Creative Non-Fiction

Summary of  Irisan 

            

             The original Ibaloi families of Irisan are Oseo, Palgi, Gabol, Pucay and Luna. Also among the early settlers of Luna. Irisan used to be a part of Tuba, Benguet under the first mayor of Tuba, Swaking Ismek or Joaquin Smith. Irisan come from the Ibaloi term ''idisan'' mans a wood used to grind something to make it fine. The place was thickly forested with with pine trees. There were only a few houses in Irisan which made of pine wood and cogon stick roofing or sapsap. There was also a creek nearby where gold panning was done and lime quarry is Apugan.

             Virginia Luna married Lopez Oseo, a local Ibaloi and bore a son. However, the marriage ended in separation, she married again an Ibaloi man of Irisan, Felix Luna and bore 11 children (9 legal, 1 step sister, 1 adopted).  In 1992, titling of land in Irisan started including the Igorot claims known as the 211 titles. Oges Oseo , had the widest land in the area. The Cypress area in Irisan, which was originally titled in the name of Pucay. Some of the person who own the lot were sell in a company which cost 2 pesos per square meter. Some of the people in Manila where migrated in Irisan. The Baguio City government conduct demolition of illegal structures and squatters. Irisan barangay  now has the biggest population of all barangay in the City. It divided 33 puroks, in each purok you canstill find a few Ibaloi families living there.

              Virginia Luna, a long barangay official, who served in the barrio council from 1967-1970, then barangay captain from 1972-1988, and a barangay kagawad. She is also a rich source knowledge about the development of Irisan barangay, a market vendor and dealer-supplier of Baguio vegetables to well known restaurant in Manila. But she speaks, not as an Ibaloi, but has not imbibed the Ibaloi family, and who has not imbeded the Ibaloi culture.