An open letter to Davao Mayor and soon-to-be President Rodrigo Duterte

Dear Sir,

Greetings from the Hill Tribes of North Luzon!

I am writing you prior to your proclamation as President of the Philippines because I believe that this is the best time for a stakeholder from the indigenous peoples of North Luzon to reach you. Please allow me to mention at the very start that I belong to the IP community particularly the Bago or Bagbag-o which is clearly not an Ilocano or an Igorot but shares common customary practices with the two mentioned. Our tribal group is not as prominent as the lowlanders and upland tribes of Northern Philippines but we are significantly represented in the Ilocos Provinces, the Cagayan Valley and some parts of Pangasinan. For the three decades that I worked under past Philippine administrations, I have yet to see my IP community included in the programs and services of government agencies particularly the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). As the chosen leader who will eventually serve as the father of the land, we support your administration in trying to bring about necessary reforms. May I also offer my humble services if it warrants a place in your administration.

With my background as visual artist having finished a degree of Fine Arts in UST and filmmaker as among the pioneering students of UP Film Center backed with my trainings, scholarships and thirty years of experience as public information officer, I believe that I am fit and qualified to join your office as among your field lieutenants in the area of culture and arts.

I have already worked under five (5) presidents starting from the last few months of the deposed dictator where I was a news video editor of the state run Channel-4. The 1986 EDSA revolt shortened my promising television job which led me to volunteer as Public Assistance Desk Officer under the revolutionary government of President Cory Aquino. Over the years, I have documented the peace process and the upland people’s aspiration for a Cordillera regional autonomy as well as the rich culture of Filipinos in general. At age forty, I was inducted into the “Council of Elders” by the Igorot Global Organization during an international gathering. Now at above 50 years of age, I am contemplating to devote more of my time to the preservation and promotion of customary practices, indigenous crafts and arts while keeping up with my work as public servant. Currently, I work with a government regional line agency as a senior media specialist based in the Cordillera Administrative Region. I also act as part time coordinator for the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ (FDCP) Baguio Cinematheque which is under the Office of the President. I firmly believe that I can still extend my productive years under you as President of the republic.

This letter of intent is also my way of expressing my high regard and best wishes to your administration and I do hope that your sincerity and sacrifices in serving the country will bring about lasting peace, stable economy and prosperity to all Filipinos.

I am enclosing the following information, personal achievements and activities undertaken should you wish to know more about me: Sir, Kasama Mo Po Kami Sa Pagbabago!

Respectfully yours

Joel Arthur Pang-ot TibaldoBaguio City

1983-84, Indie Filmmaker andPhotojournalist, The Weekly Highlander, Prieto-Roces Publication, Baguio City1985-86 (EDSA 1), News Video Editor, Maharlika Broadcasting System, Newscenter-4 (Ch-4), Quezon CityEditorial Cartoonist, Cordillera Post, Baguio Arts Guild Pioneering Member:

1986-2003 Worked as Information Officer from a lowly Public Information Assistance Desk Officer (PIADO) to IO-II (level 2)

-Chronicled and documented the peace talks between RP and the CPLA-CBA group led by the rebel priest Fr. Conrado Balweg 1985-1988. Survived an NPA ambush in 1987

-Specialized in video production and packaging of info-materials that led to the recognition of government programs under DA, DENR, BFAR, PNP, OCD & Baguio City LGU-Cleanest & Greenest HU Cities, lakes-Community Based Mass Casualty Incident COBAM)

-1992-93: Trained for 6mos in Okinawa Japan as JICA scholar on Video Production under Colombo Plan. -1993-2010: Technical Director, “This is Baguio TV Show & Cordillera Skyline” Hosted community public affairs program aired on local channels and radio programs. (Non Profit)

-Represented the country in international gatherings and competitions.

-East-West Center Artist-in-Residence & Lecturer at the University of Hawaii in 2006 during the Centennial Celebration of Philippine Migration to Hawaii

-Outstanding Alumnus of the Baguio City National High School (2010 Commencement Speaker) with Dr. Juan Flavier as Special Guest

-Designer & Promoter of indigenous clothes and fashionable wears -Outstanding Citizens of the City of Baguio (2003, Helen R. Tibaldo-2006)

-Comm TV Host “Usapang CARE” & “Cordillera Skyline” 2003-2013

-Exhibitor and Lecturer on Ilocano Culture during the US-FILIPINO History Month, October, 2013

-Media Specialist: Department of Trade and Industry (2003-present)

President (adhoc) Cordillera Association of Government Information Officers-Cordillera (ASGIOCO) -KBP accredited broadcaster (DZEQ) (2007-present)-President: Cordillera News Agency (2014-present)

2009 –Triumphant RP delegates to the III Delphic Games in Jeju. South Korea, with 1Gold medal, I Silver medal & 1 Group Award.

-1993-2010:Produced segments for a community cable (Nuvue-Skycable)-2011-present: Coordinated film fests & screenings at RP’s 1st Cinematheque Uploaded over 30 video contents in Youtube including the Philippine National Anthem w Cordillera Images

-FAP 5 Best Documentary Award 1999 “Indigenous Forest Management” w/ Atty. Espiridon Laxa & Ben Pinga of OS Film-Met with National Artist Ramon Obusan. Obusan`s Ballet Folklorico de Filipinas is the next group to perform in Hawaii after my East-West Center Residency

-Advocates for the preservation of heritage sites such as Post Offices and promotes the sending of written letters using postal stamps.-Met with NCCA Chair Felipe De Leon about the matter including the promotion of locally woven products.

-Eco-Warrior - Continuing advocacy for the preservation & conservation natural resources.-Co Founder: Baguio Eco-Walk & Urban Heritage Walk.

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Tribal Folk – Steward and practitioner of indigenous knowledge systems and practices.

… a citizen of the global village.