Robert Bandao Tudayan

The lawyer Robert Tudayan, Ilocos Sur Philippine Councilor's League president, said his group has denounced the killing before the provincial board. "We were shocked when we heard that Lucero was gunned down in broad daylight in front of many people," Tudayan said. Tudayan urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the murders and asked the public for help. Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson of Ilocos Sur has offered a P50,000 reward for information on the killings.

Members of the organizing committees headed by Provincial Board Member Robert Tudayan are now busy preparing the different events highlighting the "Begnas Ilocos 2008" that seeks to promote the identity, cultural heritage, costumes and traditions of the indigenous peoples in the province. Tudayan, the head of the organizing committees of the festival, assured an exciting and attractive festival of the indigenous people to be watched by the general public. "We had already conducted series of meeting with the elders of different tribes and local officials of the province to discuss pertinent matters regarding issues and concerns for the betterment of the featured events during the three-day "Begnas Festival," Tudayan said. According to Tudayan, the existing tribes of indigenous people in the province are the "Bagos", the Itnegs and the Tingguians. Members of the Bago tribe are children produced from the inter-marriage of a pure indigenous person to pure Ilokano or other races. Tudayan disclosed that the participants will be come from the 14 uplands and some lowlands towns in the province such as Quirino, Cervantes, Sugpon, Alilem, Del Pilar, Sigay, San Emilio, Suyo, Tagudin, Banayoyo, Lidlidda, Burgos, Nagbukel, Narvacan, Salcedo, Galimuyod, Sta.

The governor said the members of the organizing committee headed by Provincial Board Member Robert Tudayan are busy preparing the list of the different events that would promote the identity, cultural heritage, the costumes and traditions of the indigenous peoples.The festival is called "Begnas Ylocos 2008."The word "begnas"is an Itneg tribe term, which means thanksgiving or offering.He said the festival will be held on Oct. 28-30 in Candon City.Meanwhile, Board Member Tudayan said there will be exciting and crowd-drawing activities during the Begnas Ylocos 2008."We have been conducting meetings with the elders of different tribes and local officials of the province to discuss matters regarding the featured events during the three-day Begnas Festival," Tudayan said.He said the tribes of indigenous people in the province include the Bago, Kankanaeys, Itnegs, and Tingguians.The members of the Bago tribe are the offspring of the inter-marriages of pure indigenous persons with pure Ilocanos and other tribes. Tudayan said that the contingents of the participants will be come from the 14 uplands towns and some lowland towns in the province.

Provincial Board Member Robert Tudayan, who is a lawyer, said, "life has not been easy due to economic dislocation of a great number of Filipinos, and this prompts them to seek greater opportunities abroad.""These Filipinos, many of whom are Ilocos Surians are professionals, skilled workers, care givers and domestic helpers who have sacrifice and forgo with their own interests for the benefit of their families," he also said.