A Tense Beginning . . . Part I

(Pictures by: Joyce Gapuz in her Facebook Account)

We were tense as night falls during the scheduled registration for the 75^th Death Anniversary of General Mateo Noriel Luga around 6:00 in the afternoon on April 9, 2010, which falls on Araw ng Kagitingan. As darkness begins to eat up what remains the light of day - the sun slowly sets in the western part of Camp Samal, suddenly you can hear the crowds coming from afar by three . . . five, then by groups, children starts to appear from the dark into the lighted portion of the training center atop the hill where the main activity shall be held the following day. Little by little a group of crowd appears from all directions from all ages holding their hands together, excitedly walking, talking, smiling. You can see teary eyed faces of the older generations, many of them set foot for the first time in Tumauini, which was actually the home of their ancestors belonging to a tribe which once rules Cagayan Valley, the “Ybanag”, along with the Gaddangs and Itawis from Tuguegarao. The spirit of the Tribal Warriors return to a place where they once gather along with their families. TO BE CONTINUED . . .