Do you remember Biag Gaongen? We first mentioned him here as the first (and so far the only) Igorot ballet dancer. Well the kid has been making waves lately so it’s time to blog about him again. In an article in Cebu Pacific’s Inflight Magazine (which we are reprinting below) Biag talks about his indigenous roots and his experiences as Ballet Philippines’ principal dancer. What comes out is the portrait of a young man who is very much rooted to his culture and is properly proud of it. Way to go Biag! Or maybe, “Agbiag ni Biag!”
Why do Igorots excel in combat sports? Dahil malakas ang kanilang tuhod! This video is proof kung gaano kalakas ang tuhod ng mga taga bundok. So all that hiking over hills and mountains and rivers and dales is not a waste. Related post on Billy here.
Here’s the 15th installment of our List of Achievers. If you have not yet seen the previous lists, you can read them by clicking here. Be sure you continue to click at the “Older Posts” link which you will find at the very bottom of the page.
YOUNG ACHIEVERS Hester Docasao Umayam: Placed fourth in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) held last May 2007 in New Mexico. Her winning project is entitled “Ethnomathematics in the Geometric Patterns in Woven Fabrics of the Indigenous Kalingas in the Philippines.” Our kailiyan used mathematical techniques in analyzing the cultural significance of patterns used in fabrics woven by iKalingas. More here and here.
Our kailiyan Francis “Kiko” Calado of Baguio and Sablan, Benguet was named recently as the Broadcast Journalist of the Year (for Radio) by the Rotary Club of Manila. Kiko is with the DZRH ratio station in Manila.
The award was given to our kailiyan “for his reporting style which is a breath of fresh air in the often frenzied world of radio news broadcasting since his coverage of news and current affairs is driven by facts, not controversy and which have remained true to the principles of responsible journalism”. [Source: Rotary]
Our kailiyan Silvestre Afable (first from left; you can read our first blog entry about him here) resigned as chair of the government peace panel which is undertaking peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). According to Newsbreak, Afable resigned because of “lack of support from the President“. Fr. Eliseo Mercado, a known Mindanao peace advocate, has been appointed to replace Afable.
Some reactions on Afable’s resignation: Steve Rheault Kihara of the Canadian Embassy: “That is regrettable. He was a key factor in the very real progress so far and he is deeply respected by both sides as well as by the international community.”
