Weygan-Allan: IIC 12 Hawaii to Kalinga

IN THE year 2000, Baguio City was host to the international gathering of indigenous peoples from the Cordillera ranges. I remember that prior to that conference the founders including Rex Botengan met with members of the Association of Young Igorot Professionals on issues and discussions on the term “Igorot.”

I believe those discussion in the internet and face to face discussion led to the use of the term in finally calling it the IIC or the International Igorot Conference during that conference in Baguio.

Since then, we now have the 12th conference which will be held in Hale Koa, Honolulu, Hawaii from August 2 to 5, 2018. Edwin Abeya, the Igorot Global Organization (IGO) chief executive officer posts these announcements in the Face book page and in the various e-groups. The IIC12 activities start with a Golf Tournament, a local tour and registration on the first day. The morning of Friday the third is culture laden activity with ceremonies, exhibits, workshops and displays of both the local Hawaiian culture and the Igorot culture. A much awaited workshop is that of Whang-od, the tattoo master from Kalinga that is part of the afternoon workshops. The evening for the Gala.

On August 4, Saturday morning will be the IGO meeting and summary of the Friday workshops. The evening sessions will be the luau show and the passing on of the gongs to Kalinga delegation, as the next IIC host. The Sunday will be a Sunday service at St Timothy’s church followed by a “lambak Hawaian style” hosted by BIBAK Hawaii at the Rainbow Pavilion.

The Gala is one portion of the IIC where people attend whether they are registered for the conference or not as some just buy the dinner ticket and join the gala. This is considered some sort of a reunion for Igorots and their families coming from different places around the world. This year’s Friday night gala highlight “One Global Nation” by Patrick McDonough and a speech from Vicky Tauli Corpuz.

There will be cultural presentations by various attending groups from the Philippines, Europe, Australia & New Zealand, and the USA. This will be followed by a cultural fashion show and a special presentation by BIBAK Hawaii and ends with the “tributes to IGO founding Fathers and BIBAK & Igorot Association leaders”.

IIC is held every biennium and started in Los Angeles in 1995 by founders led by Rex Botengan. It has been in Baguio twice, IIC3 in Green valley and IIC 9 in Baguio Country club. It was held in Bontoc and in Banaue, thus the next location of IIC13 is in Tabuk, Kalinga. It was also held in London, United Kingdom; Vienna, Austria; Melbourne, Australia; St.Louis, Missouri; Los Angeles, California; Virginia, U.S.; Vancouver, Canada. During the second consultation the idea of the Igorot Global Organization came up this was firmed up in IIC3 in Baguio. This resulted in the election of the International Council of elders.

I was then elected as one of the members together with Igorots from the homeland and overseas. The following year the IGO Philippines was organized and together with some members of AYIP Rose Marie Dulnuan, Jerome Gawidan and I and other became the first set of officers. At present the President of IGO Philippines is Manuel Ano.

One other output of IIC aside from IGO is the IGO scholarship program and the solar energy Project. Youth exposures and projects have been undertaken every time there is an IIC; this is believed to be an intentional passing on of our heritage and traditions. As we join IIC 12 Hawaii we also look forward to IIC in Kalinga by 2020.