CORDILLERANS working and based in Spain are also experiencing what many are going through because of the coronavirus crisis but they never feel alone amid these challenges in life.
This is through the help of Gil Tiban Catimo who is from Baguio City and working as Chef in a prominent Spanish restaurant in Barcelona.
Catimo, the first ever president of the group BIBAK Barcelona has created a chat group using the social media to know the situation of the kakailians based in Spain and at the same time give them advice and information on the recent situation of the area by also translating Spanish Government advisories in the language which they can all understand.
This way, Cordilleran OFWs and migrants in Spain can feel that they have someone to turn to in their fight against the pandemic virus.
Catimo is the son of Cornelio Palano Catimo and Remedios Balao Tiban. He was born in December 1959 in Baguio City.
Few years after working as a tax mapper at the Provincial Capitol, La Trinidad, Benguet in 1983, he went to Barcelona, Spain to join his wife Julia Erong Walang.
There he raised his own family and became active in promoting the culture and tradition of the Cordillera by also serving as the first president of BIBAK Barcelona.
One of the major accomplishments of the group is hosting the 7th Igorot Cordillera BIMAAK Europe (ICBE) Consultation.
Because of their active participation in the different presentations in Spain, many residents and visitors in the area are appreciating the Cordilleran culture.
Catimo said their chat group will continue to be a channel where the Cordillerans can air and share their concerns about Covid-19.
It is good to have someone to talk to and vent to even through social media especially if you are far away from home and affected by the present crisis.
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