Like any organization of diverse membership, formation takes a long time. IGO Philippines is no exception. The idea sprouted when Filipino Igorots came to be aware of the initiatives of Rex Botengan and others in the U.S. in the formation of the Igorot Global Organization.
Spearheaded by members of the IIC-3 Executive Committee, AYIP and the Philippine based IGO Elders, an agreement was reached for a Philippine IGO Chapter. In a September 2000 IGO meeting, Ruben Tinda-an and Brian Aliping presented the desire of the Filipino Igorots to have a Philippine chapter. Foremost of the concerns was that issues of the motherland take a different dimension. In an IGO meeting in Virginia, a resolution was made to organize a Philippines IGO Chapter, with a convenor appointed to start the process.
Out of various small group discussions, IGO Philippines began to take shape. Several orientations were conducted before the June 16, 2001 General Assembly. The draft constitution was accepted and 35 Council elders were elected. These 35 Council elders were spread geographically with 4 residing in Abra, 2 in Kalinga, 1 in Ifugao, 2 in Mt. Province, 1 in Mindanao, 3 in Manila, and the rest in the Benguet/Baguio area. Only the Apayao tribe was not represented.
The membership committee took on an active recruitment process listing at least 443 members as of July 2001. The next committee to convene was the Youth committee where initial plans were formulated. Other committees met on various occasions to plan projects.
The IGO Philippine chapter enjoys a certain degree of autonomy in its operations with an understanding that such autonomy is not inconsistent with the Vision, Mission, Goals of IGO. The Chapter members have dual membership, first to the Chapter and then to the mother IGO.
Particular to the participation of the Chapter in international initiatives and activities, is the stand that any “official” Philippine delegation participating in IGO meetings, IIC activities, etc. should be endorsed by the Chapter. This was brought upon by the realization that on some occasions, statements were presented in international forums which claimed to have been endorsed by the Igorots in the Cordillera. The Philippine Chapter hopes to make clear statements only after sufficient consultation with members and communities. This prudent act is necessary as most members are actively engaged in affairs of the Igorots in the Cordillera region and in the national scenario. At the same time, any activity planned by IGO for the benefit of the Philippine communities and members should also be through the Philippine Chapter.
The IGO Philippine Chapter participated in the July 25-26,2001 Virginia meeting, with Dr. Carida Fiar-od leading the official delegation. The reports and recommendations of the chapter were well received by IGO in the meetings and highlighted in the July-Sept. 2000 Igorot Quarterly.
Members in the organization continue to go through a process of knowing one another. It ceased to be a circle of close friends and has ballooned into an organization of more than 657 members. There is definitely a demand for proper information dissemination. This is to dispel the false notion that the organization is a recruitment agency for people going abroad. At the same time, there is a need to share the vision and mission of IGO for the betterment of the Igorots and their communities.
In a general assembly, the following Council of Elders were elected as officers of the organization: Juan Ngalob as Chairperson, Philian L.C. Weygan as Vice Chairperson, Ursula Dao-ey as Secretary, and Rose Dulnuan as Treasurer. Elected also were Imelda Piluden as Assistant Secretary and Jerome Gawidan as Asst. Treasurer. Four regional Coordinators including George Gewan for Mindanao as well as Committee chairpersons were selected.
Initial activities focused on knowing more about each other and for a deeper appreciation of the vision and mission of the organization. By 2002, cultural education/dance practices were conducted, IGO Scholarships solicitations, health program planning, business and income generating activities were started. The Chapter continues to evolve, and strives to be a strong representative of the home based Igorots, at the same time actively linked with Igorots spread all over the world.
If there is one thing that inspires some members, it is the thought that in diversity there are areas of convergence. This could be contemporary issues, family lines and most especially programs that benefit or threaten the tribe. That in this fast changing world, the desire to keep the tribe alive becomes an undertaking in itself. The present generation is driven to pass on "who and what we are" to the next generation. It is recapturing the past, keeping memories alive and hoping that the coming generations will acknowledge a cultural identity rich with a history, possessing a broad spectrum of values and tracing century old traditions. There is much to be done and IGO Philippine Chapter is one small step towards the continued meaningful existence of the Igorot now and in future generations.