Abra is a landlocked province located on the western side of the Cordillera Region. It is bounded by Ilocos Norte and Mountain Province on the north, Ilocos Sur on the south, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur on the west, and Mt. Province, Kalinga and Apayao on the East.
Geographically, Abra can be divided into two parts. The eastern and northwestern portions are the highlands where most of the hills and mountains are located. The southern and western portions are the lowlands where most of the plains and valleys are located.
Created as a Politico-Militar Province in 1846 during the Spanish Rule, Abra was integrated to the Province of Ilocos Sur on February 1905. After 12 years of being a sub-province, it regained its Status as a separate province on March 9, 1917. It remained as part of Ilocos Region until the creation of the Cordillera Administrative Region on July 15, 1987.
Abra is blessed with abundant natural dye yielding plants making it the “Natural Dye Capital of the Philippines.” Natural dyes, extracted from plants, are used in food coloring, beverages, textiles, furniture and pharmaceutical products.
Inhabitants:
The first inhabitants of Abra were the ancestors of the Bontocs and Ifugaos who moved to the Mountain Province, and the Tinguians/Itnegs. The Term Itneg and Tinguian has come to be used synonymously.
·Tinguian – meaning “Mountains” or “Highlands”. It is used by the Spaniards as pertaining to all mountain dwelling people or hill tribes in the entire Philippine Archipelago which includes the mountain people of Zambales, Bohol, Basilan and Mindanao. Later on, the term was used exclusively for the mountain dwelling people of Abra and Ilocos provinces.
·Itneg – The Tinguians have always called themselves Itneg, which might have been derived from the Ilokano term “Iti Uneg” meaning “The Interior” or from the combination of the prefix “I” added to the name of a major river “Tineg”. “Itineg” means people coming from the Tineg River area.
Tinguians of today can be identified into two groups: “The Valley Tinguian” and “The Mountain Tinguian”.
·Valley Tinguian – Occupy communities where there are also Ilocano settlers.
·Mountain Tinguian – Occupy the Highland places of Northern and Eastern Abra.
Dialects: Ilokano is the generally used dialect. Other dialects are Itneg/Tinguians and Tagalog.
Two attempts to ratify the Organic Act for Cordillera Autonomous Region failed. (1990 & 1998)
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In Pictures
Sleeping beauty - Kalinga
Lake Bulalakaw along Ballay-Tawangan stretch, Kabayan, Benguet (by Ronnie Calugay)
A crypt inside Dumanay cave, Pungayan, Kapangan (by Glo A. Tuazon)
HEART BAGUIO/BURNHAM advocates sit it out and do weekly bonfire vigils at the Pine Trees of The World Park (back of Athletic Bowl) for more than a month now. Journalists and musicians and concerned groups and individuals gather to protest the killing of the trees and the park as well as preserve the use of the same for the people of Baguio City. (By Glo A. Tuazon)
Sagada, Mt. Province (by Glo A. Tuazon)
Sadsadan morning view, Bauko Mt. Province
Sagada Cave, Sagada, Mt. Province (by Gordon P.)
the green houses of Atok, Benguet (by: Glo A. Tuazon)
gud morning! Rise & shine 4 8 s only at dis point wer u hav gold in your eyes, corn oil on your face, methane in your mouth & very fashionable hairstyle!
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