Happy Women’s Day!

Congratulations to all the winners of the search for the Ten Outstanding Women of Baguio City who were awarded this morning at the Convention Center.

In celebration of Women’s Month, I’m writing about Igorota Foundation, one of the first organizations in the Cordillera region to advocate for women empowerment. Now on its 20th year, Igorota is silently but passionately working to improve the lives of women in different areas in the region.

Today is extra special for Igorota as one of their staff was chosen as one of Baguio’s Ten Outstanding Women. Corazon Pindog, or Manang Cora, was recognized for her significant contribution in the area of Community Service.

Cora Pindog with Erlin Tagle, Baguio City acting mayor Peter Rey Bautista,
and councilor Galo Weygan.

From left: Ara Santiago (Igorota staff in Atok) , Victoria Makay (one of the nominees for Baguio City's Ten Outstanding Women), Marjorie Balay-as (Igorota Program Manager), Cora Pindog, and Carina Dapliyan (Igorota Finance Officer).

IIgorota staff with Manang Vicky during the parade this morning along Session Road

Here’s more on Igorota.

One of the more recent projects that Igorota spearheaded is the formulation and passage of the Gender Equality and Development (GEAD) Code in Baguio City. Another important project was the delineation and management of ancestral domains in the municipalities of Tinoc and Hungduan in the province of Ifugao.

Igorota’s ongoing project is the formulation of Ancestral Domain Sustainable and Development Protection Plans (ADSDPPs) in Tinoc and Hungduan, Ifugao; Bauko, Mt. Province, and; Atok and Kibungan, Benguet. It is also working closely with the Baguio City Government in implementing the provisions of the recently approved GEAD Code.

Vision: Women’s holistic development for self-sustaining communities.

Mission: To empower women through transformative trainings, education, advocacy, and organizing.

Among its goals are the following:

Provide advocacy and educational tools through Igorota Magazine and other information-education campaign materials.

Contribute to raising awareness and policy formulation on gender and Cordillera issues through the Learning Resource Center.

Develop advocates for gender-responsive communities.

Respond to women and gender issues in the community.

Enable women to assert their reproductive rights.

Enable women to participate in community development through socio-economic activities.

Sustain the sources of women’s life forces.

Enable communities to claim and assert their indigenous rights and responsibilities.

It's four Programs:
Gender and Development: A response to women’s situation and geared towards personal, group and community development through the provision of practical and strategic gender interventions. It aims to enable women to be aware of the socio-cultural and political conditions that affect their roles, choices, images and relationships; and to facilitate responsive actions as a result of their awareness and consciousness.

Ancestral Domain: A response to the issues of unpeace and underdevelopment in the region based on the inability of indigenous peoples to fully exercise their rights over their ancestral domains. This program aims to attain self-sustaining communities through indigenous women’s initiatives for peace and development.

Publication: The Igorota Magazine and other journals serve as a fora for the expression and exchange of ideas and experiences on women and Cordillera issues for the identification of various solutions to problems, and for the development of a collective Cordillera consciousness and identity from the women’s perspective.

Learning Resource Center: Serves as a venue for roundtable discussions on gender, women and Cordillera issues. The LRC also undertakes research and information generation.

Cheers to all Igorota! Cheers to all women!