IT IS now final. The CRA (Cordillera Regional Assembly will hold its mandated annual session (EO220, Sec.9) this April 2018 to signal the reactivation of the hitherto deactivated Cordillera Bodies, namely, the CRA and the CEB (Cordillera Executive Board) with the latter’s CBA Commission (Cordillera Bodong Administrative Commission).
The CRA, in particular, will convene for five days “starting April 24...”). The opening day (April 24, Tuesday) will be open to the public. It will be opened with a grand pañgili, an ethnic welcome celebration, as is customary in Cordillera social affairs like the bodong celebration among tribes of the binodngan areas. All members of CRA are expected to come with a contingent, preferably attired ethnically, from the sector they represent. Media coverages will surely look for identifiable Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Benguet, Baguio, and Abra audio-visual presentations in dances and melodies to tide over any boredom that might arise from serious deliberations and reviews.
Food and lodging will be taken care of by the organizing body and the host community. Possible reimbursement of actual transportation expenses have also been taken into account. This should be properly rationalized as to the real purpose, distance and means of travel.
As contained in one of our recent midweek articles in this column, since the CAR is directly under the Office of the Philippine President for being a special administrative region, President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte will be “thirstily” awaited to address the gathering of the Cordillera people and be seen, if not touched, in person even for limited sacred moments.
Come one, come all to this march of Cordi history! Resound with former but now seasoned CPLAs who should rather now join the Cordillera Bodies for regional development. Shall we?
Abra, Benguet, Baguio and Ifugao
Mountain Province, Kalinga and Apayao
From your grandiose lofty mountains
Down to the mighty flowing rivers
Calling, calling for your brave sons and daughters
To tell the world, to tell the world:
God has rejoined us together
Let no man put asunder
Cordillera, Cordillera,Cordillera,
March on, march on to greater destiny
Well unite, work and pray
For our full regional autonomy
Towards full federal autonomy!