Soundscapes of piercing gangsa (flat gong) rhythmic patterns, political speeches blared on loudspeakers, and call-and-response chants that envelop renditions of traditional celebratory dances characterise street protests led by Igorot left-wing activists. Upholding militant activism as foundational to Igorot identity, these spectacular displays signify an Igorot sense of value for collectivism, sovereignty, and territorial defense, echoing long-established practices that have sounded community resistance to corporate aggression since the 1970s. Despite this history, many Igorots reject the practice. Performances by leftist Igorots in 2017 aggravated internal debates about politicising Igorot identity. This troubled many Igorot activists, particularly an elder who, since his teenage years, had witnessed Igorots confront corporate intrusion into their ancestral lands through deployments of traditional practices. In an existential crisis, he distanced himself from the normative “noiseâ€.....

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