BONTOC, Mountain Province – The search continues!
This query copped once more during the forum conducted by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) last Monday here where the agency expounded its mandates.
But the main topic was about the celebration of the “Timicheg day” declared by the governor and was supported by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Executive Order No 28, series of 2025, issued by Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr., declared July 30 of every year as “Timicheg day” against trafficking in persons of Mountain Province, enjoining educational institutions to incorporate the 1904 St. Louis, 1909 Seattle, and 1913 Ghent expositions into local history instruction, and to integrate awareness of human trafficking and
illegal recruitment in school programs.
Provincial Resolution No. 2025 -334 expresses the full support of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to the Executive Order.
But who is Timicheg?
Timicheg is a Bontoc lad who was brought to Ghent, Belgium along with 59 Igorots to participate in an exposition where were made to eat do meat, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The were made
to live and appear as barbaric, unlearned, and uncivilized to justify American occupation of the Philippines.
When the person who brought them there amassed money he absconded leaving the Igorots to fend for themselves. They were assisted by the Americans who protected their image repatriated
the Igorots except Timicheg who opted to stay.
Reports say he died of hunger and cold. A road tunnel was named after him: the Timicheg Tunnel. He was buried there.
Is the name of Timicheg existing among us? Initial validations say that there is no relative by the name Timicheg. But there are reportedly people by the surname “Tinmacheg” in Samoki and Tocucan, Bontoc.
Could it be that by a hearing slur or mispronunciation by the man to the foreigner, “Tinmacheg” became “Timicheg”?
Either way, the heirs or descendants of Timicheg or Tinmacheg are being requested to contact this writer at the Provincial Tourism Office.
DMW Regional Director Atty. Cheryl Daytec – Yangot also asked the relatives and heirs of the expositions with Timicheg to come forward and tell their narratives. There are reported relatives
of those companions of Timicheg in Bontoc and elsewhere to further boost the documentation of the exploitations done.**Roger Sacyaten
