Preserving Cordilleran Culture by Students

By: Maria Catbagan-Aplaten

As the song goes “every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” The University of the Cordilleras Cultural Group that began in 2000 at a Society and Culture class (Soc Sci III) is no different because the end of those Soc Sci classes ushered in the birth of the only recognized cultural group by the university.

For the group, learning did not end in the classrooms. The group found ways that allowed them to discover the relevance of every lesson, and then put them into practice. School year 2000-2001 opened new horizons for every one, bringing in exciting promises and possibilities for the new millennium. We wanted to try new methods and styles, new systems and strategies, and even new perspectives and directions.

Most of the students in those Soc Sci classes were from the Cordilleras, a region populated by ethnic groups that did not succumb totally to the enculturation brought by various colonizers of the Philippines. Many of the region’s younger generations remain attached to the culture handed down to them by their ancestors. To optimize our learning on culture, I asked my students to present cultural practices still being observed in their respective provinces. The result was breathtaking, as the classroom turned into a living amalgam of the Ifugaos, Kalingas, Ibalois, Bontocs, Isnegs, Tingguians, and the other ethnic groups in the Cordilleras.

This gave me the idea of forming a cultural group which we named “Hapiyoh mi,” Ifugao words which mean “our shield.” The group was launched officially during the Cordillera students’ ‘Forum at the University of the Philippines-Baguio on February 3, 2001.

We then performed in various places for various organizations before we were adopted as the official cultural group of the University of the Cordilleras. Upon the request of the school, the group was renamed “Kalasag” (the name of UC’s dance troupe in the 80’s), a kankanaey term for “shield”, and were awarded 15 scholarship slots, boosting the group’s morale to perform better.

Since then, KALASAG has become a regular performer of various Cordillera music, dances and practices for various local, national and international organizations.
The group has also welcomed and performed for various local and foreign visitors and different activities of Baguio city respectively. Further, the Baguio Tourism Office in 2005 requested the group to represent Baguio in the activities conducted for the “Wow Philippines” program of then Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon.

The biggest production of the group was a play held on February 22-23, 2003 at the Baguio Convention Center Entitled “Nan Nataguan Tako”, it showcased Cordillera traditional attires, music, dances, and cultural practices, and was considered as one of the highlights of the Baguio Flower Festival celebration that year.

The group continues to grow, and as we face new horizons, we challenge our fellow Cordilleran to join us in our advocacy of promoting and preserving our culture. As people of the Cordillera region, and as Filipinos, it is our role to promote and preserve the living heritage of our people- a task taken to heart by Hapiyoh' mi*, the University of the Cordilleras Cultural Group.

*The Old name of the group which is Hapiyoh' mi is adopted back on November 27,2009 replacing Kalasag to give honor to the pioneers of the group who named it.