Regret came with every step—at least in the beginning. Between the biting cold, the thin air, and the early, early morning darkness, the hike up Mount Pulag in Benguet was a shock to the system for those who, like me, do not usually climb mountains “for fun.” But, as it is with this kind of...
Tag: Benguet
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Team Lakay and a gym to call their own
The fulfillment of a cherished dream almost a decade in the making. That’s how Mark Sangiao aka Coach Mark of Team Lakay described the opening of their headquarters in Baguio City’s scenic Irisan Heights. “Finally, after renting space in many, many gyms in different parts of Baguio and La Trinidad over the years, Team Lakay...
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A new story takes root in old logging area
ITOGON, Benguet—For generations, the town of Itogon has been defined by mining. Gold, gravel, and the scars of mineral extraction have shaped both its landscape and its economy. But in a 10-hectare patch of forest that was once a logging concession, a different story is beginning to unfold. Opened in February 2025, Mt. Camisong Forest...
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Vegetable farmers in Benguet feel the crunch from fuel price increases
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — PJ Haight has taken to siphoning diesel from his vehicle into a water pump that will irrigate the family’s farmland these days, as prices of fuel and other inputs soar, straining available fuel supply and agricultural yields in Benguet. Haight and other upland vegetable growers in Atok, a third-class municipality in...
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From culture vlogger to viral restaurant owner
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—Surprised to see lines of people on one side of the highway starting around 9 a.m. in Barangay Beckel, just at the border with Baguio City? They’re drawn by internet-personality-turned-restaurateur Etag TV and his restaurant. Etag TV is actually Mark Dave Yamoyam, a registered nurse from La Trinidad who has been vlogging about Igorot...
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Indigenous folk say no to gold mining firm’s expansion in Benguet town
ITOGON, Benguet—Indigenous residents are resisting plans by Itogon-Suyoc Resources Inc. (ISRI), a big gold mining company, to expand its operations to more than six times its concession area in their town, warning of possible harmful effects on the environment. On Tuesday, Jan. 27, more than a hundred protesters and their supporters gathered outside the Itogon...
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Probe of ex-public works official Catalina Cabral’s mysterious death continues
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article includes mention of suicide. Those in distress may call the phone numbers listed at the end of the report. BAGUIO CITY—The mysterious death of former public works undersecretary Catalina Cabral has prompted growing concern over the handling of evidence by police and the transparency of the investigation. Cabral was discovered unconscious...
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Deep in the mountains, giving thanks for the harvest
LUSOD, Kabayan, Benguet—On Nov. 12, my heart sank when I received word from Lilia Waclin that Supertyphoon “Uwan” had triggered landslides that wiped out not only the roads but also the crops. How different it was when I traveled to Lusod on Oct. 25. I heard the gongs long before I saw any of the...
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From blade to bark, Gustavo Montero makes art from nature
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—Gustavo Montero is an Ibaloi artist and artisan who is contributing to the preservation and increased awareness of indigenous arts beyond his native province of Benguet. It all started in 2009, when Montero first became interested in Kali, the Filipino martial art that involves hand and body movements and the use of bladed weapons. He...
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How a high school org in Benguet preps students for life
In 2017 when Jonathan Supsupin of La Trinidad, Benguet, had to get on track for senior high school, he chose Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL). It was the first year of K-to-12 implementation and the middle child whose father is a vegetable picker at the trading post and whose mother works at a local hospital’s linen department was...