ICBE Through the Years: 10th ICBE Conference | 2019 | The Netherlands HIGHLIGHTS

ABRA: LAND, PEOPLE, AND HISTORY

Presented by Christina Moncado

Abra province is one of the six provinces in the Cordillera Administrative region (CAR). It is hemmed in
the towering mountain ranges of the Ilocos on the west and the Cordillera in the east. It is bounded on
the north by Ilocos Norte, on the south by Ilocos Sur and Mountain Province, on the east by Kalinga and
on the west Apayao. This landlocked province is a melting pot of the lowland people of dominant
Spanish ancestry and the Tingguian tribe. According to various writers, these people are descended
from Chinese, Japanese, or Arabs; are typical Malay.
Insulated by the Mountainous Gazebo, Abra’s nature has remained pristine and a way of life away from
the humdrum of urban cosmopolitan living. With a land area of 3,180.8 square kilometers, Abra accounts
for one-fifth of the regions land area, the largest province in the region with the most number of
municipalities (27) and barangays (303). The seat of the provincial government is at Bangued, its capital
town which is four hours from Baguio City and 10 hours from Manila.

LAND A Historic Story of the Defense of Ancestral Land: The

Struggle against Cellophil Resource Corporation (CRC)
The total land area of Abra is 397,555
hectares. Of these, 98,420 hectares is In late 1972, just after the declaration of Martial Law on
considered alienable and disposable September 21, a barely-known logging company began
land. The total forested area is to make its presence felt in the Abra Province,
299,135 hectares. From this forested conducting spot tree surveys in the forested eastern
area, 8,106 is unclassified forest land uplands. The company was owned by Herminio Disini, a
and 291,030 hectares is classified crony of then- President Marcos.
forest land. The established forest
reserve is 258,743 hectares. The Cellophil Resources Corporation was officially formed in
established timberland is 32,230 May 1973 and was quickly awarded by the Department
hectares. The national parks comprise of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) just four
57 hectares. months later with a Timber and Pulpwood License
Agreement (TPLA) which covered some 99,565 hectares
Abra’s natural resources are: forest, of pine forests in Abra and Kalinga-Apayao.
gold, clay guano, rock phosphate,
magnetite, alluvial gold and silica Next, the Cellulose Processing Corporation (CPC), was
sand. The forest, mineral and rich formed in January 1974, and also quickly awarded two
agricultural land in Abra, most of months later with a TPLA for 99,230 hectares of forest
which are located in ancestral lands land in areas adjacent to the CRC concessions. (Source:
is a magnet for local and foreign Pio Verzola Jr., News Article, Northern Dispatch.)
corporations to own and exploit.

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Three years later, Cellophil, with a government Moreover, the statement further stated, that as
guarantee, obtained a multimillion-dollar loan the campaign intensified, Marcos placed the
from international banks for the construction and local government in the hands of military officers

erecting a pulp mill in the province. who were also local warlords. They provided
security to Cellophil and attempted to quell the
Moreover, Cellophil’s acquisition of vast tracts of snowballing protest. But when Cellophil, escorted

forestlands in the Cordillera to serve as its raw by the military, attempted to start logging in the
material base encroached on the ancestral Banilo district, its entry was blocked by the local
domain of the indigenous people, especially people, who demanded that the company
those of the Tinggians of Abra. (Source: Benjamin respects their ancestral land rights and
Bagadion, Jr., AIM, The Rise and Fall of a Crony customary laws.

Corporation.)
Furthermore, the CPA also stated that in
CRC and CPC companies had taken almost September 1978, the Tinggian protest was further

200,000 hectares of mostly pine forests in Abra, solidified with the forging of an inter-tribal
Kalinga-Apayao, Mountain Province, Ilocos bodong (peace pact) among the peoples of the

Norte, and Ilocos Sur, covering some of the most municipalities of Malibcong, Bucloc and Tubo.

extensive watersheds of Northern Luzon affecting The same year, Tubo peace pact holders hosted

about 145,000 persons, most of them indigenous an interprovincial bodong conference, which

peoples. resulted in the signing of seven-point pagta ti

kalon or terms of alliance that bound the various

During the 2011 Cordillera Day, a statement from tribes in Abra, Mountain Province and Kalinga
the Cordillera Peoples Alliance titled: The struggle against Cellophil. Thus, the anti-Cellophil struggle
versus Cellophil: A Shining Example of Indigenous developed a broad front that was clearly framed

People’s Resistance. In the said statement, in the indigenous people’s rights and democratic

anticipating their own eviction, Tinggian leaders institutions.

in the Abra highlands demanded respect for

ancestral land and traditional resource use. With This ignited a rebellion led by Catholic priests who

the active participation of parish priests and eventually joined the guerilla bands of the New

missionaries belonging to the Roman Catholic Peopleś Army. Cellophilś rapid growth in the 70ś
Society of the Divine Word, Tinggian communities was outstripped only by the ire of the people
geared up for mass struggle. High school, negatively affected by its operations. Its
college, and seminary students, peasant youth collapsed has been attributed to the operational

and elders, community women and men disruption caused by the attacks staged by the
organized themselves and launched a protest New People’s Army.
campaign that was also the assertion of their
rights and their identity as Tinggians.

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In the course of the CRC logging operations, Presently, there are two Tingguian groups: valley
even the mayors of Abra and leaders of Tingguian and mountain Tingguian, who live in
government-initiated peace pact association the highlands of northern and eastern Abra.
protested against the negative environmental Abra was first inhabited by the ancestors of the
impact of deforestation. In a joint resolution, Bontoks, Ifugaos and the Tingguians or Itnegs.
they decried the massive soil erosion, There are 11 sub-groups with different dialects
destruction of irrigation systems, pollution of the and their settlements are:
rivers, death of fish, loss of drinking water and
the marked decrease of produce from the rice 1. Adasen [Lagayan, San Juan, Tineg]
fields. 2. Banaw [Daguioman & Malibcong, and
Balbalan (in Kalinga)]
The anti-CRC struggle unified the people, raised 3. Binungan [Baay-Licuan, Lacub]
their political consciousness and inspired them 4. Balatok [Villages of Amti, Kilong-olaw, &
to look into their history and adopt ways to tell Danak (all in Boliney)]
their stories through their cultural practices 5. Belwang [Dao-angan village (in Boliney)]
(dances, songs, chants). Socio-political 6. Gubang [Malibcong]
institutions were revived and strengthened to 7. Inlaud [Lagangilang & Peñarrubia, Lumaba
face a larger challenge. Like the victorious village (in Villaviciosa), Villages of Abang &
struggle against the World Bank-financed Chico Patoc (in Bucay), Langiden, San Isidro, San
Dam, the CRC struggle earned the respect and Quintin, Danglas, parts of Nueva Era (in Ilocos
support of democratic and progressive forces Norte)]
nationally and internationally. It was a source of 8. Mabaka [Lacub, Malibcong]
inspiration for other indigenous peoples. These 9. Maeng [Luba, Tubo, & Villaviciosa, and San
victorious struggles contributed to the downfall Emilio, Banayoyo, & other Ilocos Sur towns]
of the Marcos dictatorship. 10. Masadiit [Sallapadan & Bucloc, Sitio
Sapdaan (in Manabo), Western Boliney
PEOPLE (barangays poblasyon, bawiyan, and
The word, Tingguian means mountain dweller. dumagas)]
It also refers to the people who retreated to the 11. Ammutan, a.k.a. Muyadan Tribe [Manabo]
Abra valley and its highlands. The Tingguians
are also called Itneg. Itneg comes from the According to the 2015 Census of Population of
word “iti uneg” meaning inside. There is a the Philippine Statistic Authority, Abra has a
tendency though to refer to the Itnegs as those population of 241,000. Its population growth rate
who live in the Abra’s far-flung areas and the from 2010-2015 is 0.52. Abra has the 10 least
Tingguians as the people who have been populous city/municipality namely: Daguioman,
assimilated into the populace, which are the Bucloc, Langidan, Lacub, Malibcong, Boliney,
Ilocanos. Danglas, Lagayan, San Isidro and Licuan-Baay
(Licuan).

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Abra's inhabitants are mostly descendants of

Ilocano settlers and members of the Tingguian
tribe. Based on the 2000 census survey, Ilocanos
comprised 71.94% (150,457) of the total
provincial population of 209,146. Tingguians
came in second at 18.7% (39,115), while other
ethnic groups in the province were the Ibanag
at 4.46% (9,334), Itneg at 3.17% (6,624), and
Tagalog at 0.42% (869). The predominant
languages are Ilocano and Itneg.

FESTIVALS
To celebrate life, the Abrenians have many
festivals.
v Kawayan Festival (Bamboo Festival)- This is
the provincial fiesta and the largest among
local festivities. This festival is tagged by
Abrenian due to abundance of bamboos in
their province.
v Dapil Festival. This is a festival on sugarcane,
which is one of the province’s main
agricultural products and the main
ingredients in manufacturing local wine, the
Basi, vinegar, molasses (muscovado) and
candies. Dapil is derived from the word
“Dadapila,” an equipment used to extract
sugar cane juice.
v Arya Abra Festival. This is a week-long
celebration, coinciding with the founding
anniversary of the province. It is a
celebration of the proclamation of Abra as
independent province.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
There are many tourist spots in Abra. They can
be classified into historical, cultural and man-
made. You can start your search of places to
see and things to do while in Abra by visiting the
province’s official website, www.abra.gov.ph.
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ICBE Through the Years: 10th ICBE Conference | 2019 | The Netherlands HIGHLIGHTS

Spanish and US colonial rule-imposed laws,

ECONOMY
socio-political institutions and culture to solidify
Even before the Spanish colonized the
their colonial rule. Church missions were set up to
Philippine, the people of Abra were engaged in
save the “pagans” and to establish the moral
agriculture, production and trade. They used the
and institutional power of the friars and
Abra River as their means of transportation.
missionaries. Schools were established to justify
There were traders from Vigan and other
colonial rule and to develop educated colonial
provinces who used to trade with them.
subjects to speed up the process of integration.
With its vast forests, Abra’s economy is based on Since the village council of elders’ system has
agriculture. Its major crops are rice, corn, sweet been integrated into the national political
potato, and tubers. They also plant sugar cane, system, the village council has little influence
with its juice used in the production of local unlike before. However, the people still stick to
wine, called “basi.” Their commercial products their customs and traditions and this is where the
include coffee, tobacco, and coconut. The village council comes in. On the whole, the
extensive grass- and pasture-land are used for process of integration into the national politics
livestock production. Aside from agriculture, and culture is steadily eroding traditional socio-
they made iron tools like bolo, kitchen knives, political-cultural practices and institutions. This
and head axes. created the condition for the rise of political
warlordism and family political dynasty in Abra.
As of 1990, there were 743 cottage industries in
In the whole of CAR, Abra is known for its violent
Abra, of which 208 are registered with the
conflict among political warlords.
Department of Trade and Industry. 59% are
engaged in bamboo and rattan craft making, WARLORDISM IN ABRA
both leading industries in the area. Warlordism is defined as the practices of a
The Tingguians make cloth from the bark of warlord. What is a warlord? A warlord is a person
certain trees. The women weave materials that who has both military and civil control over a
they make into blankets. They also make mats subnational area due to armed forces loyal to
and engage in pottery. The men produce ropes, the warlords and not to a central authority.
baskets and nets.
If we hear the word Abra, the first thing that
comes to mind are private armies, goons, and
TRADITIONAL & CURRENT POLITICS AND
politicians, a place where Warlordism is
INSTITUTIONS
prevalent because of the insatiable thirst of
The local villages have an elderly patriarchal
power and money.
figure, is assisted by other male elders of the
village. They form a council of elders and discuss Abra is known as the killing fields of the North.
issues in the community. Traditional political Since 2001, there have been at least 30 political
institutions were devised to settle conflicts within figures, major and minor, killed in the province.
and among the tribes, defend and promote the This during the term of Abra Governor Vicente
socio-economic interests of the tribe. Isidro Valera.

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other than planning the deaths of whoever are

HISTORY
rivals of their bosses at the moment. Their loyalty
As early as 1963 Abrenian believed that the
is a commodity. Abra politicians have created
importation and training of goons started when
monsters who can turn against them. In many
Barbero ran against Jose Valera. But in 1965,
ways, goons have the politicians on a leash or in
goons were first documented in the province in
a very apt description, goons have the power to
connection with the murder of Bucay Vice
rearrange the politician’s testicles. That is why
Mayor Silvestre Perlas. According to Filemon
they cannot say no to their requests for projects.
Tutay who wrote the¨ Goons for Victory ¨in the
October 30,1965 issue of the Philippine Fee Press, January 11, 2009, PNP Cordillera recorded 47
Perlas´s paid assassins were imported from murders,28 frustrated murders, two attempted
Manila, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Cagayan, murders, 22 frustrated homicides, six attempted
Laguna and Quezon City.(source May An homicides and 11 homicide cases in 2006. (May
Ballesta, Philippine Investigative Journalism) An Ballesta, The Blood Politics, Philippine
Investigative Journalism)
According to May An Ballesta, and a
descendant of one of the wealthy political In an article by Dexter See in the Manila
family of Abra describes her first hand Standard.net stated that in the past 30 years,
experience as she shared it in her article “The warlords turned Abra into a political war zone.
Blood Politics of Abra”. She narrated her trip to Private armies offer their higher services to the
Lagayan, a northwestern town across the highest bidders and ordering a killing became a
Calaba River in Bangued that she stumbled business transaction. During the past, the private
upon a village that was populated by people armies recruited and trained minors to become
whose fathers were employed as goons in the hitman and expand their groups.
1960s.The imported hired guns had apparently
AT PRESENT
married and settled in the province. One
Governor Valera, who was called the supremo
resident even confided that it was his
because he ruled Abra like a warlord, was
grandfather who burned down the Abra Capital
behind the killings and they showed their
during the same decade. She said that she is
sentiments in the May elections of 2007 elections
used to seeing ordinary citizens with firearms
by voting him out of office and electing
which are not licensed.
governor Eustaquio Bersamin, brother of the late
Ballesta further describes that goons start out as Luis Bersamin. Later on, Valera was thrown in jail
street sweepers and gardeners in Abra. Then on charges of double murder.
become breeders of their master´s fighting
Police Regional Chief Superintendent Benjamin
cocks and then cleaning firearms and then they
Magalong said,12 of 14 private groups has been
start learning to hold and fire guns and when
disbanded and have confiscated 3,300 firearms
they reach the full rank, they evoke fear and
and charges have been filed against 300
vicious, goon commanders are worse, especially
people.
those who know no other means of livelihood

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A Farmer was asked if he is happy that peace 3. The long, bitter but victorious struggle against
has returned to Abra, he responds: Valera is in the Cellophil Resource Corporation (CRC) is a
jail, his family left Abra but his men are still here historic milestone in the political consciousness
and unless they seal the Tangtangadan Tunnel, of the people against the Manila-imposed
he will comeback someday.(Dexter See .The “development aggression” and more
Dark tunnel of the Past .Manila Standard. net) importantly, for the right to self-determination
taking the form of genuine autonomy. The anti-
The Tangtangadan Tunnel, known as ¨Usokan¨ is
CRC struggle continues to have a transformative
a 20-foot tunnel firm structure drilled against a hill
impact on the communities to a point where the
rock on the Abra-Ilocos Sur border. It is more
people are supportive to and taking part in the
than just a welcome tunnel; it is a symbol of the
national democratic movement for national
Abrenios sturdy defiance against the odds.
sovereignty, social emancipation and a just,
(Exotic and Mystical Abra.Precious Ann Parel).
progressive Philippines.
CONCLUSIONS
There is growth in strength of an awareness that
1. History - The peopling of Abra pre-dates the
the people united are changemakers for a just,
Spanish colonization. The people developed a
prosperous Abra, Cordillera and Philippines. This
self-reliant economy based on agriculture and
is a sign of hope. &
trading with the lowlands and the Chinese. They
developed their social-political, cultural
REFERENCES
practices and institutions to protect and sustain
their community and identity. They participated “Province of Abra,” dilgcar.com website, accessed 30
January 2019.
and took leadership in the anti-colonial struggle-
“Abra (province),” accessed 31 January 2019,
Spanish, US and Japanese, in the Abra-Ilocos https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abra_(province).

region. Ballesta, Ma. Ayn. “The blood politics of Abra,” pcig.org

website, accessed 29 January 2019.

2. There is a continuing process of the Parel, Precious Ann, “Exotic and mystical Abra,”
baguiomidlandcourier.com.ph website, accessed 1 July 2013
dissolution of traditional institutions, assimilation
“Diego Silang and Maria Josefa Gabriela Silang,” vigan.ph
and integration into the post-colonial politics, website, accessed 30 January 2019.
socio-economic system and culture, a process
“Population of the Cordillera Administrative Region (Based on
which they do not have full control. A highly the 2015 Census of Population),” psa.gov.ph website,
accessed 30 January 2019.
conflictive manifestation of this process is
“The Bucay-Baticang Iron Sand Project,” abramining.com
political warlordism and family dynasty which website, accessed 29 January 2019.

continues to plague Abra. There are national “Tingguian,” nlpdl.nlp.gov.ph website, accessed 30 January
2019,
laws/policies that negates ancestral land
“Ethnic groups in the Philippines- Itneg,”
concept, and which designate Abra and/or the ethnicgroupsphilippines.com website
Cordillera as resource base area for “2017 Philippine Forestry Statistics,” forestry.denr.gov.ph
website, accessed 29 January 2019.
corporations to exploit. Like the indigenous
peoples in the Cordillera region, IPs in Abra are Cordillera Schools Group, Inc. and New Day Publishers.
Ethnography of Major Ethnolinguistic Groups in the
neglected, discriminated and misrepresented. Cordillera.Quezon City: New Day Publishers, 2005.

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