“The name Igorota, comes from ‘i’ (meaning from or of) and ‘gulod’ (meaning mountain). The last letter ‘a’ refers to the women who reside in the mountain chain northwest of Luzon.”
From the ashes of the Women’s Programs of the Montanosa Social Action Center (MSAC) in 1987 emerged IGOROTA Foundation, Inc. The Women’s Programs of MSAC began as an effort to assist women workers in the City of Baguio. They had been working for women in different situations in the city: sidewalk vendor, women in commercial establishments, in the export- processing zones, weavers in Apugan and miner’s wives in Antamok. They visited and talked to them, learning of their stories, their joys, pains and struggles. They listened to their stories of injustice of long hours and little pay; of scant resources to address hunger on different levels; of poverty that tended to cripple but also emboldened. They accompanied timid workers to claim their rights to excessive overtime work and found that their tenacity had paid off. They sat with the workers and negotiated with management lawyers to pursue just compensation for their labor.
From this endeavors, IGOROTA Foundation’s awareness of Gender and Development springs an ardent commitment to work in transforming gender-based relationships and structures in society. Thus, both women and men, equally recognized for their worth and dignity, become able partners at home and at work, to pursue and enjoy the benefits of sustainable development. It aims to enable women to be aware of the socio-cultural and political conditions that affect their roles, choices, image and relationships; and to facilitate responsive actions as a result of their awareness and consciousness.
IGOROTA Foundation, Inc., was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on September 3, 1987.
GOALS
1.
To sustain our spiritualities that birth and maintain our relationships with others, the whole creation, and our Creator;
2.
To sustain the life forces in our communities through the interface of our indigenous beliefs and Christian faith;
3.
To facilitate opportunities and resources for women and men to attain full and satisfying lives;
4.
To establish mutually affirming and life-giving relationships based on the fundamental equality of women and men in value and rights;
5.
To facilitate actions that protect and sustain our ancestral domain based on the integrity of creations and our indigenous practices of stewardship and caring for the earth;
6.
To help establish mechanisms to uplift the socio-economic conditions of partner communities according to their stewardship role and spiritualities.
CORE FORCES: Spirituality; Ancestral Domain; Gender and Development.
PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES
Gender and Development
Gender and Development springs an ardent commitment to work in transforming gender-based relationships and structures in society.
Ancestral Domain Program
The program aims to attain self sustaining communities through women’s initiatives for peace and development anchored on their transformed indigenous knowledge, systems and practices.
Sustainable Agriculture Program
To sustain our people’s existing indigenous practices of farming and land use towards well-being, sustainable development and food sovereignty.
Social Enterprise
To address the practical gender needs of women and provide opportunities for women’s livelihood activities towards sustainability.
Learning Resource Center Services and Publications
The Learning resource center shall be the venue of center-based focused group discussions, symposium and forum on spirituality, gender and development and Cordillera issues.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
President: Ms. Ronalyn Butil
Chairperson: Ms. Rosella Camte-Bahni, Ph.D.
Vice Chairperson: Ms. Angelita Padilla, ED.D RG
Secretary: Ms. Corazon Pindog
Treasurer: Atty. Maria Lulu Reyes
Members:
(1) Sr. Teresa R. Dagdag, M.M,Ph.D
(2) Ms. Arline Olsim
CENTER-BASED STAFF
Executive Officer: Ms. Ronalyn Butil
Program Coordinator: Ms. Corazon Pindog
Administrative Officer: Ms. Elvira Pitok
Finance Officer: Ms. Jenalyn Sion
Publication Officer: Ms. Georgina B. Atipen
Area Coordinators:
(1) Ms. Arline Santiago (Mayoyao Ifugao)
(2) Ms. Juana Daping (Tinoc and Hungduan, Ifugao)
(3) Ms. Rowena Contic (Bokod and Kibungan, Benguet)
AREA-BASED STAFF
BENGUET PROJECT OFFICERS
BOKOD:
(1) Ms. Marjorie Kissing
KIBUNGAN:
(1) Ms. Merqula Dayso
(2) Ms. Marlyn Toyda-an
(3) Ms. Daisy Saldet (Under Special Project PMPI-Anti-mining Campaign)
IFUGAO PROJECT OFFICERS
HUNGDUAN:
(1) Ms. Throphea Guintican
TINOC:
(1) Ms. Jessica Casinto
MAYOYAO:
(1) Ms. Sheryl Pindog
(2) Ms. Jenilyn Pag-gui
(3) Ms. Edna Chinolong
(4) Mr. Jerome Mombael
