20/02/2026
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐๐โ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
The Provincial Government of Benguet, led by Governor Dr. Melchor Daguines Diclas, launched a book compilation of Ba-diw or ibaloy chants on Friday, February 20, 2026, in celebration of National Arts Month.
The book entitled โ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ: ๐ผ ๐พ๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ค๐ฎ ๐พ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐จ,โ contains nearly 200 ibaloy chants compiled by Victor A. Cosalan and traditionally performed during various local occasions. It was published under the Development Board for Information Materials and Books on Home (DIBSHO), an initiative in 2022 by Governor Diclas to support the production of cultural and historical reading materials in the Province.
As Guest of Honor and Speaker, Cosalan emphasized the enduring relevance of Ba-diw, saying that its values and meanings are universal and closely connected to modern life. "๐๐ต ๐ช๐ด ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ฆ-๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฅ. ๐ ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ค๐ข๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ด๐ข๐บ ๐ช๐ต ๐ช๐ด ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ต๐ฅ๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ด๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ต๐ฆ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ค๐ข๐ถ๐ด๐ฆ ๐ช๐ต ๐ด๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ช๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด๐ข๐ญ ๐ท๐ข๐ญ๐ถ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฏ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ๐ง๐ถ๐ญ ๐ข๐ค๐ณ๐ฐ๐ด๐ด ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ด," he said. He also expressed his gratitude to Governor Diclas and the other Provincial Officials, and Dr. Ryan C. Guinaran for supporting the publication and printing of his Ba-diw collection.
Cosalan shared that his appreciation for Ba-diw began during his childhood, when he would help serve wine and food during weddings, wake, rituals, and caรฑao. It was during these gatherings, he said, that he listened to the chants and learned the deep meanings behind a performed badiw.
Meanwhile, Governor Diclas underscored the publication of the book through the DIBSHO aims to preserve Benguet's rich oral tradition, particularly among the younger generation.
He further committed to the publication of other oral traditions of Benguet ethnolinguistic groups through the Provincial Development Book Board.
Governor Diclas also led the ceremonial turnover of the books to the Department of Education, received by Aladdin Dobinto, Chief of the Curriculum Implementation Division of the Schools Division Office-Benguet, representing Concurrent Schools Division Superintendent and Regiona Director Estela P. Leon-Cariรฑo. The books will be distributed to the various functional public libraries across the province.
Dobinto conveyed his gratitude and shared an inspirational message on behalf of the Schools Division Office and RD Cariรฑo, encouraging participants to listen to the stories of their elders as a way of recognizing and strengthening their cultural roots.
Also present were Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members led by Vice Governor Marie Rose T. Fongwan-Kepes.
A workshop on Ba-diw followed in the afternoon, participated in by almost 60 students from Benguet National High School (BeNHS) and Tublay School of Home Industries (TSHI). Facilitated by Kenneth Kelcho, Tourism Officer I, the session guided students in writing and performing their own Ba-diw compositions, allowing them to experience firsthand the creative process behind the traditional chant.
Provincial Chief Tourism Operations Officer Eliazar Carias, who supported the event, shared that more activities are lined up for March in celebration of National Arts Month.
