The Cordillera region of northern Luzon in the Philippines is a mountainous area inhabited by a mosaic of indigenous peoples collectively known as the Igorots. Historically, they resisted Spanish and later American colonial penetration, maintaining highland autonomy even as lowland Filipinos were absorbed into centralized colonial states. Their history of resistance and cultural distinctiveness has long fueled a desire for self-rule.

During the Marcos dictatorship (1965–1986), the region was heavily targeted for logging, mining, and dam-building projects, leading to displacement of indigenous communities. In response, the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA), a breakaway faction of the New People’s Army, launched an armed struggle for self-determination and defense of ancestral land.

In 1986, after Marcos was ousted, the CPLA and the new Philippine government signed the Mt. Data Peace Accord, ending open insurgency and opening the door for autonomy. This led to the creation of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) as a special unit distinct from surrounding provinces. Two plebiscites (1990 and 1998) attempted to ratify a Cordillera Autonomous Region, but both failed due to lack of voter approval in most provinces.

Despite these setbacks, Cordillera identity and the call for autonomy remain strong. Organizations like the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) continue to advocate for indigenous rights, self-determination, and recognition of the region as a distinct ethnopolitical entity within the Philippines. While independence is not the mainstream demand today, the aspiration for autonomy and protection of ancestral lands reflects the enduring vision of a self-governing Cordillera homeland.