The Cordillera is a region of six provinces and a city, all located in the Gran Cordillera Central Mountain Ranges of Northern Luzon. The region is officially called the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and by promulgation of law, the City of Baguio and the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Apayao, Kalinga, and Abra make up the CAR. The Philippine Constitution provides that there shall be a Cordillera Autonomous Region subject to ratification by the Cordillerans through a plebiscite. A plebiscite was conducted but the result of the exercise was negative, thus, necessitating a status quo in which the six provinces and the city had to collectively operate and govern as a simple administrative region.

There are numerous tribes in the Cordillera and each tribe has a distinct dialect of its own. The tribes are generally identified according to the province they come from. The Cordillerans are diverse in their language and in other ways but have turned this into their advantage, thereby, reaping the benefits of unity that emanate from diversity.

Diverse as they are, it is surprising to note that the customs, traditions, rituals, beliefs, aspirations and struggles of the Cordillerans, regardless of tribe, are similar.

History has proven that it is these tribesmen’s fierce love of independence and connection to the land that united them from being conquered by the Spanish colonisers’ that ruled and subjugated other parts of the Philippines from the 15th to the 18th century.

While other Filipinos assimilated the colonisers’ culture, the Cordillerans maintained their traditions and bond with nature and with their land. It is this fervour for self-determination that united these so-called mountain people to successfully resist Marcos’ grand plan of building the Chico Dam. This would have submerged the ancestral lands of Bontoc and Kalinga. Indeed, Cordillerans share a common heritage, culture and way of life.

It is this oneness of culture that gives inspiration to Cordillerans, wherever they wander, to come together and form an association. In New South Wales, Australia, the Cordillerans are organised into the “Philippine Cordillerans Association, NSW Australia, Inc.” or PHILCOR. The organisation was earlier called BIMAKO which stands for Benguet, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Apayao, Kalinga and Others. In 1993, BIMAKO was changed to PHILCOR. It has since become a comfort zone for migrant Cordillerans who, like birds from a long journey, flock together and find solace and acceptance from their ”kailians”.

Whereas other Cordillerans around the world are organised as BIBAK, Cordillerans in New South Wales earn the distinction which carry the word Cordillera(n) which is in sync with the present name of the Cordillera Administrative Region. One Cordilleran observes: “PHILCOR, as it stands, is a good name as it mentions both the region (CAR) and the nation (Philippines). It highlights the distinct as well as the national identities of the membership. We can carry this name with pride.”

The objectives of PHILCOR clearly demonstrate the capacity and inherent quality of Cordillerans to be harmonious and caring as they practice brotherhood, to wit:

• 1. To promote, preserve and maintain the Cordillera social and cultural values and welfare within the association, the Filipino community in Australia and the various communities where the individual members reside;
• 2. To extend appropriate assistance to members in times of difficulties and to assist new migrants;
• 3. To contribute within its means and resources to the welfare of the people back in the Philippine Cordillera villages.

PHILCOR functions as a formal organisation following democratic processes. The association is registered and has been known in NSW for more than a decade. The members observe a foundation day in June of each year to commemorate the birth of the association and an Annual General Meeting is held every October. The election of officers is done every two years and a general meeting is convened to discuss issues affecting the members anytime as needed. Social activities are organised for the members to relax, renew ties, strengthen relations, exchange news about our native land and, above all, to ease the blues.

At present, PHILCOR has a membership of over 300 families. The adults work across Sydney and NSW in the areas of medicine, medical care, transportation, energy, communication, business, retail, agriculture, sales, corrective services, police, religion, finance and banking, education and border protection among others.

The cultural group of the association is often invited to various Philippine and Australian events. The lively dances and colourful costumes showcase the richness and uniqueness of the Cordillera culture. It is the goal of our present officers that the endeavours of PHILCOR will leave a lasting cultural and nationalistic legacy to our families and the community. By lighting the embers and keeping the flames ablaze in the hearts and minds of our children and future generations of Cordillerans in Australia, we hope to leave the legacy inspired by our ancestors from way back in the Cordillera mountains where we came from.