IGO President message to the 10th ICBE Consultation

10th Igorot Cordillera BIMAAK Europe (ICBE) Consultation 

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

July 26-29, 2019

IGO President message to the 10th ICBE Consultation

Greetings on behalf of the Igorot Global Organization, (IGO) and the IGO-Council of Elders (COE). I would like to congratulate and thank MABIKAs Foundation-The Netherlands, the Host, and other members who organized and planned for the celebration of the 17th year of ICBE. In any organization it’s the “movers and the shakers” who cause things into fruition.  Finally, congratulations to everyone! It is your presence that makes a function successful.

Your theme “'Abra’s Land, People and Culture” is admirable. There are groups now who use BIBAKA to include Abra in the original acronym of BIBAK. I am very happy to see this and I hope to see more. The preservation of culture is in sync with the IGO mission and goals which we will be emphasizing in the next Igorot International Consultation (IIC).

For your information the next IIC is on February 7-10, 2020, Tabuk City. Just before that on February 4, 2020 is the Bumi 5th IGO Golf Tournament, Sharewood Hills, Cavite. This is to raise funds for the IGO Scholarship program. For golf enthusiasts, this is your opportunity to have fun and yet contribute to a worthy cause.

The IGO strategic plan has various interesting programs and projects in accordance with its mission and goals. The Igorot legacy, which I think you will like to participate in, has various subjects of interest for organizations, groups or individuals. Be a part of history and join.

I have heard from our Kailians in the Philippines that IGO, ICBE, BIBAK Australia, etc. are important to us only who are overseas and not of interest in Igorotland. Our job is to change that impression. Therefore, we must work together as a team. 

I have requested the IIC planners to consider that the original dances be performed and shown as well as the original attires. Currently, we have mastered the “halo-halo” attires that no one can distinguish which tribe is which. Even the dances are fast losing their originality. Come see the GI and  be the GI. What is GI? Genuine Igorot at its best.

Finally, if you are not a member of IGO I ask you to be one. It’s very inexpensive. Less than a cup of Coffee. Thank you for listening. Enjoy and learn as you spend the precious time together.

Gloria O. Bawaan-Simon, MEd., BSN, FN, NM, RN

President, Igorot Global Organization (IGO)

Chairman, IGO Council of Elders(COE)