BUGUIAS, Benguet -- A ritual was performed here as the province embarks on a project aimed to uncover Benguet’s cultural heritage and history.
Known as “Participatory development of archives for Benguet Cultural Heritage and History,” the breakthrough was conducted in Baculongan Sur.
“This will be an enhancement, near completion of all data most specifically regarding our culture, belief system and even the life cycle of Benguet people from womb to tomb. How do the Benguet people conduct rituals and put that into data record. Next we are going to trace how the people of Benguet are related to each other,” said Benguet Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative and board member Sario Copas.
The project launching was witnessed by Buguias Indigenous Peoples Mandatory representatives, elders, and the Benguet Provincial Government.
Copas added the ritual is an important part for the Indigenous Peoples to seek approval of the “unseen” for the project.
Following the launching, a task group will be formed to inform the National Museum on the study.
Copas relayed a census will be conducted starting with the geneology of the people of Benguet, their beliefs and rituals.
Front liners of the project include the provincial government and task force including consultants from University of the Philippines, Benguet State University and a group from Utah, USA.
Also tapped is the University of Sweden spearheaded by Dr. Maximilian Larena who had earlier penned the IPMR in the investigation of genetic origins of Apo Anno and related human remains.
“We are on the verge of making the necessary paper works. There must be an agreement that they will help as at their own expense because they are willing to do it,” added Copas.
The official said the research team of the University of Sweden seeks to enter into a formal collaboration to answer unknown information such as the actual age and cause of death of Apo Anno.
Apo Anno, a Kankanaey hunter, was the son of Tugtugaka, a village chief, and Cuyapon, a forest guardian and fairy. His mummified body was tattooed heavily with symbolism indicating he was a revered leader.
Apo Anno was stolen sometime in 1918, according to records from the provincial tourism office.
He added the results of the research will be beneficial for the next generation in enriching their knowledge about mummification, background of the ancestors lived in the past and the cause of their deaths as the University has a state of the art DNA laboratory facilities.
For the project, Copas added a collection of data will be made for families who have completed their clan books. Records from government agencies such as the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples will also be collated to make standard story of the people of Benguet.
“The Sangguniang Panlalawigan should adopt it and that should be the standard story of Benguet,” he added.
Governor Crescencio Pacalso said the provincial government has allocated P1 million for the project.
“We have to come up with more funds for the continuity of the project. We are not expecting it to be done in five years, but maybe we could extend this to 10 years,” he said. “The more important thing here is that we need to prepare, we can put funds into this. We need to put in funds on a year basis.”