BAGUIO CITY – Determined to move forward and continue working towards realizing its mission and vision, members of the Onjon ni Ivadoy Association, Inc. (Onjon for brevity) during an assembly chose a new set of officers last October 24, replacing the old set that had been “hold-over” officers since 2024. Elections of officers are supposedly held yearly.
The new set of officers are: President – Beauregard “Adon” G. Carantes; Vice President – Atty. Marybelle Demot Marinias; Treasurer – Tonette M. Hamada; Secretary – Linda Cariño; Business Managers – Judith T. Strasser and Vicky Macay; Public Relations Officers – Joaquin “Jack” Carin¨o and Andrew “Bobby” G. Carantes.
The new Board of Trustees are: Felix Siplat, Adriano Carantes, Jr., Errol Tagle, Prof. Jimmy Fong, Marcelo Abela, Mariejo Dulnuan and Jeckerson Cariño.
Prior to the voting at the BIMAAK Hall, the assembly by the members of the association that constituted a quorum decided to propose amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws (CBL) and proceeded with the elections following an agreement on October 3, despite a notice issued by the hold-over officers postponing the October 24 meeting.
But BOT-elect Abela explained that the decision to hold a general assembly (GA) on October 24 to finalize the amendment of the CBL and hold elections was agreed by the members during the GA on October 3, 2026.
Abela further said that since the GA is the highest body of the Onjon ni Ivadoy Association Inc., the BOT and officers cannot overrule the decision of the assembly without valid reason and consent of the GA.
The Onjon ni Ivadoy Association Inc. was organized in 2010 following meetings of Ibaloy leaders in Baguio City, including the late Cecil C. Afable, Editor of the Baguio Midland Courier. It was officially registered as a non-stock and non-profit organization with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 14, 2011.
In one of the earliest meetings, Ms. Afable talked about uniting the Ibaloy community in Baguio by forming an organization that could focus on issues concerning ancestral lands, preserving heritage and culture.
The meetings led to the annual celebration of the Ibaloy Day on February 23, which is a significant commemoration of the US Supreme Court decision by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes in 1909 over the case involving Ibaloy Chieftain Mateo Cariño and the American colonial government
The US Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Ibaloy Chieftain, establishing the “Native Title” or the Cariño Doctrine stating that “lands occupied by indigenous communities since time immemorial are legally presumed to have never been part of the public domain”.
In 2009, the Baguio City council passed Resolution No. 395, and City Ordinance No. 09 in 2013 to officially institutionalize Ibaloy Day on February 23 of every year. In 2026, the national government officially recognized its importance, declaring February 23 a special non-working public holiday in Baguio City.**March Fianza
