Grateful to Canada, our second home

Grateful to Canada, our second home

Abigail Bengwayan-Anongos (Sec. General of Cordillera People’s Alliance), speaker at Besao Night.

Besao Association of Ontario’s Thanksgiving Night

By Jen Owatan

Besao Association of Ontario celebrated its annual thanksgiving event with some 160 attendants last Saturday, Nov. 17, 2015 at Holy Rosary Church Hall, St. Clair West, Toronto. Its theme was “Iyaman tako ay Igolinsan isnan entako nakiilyan isnan Canada.” Meaning “Igolinsan: Grateful to Canada as our second home.”

Abigail Bengwayan-Anongos , Secretary General of Cordillera People’s Alliance was the event’s speaker. She was invited by Primates World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) for a meeting and had speaking engagements with different churches, migrant organizations and first nation’s people in Canada. She shared the updates of Cordillera Region and other indigenous people’s situations in the Philippines. Her visit was part of the continuing partnership for justice and solidarity with the Frst Nations of Canada.

Ms. Anongos’s message to the event emphasized the story of Chico Dam. She said that because of the strong unity among the Igorots against the construction of Chico Dam, until now we see the water flowing from Bontoc to Kalinga. This story should be told to the next generations because that’s what defines the Cordilleran as Igorots. She also mentioned that it is important to help one another here in Canada as Cordillerans and there’s a need to intervene on what is happening back home and also to other indigenous peoples in the Philippines. She also said that there’s a need to build solidarity with the indigenous peoples in Canada because their experiences are not different from ours.

The event featured entertainment with dances, songs, skit/play and door prizes from the different Cordilleran organizations like Tadian, Sagada, San Lorenzo Anglican Church Youth Group, Seniors Group, and Kalinga among others.

San Lorenzo Youth

Men of Besao, Sagada, and Kalinga Organization

Besao Association of Ontario’s members and guests (Photos compliments of Maru Maesa)