Visitors to the Mountain Province in northern Luzon are perpetually amazed by the hidden beauty of this land as well as the wealth of culture that can still be found alive in its many rustic towns and villages. Of these towns, Bontoc, the province’s capital, exemplifies the many beautiful, amazing and interesting things that make this land a place one should not miss out visiting.
Bontoc is the capital of Mountain Province. Bontoc is the historical capital of the entire Cordillera region since the inception of governance in the Cordillera. According to the latest census, it has a population of 24,798 people in 5,035 households. The municipality celebrates annual Lang-ay Festival.
Bontoc is home to the Bontoc Tribe, a feared warlike group of indigenous people who actively indulged in tribal wars with its neighbors up until the 1930s. Every Bontoc male had to undergo a rite of passage into manhood, which may include head hunting, where the male has to journey (sometimes with companions) and hunt for a human head. The Bontocs also used the jaw of the hunted head as a handle for its gongs, and as late as the early 1990s, evidence of this practice can be seen from one of the gongs in Pukisan, Bontoc.
This is the home of the Ifuntok Language, which has varying dialects under it. However, the Original Ifuntok Language is fast dying out, as more of the younger generations speak a mixture of Ilocano, Tagalog, and Kankanaey Dialects. This is partly due to the frequent contact of the younger generations with other regions of the Philippine nation. Some words are not in use anymore. Within the Bontoc proper, only 40% of the local population can communicate using this language without diluting their daily language with other languages/dialects.
The local economy of Bontoc depends largely on small trades and agriculture. This capital town's biggest economic potential is tourism with its smaller rice terraces in Barangay Bay-yo, Maligcong and other areas.
In a land blessed with mild, cool climate, rich culture and peaceful surroundings, Bontoc is sure to leave a lasting impression on each and every guest, so make it a point to visit this wonderful town soon.
Gallery:
