History

For most of the Spanish period, the area that now comprises Kalinga was largely left unexplored and uncolonized. During the late 17^th and early 18^th century, Dominican missionaries tried to establish Christian missions in the area, but these endeavors were abandoned due to the hostility of the people. It was only towards the end of the 19^th century when politico-military comandancias were established. The comandancia of Saltan was established in 1859 in Magaogao. The comandancia was later abandoned and replaced by the comandancia of Itaves, which was established in 1889.

During the American period, Act No. 1876 by the Philippine Legislature on August 18, 1908, created the Mountain Province from several mountain districts, including of Kalinga. On June 18, 1966, Republic Act No. 4695 divided the old Mountain Province into four new provinces one of which was Kalinga-Apayao.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Kalinga became the hotbed of opposition to government plans to build a series of hydro-electric dams along the Chico River. The proposed project would have flooded ricelands, which thousands of Kalinga families had tilled for generations and formed part of the people's cultural heritage. Despite national government threats and intimidation, the Kalingas resisted the project. The steadfast resistance eventually paid off and the project was eventually abandoned.

On February 14, 1995, the two sub-provinces of Kalinga and Apayao were separated, by virtue of the passage of Republic Act No. 7878. Kalinga became a distinct province with its capital at Tabuk.

People, Culture and the Arts

The Kalingas form the largest ethnoliguistic group in the province. The name Kalinga is believed derived from the Ibanag and Gaddang words, which mean 'headhunter'. This name was, no doubt, a product of the time when headhunting was a prevalent practice that was considered necessary to prove bravery and prowess. The Kalingas speak the same language but are divided into different tribal groupings along the Chico River. The Kalingas are generally divided into southern and northern cultural groups. The northern Kalingas are considered the most colorful and gaudily attired, as well as the most heavily ornamented, of the peoples of northern Philippines. Aside from differences in culture, there are 36 tribes into which these people are divided.

The Kalinga identify strongly with his or her tribe and this strong tribal identification has led to frequent bloody conflicts in the past. The "bodong" or peace pact is an indigenous socio-political system used to define inter-tribal relationship and to avoid conflict. The bodong minimizes traditional warfare and headhunting and serves as a mechanism for the initiation, renewal, maintenance and reinforcement of social ties. In recent years, the concept of the "bodong" was expanded into a multi-lateral peace pact, providing a means of strengthening unity in the Cordilleras.

The people of Kalinga are the most extensive rice farmers of the Cordillera peoples, having been blessed with some of the most suitable land for both wet and dry rice farming. Except for the Ifugaos, the Kalingas are the most extensive terrace builders in the country. The Kalingas are also skilled potters with pot-making concentrated in the lower Chico River Valley. They are also excellent basket weavers and metal workers.

Trade and Investments

The land of the Kalingas remains a veritable frontier full of unexplored economic potentials. More than half of the province's area is suitable for agriculture and produces a bounty of rice, corn, cassava, coffee, mangoes, pineapple and legumes. The province possesses extensive grasslands that support cattle and livestock. A third of the province is considered forest land, which is a source of both timber and non-timber (rattan and bamboo) products. The province's mineral resources are largely untapped and consist of deposits of gold, copper, sulfur, phosphate, and guano. An industrious and trainable workforce drawn from a population of 154,145 supports the primary industries of the province.

Tabuk is one and a half hours from Tuguegarao, Cagayan and 12 hours from Manila via a system of good roads. All, except one municipality, is readily accessible from Tabuk. The domestic airport at Tuguegarao provides the closest air link for the province. Kalinga taps into the Luzon power grid for its energy needs while the Bulanao Waterworks System provides water to Tabuk and nearby municipalities.

Kalinga is being promoted as a new business frontier in the Cordilleras. The province is now pushing for the establishment of a Regional Agro-Industrial Center (RAIC) in Tabuk to spur industrialization and economic development in the Cordilleras. RAIC's establishment requires infrastracture investments to improve access, power generation and support facilities for the center. As an agro-industrial center, the province refocuses its economic activities into strengthening resource generating industries such as agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining and encouraging the establishment of value-adding industries. The province is now promoting the manufacture of timber and non timber-based products such as furniture, building components, baskets, toys and gift products. There are also good investment potentials in food processing, coffee production and processing, and jewelry making.

Tourism also holds a very promising potential for Kalinga. The province not only boasts of a rich cultural heritage that has remained largely unspoilt by westernization, it also has a bevy of natural attractions and physical formations that are ideal for cultural, ecological and sports challenge tourism. The tourism capabilities of the province are still rudimentary and there is a lot of room for more investments in providing more accommodations, transportation and services to tourists.

Development Initiative Highlights: