Introduction

The people who inhabit the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) in the northern Philippines are generally called Igorots, which means “people from the mountains”. The Igorots are an indigenous group of people, who differ not only in their languages but also in their culture and tradition. In the Philippines, there are BIBAK organisations. BIBAK is an acronym formed from the initial letters of the former subprovinces of the old Mountain Province, now Cordillera Region, (Benguet, Ifugao, Bontoc, Abra, Kalinga-Apayao). In the diaspora, organizations are set up with the same initials and the name of the country they live in (e.g. BIBAK Switzerland). Presently, some organizations are known as BIMAAK (Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Abra, Apayao and Kalinga) to recognize Apayao as one separate province and Mountain Province to replace Bontoc. The objectives of (BIBAK/BIMAAK) organizations are to promote Igorot tradition, culture and values; and to maintain their solidarity in times of need.

The CAR is home to different indigenous peoples. These tribes are the Iballoys (Ibalois), Kankanaeys and Ikalanguyas of Benguet Province; the Bontocs, Aplay – Kankanaeys and Gaddangs of the old Bontoc sub province which is presently and politically known as the Mountain Province; the Isnegs of Apayao, the Kalingas and the Ifugaos from the same so called provinces; the Tinggians of Abra province, the llongots of Nueva Viscaya and the so called Bagos from the provinces of llocos Sur and La Union. These indigenous groups have similarity in their tradition and culture. The tribes vary in their local languages and can also speak the Ilocano language. The strong characteristic difference and value of these groups to the other Filipino groups are their dances and costumes, and strong belief and respect for their ancestors, who have built the rice terraces of the Cordillera including the famous Banaue Rice Terraces .