The province of Benguet takes its name from the old name of what is now La Trinidad, which was known to its indigenous population prior to Spanish incursion as Benget.
That indigenous population consists of the Ibaloy to most of the south and the Kankana-ey to the extreme north. The other known ethnic group is the Kalanguya.
The present-day Benguet province consists of 13 municipalities while the City of Baguio was carved out of surrounding places by the Americans to form a chartered city.
A clan with a stalwart presence in the province is the widespread Cariño clan, which traces its Ibaloy roots to as far back as the 13th century.
Present-day clan members are found in every municipality of the province, though they may go by different surnames.
The bonds of ancestry among the Mawmaw – Chahadi Cariño clan are explored and celebrated with regularity, and most recently on Feb. 22.
“Mawmaw” was Pablo Cariño of Kafagway and Tublay, father of Baguio patriarch Mateo Cariño.
Gathered at the Ibaloy Heritage Garden on Feb. 22 were all descendants of Mawmaw and his wife Chahadi, who had the following children: Juan “Oraa” Cariño, Mateo Cariño, Espiritu Cariño, Channal Cariño, Payat Cariño, Savay Cariño, Talin Cariño, and Sison Cariño.
Feb. 23 is yearly celebrated in Baguio City as the Ibaloy Day to commemorate the landmark case of Mateo Cariño vs Insular Government of the Philippine Islands, decided on Feb. 23, 1909 by the United States Supreme Court. – Linda Cariño
