Benguett is home to several native tribes that are collectively known as the Igorot. The three major tribes are the Ibaloi in the Southwest, the kankana-ey in the northwest and Kalanguya in the east. Many of this tribes are believed by Filipino anthropologist to be of Malay decent. Before the arrival of Spanish colonizers, these tribes have a flourishing trade with the lowlanders such as the Ilocanos and the Pangasinenses.
Spanish Period
The Spaniards attemted to colonize the ighlands, having heard of the rich gold mines in the mountains. Juan de Salcedos' expedition into southern Benguet in 1572 was resisted by the natives and forced them back. Determined a major expedition into the mountains was lounched 1620. Spanish explorers were able to enter the La Trinidad Valley and took control of some Igorot gold mines but were abandoned a few years later.
Serious attepmts at conquering the highlands by the Spaniards, commenced in the 1800's. Under the leadership of Col. Guillermo Galvey, they succeeded in establishing their prersence in the La Trinidad Valley, which he named after his wife.
In 1846, the area became a district of the new province of La Union Benguet became a separate commandancia politico-militar in 1854. Parts of the present province were established as component teritories of other comandancias such as Lepanto and Amburayan.
American Period
The Americans established local civil government in many parts of the Philippines upon taking control of the country. On November 23, 1900, by virtue of Act. No. 49, the civil government of Benguet was established, with HP. Whimarsh, a Canadian journalist, was appointed the first governor.
The American established the Mountain Province on August 18, 1908, with the enactment of Act. No. 1876. Benguet, along with Amburayan, Apayao, Bontoc, Ifugao, Kalinga and Lepanto, became sub-province of this new province. in 1909, Baguio became a chartered city. Then in 19220, Benguet absorbed the sub-provinces of Amburayan and Lepanto.
The start of mining operations by mining companies in the early 1900's oppened job opportunities and many lowlanders migrated to Benguet, especially in towns surrounding the mines, such as Itogon.
World War II
During WW II, Igorot guerillas and American forces fought battles with Japanese soldiers during the final days of the war in 1945.
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