Sinto, Bauko on the Spotlight: Marky Cielo's Final Resting Place

Thursday, December 11, 2008

It was early 2006, when Starstruck Season 3 was going underway, that a young Igorot boy brought the spotlight to Sinto, Bauko. Dozens of residents came out chanting “Dream, Believe, Survive” in support of this young man’s bid to become the first Igorot winner of the contest. There were joyous community singing and dancing led by his grandmother. Now, almost 3 years later, the same boy is being brought home but there will be no joy in whatever singing or dancing that will be done. Marky Cielo is being brought to Sinto for his final resting place.

Sinto is one of the 22 barangays of Bauko – Mountain Province’s most populated town. Reporters and columnists of major newspapers have mistakenly reported that it was a part of Benguet province. It is a relatively remote place, a 4-5 hour drive from Baguio City through the Halsema Highway. Visitors to the place will see terrain that is widely used for vegetable farming. Mt. Data Hotel, a popular stop nestled amongst evergreen forests at an elevation of 7,200 feet is also located in Sinto.

Sinto is a quiet and peaceful place but that will hardly be the case during the wake and eventual funeral of perhaps its most popular son. If the crowds at the Resurrection Cathedral in Baguio City were an indication on the activity surrounding Marky Cielo’s wake, expect a similar number to flock to Sinto for the final days of his wake. Plenty of relatives and friends from the surrounding towns of Bontoc, Tadian, Sabangan, Besao and Sagada will also be attending the wake for the first time. Expect too, that the burial that is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, December 16 will be highly attended.

Two of Mountain Province’s prominent politicians will surely visit during the wake or be present during the burial. Governor Maximo Dalog had earlier supported Marky Cielo’s Starstruck bid, and ex-Congresswoman and now undersecretary Josephine Dominguez had also expressed her fondness for the young Igorot actor. Other town and provincial leaders will also be expected to attend. What remains to be seen is the number of fans and admirers of Marky who will follow from Baguio and maybe even as far as Manila. There will also be relatives coming from far Butuan, where Marky spent his childhood days.

Reports have indicated that Marky will be buried according to Igorot custom. I don’t particularly know what that means since 99% of the Igorot funerals I’ve attended was done either in an Anglican or Catholic Church. The wake will be conducted in a slightly different manner than the normal wakes in Manila or the lowlands. There will be plenty of church hymn singing. Baya-o, a type of sing-song storytelling regarding the dead which I normally observed is done for older people may also be done during his wake as well. The normal time for the burial of younger folks like Marky would be in the morning, but everything about the actor has seemed a deviation from the norm so far and this custom may or may not be followed.

It would be interesting to see how Sinto and its residents will be able to handle the situation. Television crews would be in the town as Marky Cielo’s death has hogged the limelight in recent days. I don’t believe the hotel will be able to accommodate all visitors staying overnight – most likely, local residents or even the schools will open their places for visitors as well. Support will most likely come also from the provincial government. It is just the appropriate thing to do – Marky has brought Mountain Province a lot of positive attention in his brief stint in showbiz. In death, he and his family are entitled to the respect and admiration they need, and deserve.

12 comments:

Anonymous December 11, 2008 at 8:25 AM  

Thanks for sharing this information on SINTO. Yes, a lot of the earlier articles said Marky's province is Benguet. One article from Ricky Lo indicated "Sitio Bauko, Benguet".

Anonymous December 11, 2008 at 9:20 AM  

"The normal time for the burial of younger folks like Marky would be in the morning..."

LATEST UPDATE: Marky's funeral is set for Monday, Dec 15, 2pm.

Anonymous December 11, 2008 at 2:15 PM  

to this blogger: how to go to sinto, bauko? may jeep or bus ba papunta doon?

Jack

Anonymous December 11, 2008 at 10:28 PM  

saan ba sa sinto ang bahay nina marky? otr anong sitio ba ng sinto?

Anonymous December 12, 2008 at 3:24 AM  

hello, I'm a fan and a friend of Marky when he wasn't still in the limelight. I've seen Bauko and Sagada as well during our tourist visits.

I would describe Mt. Province as a beautiful spot. So Green and serene if you are to picture it.Typical rural place.Relaxing.

I very much agree with Marky's relatives on their decision to bury him there.

Anonymous December 12, 2008 at 3:38 PM  

i really don't know much of marky's hometown but my sincere condolences to his family. my husband is also an igorot and speaks the the language of kankanaey and i have experience a lot of their traditions and so did our four children. we are currently based here in guam. once again, my deepest and sincere condolences to all the love ones of marky that he had left behind.

Anonymous December 13, 2008 at 6:35 AM  

How To Go to Sinto, Bauko

For those going to SINTO, you can take a bus from Baguio. Any bus that goes to Bontoc, Besao or Sagada will drop by Sinto. Just tell the driver.

Once in Sinto, it will be easy to ask any person there where the house of Marky Cielo is. You may walk a kilometer or two but not more.

Anonymous December 16, 2008 at 7:02 AM  

I was not able to see Marky Cielo personally, but his life has touched mine. During his short stay in showbiz, i've never heard negative comments about this guy. His smile is so pure and innocent. He inspired so many particularly the youth of today. I will never forget this guy. We will pray for your soul Marky. I hope to visit your tomb one of these days. I've heard it will be opened to public.

I love you Mark Angelo Cadaweng Cielo! - roxane of Makati

Anonymous December 16, 2008 at 3:20 PM  

Igorot Burial. The burying of the dead in the yard is usually Benguet tradition but I guess Bauko has that tradition too since it's in the border of Benguet and Mountain Province. Babies usually are the ones buried under the house since the belief is that they're not old enough to be separated from their parents. But a young peole like Marky's age, usually comes with alot of taboos and traditions that need to be followed. Alot more than say... grandma. Old people are usually the ones taken to the burial caves. Burials are usually done early in the morning.

Anonymous January 19, 2009 at 7:18 AM  

Mountain Province is a great place.We don't have to go outside our country just to see beautiful place like Mt. Province. Until now, Im so sad and remember marky of what happen to him. Sana may isang taong maging katulad din nya in showbiz so that his memory will always remain. I admire him a lot.
Hope that he is happy and touch others lives. I will always remember you Marky Cielo. Be proud to be IGOROT....

Anonymous January 19, 2009 at 7:23 AM  

Kahit sa pictures lang, I know how beautiful place mountain province are. Sana I was able to get there. I hope the government will be able to sustain the needs of the people there. Natutuwa ako sa mga Igorot. And I'm very proud of them and being a filipino.

mildred cielo October 11, 2016 at 4:20 PM  

Just read this one thank you everyone