The mountaineer in me is always intrigued by the sea. That’s why I enjoy novels like Mutiny on the Bounty and movies such as Pirates of the Carribean. There’s something about the sea that is mysterious and inviting. So I consider it a blessing when I have to take a long trip by boat to the Visayas or Mindanao rather than the shorter one-two hour/s plane ride. Nothing beats watching the sea change its color to different shades of green or blue, the quietness of the breeze, the salty air, the white waves that roll on and on, and those flying/jumping fishes. Huh, I’m getting carried away here. But you know, maybe the sea is home for us mountain people. After all, if the history taught us in school is correct, didn’t our ancestors travel by boat from Malaysia/Indonesia. So maybe there’s a seafarer deep in our souls that long for the sea and that sometimes, the sea is calling us home. Ha ha, like the elves in the Lord of the Rings you know.
In any case, the sea is home for two ships named after two Cordillera provinces — the BRP Kalinga-Apayao and the BRP Benguet. For some reason the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) decided to name its amphibious warfare ships after Philippine provinces. Since the AFP doesn’t have as much amphibious ships as there are provinces, we should consider it an honor that these two ships are so named.
Here’s a picture of The Wall where Macli-ing Dulag’s name is inscribed along with the names of other Filipino heroes and martyrs. The Wall of Remembrance (located at EDSA corner Quezon Avenue in Quezon City) seeks to honor those who were brave enough to confront the Marcos dictatorship when most Filipinos were saying, “Hallelujah Marcos. You are the savior of the country.”
When someone texted me that Chandu and Alyce Claver were ambushed, I took time out from my busy day to pray for them. I’m not a prayerful person and I don’t personally know the victims but if you come from the Cordilleras ( Kalinga and Mt. Province in particular) you would know that the Claver name is a good family name and it would not be hard to feel for the family when any of them is in danger.
As most of us know, Sagada and Banaue/Batad are the Cordillera Region’s top tourist attractions. Well, Baguiois actually the prime destination but it is overrated and it is a messy mess. Tourists going toBaguio would be better off going to Sagada or Banaue or other Cordillera towns such as, say, Balbalasang in Kalinga.
Well, I’ve not been there yet but this article by Art Fuentes from the Haribon website has awakened the travel bug in me. I’m tempted to shove my clothes in my backpack and to head over to Balbalasang. But maybe I’ll wait first for an invitation from our kailians in Balbalasang who would be kind enough to invite me, ha ha. I’m shamelessly fishing for an invitation eh? Well, Art Fuentes says Balbalasang reminded him of the Lord of the Rings and I’m a big Lord of the Rings fan. I’m not sure I can ever go to New Zealand where the movie was shot so I’ll visit any place that looks like it. Continue reading Move Over Sagada and Banaue. Here Comes Balbalasang!→
A news and information blog on the Igorots/iCordilleras
