Conference of Igorots in Europe
By Yvonne Bellen
Since 2002, Igorots in Europe have met 4 times in 3-day conferences.
The latest was the 4th Igorot Cordillera (BIMAAK) Europe. (ICBE) Consultation held from 17-20 May in Dublin, Ireland. BIBAK_Ireland was the host. Dave Aragones, President headed the Steering committee with members. Previous consultation were held in Brussels (2002), Vienna (2003), & Zwitzerland (2005).
BIBAK is the acronym of 4 former Cordillera provinces in northern Luzon, Phil. and stands for Benguet, Ifugao, Bondoc, Abra, & Kalinga-apayao. When Kalinga& Apayao were divided into 2 provinces, one acronym was BIMAAK, which stands for Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Abra, Apayao & Kalinga.
ICBE, which formed in 2003 in Vienna is a network of Igorots & Cordillerans living in Europe. It is made up of organization & individuals. The Org. are: Igorot Org. in Austria, Cordillera Community in Belgium, BIBAK Ireland, BIBAK Switzerland & Igorot UK; and individuals are from Germany, Luxembourg, & in the Netherlands. The networks objective`is to have a consultation or conference every two years. The participants talk of ways to preserve their cultural heritage. They also discuss topics of interest like aging migrants, Cordillera issues & ledership & volunterism. An important part of consultation is passing on the Igorot Codillera culture to the second-generation Igorots. Every consultation is celebratory with a Gala Night, where everyone comes in a costume. The men beat the gongs & the women (&men) dance different dances of the Cordillera provinces.
The conference theme ws "Preservation & Promotion of our Cultural heritage & Addressing our Issues in Society". Which Dr, Caridad Fiar-od, guest speaker & resource person, expounded in a power point presentation. Towards preserving & promoting our cultural heritage. She recommended:1) Documenttion of tangible & intangible heritage should be copyrighted as the Igorots intellectual property before they are pirated by other artists or authors; 2) There should be continuing advocacy & promotion of the Igorot culture through conferences, symphosia & other forms; & 3) there should be an aggressive continuing education mong the youth on the dances, chants, indigenous technologies for them to understand their implication for development.
There were 48 participants with24 coming from Austria, Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom (England), Scotland & Wales, Canada, USA and the Philippines. The Other half came from Ireland including 4 Igorot miners from Tipperary.
During a sightseeing tour, some delegates went to Glendolough in the Wicklow Mountains, a valley of 2lakes & known for its early medieval monastic settlements. What remained of the 6th century monastic city were the gateway, round tower, cathedral, churches & cemetery.
In a consultation rich with rituals start to end, one part was the turnover ritual. Dave Aragones passed on to Severino Oblas og Germany, the Irish art craft- a synbol of hosting the ICBE consultation in 2009.
Rose Nabert, a delegate from Canada, wrote in her impression of the consultation.
"We reproccessed our past through the pism of recollection& linked the Irish & Igorot oral tradition of story telling,song, gong playing & dance with the hope we have a better understanding of what these may mean. The occasion was provided thank you, ICBE not only to celebrate our past & present but also to plan the future... looking ahead. What we do for others, ourselves, our earth, et.? The discussions were vibrant & sensitivities were put aside for the greater collective good. I was impressed. The younger & other generations took counsel from each other. there is hope indeed!"
 Reference as published in Munting Nayon - 208 June 30,2007, A monthly magazine from The Netherlands.
