At the expense of value and meaning

We recognize the importance of promoting a culture on a global scale. Anything that represents who we are as a people, such as our cloth, is worth sharing with the world. The bahag in Cordillera, for example, however, should be treated with the utmost care by being worn correctly and for the purpose for which it was created, just like any other traditional clothing.

The way Cordillera clothing are worn influences how a person is valued in the community, thus they are significantly more complicated and sophisticated. While the bahag's primary function was to protect the wearer from the elements, it was also used to distinguish community members. The higher the prestige, the more color combinations and complex designs there were. The way a lady wore her 'tapis' (indigenous wraparound skirt) in Mountain Province indicated whether she was married or widowed.

Wearing the bahag, a traditional Mangyan loincloth or G-string, is a part of Mangyan culture, although for some younger members of the tribe, it is a thing of the past. The bahag is worn by the Mangyans as a show of respect and adherence to tribal rites. These mountain tribes wore the bahag even before colonizers arrived in the Philippines. Unfortunately, the elders are unable to carry on the tradition to the younger members of the tribe. Discrimination, according to the Katribu Partylist, is the primary cause of the tribe's people forgetting their own culture.

Displaying the bahag and other cultural artifacts outside of their ritual contexts to encourage tourism may have transmitted mixed messages about the culture. Although the world has changed so rapidly, and handwoven designs and fabrics used in traditional clothing are now employed as embellishments to boost the quality and value of modern clothing, their essence must not be compromised or tarnished.

There is a significant distinction between culture appreciation and culture appropriation, with the latter occurring frequently in Baguio City's tourist attractions. To be more exact, the mini-stalls of tapis' and bahag's for hire with a brief photograph of the individual, inappropriately dressed. While we wholeheartedly support the promotion of Cordilleran culture and customs, particularly our traditional costume, which is a big draw for tourists, we strongly believe that incorrect wearing of these garments lessens its worth and relevance.

We refuse to accept that the value and purpose of our traditional clothing should be exploited for commercial gain and promoted in ill taste. These are exceptional linens, skillfully and creatively woven by different Cordillera ethnicities, and we are confident that tourists should not wear them shabbily, especially if they are unaware of their value.

Culture is not a passing trend. It's a manifestation of our thriving legacy and identity, not just for our aesthetic pleasures. We reject to allow our identity to be shaped by a personal desire to project a pretentious social image that is culturally informed.

We respect those who want to immerse themselves in or learn about a new culture ostensibly out of curiosity or interest. There are a thousand different ways to take an interest in our culture. We freely give them to the world, always prepared to share but never at the expense of value and meaning.