We fought a good fight but unfortunately, we were not successful this time. Congratulations to Congressman-elect Dalog! To all the volunteers, supporters, friends and family, Team Champag would like to express our deepest gratitude for all the volunteerism, support, assistance, encouragement, words of wisdom and prayers. The betterment of our beloved Mountain Province is always a good cause.

Thomas Killip is a traditional politician. Not in the concept of mainstream politics characterized by patronage and warlord politics, but in the indigenous or traditional concept of leadership that is based on a strong sense of community spirit.

His politics is community politics or politics of the "ili" (traditional village). His strong sense of community has defined his leadership throughout his political career. His leadership has not been sought through patronage nor money but earned through his participation and leadership in the affairs of the community. The basis for his decisions are sought through consensus where the merits of issues are debated through consultations. The various challenges in various periods of peace and in times of war or conflict, in crisis and in prosperity have defined and sharpened his role as an elder, a peacemaker, and leader in the community, province and region. In fact, his brand of politics is an affirmation of the viabillity of indigenous democracy even in the current globalized digital world.

Mt. Province needs a leader that is capable of harnessing the community spirit of its people for the development of the province. A leader who has a deep appreciation of our historical traditions as well as the economic, social and political challenges that confront our people today. Somebody who can inspire our people to believe in themselves and who could lead them through the path for a better Mt. Province.

The platform that THOMAS KILLIP's candidacy, with your help, will achieve:

HARNESSING OUR COMMUNITY SPIRIT

FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT

OF MT.PROVINCE!

1. Generate community enterprises through cooperatives:
   1. Community and eco-tourism
   2. Responsible waste management
   3. Woodworking and handicrafts industry (weaving, pottery, rattan crafts, etc)
   4. Small-scale mining and gold-craft industry
   5. Agro-forestry development for livelihood opportunities
   6. Food processing and beverage industries (coffee, wine, sugar, etc)
2. Agricultural productivity and sustainability:
   1. Community seedbanks and demo farms for traditional crop varieties
   2. Appropriate farming systems and technology
   3. Establish farmers markets for cooperative marketing ventures
   4. Processing and toll packing facilities for agricultural product development
3. Watershed protection and development:
   1. Agroforestry development for livelihood opportunities
   2. Protection and promotion of indigenous forest and tree species
   3. Strengthen community resource management systems
   4. Review and formulate policy support for watershed protection
4. Indigenous knowledge systems and community peace initiatives:
   1. Interface of viable indigenous political systems with government policies for effective local governance
   2. Strengthen community initiatives on conflict prevention, resolution and peace advocacy
   3. Policy support for the protection of community intellectual property rights
   4. Institutional support for research on traditional knowledge systems
5. Strengthen basic social services and cultivate indigenous cultural forms:
   1. Quality education and skills development at all levels
   2. Affordable and responsive health care
   3. Promotion of renewable energy systems
   4. Schools of living traditions and promotion of culture and arts

IPEYAS TAKO NAN G-A-W-I-S

Kayat nan umili - Killip!

After a substantial discussion with PA Tom on the gist of his platform, the remaining task was to package it according to his preference, "short but comprehensive". Short but comprehensive, aptly describes his physical appearance, short but all-rounded just like his tummy, a well-rounded Tommy.

A 28-200 mm. telefoto lens, a handy, compact zoom lens for versatile and easy subject selection was used to capture his ideas that could project his platform defined by the position being aspired for, the issues at hand and the audience being addressed to.

It could be detailed to project a platform doable within a 3 year term but not too microscopic as to cause myopia. It could also project a longer period of 9 years covering three terms but not too telescopic as to cause farsightedness. To make it palatable and easy to digest, the acronym G-A-W-I-S was used to highlight the 5 main components of the platform and 4 items on each component. The GAWIS, 5/4 formula was also meant to facilitate an easier handling for speakers and discussants.

The platform basically presents an economic, political and social agenda.
The economic component is covered by enterprise (1) and agriculture (2), the two major aspects of economic development. Note however that the suggested approach for enterprise development in our context is to develop community enterprises through cooperativism and not the individual concept of entrepreneurship. The 4 items listed are therefore enterprises that can be developed, so separating responsible waste management from community tourism would render waste management an orphan because it is not intended to be an enterprise. Community tourism and responsible waste management is PA Tom's description of upscaling the Sagada experience of tourism and waste management in the other tourist areas of the province. It is also a well known joke that the Chico River is the longest flush toilet in the region. While the Department of Tourism is promoting white water rafting along the Chico River, the volume of UFOs (Unidentified FLoating Objects) has discouraged potential tourists.

The component on agriculture deals with the program for sustainable agriculture by addressing the elements of the agricultural value chain: production, processing and marketing. For a long time, programs for our agricultural sector have mainly been production oriented. However, farming systems and production technology remain underdeveloped to improve food security for communities. Agro-chemical based crops and farming techniques have gained inroads threatening the biodiversity and welfare of our natural food habitats. Items a) and b) are therefore aspects that would help boost agricultural production. Processing of agricultural products is an essential program to create value-addition oppurtunities for farmers especially for perishable crops and given the distance of market outlets. Product development through processing centers and toll packing plants will help the quality and diversity of agricultural products. To complete the chain, markets for products should be established to cater to the agricultural produce of Mt. Province at not to depend on the established trading posts controlled by middlemen. Niche marketing of quality products at higher prices could be encouraged to offset the need for big volume demands but at low returns for farmers.

The third component which is significantly located at the center actually depicts the core of PA Tom's platform. Watershed protection and development is essentially the over-arching component that consolidates the economic, political and social components of the platform. Mt. Province is a major watershed of at least three major river basins in Northern Luzon. The watershed encompasses our communities, our farms, our homeland. Watershed protection and development is the defense of land and resources, the assertion of our cultural heritage, the affirmation of our identity as Igorots. With a threatened and endangered watershed, our homes, our communities and our future shall be in peril. It is appropriate therefore that all development initiatives for the province take into serious consideration a framework of development that would be in consonance with watershed protection and development. Appropriate technology and educational courses appropriate for watershed development like mountain engineering, forestry, organic agriculture, renewal energy, etc should be encouraged. Infrastructure projects and buildings could be designed to protect the watershed. Agricultural practices that pollute our lands and rivers and cause massive erosions should be discouraged. Instead, indigenous resource management systems should be strengthened to promote biodiversity and harmony with nature. Consequently, a vibrant watershed can nurture productive, dynamic and socially responsible communities.