On November 4, 2025 Benguet State University (BSU) and the University of Guam (UG) launched the book on Healing Practices of the Igorots in the Cordillera and the CHamorus in the Mariana Islands. The work is written by BSU professors and researchers Dr. Gigy G. Banes, Dr. Ruth S. Batani, Prof. Karryl Mae C. Ngina, and Ms. Kacy O. Labon, together with their counter parts from UG, Dr. Lisa Linda Natividad, Dr. Julia Faye Muñoz, and Dr. Jiban M. Caligtan.
The publication presents a comparative analysis of the healing practices of the Igorots and the CHamorus. It is divided into three main sections: a comparison of the two groups, a discussion of CHamoru healing traditions in the Mariana Islands, and an overview of Igorot healing practices in the Cordillera Administrative Region. The material will serve as an additional reference for teachers, researchers, and members of the academe. It will be useful for subjects such as Cordi 101, Philippine Indigenous Communities, and other related courses. The work also supports the promotion and preservation of indigenous knowledge systems, which aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
This publication is a product of a long and meaningful partnership between BSU and UG, which began in April 2008. According to Dr. Banes, one of the authors, “the book was unexpected”. She shared that it emerged from the many conversations, cultural exchanges, and shared experiences between the two universities, where they observed similarities in traditional healing practices.
By the end of the month, 200 copies will be reproduced and shared with various stakeholders. The book will not be sold for profit. The authors and both universities shared that the work comes from their advocacy: “traditional healing remains an effective form of alternative medicine, and its value is important and relevant, especially in today’s generation”.//ATBassit
