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Sustainable Solutions for the Cordillera Mountains |
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Cordillera Conservation Trust Tignayan para iti Konserbasyon ti Kordilyera |
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The Cordillera Traverse Expedition |
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April 1-May 8, 2005
38 Days on Foot, 500 Kilometers of trails through the Cordillera Mountains all the way to the Coast of Ilocos Sur...
”If the mountains are to remain as free as they were in the time of our ancestors who fought for the right to their land and resources, then once again we must come to see the intrinsic bond that a people have with their land; the land of their ancestors, the land of their children, and the future generation.” –JP Alipio –Philippine Central Cordillera Traverse
The scent of Soil and Pine hung in the air as the first drops slowly turned into a downpour of crystal dew from the heavens painting the path a glassy green as the rain pelted the landscape. Slowly it seemed out of nowhere the surrounding mountains sprung to life. In between great patches of green; the crystal waters flowed as the springs of life once again renewed the landscape and gave life to the land.
This was June 2002, 3 years ago, the day an idea was born…
On April 1st 2005, five individuals each with a passion for their home, and their people will set out on a journey, one of reawakening not merely for themselves but for a nation and a people who have forgotten the bond that people have with their land. A great man once said: “We are owned by the land…land is a grace that must be nurtured. Land is sacred and beloved.” –Macliing Dulag
A Nation so quick to forget the bond we have with the earth. Instead it seems, like the early conquistadores, the people suffer a disease of the heart, one seemingly curable only by the glint of gold. We on the other hand suffer from a disease brought about by this very belief, and seek to explore the cure through this endeavor.
The Journey will take us through the mountains of the Central Cordillera region, climbing through the historic trails that lead into the dwellings of the gods, past the homes of our people; the Ibaloi, Kankanai, Iowac, Kalanguya, Ifugao, & Bontoc… the homes of the Igorots… the homes of the Cordillerans.
Our homes are seemingly under siege, “development” has claimed the homes of many communities, the Cordillera being home to the bounties of the earth have provided life for generations, yet today people seek to destroy that which has given us life.
We will trek continuously for 40 days, from Benguet through the mountains of Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, and Mountain Province, ending at what once was the gateway into the Cordillera region, Tirad Pass. Climbing down from our mountain homes to the coast of Ilocos Sur.
Foreign explorers have done most discoveries in our land; it is time that Filipino’s rediscover our own land and our own people. We walk the mountains of our home not merely because they are there, nor do we wander in search for gold or buried treasure, we walk the mountains to show the Philippines and the World what we will be leaving the future.
“The Central Cordillera Traverse has at its core one of the most pressing issues of our day: How can we manage our resources to yield the most positive outcomes for cultural evolution and sustainable development?” -Rebecca Martin- Director, National Geographic Expeditions Council
The Philippine Central Cordillera Traverse was awarded a grant by the National Geographic Expeditions Council in support of the cause that the people who make up the team are struggling to achieve.
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Rediscovering the grand Cordillera Mountains |
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A Journey of rediscovery and advocacy of the mountains we call home |
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Reuben Muni (our team Anthropologist) taking a quiet moment to write in his journal in one of the villages we passed through during the traverse |
