Mountain Province, Cordillera Autonomous Region, Philippines
Biographical Information
PROVINCIAL PROFILE OF MT. PROVINCE
FAST FACTS
Capital : Bontoc
Area : 2,097 sq. km
Population : 116,535
Cities : none
No. of Towns : 10
LOCATION
The Mountain Province is a landlocked area in the Central
Cordilleras in
northern Luzon. It is bounded on the north by Kalinga-Apayao, on
the east by
Isabela, on the west by Abra and llocos Sur, and on the south by
Benguet and
Ifugao.
THE LAND
Towering peaks and sharp ridges are the main features of the
central and
western landscape of the province. Gradually sloping and rolling
foothills
characterize its eastern part. Three major rivers - Chico,
Tanudan, and Siffu -
create three distinct valleys where the only level lands are
found. The
province is very wet from June to October and dry from November
to May.
A BRIEF HISTORY
On June 18,1966, Republic Act No. 4695 divided the old Mountain
Province
into four provinces: Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao, and the
Mountain
Province. The area that retained the old province's name was the
former
sub-province of Bontoc. The Spaniards called the territory
"La Montanosa"
because it had more mountains than any other province. The rugged
mountain
peaks served as protection against Spanish efforts to colonize
and convert the
tribes to Christianity. They preserve the tribes' culture and
unique way of life
to this day.
During the Filipino-American War, General Emilio Aguinaldo and
his
revolutionary force crossed the Cordillera through the Mountain
Province in
December 1899. They proceeded to Sagada and Bontoc to elude the
American troops. They went on to Ifugao and Isabela, where they
were
eventually captured. The Americans established a civil government
in the
province. In 1901, Catholic and Protestant missionaries began
evangelization
work in the high lands. In 1908, the old Mountain Province was
created under
Act No. 1876 of the Philippine Legislature.
THE PEOPLE
The people are mainly Bontoc Igorots, with llocano migrants from
neighboring
provinces. Bontoc Igorots are industrious farmers who were once
regarded as
the most belligerent of the mountain tribes. Though they are
Christians, they
still cling to their traditional beliefs and rituals. The most
famous of these is
the canao, in which the entire village participates. A pig or
carabao is
sacrificed and feasted upon to mark a wedding or death and always
at several
stages of planting and harvesting rice. The feast is followed by
singing and
dancing till dawn to the accompaniment of metal gongs.
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
The main source of livelihood is agriculture, as well as
livestock and poultry
raising. Its major crops include vegetables and rootcrops, of
which they are
the second highest producer in the region, next to Benguet.
Tourism also
contributes to the economy.
Information gathered from:
League of
Provinces
by:Roberto C. Arellano
This page last revised: December 24, 1998
