TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Office of the Congressman and Kalinga State University spearheaded the “Kalinga Bodong Student Summit” held at the Kalinga Sports Center today, to pass down the wisdom and knowledge of bodong (peace pact) to the younger generations of Ykalingas.
A multitude of students from the different colleges and schools in the province participated in different portrayals of bodong, with the manifestation of the practices on ‘sipat’, ‘pagta and inom’, ‘allasiw’, ‘sunglip/fulliti’, and ‘linay.’
The summit is aimed at instilling the idea of traditional peaceful conflict resolution in today’s modern society, especially since most conflicts that were recently recorded involve minors and students. Through this summit, the students can have a deeper understanding of the origins of bodong and how conflicts can be resolved peacefully instead of resorting to violence.
They can also gain valuable insights on the importance of preserving our cultural heritage, promoting peaceful conflict resolution, and fostering cultural diversity.
The event was attended by prominent provincial officials, including Representative Allen Jesse Mangaoang, former Tinglayan Mayor Johnny Maymaya, KSU President Dr. Eduardo Bagtang, and other dignitaries, along with students from Kalinga State University, St. Tonis College, Kalinga Colleges of Science and Technology, Saint Louis College Bulanao, the International School of Asia and the Pacific, and other schools in the province.
The summit is planned to be an annual event to ensure the continuous revival of knowledge on Kalinga bodong culture. By Ruth Cupang & Hazel Lacson