Letter to the Editor AN OPEN LETTER TO ATTY. BENNY CARANTES We, the officers and members of the AM-AMONG NAN IFONTOK in consultation with other civic organizations composed of people from MOUNTAIN PROVINCE who are bonafide residents and taxpayers of Baguio City, hereby express and extend our collective INDIGNATION over your continuous abrasive, irresponsible, discriminatory and unfounded remarks you so freely hurl on the “BONTOCS”. In your column, you sound as if YOU OWN Baguio City. You make it appear as if we, the Bontocs just came to Baguio and forcibly constructed our houses in your very own backyard and depended on you for daily existence. If indeed, your grandfather so fought a certain war just to defend their ownership of Baguio, WHAT DID YOU DO to protect what your grandfather fought for? The great and most honored and well respected Mateo Carino went to the US Supreme Court as you mentioned just to prove ownership over historic spots in Baguio like Camp John Hay, Session Road, Burnham Park, etc. What did you do to protect such properties, that we so agree, rightfully belongs to the Ibalois. If it were our forefathers (ifontoks) who fought like your grandfather, we would have defended/protected what they fought for with our lives even if we had to wage war against any intruder. In your case, sir, who until now is occupying Camp John Hay? Not the Bontocs. Who are occupying Session Road? Not the Bontocs. How did the Bontocs acquire properties here in Baguio City? We bought the lands/lots being sold left and right by your kakailyan who prefer to stay at the outskirts of the city. Attorney, sir, is it our fault if almost 50% of the City legislators/councilors are from Mountain Province? Is it our fault if more than 50% of the 128 Brgy. Chairmen of Baguio City are from MP? Is it our fault, if, in the line agencies of the government based in Baguio, most key positions are held by people from MP? OMG! Attorney, sir; these people were voted/elected by the people of Baguio; these people are fully qualified and patiently persevered in applying for the position they now hold. Now, regarding the top most positions of the city which is the the City Mayor and the Congressman, why don’t you try to fight them squarely in the political arena by filing your candidacy and we will see how you can command the Ibaloi votes including the lowland votes because accordingly, saan kayo met nga puro nga Ibaloi. ‘We came to Baguio to finish our schooling; we came to Baguio to work because unlike other tribes, we cannot thrive by merely selling our inherited properties because in MP people are despised and sneered at if you sell inherited properties. We are here in Baguio to practice our profession and to invest our resources. Why do you single us out? There are also people from provinces and countries who are here and who also contributed a lot in the progress of the city. Who established big colleges and universities in the city such as SLU, UB, BCF/UC and BCU? Definitely not the Ibalois. Who established big hospitals such as the Pines Hospital, Baguio Medical Center, Sacred Heart, etc? Not the Ibalois. Without these business people or investors from elsewhere; would said establishments be operational as they are now? Saan mi nga ammo no ania la unay ti basol mi nga taga Bontoc kadakayo, apo, to deserve such continuous embarrassing remarks from you. We are more than willing to meet you anytime, anywhere to talk with you face to face tapnu maibaga yo no ania ti basol mi ken tapnu masungbatan mi dakayo nga si sasango. My contact numbers are: 445-5465 or 0921-592-5868. Oh and by the way, sir, way back in 1964, Bontoc has become already one of the 10 municipalities of Mountain Province; Bontoc is not a province anymore and you should know this. SALAMUCH Apo and Good Day. I hope we could meet you. (SGD.) EVELYN AFIDCHAO MIRANDA President AM-AMONG NAN IFONTOCht
Posted on: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 13:09:58 +0000
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