Igorots in the United States

The testimonials in Yen Le Espiritu's study on second-generation Pilipin@-Americans revealed that these Pin@ys often felt unexposed to Pilipin@ culture and history while growing up. While I generally felt this way as well, the few times I was exposed to this was when my parents attending BIBAK outtings.

BIBAK (Benguet, Ifugao, Bontoc, Apayao, Kalinga) stands for the provinces in the northern region of Luzon, inhabited by indigenous peoples known as Igorots. They are one the many "Cultural Minorities" of the Philippines, like the Muslims of the southern Philippines and the Aetas (also called the "Negritos") of eastern Luzon.

With an Ifugao father and a Bontoc mother, I often heard about the racism they faced from fellow Pilipin@s, both in the United States and at home. Igorots have been negatively stigmatized with the image of the savage headhunter, with my parents often hearing comments like, "So where's your tail?" Some even prefer the term Cordillerano over Igorot because of all of the negative connotations attached with the latter term.
BIBAK organizations promote solidarity amongst Igorots and seek to preserve the cultures of this region, amidst the strong influences of both American culture and mainstream Pilipino culture. These organizations do everything from holiday parties to Igorot dance performances, such as the Bontoc dance An-Anin-Nit. They provide a space for Igorots to bond and unite against any aversion against them.

These organizations exist all over the world, although some are called BIMAK (because Bontoc was renamed Mountain Province) and BIMAAK (with the addition of the province Abra). Some of their branches include: San Diego, Los Angeles, Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Switzerland, and Ireland.

One does not have to be Igorot to learn more about Igorot culture and history. I encourage you all to learn more about your local Igorot community and become an ally!

BIBAK San Diego [Source]
Espiritu, Yen Le, "The Intersection of Race, Ethnicity and Class: The Multiple Identities of Second-Generation Filipinos," Identities, 1(2-3), 1994, pg. 249-273 [Source]