kababaihan-at-kapayapaan-issue-3

As part of the fulfillment of the peace agreementbetween the government and the CPLA, 168 CPLAmembers or their next of kin have been integratedinto the 5ID of the Philippine Army, 20 of whom werewomen.Journey to integration: Hand/arm drawingMost of the women integrees present were from Kalinga(Tanudan and Tabuk) and the Mountain Province. Thefirst integree was integrated in 2002 as a substitute forher CPLA uncle while the others were integrated in 2012(29%) and 2013 (65%). Eighty one percent (81%) of theparticipants belonged to the 21 to 27 age range; fifty three(53%) were college graduates, forty two percent (42%) werecollege undergraduates, and six percent (6%) just finishedhigh school.The indigenous peoples of the Cordilleras, particularly,those from Kalinga, are known for their material culture.One of the more prominent ones is the practice of fatokor hand-tapped tattooing. For Kalingan women, fatokare mostly hand-tapped on their arms portraying anarrative of indigenous notions of beauty inscribed ontheir skin. Borrowing from this idea, the CPLA womenintegrees were asked to trace their own hands/armsand draw the story on why they integrated into the ArmedForces of the Philippines (AFP).Another explained: “Ang mga ninuno namin ay gumagamitng spear at kalasag (Our elders use a spear and shield) toprotect themselves and the community…sound of a gong,always a happy occasion—we live a simple life, our productscorn and bananas…”Gender also figured in symbols through the shieldsignifying warrior men and tapis (skirt) symbolizingwomen. One woman integree shared that her designrepresented both her past and present: “Mga kulay ngCordillera—tapis at shield…sun ay ang hope… (The colors ofthe Cordillera—skirt and shield...sun is for hope...)” (above)Many also drew their environment—the mountains, riceterraces/fields, the Chico River, and waterfalls as life-givingresources that have sustained their tribes. Side by sidewith these images were signifiers of development such asbuildings and schools.Most, if not all, referred to their culture—symbols such asthe gong/gansa that was integral to their celebrations andtribal feasts were common in many depictions. One evensaid that, for her, it is a symbol her integration: “Gong angsimbolo ng pag-integrate ko kasi may peace na (The gong ismy symbol of my integration because there is now peace).”(above)“Ito ang inspiration ko—rice terraces, waterfalls—ito yunglugar namin, dalawang bundok…ito ang dahilan kung bakit akonandito—kabuhayan… (This is my inspiration—rice terraces,March 2015KABABAIHANatKAPAYAPAAN33