National Commission on Indigenous Peoples expresses dismay at the use of bahag in swimwear competition
The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples-Cordillera Administrative Region (NCIP-CAR) expressed their dismay over the use of the bahag during the "Man of the World" swimwear competition at Okada Manila on Saturday, June 11, even as the organizers contend the historical accuracy of their portrayal.
In a press statement released on Monday, June 13, NCIP-CAR said they “did not allow nor tolerate the way the ‘bahag’ was worn during the said competition.”
The NCIP–CAR statement addressed the comment left by an organizer of the pageant on a Facebook post saying “all of the production staff” were Igorots, and further claiming that their ancestors “tie their bahag in swimwear or when they need to go underwater” during ancient times.
The NCIP-CAR called for the organizers and the supposed cultural consultant of the organization to provide “concrete and anthropological proof” supporting their claim that our ancestors wore their bahag when going underwater the same way it was used during the pageant.
“We call upon these proofs, as many of us have grown in a society where we did not witness our ancestors tie their G-string the way it was worn during the competition,” Atanacio Addog, regional director of NCIP–CAR, said in the statement.
We hope that we can use events such as pageantry to make them understand that the practice of our tradition and culture is not a spectacle that should be reduced for others’ entertainment. We are not commodities but human beings.
“We have grown in a society where our traditional attires are worn by us on special occasions, festivals, and the like. We have grown with our elders teaching us the proper way to wear these attires, and thus what we know today,” the regional director added.
TAKDER, a youth and students' organization of Kaigorotan and advocates based in the National Capital Region, also took exception, stating that their cultural attires represent their identity, history, and people.
TAKDER said in the statement released Monday evening (June 14) that their mountains have safeguarded their culture for centuries and they are willing to share this culture so long as it is done properly and respectfully.
“We hope that we can use events such as pageantry to make them understand that the practice of our tradition and culture is not a spectacle that should be reduced for others’ entertainment. We are not commodities but human beings,” TAKDER added in the statement.
Several Twitter users also expressed their grievances over the matter, calling the pageant “distasteful” for reducing the meaningful cultural attire of Cordilleras into a “sexualized and objectified” show.
Very distasteful naman nito. Nakakagalit na yung highly meaningful garments ng Cordilleras — w/ high ceremonial and cultural significance — ay nareduce into a sexualized and objectified show. Sinabi ng organizers na may consultations with the supposedly “represented” IP tribe — pic.twitter.com/GynQ3XbB16
— 𝐣𝐩 #DefendCordillera (@jupiterpoopy) June 13, 2022
Some called it “ironic” that bahag was told to be used for swimwear when Igorots are mountain dwellers.
on the bahag swimwear issue. i just think it's kinda funny and ironic that the bahag was used for the swimwear category despite the fact that the igorot people are mountain dwellers and that the cordilleras is the only landlocked region in the ph. like where would u swim here?
— gwen (@wyntermelonboba) June 13, 2022
Former Ifugao governor and lawmaker Teddy Baguilat said in his Tweet, “Mali ang paggamit nila ng bahag. Ginawang sex toy. Talo kayo sa akin,” followed by a series of photos where one was him wearing a bahag from 19 years ago.
4Th Man of the World Pageant Swimwear and Bahag competition. Mali ang paggamit nila ng bahag. Ginawang sex toy. Talo kayo sa akin (but this was 19 years ago n 30 pounds lighter hehe). Pero talo sana kayo. Kung kinareer ko lang, #MisrepresentationOfIPCulture pic.twitter.com/fK0ajp1nDW
— Teddy B. Baguilat (@TeddyBaguilatJr) June 13, 2022
Sine Cordillera, the official Facebook page of this year’s Man of the World, responded by stating that they “stand by their position that the different Igorot bahag were properly worn during the event.”
In their official statement released on Tuesday, Sine Cordillera said “a cultural consultant was engaged to teach the candidates about the proper way of wearing the bahag and gave an orientation about the significance of the bahag and its designs to the lives and history of the communities.”
“If some of the misconceptions came from people who work with us, we have already taken steps to correct this.
Sine Cordillera emphasized that despite being called a swimwear competition, the candidates were judged on different categories: the wearing of the bahag, swimwear competition, corporate attire, and their advocacies.
The organization also clarified that the circulating photos on social media which received a backlash were not for the swimwear category but for the wearing of the bahag category which aimed to “showcase the beauty of the Cordilleras while promoting Igorot culture” to an international audience.
“If some of the misconceptions came from people who work with us, we have already taken steps to correct this,” the Sine Cordillera said.
Man of the World is an international male beauty pageant organized by Prime Event Productions Philippines Foundation.