Cordillera Administrative Region

The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) created by the former President Corazon Aquino
in year 1987 it is composed of six provinces Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga, Ifugao, and
Mountain province and it's have 2 cities in region the Baguio City and Tabuk in Kalinga
Province. The National Economical and Development Authority or NEDA described the region as
a "Landlock region" located in northern central portion of Luzon. With a mountainous
topography, it is basically cold and windy almost all year round. The people in CAR called
"Cordillerans." The term encompasses the aborigines or the natives of the mountains called
"Igorots". The Igorots are blessed with very rich and fertile land good for planting almost kind of
fruits and vegetables are fresh and in the beauty of the climate in CAR

As the regions natural wealth enriches its people, so does its culture makes it people proud
and unique. Tribal dances such as Canao a songa and chants such as the Salidumay and epics
like Hudhud this is the most epic story of region its a part of their culture and history in
literature even if the author of this famous Hudhud is not from Cordillera. It became popular
with most especially among the Cordillerans.

The Cordillera Administrative Region literature best describes that they have rich culture to
which Filipinos have to proud of because until now they preserve and still practice their
customs and traditions that ideally shows their unique and bountiful literatures. Some of the
literary works of this region are HudHud (epic), Ullalim (ballad), Dangdang-Ay (song), The
Giantess and Three children (short story), Wedding dance (short story), Agga a ya agge a (song)
Canao (ritual) and Tuingguiam Flood a myth. These are some of the literature of CAR that
influenced by their geogripical features culture and history. The Hudhud (epic) which depicts
the rivalry of different tribes.

In Cordillera she is the most famous poet and writer she is Maria Luisa Aguilar Igloria she
was born September 3 year 1961 in Baguio she is 61 years old and she is a Filipina American
poet. Her background in education Humanities - Cum Laude - major in Comparative 1980
University of the Philippines Baguio. M.A in Literature at Ateneo de Manila University in the
year 1988. She was married to Ruben V. Igloria of chicago and blessed them with four
daughters. Madam Maria Luisa A. Igloria she is highly for expanse of work Luisa is an eleven-
time (five First, Prizes plus six lesser prizes) recipient of Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards
for Literature in three genres (poetry, nonfiction, and short fiction). In the year 1996 she
became the first Filipina woman of letters installed in the Palanca Literary Hall of Fame.
She is also the recipient of the 1988 Black Warrior Literary Award from the literary magazine of
the University of Alabama. The 1998 Illinois Arts Council Literary Award and the George Kent
Prize for Poetry. She has also done many 21st century poems, since November 20, 2010, Luisa
has been writing (at least) a poem a day as part of her daily writing practice. Other works are
listed through her website and in various online publications.

I choose one of her poem titled "A Letter to Love" by Maria A. Igloria published April 15, 2011.

Dear fellow wanderer, familiar now as my twin,

more handsome than my shadow: all these years

we’ve stopped at the same wayside inn to share

quick meals, a cup of coffee, talk about our days

and where we’ve been— And yet we never linger

longer than an hour, perhaps two, before the claims

of the world descend again. But now I don’t know

which is more magnetic: that tilt of sky, the road,

plain countryside rampant with scent, tall grass

where the wind could lift our names higher.

Memory or dream, was that your kiss under my

eyelid’s flicker? I miss you even before you’ve taken

leave. This morning is full of the cries of woodpeckers—

part ululation, part rusty hinge. Your heart goes

with them, or forages among the stones with sparrows,

trusting in what it finds. You never say So long

or Au revoir, only Next time will be sweeter.

For me the message Madam Maria Igloria poem or meaning is about the feelings of a couple
for each other and their desire for one another but the poem goes by it tells about the regrets
for not having the chance to do what they want. And other things that can fulfill their emotions
its also conveys a lot of confusion for the person in their ralation.

There are so many great writers in our country. In the field of literature, Filipinos will not be
left behind. One of our National heroes, Dr. Jose Rizal not only for his talent and love for the
country but also for his works. And in the past, there are still many Filipino writers who are
making a name in the field of literature abroad. Let us support and enjoy our own.

Submitted to

Ma. Theresa O. Mercene

BSED English Literature 223C

by

Roxette S. Culala

BSED English 2B