Siblings Mia Nicole and Igor Nikolai Cawed voted to wear their traditional garments in honor of their family tradition, which has been going on for decades.
According to the Cawed siblings, their father, Bong Cawed, a tribal leader from Bontoc, Mountain Province, started the tradition of wearing traditional clothing when voting.
“Actually, it started with our dad, and we just want to show the people who the Igorots really are. Even if you’re part of the indigenous people, your vote still counts,” Igor said in an interview.
“It’s one of the legacies of our father. Of course, we’ve come to like it also. We want to show the people who the Igorot are,” he added.
The siblings said that they intend to keep the tradition going.
According to data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec)p as of March 12, 2025, Mia and Igor are two of the 166,416 registered voters in Baguio City.
For the midterm polls, the designated voting centers will open at 5 a.m. on Monday, May 12, for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and pregnant women.
Meanwhile, regular voting hours started at 7 a.m and will be open until 7 p.m.