malaysia, she was very happy and honored to had the award. 

The student was Michach Dayag Salvador, a student of Ifugao State University in Lagawe. 

Salvador, who hails from Kiangan was one of the 98 lucky delegates who was selected among 35214 applicants.

READ ALSO: High School student from Abra wins 3rd place at 5th World Robot Games in Thailand

Salvador said in a local TV interview that the AYIMUN conference helped her gain insights about the world and enable her to acquire knowledge that she can apply in her local community to help the youth .

READ ALSO: Highest elevation of the Philippine Highway System is now found in Tinoc, Ifugao - DPWH

Asia Youth International Model United Nations (AYIMUN) is an annual conference where young leaders from all over the world sit together in an assembly called Meeting Session and each of them will act as diplomats of the country they were assigned to. 

Photo Courtesy || Michah Dayag Salvador

Salvador was assigned to become the diplomat of Denmark and given the Myanmar Rohingya Crisis to tackle. 

READ ALSO: The Banaue Rice Terraces was built by the Ifugaos of Cordillera, NOT by the Chinese

AYIMUN 2019 with a theme Human Security in a Globalized World was participated by 1518 delegates from 85 countries from all over the world. 

Read More

The Banaue Rice Terraces was built by the Ifugaos of Cordillera, NOT by the Chinese

Photo Courtesy || Lonely Planet

Cordillera - A new video released by Lonely Planet - a popular travel guide book publisher has been criticized heavily by Filipino netizens when it described that the Banaue Rice Terraces were built by the Chinese. 

The famed Banaue Rice Terraces located in the Northern Luzon was dubbed as the "Eight Wonder of the World. 

According the Lonely Planet video, it noted that the rice terraces were "first built around 2,000 years ago by the Chinese."

A screenshot of the video at 0.50 mark clearly shows the texts over the video that says "These mud-walled rice terraces were first built around 2,000 years ago by the Chinese."

Many netizens who have watched the video were quick to correct the erroneous description via social media. 

An Instagram user named Jose Ruperto Martir posted in his account, "Dear @lonelyplanet, the Banaue Rice Terraces were built by the Filipino indigenous people, not by the Chinese."

Photo Courtesy || Jose Ruperto Martir

"The Banaue Rice Terraces was built by the Filipino natives, particularly Igorots. China did not invade Philippines in the past nor did they build any infrastructures in our country. Until recently," one Facebook user commented. 

The video was later taken down by Lonely Planet.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) published in its website, the Banaue Rice Terraces are "priceless contribution of Philippine ancestors to humanity, Built 2000 years ago and passed of from generation to generation..." by the Ifugao people living in the area.

The rice terraces is located in the province of Ifugao, and it is one of the country's Natural Cultural Treasures.

Read More

Highest elevation of the Philippine Highway System is now found in Tinoc, Ifugao - DPWH

Photo Courtesy ||  Akiangan Manghi Fritzjannie via Cordillera Shoutouts FB

Cordillera - The Department of Public Works and Highways has verified the newly identified highest elevation of the Philippine Highway System according the the Department of Tourism Cordillera (DOT-CAR). 

The highest elevation can now be found in the Municipality of Tinoc, Ifugao along the Kiangan-Tinoc-Bugias Road. 

It has an elevation of 7,968.07 feet or 2,428.667 meters above sea level with the Geo-Location of 16.70168 degrees North Latitude and 120.88265 degrees East Longitude. 

This newly identified highest elevation of the Philippine Highway System has surpassed the Atok, Benguet highest peak of 7,400 feet above sea level. 

Field assessments were conducted along the said new highest elevation in Tinoc in January 2019 by the representatives from the Planning Service of DPWH Head Office, DPWH-CAR and Ifugao 1st DEO. 

The verification of the Tinoc, Ifugao highest elevation by the DPWH would pave way for tourists to visit the place and have a view of the beautiful road and the surrounding scenery. 

Those planning to visit the place can take Halsema highway route if you are coming from Baguio. Then take the Abatan-Loo-Lilit-Bot-an-Mansoyosoy-Lusab road until you reach the road where thick forest can be seen on the side of the road. 

Read More