Heroism of 3 Igorot SAF troopers recognized to serve as inspiration to fellow policemen

Baguio City, - Three Igorot cops who were members of the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police were given special recognition during the SAF memorial day held in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City on Friday. 

PO1 Moises Kimayong Jr. (PNP-SAF) from Ifugao Province, PO3 Alexis Mangaldan from Bangued, Abra and PO2 Tirso Mantalaba from La Trinidad, Benguet were given the traditional ringing of bells to honor their sacrifice to the country. 

Both Kimayong and Mangaldan were killed in action in Marawi City while Mantalaba died in a shootout in an anti-drug operation in Patikul, Sulu on September 24 of last year. He was a member of the 24th Special Action Company of the PNP-SAF based in Sulu. 

READ ALSO: Ibaloi PNP-SAF presented exemplary award by President Duterte

The gallantry displayed by these Igorot SAF troopers serves as an inspiration among the policemen to do more in the campaign against crime and illegal drugs which are being pushed by the Duterte administration. 

SAF commanders assured that full benefits and recognition from the PNP and the government will be given to the family of the SAF troopers. 

The heroism and sacrifices of these men in uniform will never be forgotten. 

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State-of-the-art coffee trading center to rise in Kalinga

Cordillera, - Good news to all coffee growers and farmers in the province of Kalinga because a state-of-the-art coffee trading center is going be built this year.

The building of the P2.4 million worth trading center which is funded by the Department of Agriculture's Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) is expected to be completed by December this year, according to Philippine Information Agency website.

The center will have a sorting and storage section for consolidation services as well as some equipment like mechanical dryer, conveyor and others. It can accommodate around 75,000 kilograms of coffee beans per month.

Coffee growers from different municipalities of Kalinga can bring their coffee beans to the center for sorting and storage.

"With the construction of this facility, I challenge the members of the Kalinga Coffee Cluster (KCC)

to be strengthened and united for as long as the KCC exists, the operation of the trading center will carry on," said Provincial Project Management and Implementing Unit Head Engr. Domingo A. Balikan.

The Kalinga coffee is one of the most popular choice of coffee lovers in the country and abroad because it is organically produced.

Countries in the Middle East prefer Kalinga coffee because of its acclaimed original aroma and blend that is not present in the taste of other coffee brands.

The Kalinga brewed coffee with its renowned "Kalinga Taste" is the major product of the province under the One Town One Product (OTOP) program.

The brewed coffee is a product of roasted ground coffee beans usually comes from the blend of three varieties -- robusta, arabica, and exelsa.

With the building of the trading center, coffee growers can increase the quality of their coffee and will have a place where they can market their coffee products.  

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Lepanto National High School bags this year's Gawad Kalasag Award

Cordillera, - Lepanto National High School (LNHS) located in the Municipality of Mankayan is this years's regional Gawad Kalasag champion in the public-rural school category.

The Gawad Kalasag Search for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Humanitarian Assistance is an annual recognition scheme of National DRRM Council that encouraged the participation of various stakeholders in crafting and implementing DRRM-related policies, strategies and programs to protect or shield the hazard prone communities from the adverse effects of natural and human-induced calamities.

"Gawad" is a Filipino term for award and "Kalasag" stands for Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan, Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan.

LNHS emerged as the champion this year with an average evaluation rate of 86 percent surpassing the 80 percent rating requirement of the board from all the 20 entries in the region.

The school will receive a plaque and P50,000.

LNHS is among the public schools Lepanto Mining Corporation has been supporting over the years. The company is providing school materials and equipment for teachers and students like books, computers and other school needs.

"The Cordillera region is no stranger to calamities.. Lepanto therefor has to proactively and continously improve its disaster preparedness and management programs for the company, its employess and the community. The Gawad Kalasag award of LNHS attests to Lepanto's commitment to preserve and protect its community, especially the children and the students in its in-camp schools," said LCMC Vice President and Resident Manager Thomas Consolacion.

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Sablan PNP to conduct Concert for a Cause to support Sablan elementary students

Cordillera, - The Sablan Municipal Police station will be conducting a Concert for a Cause sets on September 30 at the Municipal Gym of Sablan at 6.00  in the evening.

The purpose of the said concert is to raise money intended for around 1,000 students of the said municipality buy new school uniforms.

Local Radio station reports numerous police offices in the region were invited to participate in the event including Baguio City Police Office, Police Regional Office Cordillera and Benguet Police Provincial Office. 

Local artists in the province and Baguio are also invited to join in the concert. 

PSI Alfredo Dacumos, Sablan Chief of Police invites those who are interested in helping the students to buy concert tickets available at the Sablan Municipal Station. 

source: Bombo Radyo Baguio. 

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Igorot figher KEVIN BELINGON wins by KO with an impressive show of power punches

Kevin Belingon VS Reece McLaren. Photo: Onefc

Cordillera, -  One-time world challenger Kevin "The Silencer" Belingon from the famed team Lakay of Baguio City  finishes Reece McLaren at 1.02 mark of round one proving to the world that he is one of the most powerful strikers in the ONE Championship mixed martial contest today.

It doesn't take long for the Igorot fighter to finish the round after he caught Mclaren with a one blinding power punch that led him to the canvas. 

That was the start of rainfall of several punches to Mclaren that led the referee to cut short the fight to save him for more damages coming from the "Silencer" early in the first round. 

The contest was held on Friday night, 18 August in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the Igorot has improved his record to 17 wins with five losses. It was the explosiveness and the non-stop onslaught of power punches from Belingon that made the difference. He is furious once the opening bell rings and every punch he delivers come with intense power and speed.

The match-up between the two was expected to present an interesting spectacle. An yes it did, the Igorot fighter, armed with his power and inspiration finished Reece McLaren on the undercard of "ONE Championship: Quest for Greatness" held at the Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

A triumph of Kevin Belingon, a triumph of the Filipino people and a triumph of the Cordilleran people. 

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Battle-tested Cordilleran Cop from Benguet leads NCRPO's Regional Mobile Force Battalion

Photo Courtesy || NCRPO RMFB

Cordillera, - Battled-tested and Marawi war hero, Col. Lambert A. Suerte, of Bokod, Benguet is now leading the Regional Mobile Force Battalion of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) after his successful stint as RMFB commander in Region 3.

Last year, Col. Suerte, an Ibaloi cop and the commanding officer of the PNP-SAF deployed in Marawi was among the special awardees who were given recognition during the 116th Philippine National Police Service Awards in Camp Crame on August 8. 

Police Supt, Lambert Suerte, who worked as commanding officer of the PNP_SAF Rapid Deployment Battalion received the award together with four other SAF commandos from Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. 

Suerte received the award for his exemplary performance in the ongoing battle in Marawi City where ISIS-inspired Maute members had occupied. 

READ ALSO: Igorot jail inspector in Manila commended for rejecting huge bribe from high profile inmate

"A special award is presented to Police Supt. Lambert A. Suerte, Special Action Force, for his exemplary performance on law enforcement that led in the successful conduct of offensive clearing and counter-sniper operations in Marawi City that prevented further acts of terrorism," Suerte's citation read. 

Suerte is a proud son of Bokod, Benguet and served the Cordillera region before he was called by PNP-SAF Director Benjamin Lusad because of his vast experience in police operations.

Back in 2014, Suerte was also given recognition for his service by President Aquino. He was given the Leadership Award, which is the highest award the province of Benguet confers to its outstanding sons and daughter, who has made difference to peoples' lives. 

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No cases of bird flu in Benguet - Governor Pacalso

Photo Credit: Manny Piñol FB page.

Cordillera, - There are no cases of bird flu in the province of Benguet.

This was the announcement of Governor Cresencio Pacalso during his State of the Province Address held at Benguet Capitol yesterday.

The announcement came after a case of bird flue outbreak was detected in Pampanga that prompted Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol  to quarantine the area where an estimated 200,000 fowls, including chickens and ducks were infected.

The provincial government has already been alerted and set up quarantine areas along major entry points to thwart any entry of poultry products that might be infected.

However Pacalso, said, check points are not enough so he asked  the help of the concerned citizens to be vigilant with the entry of poultry products coming from Pampanga and report to authorities immediately.

On the effect to the farmers who are using chicken dungs as fertilizers, Pacalso believe that only around five percent of farmers will be affected.
"While it is true that most farmers use chicken dung as fertilizers, we believe that only five percent of the vegetable farmers will be affected because we still have sources coming from Bulacan and Nueva Ecija." Pacalso said.

Regarding the avian flu scare, DA Sec. Piñol  assured that public that bird flu in Pampanga should not cause panic to the public as opposed to some rumors on social media that spread fear about consumption of products coming from the province.

"I would like to contradict the public's belief that the avian flu they know is harmful to humans. There is a lot of misinformation circulating to the public. There is no way that avian flu would be transmitted from birds to humans," he said.

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Watch: Igorots don't have tails, they just have big booties - Dr. Tiwaquen

Photo Courtesy || Dr. Kilimanguru YT Channel

Cordillera - In 2017, a video created by a student from Mountain Province that explains the culture of the Igorots has gone viral on social media.

The video created and uploaded by Winston Creones Tiwaquen, a student of Saint Louis University has reached more that 750,000 views, 15,000 shares and 31,000 reactions from netizens.

His 5-minute video was about the long-time misconceptions of many Filipinos about the Igorots of Cordillera. One question that was commonly asked about them is, do Igorots have tails.

Tiwaquen explained in his video with a complete combination of geography and sociology lesson in a funny way that Igorots are humans and they are Filipino citizens residing in Cordillera which is obviously part of the Philippines.

The misconception about this indigenous people in the highlands was brought by the inaccurate information by people of long ago who might have visited the Cordillera and saw Igorots in their tribal attire.

They could attributed that Igorots have tails because of their looks when they wear g-strings or wanes that look like tails when viewed from a distance. 

The visitors knew the fact that these are not tails but they took these as jokes when telling to other people in the lowlands, thus the idea spread and now many people are asking if Igorots really have tails.

Winston logically pointed out, Igorots are humans, Filipinos are humans. THEY DON'T HAVE TAILS, they just have big booties.

Some of the questions Winston clarified in his video are, do they live in the mountains, are they civilized, do they have internet and many more.

It is time that those questions and misconceptions about the Igorots must stop and through the use of the so called technology and internet, Filipinos as a whole must be correctly informed.

Thanks to this young student from Mt. Province, the Filipinos are now getting informed.

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PCOO Sec. Martin Andanar tries 'Pinikpikan' personally cooked by Mayor Domogan

PCOO Sec. Andanar sits with Mayor Domogan and tries Igorot dish 'Pinikpikan'. Photo Courtesy || Ryan Dale B. Mangusan.

Baguio City - Presidential Communication Operation (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar has tasted one of Igorot's popular dish known as 'Pinikpikan' together with Cordillera leaders and regional directors during a meeting on August 12. 

Pinikpikan is a native chicken dish in the highlands of Cordillera which is prepared by beating parts of the chicken with a stick and burning the feathers and skin with fire. The process of slight beating and burning are what makes the soup delicious. Some cooks include the special ingredient called Etag which adds to its intense flavor. 

The Pinikpikan served to PCOO Sec. Andanar was personally cooked by Baguio City Mauricio Domogan, according to a source.

Andanar was in Baguio to meet with leaders and directors in the Cordillera region during his visit at the El Cielito Inn Hotel on Saturday, August 12, to strengthen information and communication networks in all level. 

READ ALSO: BSU HRM students' etag dish win in cooking competition in Manila.

He also attend press conference with members of the media where he answers questions pertaining to different topics, among which are the PCOO's programs and thrusts for communication networking, updates on the country's hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, federalism and updates on President Rodrigo Duterte's programs and activities. 

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Igorot jail Inspector in Manila commended for rejecting huge bribe from high profile inmate

JINSP RHYS DANE IVAN PAWID

Cordillera - District jail inspector JINSP Rhys Yvan Dane Pawid from Cordillera conferred a commendation for his act of refusing to receive a huge amount of bribe money from a high profile inmate in Metro Manila District Jail-Main Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig city. 

The certificate of commendation was given to JINSP Pawid by the District Jail Warden JSUPT Jose Gemelo C. Taol. 

Read Also: Cordilleran female cadet graduated from Australian Defense Force Academy

In a post on Facebook by Metromanila Districjail Bjmp it wrote: "Our District Jail Warden JSUPT Jose Gemelo C. Taol, MPM conferred a Commendation to JINSP Rhys Ivan Dane Pawid for courageous act of rejecting a huge amount of bribe money from a 'High Risk, High Profile' drug inmate in exchange of not being transferred to SICA Jail 2 for violations of jail rules and regulations.

Read Also: Ex-PNP chief Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa admitted he loves Cordillera culture and the people

JSUPT Taol encouraged the personnel to emulate JINSP Pawid as "it is our legal and moral obligation to free this country of the scourge of drugs." JSUPT Taol shared. 

The certification of commendation received by JINSP Pawid. Photo Courtesy:  Metromanila Districjail Bjmp

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