kababaihan-at-kapayapaan-issue-3

Field Notes from the North:Journeying with CPLAwomen integreesBy MA. LOURDES VENERACION-RALLONZAON DECEMBER 4, 2014, I left for a trip to the northto speak to women to uncover a collective narrativethat took off from the story of conflict and unravel theevolving tale of peace. After over a 10-hour night ridefrom Manila, I greeted the sunrise from the gates of the5th Infantry Division (5ID) in Gamu, Isabela.I was excited to meet and immediately jump into theconversation with the women integrees from theCordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA). I saw most ofthem huddled together as I entered the hall. They werewearing their fatigue uniform complete with shiny beltbuckles and hair neatly fixed—not much different from allother women soldiers I have met except, probably, havingphysical features that are distinct to Cordillera women -square facial shape with deep dark eyes, firm but refinedstance, strong and yet not masculinized.I walked towards the front of the stage, tempering myexcitement for I was aware of the fact that I was anoutsider—someone they were only meeting for the firsttime and someone who came all the way from Manila justto talk to them. (I mean, on a regular day, who does that?!)Thus, like any other conscientious researcher, I tried toapply a more non-intrusive method of engagement—something I learned during the course of my past fieldwork from an artist-colleague—that of using art as a formof expression.32 KABABAIHANatKAPAYAPAAN March 2015