Bodong Forged

Kalinga, Mountain Province tribes end 4 decades of conflict

After almost four decades of tribal war, two Cordillera warring tribes finally agreed to end hostilities with the formalization of the laws and policies of the bodong (peace pact). Once again, the activity has proven the effectivity of bodong in tribal conflict resolutions and is completely contradictory to the claims of other groups that it is only creating more problems.

October 6, 2007 was a very important day for the Basao tribe in Tinglayan and the Sakki tribe of Tonglayan, Natonin in Mountain Province because they had finally come together to discuss and agree on the pagta (laws and policies) through what they call the singlip and inom (celebration of the bodong).

The animosity between these two tribes dates back during World War II when a certain Col. Duyan from Tanudan, Kalinga, who was then fleeing from the Japanese to Tanudan, Kalinga via Tonglayan, lost one of his men, Lidyan, in Balangao, Natonin. Lidyan hails from Basao.

Years later in 1977, Tabfarong, a member of the Sakki tribe went hunting and chanced upon four hunters from Basao. Tabfarong introduced himself hoping that they would help him out as he lost his way to his village but the Basao hunters killed him instead as a revenge for Lidyan's death.

The Sakki tribe never found the body of Tabfarong and so they went to Tallib, Betwagan to revenge but unfortunately the family that they killed was from another tribe. Since then, both tribes became indifferent to each other and were always on guard whenever they go out from their village. They did not trust any one from the other tribe.

Being aware of the issue and believing that there will be more bloodshed if this will not be solved, the Cordillera Elders Alliance (CEA), together with Movement for Inter-Tribal Unity and Development (MAITUD), Binodngan People's Organization (BPO) and the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) -Mountain Province chapter who are actively campaigning against tribal war and promoting inter-tribal unities or peace pacts facilitated the whole process of establishing the peace pact.

In December 2006 representatives from the two tribes met for initial talks, which was facilitated by leaders from CEA and MAITUD. Recognizing the importance of building inter tribal unities, both tribes agreed to carry out the warang or exchange of tokens on January 2007 signifying the intention of ending the tribal war. The sakki tribe gave to the Basao tribe a bolo while the Basao tribe gave them the spear.

It was also here that they scheduled the singlip and inom to be hosted by Tonglayan. Normally, the singlip/sunglip is separate from the inom but this time both tribes agreed that this can be done at the same time. The singlip/sunglip is a meeting where the elders of both tribes meet to start the talks towards attaining peace pact. As the word implies, the bodong holder of both tribes will be the first to drink the rice wine poured on a wooden bowl. After which, both members of the tribe will have a taste of the wine.

As soon as the Basao tribe arrived early morning of October 6, the singlip immediately followed , After which the discussion of the pagta or by laws that will be agreed upon by both tribes and thereby unite them both. The discussion started with the definition of their bogis or territory. Both tribes defined very clearly their boundaries from east to west and north to south. This only shows the importance of a tribe's territory. As one elder commented- saan a nalaka ti panangiyaramid ti maysa a bodong gaputa daytoy ket tungtungan ti daga,biag ken dayaw ti maysa a tribo (it is not easy to establish a peace act because this is an issue of land,life and integrity)

According to Abe Battawang, a MAITUD leader who was among the facilitators of the bodong, the process undergone by the two tribes was tedious but challenging and rewarding. "Dakkel a balligi iti benneg ti CEA ken MAITUD daytoy. Gapu iti panangidaulo da ket naisimpa ti nabayag a gubat-tribu," (This is a great success for CEA & MAITUD. Because of its leadership, the long tribal conflict has been settled).

The one day affair was centered on the discussion of the pagta. Among the agreements sealed during the celebration of the bodong are laws and policies regarding the commission of crimes and their corresponding punishment and penalties.

Tribesmen gave importance to the justified and reasonable penalties and punishment, as against the sanctions imposed by the legal system.

To seal the agreements and make it binding on both parties, people who witnessed the forging of agreements were ushered in to celebrate with the tribe filling the air with songs and dances up to the wee hours of dawn.

Before the visiting Basao tribe left Tonglayan the following morning, they received gifts from the host Sakki tribe. These included among others, pasiking (native rattan backpack), tapis (hand-woven skirt), wanes (g-string), small knives, soft brooms and cash.

Among the witnesses in the activity are provincial officials of Mountain Province, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), CPA regional secretariat, Alyansa Dagiti Pesante iti Taeng Kordilyera (APIT TAKO) and residents of nearby communities.

The activity is also simultaneous with another elders gathering in Kalinga, the 6th BPO General Assembly that was attended by representatives of different elders organization
in Kalinga.# Virgie Dammay, APIT TAKO (Alliance of Peasants in the Cordillera Homeland)