LAST August 4 in the De Russy Hall of the Hale Koa Hotel located at Waikiki, Honolulu, the Igorot Global Organization (IGO) had a general assembly to discuss concerns of the organization. This was part of the 12th Igorot International Consultation (IIC) that included the Opening ceremonies where the Hawaiian Chant was done by Kumu Charlani and the Call to Enter by Stone Pooten.
Also included a Cultural Gala Night last August 3 and the Luau on the following night.
The IGO meeting was chaired by IGO President Gloria Simon which included some reports including the scholarship program, the Bid for IIC 14 and the election of new Council of Elders. Bidding for IIC14 was interesting and New Zealand won in the bid to host IIC in 2022. IIC13 will be held in Kalinga on 2020.
The IGO has a Council of Elders (COE) that acts as the board of directors that decides and supervises programs and projects of the organization. The COE traces its roots in the indigenous leaders of communities who gather around the dap-ay or ato of the tribes of Igorots. The new IGO Council of Elders (COE) are Carloyn Weygan Hildebrand of Hawaii and Brigitt Sagalla Santiago of the Philippines. Together with the renewed term of Edwin Abeya, the three will serve for four years together with the rest of the council of Elders.
Carolyn is my cousin being the daughter of Pedro Weygan, the brother of my dad, and Cresencia Dapeg Weygan of Calanasan, Apayao. She was born and raised in Baguio and both of us studied at the UB Science High where she was two years younger than our batch. After which she got her NISGP scholarship for her college education in the University of the Philippines.
She actively participated in discussions on the struggles of the Igorots during the martial law, the Cellophil and Chico River Dam mega projects. She later worked in a government office before she went to the University of Hawaii as an East West Center Scholar earning her Master’s Degree in Economics.
She lives in Hawaii with husband Terry Lee Hildebrand, who grew up in Illinois. They have an one daughter Anna Noelani Hildebrand. She has worked both for government and non-government organizations most especially for needy communities. After the IIC 12 she has brought us around the University and the local museums and her knowledge and commitment for indigenous peoples and environment is admirable. She went back to the University of Hawaii for urban and regional planning studies.
Manang Brigitt and I were together as charter COE of IGO Philippines. Where I served as a Secretary and as Vice President during my active years in IGO Philippines for close to ten years. Together with other IGO Philippines COE we were active in hosting the IIC in Banaue and preparing delegations to IIC London, IIC St Louis, IIC Melbourne and other IGO programs.
Dr. Brigitt Santiago has career in the academe as Chief Librarian and Instructor in the University of Baguio for twenty years, likewise for Cordillera Career Development College, as President of Easter College, and presently the Officer in charge of ACATECH Aviation College - Baguio Branch. She is married to another academician from Zamboanga City, the retired Assistant Chief of the CHED-CAR. They have three children Arby Ray, April Leslie and Bernice Mae. They have two grandchildren Kinein Cygne and Atria Hope. She is closely related to the founding fathers of IGO being the daughter of Rev. Anthony O. Sagalla and Ester Botengan.