Kalinga’s traditional way of settling disputes, the bodong or peace pact, was showcased before Southeast Asian diplomats and educators at the ASEAN Peace Education High-Level Conference in Quezon City, the Baguio Herald Express reported on Wednesday, October 14.
Engr. Andres B. Ngao-i, chairman of the Matagoan Bodong Consultative Council and secretary general of the Kalinga Bodong Council, was the only representative from the Cordillera at the event.
About the Conference
The conference was organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), with the Department of Education (DepEd) and international partners. It was held at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria and drew more than 400 diplomats, policymakers, educators, researchers, and leaders from across the region.
Its theme was “Peace Education for Shared Futures and Enduring Cooperation.” The goal is to bring peace education into school curricula and community programs across ASEAN.
How the Bodong Works
Ngao-i explained how Kalinga uses the bodong, governed by the pagta (the pact’s set of laws), to settle crimes and territorial disputes. The process goes step by step:
- Sipat – the first exchange of tokens to secure a ceasefire.
- Allasiw – the exchange of peace pact holders or neutral emissaries to build trust and guarantee safe passage.
- Negotiation and enforcement of tribal laws to restore harmony between communities.
A Famous Example
To show the power of the sipat, Ngao-i pointed to the September 13, 1986 Mount Data Peace Accord in Bauko, Mountain Province. There, then President Corazon Aquino gave an assault rifle, a Bible and a rosary to Fr. Conrado Balweg of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA). Balweg gave back a traditional spear and shield.
According to the report, that accord ended hostilities between the government and the CPLA.
What’s Next
Following Ngao-i’s presentation, diplomats from Malaysia will soon travel to Kalinga to research the province’s Indigenous conflict-resolution practices, the Herald Express said. No date was given.
Why It Matters
The bodong is often seen as a local tradition. Its presence at an ASEAN-level conference shows that Indigenous peacebuilding from the Cordillera has lessons to offer beyond the region.
