By Bernaditti Lewis aka Freen Wiles

Anniversaries are an important part of life – as they remind us of any events both personal and cultural whether it’s a birthday , a civil partnership or a momentous moment, anniversaries puts a pin in the calendar that something matters much to us. TCC -HK has just celebrated its second year existence continuously reaching out to people in need. People who weren’t solicitated to be included in the list for presentation or documentation purposes and to profit from them but those who willingly tap the group to seek support.

Being in the group is not easy as it calls for a genuine love for the work enclosed. We do not get a pay for anything we do, for what we sweat or perspired for, but a glistened spirit when we get to know many have been helped. Indeed, it is a charitable group. Being new in the group, I honestly say I didn’t have any serious concern to it until I slowly came to understand and know the group. Having worked with people in different areas and fields, I know that situational differences are evident. Attitudinal and personality, as well as cultural is observed and manifested; and these I believe, affects the status of the group.

That was on a bright sunny sunday where the event started with all the members shared in the task and duties were performed well and ended blissfully. It was made possible because of the guiding principle that there is always joy in giving and sharing. Much have been said to stain the good purpose of the group but it has stood up from its humble begginings to its second year still towering. With it being called “the strongest leg for mother TCC’s activities, TCC -HK will surely move and soar not to boast for fame but to be exemplified in the name of Charity.  Through the anniversary, it gives us a chance to look back the year since the event we’re making and reflect on how it has shaped us.

 

The highlights of our second year of existence was the OCTOVOICE concert held last October 1, 2017 where we were able to raise the amount of 200,000 pesos to fund the Concert for Life Series in the Philippines. Last December, the Batcave Facebook Club together with the TCC-HK and TCC- Philippines sponsored the Christmas Feeding and gift giving to the children of the Timberyard Day Care at Itogon, Benguet. Before our anniversary, we were able to extend a financial help to one of our co-OFW, Vretchen Daguines of Thailand. The amount raised was done during the induction program of the Cordillera Women’s Club. We were very grateful to the group for allowing us to do the solicitation as their program progresses. We were able to accumulate funds amounting to 4040 HK dollars from the generous fellow Cordillerans.

TCC HK wants to acknowledge groups and individuals who were present during our second anniversary program. Vice Consul Robert Quintin, who gave us his inspirational message. To Miss Marsita Singwey as the guest speaker. The Batcave Facebook Club, The TuBa Group HK ,The United Mankayan Workers Association, The NAMWAW, The Smart Decision HK, The Singles and Doubles International HK, The Angaki, Quirino Org., The Bontoc Migrants Workers Organization, The Bauko District Organization, The Mountain Province, Federation, The Rambak Cordillera HK, The Samoki Volleyball Team, and to all individuals whom I can’t mention; to all who were present and stayed with us until the end of the event, and the last but not the least, to Ms. Eileen Compitay who for the two consecutive years lent us her chairs and Tables for free. Without you all the event will not be a success.

TCC-HK members, apart from supporting their own activities, actively support different groups and organisations of OFWs in Hong Kong. The true essence of unity. Unity that is not only built with the principle of maintaining harmony and peace within the TCC group, other surrounding groups, and the community, but most importantly, in the light of good causes such us providing hopes to the disadvantaged, advancement of education, preservation of culture, arts, and heritage, advancement of education, relief of poverty, and protection of health; the charity objectives of TCC.

 

God bless all the volunteers, God bless us – OFWs, God bless TCC!

Photo credits to different owners and additional scripts from Rose John Ticag Amoy.

The Story

Article By Gregorio C. Taag

Some five weeks before the 68^thFoundation Day celebration of the municipality of La Trinidad, Councilor Awingan texted me that there will be a Sanguniang Bayan Board Resolution endorsing me as an outstanding volunteer. To this effect, I replied that if they will award me as such, they will also award our charity group, The Cordillera Connection.

When I went to file our Concert For Life permit at the Mayor’s Office, I was met by Valreid Olsim, Municipal Tourism Officer and handed me an application form. We wrote all the achievements for 2017 – 2018 because that was the period covered by the search. The SB members were impressed by the cooperative effort given by all TCC Country Chapters worldwide. The Office of the Mayor staff and personnel are in the know of TCCs activities because they are the ones calendaring our concerts and other activities.

The award thus reads, “for the organization’s exemplary dedication to charity and volunteer works; supporting scholars, raising funds for the medical needs of many indigent and chronically-ill patients; and for supporting various endeavours that are relevant to the community, ultimately promoting a culture of volunteerism to the community of La Trinidad.”

Together with TCC, some individuals were also awarded as well as other organizations. This award is most befitting, especially in the wake of so many groups organizing Concerts-For-A-Cause that are being complained about by the beneficiaries. They are accused of deducting exorbitant amounts for the holding of such concerts. These are taking place elsewhere in the Baguio-Benguet area.

This ward is for all of us who genuinely manifest a very strong dedication to our fellowmen who need help. Foremost in our TCC skyline are our Concerts For Life Series and Project TAKKAY.

 

 

Hon. Mayor Salda and the local government of La Trinidad Benguet awards plaque of recognition to The Cordillera Binnadangan Connection, Inc. (TCBCI), the Philippine subsidiary of The Cordillera Connection (TCC) during the celebration of the municipality’s 68th foundation, held to day, 14th June 2018.

The recognition was awarded in view of acknowledging the “organisation’s exemplary dedication to charity and volunteer works; supporting scholars, raising funds for the medical needs of many indigent and chronically-ill patients, and for supporting various endeavours that are relevant to the community, ultimately, promoting a culture of volunteerism to the community of La Trinidad.

This recognition is significant to TCC not for the sake of prestige but to prove its genuine charity works. It is also very important for TCC’s beneficiaries, most importantly, as the recognition does not only boost the integrity of TCC’s works, but also gives confidence to the people and the community to give support to the numerous beneficiaries who are seeking support thru the charity’s concert and other activities. It gives confidence to the wider community locally and overseas to pour their support to our causes which will mean more beneficiaries will be supported.

The recognition was received by Sir Gregorio Taag (TCC-Phils President) and Jasmine “Aeryll Jasmin”, one of TCC’s dedicated nurse volunteers.

We congratulate all TCC supporters, volunteers, sponsors, our volunteer bands most specially TCC Band, donors, and our TCC Chapters overseas. Kudos to you all. We are pretty sure, more good news are coming in the future.

We thank La Trinidad-LGU, too, with the leadership of Hon. Mayor Salda for recognising our causes.

The Cordillera Connection (TCC), a registered charity in the United Kingdom (Charity No.: 1152344), with its operating name, British-Filipino Foundation (BFF), is currently organising Filipino-British Summer Dance Festival, an event aimed to raise funds for its charity works in the Philippines. Due to public demand, we have changed it to a summer festival instead of the ballroom dance competition to cater everyone.

Currently, we are supporting poor university students and assisting hundreds of chronically ill poor patients. Just recently, through the initiative of our very supportive medical doctors, we had conducted a medical mission which focused on women’s health through free health education, check-up and screening for breast and cervical cancer.

The summer dance festival features variety of dances for attendees to enjoy and is also aimed to realise one of our charity goals; the preservation of culture, arts, and heritage. The event is open to the public and it highlights a talent showdown competition which is open to all solo, duo or groups who want to showcase their dance talent or skills in an open category.

• Open to all nationalities: solo, duo, or group
• Contestants can pick any accompanying sounds or music of their choice for the performance that they intended to showcase (e.g. singing, line dancing, ballroom, pop, etc). Contestants can showcase more than one talent; backing tracks saved on a USB or other media accessible to general PA system. Live streaming on YouTube or other online streaming are not allowed.
• Contestants must practice at their own time and initiative.
• No registration fee is required. However, participants are encouraged to sell tickets to achieve the aim of the charity.
• Judges’ decision is deemed final.
• Length of each presentations must not exceed 3 minutes. Exceeding the time limit may result to deduction of points.
• Props are allowed but any articles or items used must be cleared from the dance floor/ stage within 2 minutes after presentation.
• Good sportsmanship is expected from all contestants. Failure to display such conduct may result in being “adjudicated only” or even disqualification for gross misconduct. Professionalism must always be observed even in the choice of costumes, props and choice of music.

1st PRIZE: £200 (Courtesy of Frontrow UK) + Certificate + Trophy+ Free 2 nights accommodation with breakfast at Belmont Hotel (Manila, Philippines- Courtesy of AA Travel and Tours)
2nd Prize: £100 (Courtesy of Community Respiratory Nurses for Hammersmith and Fulham)  + Certificate + Trophy

Best Costume Award will also be awarded to a solo, duo or group contestant, voted by judges.

On-the-spot Best Dress Award will also be given to each male and female audience who will be voted by assigned judges.

TCC is still currently inviting contestants and sponsors. Get in touch with us NOW!

The success of our charity works and events have been the result of the great workmanship of our volunteers and the generousity of our sponsors. Without them, we can do nothing.

Please do email us at: info@thecordilleraconnection.org

You can also reach us on: 07400661466  07583636174 or via the details on our CONTACT US  page.

TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED HERE:

To purchase more than one ticket, just increase the quantity into the desired number of tickets.

Mr Joel Tingbaoen Sr., One of the greatest and legendary igorot musicians who influenced the music of many cordilleran generations has died. He has peacefully joined our creator in the presence of his loving family.

Some of his hits were Dakami nga Igorot, Itetem, and Shi Shadaan. For the olds and the youngs, his songs are truly treasures and all-time favourites. During his time in music, his songs were the songs of most igorot house holds.

His noticeable singing styles which no other cordilleran male singers have ever matched are his perfect country music voice, diction and yodelling.

We pray for his soul to rest in eternal peace and to sing with the angels of God in Heaven.

We also suggest that the Provincial Government of Benguet and even the City Government of Baguio and other local cordilleran governments give him recognition for his great contributions in igorot music.

By Gregorio C. Taag

“Adda lako yo nga cedula?” An older man peeped inside the La Trinidad Municipal Gym wanting to secure one.

I answered, “awan manong, sabali iti adda ditoy.”

And he answered back,”apay awan cedula yo? Anya nga iti adda ditoy?”

I ushered him to come in and explained that one of the concerns of this Medical Mission was also to provide free check-up and screening of older males for a possible prostate cancer. He obliged and waited for the Doctor Interns to attend to him.

Previously, the morning of May 26, 2018 was uneventful when we started to fix the La Trinidad Municipal Gym for the Medical Mission 1 – Part 2. It was our experience from the Medical Mission 1 – Part 1 held a week before that people start piling up for the activity. There is still a wait-and-see attitude of people hereabouts.

At around 8AM, the volunteers led by Juvie Egsan and TCC scholars, were already half through with the set-up proposed by Dr. Ruth Taguiling, our TCC Doctor who leads our Medical Missions. She arrived around this time and we prepared her equipment for the teach-in which was usually done to explain the whole procedures and reasons for doing so.

As the beneficiaries were piling in and enlisting, we noticed that many young boys were excited and were mumbling to themselves as if wanting to rush inside for the circumcision already. The women exuded a more comfortable aura as they sat down on the chairs we arranged for the short lecture. There was a hushed silence that followed.

Then Dr. Ruth blurted out over the microphone, “mano iti agpakugit? Saan kayo mababain ta mayat daytoy;” she said as she was calming unfounded fears from some younger boys. She also talked to the women about the breast and cervical cancer incidences in the country; how to detect and avail of such check-up and screening.

While the doctors were busy with the activities, a Pangasinense woman entered the gym with her bayong and moving from table to table showing her calasiao puto. Many were moved by her gesture coupled with her sob story and ended up being screened too. After Dr. Ruth was done with her part, she called for the woman and bought two packs. She learned from her that she was the sole bread winner of the family – her husband being sickly too. He does menial carpentry works but it isn’t enough so she buys the calasiao puto worth P500.00 and brings them here to Baguio, sell it, and if consumed, she looks for her ‘sideline’ washing dishes at a nearby restaurant. Dr. Ruth shared this story while we were evaluating the activity.

All in all, there were 18 women who underwent the procedure and 15 young boys circumcised. The OB-GYNE team led by Dr. Ruth was composed of Doctors Diana Bandong, Stefanie Belmes, Jamailah Rafael, Ralph Santoile, Dan Tabago, Armina Teodoro, Novilyn Villanueva, and Valerie Tumaliaun. The ‘Tuli Group’, as called by Dr. Ruth, was also led by Dr. Darwin Henry Galuba, and ably assisted by Drs. Ariane Hazel Sanchez, Jerah Angway, and Cristina Marrero.

Meanwhile, as were removing our equipment and fixing the gym, the older male who wanted to buy his cedula came up to us and thanked us profusely.

“Salamat ta inmayak ditoy. Gapo iti cedula ket na-check up ak ket mapanak to kano idiay clinic ni Dr. Galuba.”

These vignettes are not merely sob stories or incidentals but these happen for a reason.

Thank you everyone for the help, especially TCC- Philippines, TCC- Finland, TCC-Israel, and TCC-Montreal. Because of you, we were able to realize one of Project Takkay’s activities.

 

Amidst the influence of the modern world, gracefulness is still a living trademark of Filipinas. The Cordillera Connection and Batcave group, OFWs in Hong Kong, are still able to produce very artistic presentations for their weekend community events, despite their week-long tiring jobs.

Watch their simple but graceful traditional dance presentation.

Video credits: Natty Marrero

On May 16, 2018, at the La Trinidad Municipal Gym,  TCC conducted a  very special kind of medical mission intended to address women’s health care issues drew a total of 75 women whose ages ranged from 20 up to 70 plus. They had their breast cancer and cervical cancer screening and check-up. Aside from them, 24 young boys were circumcised and two older males examined for prostate cancer.

This very rare type of medical mission was anchored on educating the women on the causes, characteristics, and prevention of such chronic illnesses. According to Dr. Ruth Taguiling, the prime mover of this medical mission, the Philippines has the highest incidence of both types of cancers in Asia. Therefore, there is a great need to educate our women so that they will be able to understand this scenario better. It is in this context that she, and other OB-GYNE specialists like Drs. Grace Doromal and Sharon Marcial embarked on this novel project.

As Dr. taguiling said,”maymayat met a nga ikkan tayo isuda iti bassit nga lecture tapno maamwan da dadduma nga facts and figures. Jak kaya jay common nga medical mission nga kitam lang jay pasyente, damagem anya marikrikna na, tapos ikkam agas. Saan nga kasjay ti masapul tayo.”

Other doctors who came over to help were Drs. Cristina Marrero, Caroline Balangay, Yolanda Purad, and Darwin Henry Galuba. Since Dr. Galuba is an urologist, he was the one, together with Dr. Marrero, an anesthesiologist, who circumcised the boys and examined the two older males for prostate cancer signs. The internists, would-be medical doctors, were also on hand to assist in the procedures. They are: Jellico Asuncion, Michelle Manding, Lynette Ritos, Inna Donato, Michelle Tamayo, Elijah Quinto, Adrian Ang, Carlo Ramos, Ralph Cosue, Ferdinand Laguatan, Ariane Hazel Sanchez, and Jerah Angway.

Why many doctors and internists? Dr. Ruth added,” when I asked my doctor-friends who can come and support me in our medical mission, these were the ones who agreed to come, pro-bono, because they feel that have to give back to the community.”

TCC nurses, who are also volunteers, include Aeryll Jasmin Lapnawan and Juvie Egsan. They were on hand to provide medical as well as manual assistance to the doctors. With them were the Good Care Kids (scholars of Dr. Ruth for whom she dedicated her 50K run last year) namely: Jaren May Pucayen, Evonne Veraluz Perez, Jhon rey Castillo, Karl Marc Manginga, and Brenna Rose Perez. They were joined by six TCC scholars, namely: Jhoane Hazel Guanso, Analyn Baloc, Cecila Basatan, Frauline Bentayaon, Brandy laoyan, and Reymond Tambogon. Arriving early, too, were there friends of Grace Marcos of TCC-Montreal who are until now members of the Baguio Junior Police – Raquel dela Rosa and Joyce Sotelo.

It could be noted that this medical mission is an activity under Project Takkay. Since coming up with an overhauled program dealing with charity, The Cordillera Binnadangan Connection Inc., otherwise known also as The Cordillera Connection – Philippines, launched its PROJECT TAKKAY last April 15, 2018 during the Concert for Life 25 in La Trinidad, Benguet.

Project Takkay, spelled out as Project TCC Assisting Kids Keen on Academics and Yen. was originally designed to assist the immediate families of TCC beneficiaries, especially in terms of providing scholarships and livelihood programs. But it has branched out to embrace assistance also to preschools, elementary schools, orphanages, and other non-beneficiaries. It could be remembered, too, that TCC, through Dr. Camdas, in 2011 through 2013, had been conducting medical missions in the far flung areas of Kabayan, Bokod, and Kibungan.

For us, this is the real meaning of charity – for all in need and for all indeed.

To sum up, Dr. Grace Coloma also said,”I feel happier doing this, Manong Greg.”

To anyone who would like to take part, donate, volunteer or support our next medical mission, kindly send us a message at info@thecordilleraconnection.org or send a text to our TCC-Phils President on mobile +639086146030.

Article written by Gregorio C. Taag.   Photocredits: Dr Ruth Taguiling, Aryll Jasmin, and Gregorio Taag

 

Cordillera’s most featured musicians initiated a summer free music tutorials for guitar and vocals on 1st April, previously scheduled in March but was moved due to a prolonged brown-out. With the support of their affiliate music learning institution, I-Grab, and the hosting facility, they came up with the idea of partnering with TCC to conduct such free music tutorial.

According to Margaret Locano, one of the volunteer musician, “Its our 2nd time to conduct free lessons.. but we have thought of partnering with TCC since most tutors or coaches are involved with TCC… So I asked sir Taag and he said yes.. He suggested it as an arm of Project Takkay (a special project initiated by Dr Ruth Taguiling, specialising in community education programs). This is to shape and target future performers which we can invite in our TCC concert series.. at the same time, TCC is helping the school promote their music lesson offers”..

Acknowledging the approval of Mr Gregorio Taag, TCC-Philippines President, they are hinting the idea that I-Grab and TCC could also be partners for projects involving music since the facility is located at Betag, La Trinidad, also within TCC’s locality, and is open for activities anytime.

“Also, this is one way to influence them to focus on music rather than gadgets or bad vices,” adds Margaret.

“I-Grab wants to emphasize that our socio-civic role is to help build families and communities through music,” says Mrs Riza Orpilla, manager of I-Grab and also one of the tutors.

A member of the Hagpatan Band of Tip Top and Maria Basa, Baguio City, who attended the tutorial testifies: “Manang mayat dyay lesson I learn a lot like the anatomy chuchu. Dyay Breathing which is talaga nga nakatulong .. Marigatan ak gamin di una ngem tadta medyo maalalak. Pati dagidyay techniques tapnu maala dyay high notes and low notes. Tapos helpful met lng nga talaga dyay humming pay bago ikanta tapnu maala dyay song . idyay placement met medyo maalala met ketdi .. Looking forward idyay sumaruno manen nga ada kastoy ta guyuden mi kakadwa mi. Umay kami amin.”

Another learner said, “It was a great experience Manang and very helpful for us beginners na hindi naman kagandahan ang boses but we have the heart and eagerness to learn. We are very thankful nga nag-organise kayo ti kastoy nga activity kase you are giving hope to those children who are interested in music.”

The tutors and coaches who initiated and officiated the music lessons are Gayle Torrado, Riza Orpilla ,Keneth Inocencio, and Margaret Locano. Juan Jaymoh Javier from Music for Change, was not able to join due to prior commitments. They are also volunteer performers of TCC’s Concert for Life Series which has already supported more than 280 medically-ill beneficiaries.

Margaret, Kenneth and Jaymoh are also members of the TCC Band, the only band that toured the whole Cordillera for their bid to campaign for Cordillera’s Autonomy in partnership with NEDA (National Economic Development Authority).