CONSTITUITION AND BY-LAWS OF THE

CORDILLERA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

THE CORDILLERA HISTORICAL SOCIETY is a non-stock, non-profit organizational composed

of historians, researchers, educators, other professionals and students, institutions, corporations
and other individuals who believe and are dedicated to the realization of the objectives and
visions of the society.

ARTICLE I
Name
Section 1. The name of the Association shall be CORDILLERA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

ARTICLE II
Office
Section 1. The seat of the Association shall be located at BENGUET STATE UNIVERSITY, La
Trinidad, Benguet.

ARTICLE III
Seal
Section 1. The official Seal of the Association shall be a Gong with the map of the Cordilleras
indicating its political subdivisions with a feather super imposed on the map. Inscribed around the
Gong is the Cordillera Historical Society.

ARTICLE IV
Purposes
Section 1. The purposes of the Association shall be:
a. Promote historical awareness of the rich culture, traditions of the Cordilleras among
the people, the rest of the Philippines and even the world;
b. Undertake researches on the various aspects of the Cordillera, its people, event
places, customs, traditions;
c. To update, correct local history, misconceptions, errors, controversies in accordance
with scholarly standards;
d. Acts as an official body in identifying, validating, marking, preserving and promoting
historical sites, objects in the Cordilleras and coordinate with the National Historical
Commission;
e. To conduct information drives in all schools, universities, LGU’s and private sector in
Baguio, Benguet, the national and even international level;
f. To hold/ sponsor historical/ cultural immersion/ exposure field trips at CAR;
g. Establish linkages with other agencies for the preservation and propagation of the
rich and unique culture of the Cordilleras;
h. Seek provincial, regional, national and even international support for the projects and
activities of the Society;
i. To establish linkages with institutions, individuals and other organizations for
education and resource sharing;
j. To receive by gifts, grants, devise, foreign or local sources in furtherance of the
objectives of the Association;
k. To exercise such other powers as are incidental, necessary to the accomplishment of
the aforementioned purposes.
l. To identify and surface other indigenous cultural communities who opt for other
identities other than the officially listed ethnolinguistic groupings;
m. To come up with appropriate policy recommendations for use in the advocacy and
information activities.

ARTICLE V
Members
Section 1. Regular Members. Any person born and/or permanently residing in the Cordilleras; any
organization whose membership is considered “institutional;”

Honorary Members – Any person supportive to the objectives of the Society and whose
membership is recommended by the membership Committee

Section 1. Rights of Regular Members. A member shall have the following rights:
a. to exercise the right to vote on all matters relating to the affairs of the association;
b. to be eligible to any elective or appointive office;
c. to participate in all deliberations/meetings/seminars/workshops;
d. to present intellectual work/research outputs during scheduled conferences and/or
during annual meetings;
 e. to examine all the records or books of the Association during office hours.

For Honorary members – all the rights in section 1 except a and b.

-to help promote and support the programs of the Society
-to contribute written documents or give data/information concerning the Cordilleras.

ARTICLE VI
General Assembly

Section 1. The General Assembly shall consist of all members.

Section 2. Powers and Functions of the General Assembly:

a. to elect officers of the Association;
b. to approve and make amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws of the
Association;
c. to approve the annual report of the President and the financial report of the
Treasurer;
d. to exercise such other powers and functions as it may deem appropriate and
necessary to promote, protect, preserve and propagate the interest of the
Association.

Section 3. Quorum. The majority of the members present shall constitute a quorum to do
business.

ARTICLE VII
OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers shall be composed of : President, Vice President, Secretary,

Treasurer, Auditor, Press Relations Officer, Business Managers and
representatives/coordinators of specific ethnolinguistic groups.

Section 2. Term of Office. All officers of the Association shall hold office for a term of two
years.
Every two years from the last election of officers, at the Annual meeting which shall be
the last Saturday of November there shall be an election of officers.
The manner of election shall be viva voce.
a. In case of vacancy in any position, except for the position of President where the Vice
President takes over, the President shall call a special election to be held for the purpose
of filling vacancy;

Section 3. After being duly notified, only the members in actual attendance and who are not
disqualified are eligible for nomination and election to an elective position.

Section 4. In the event of permanent disability, resignation, death of the President or Vice
President of the Association, through its Secretary, shall call a special election for the
purpose of filling the vacant position.

ARTICLE VIII
FUNCTIONS AND POWERS
Section 1. PRESIDENT. The President shall be Chairman of all sessions [General Assembly,
Regular, special meetings];
a. Shall be the Chief executive and shall exercise general supervision over all activities;
b. Ensure that all the resolutions of the General Assembly are implemented;
c. Shall review and approve expense vouchers;
d. Be co-signatory with the Treasurer on any transactions or disbursements made in
relation to the activities of the Association;
e. After the close of the fiscal year, a complete report on the activities and operations of
the Association shall be submitter and reported during the General Assembly;
f. Shall perform such other duties and functions, the General Assembly may determine
or delegate.

Section 2. VICE PRESIDENT. The Vice President shall

a. Perform the duties and obligations of the President in the event of the latter’s
absence, incapacity, resignation or death;
 b. Perform such other duties and functions as the General Assembly may determine or
delegate.
Section 3. SECRETARY. The Secretary shall
a. Give all the notices required by these laws and keep the minutes of all meetings of
the members, of all meetings of the Committees in a book kept for the purpose;
b. Be available during all meetings or sessions of the General Assembly and take down
the minutes of all proceedings;
c. Perform all such other duties and work that may be assigned to him/her from time to
time.

Section 4. TREASURER. The Treasurer shall

a. Be the custodian of funds, receipts and take charge of the disbursement of the
Association;
b. Keep all moneys and other valuables of the Association in a designated bank
by the Members;
c. Keep and have charge of the books of accounts which shall be open to
inspection by any member whenever required, an account of financial condition of
the Association and all transactions made as Treasurer;
d. Collect dues, contributions from each member or from other sources;
e. To keep a complete list of members of the Association;
e. Perform all such other duties and functions as may be assigned to him/her
from time to time.

Section 5. AUDITOR. The Auditor shall

a. Examine financial records and audit the same;
b. Assist the Treasurer un keeping such records in proper order.

Section 6. PRESS RELATIONS OFFICER. The Press Relations Officers shall

a. Cause the publication of significant events and activities of the Association and other
matters that the Officers may be determined;
b. Act as the spokesperson of the Association.

Section 7. BUSINESS MANAGER. The Business Managers shall

a. Secure funding and other resources;
b. Assist the treasurer in managing affairs and resources and other business
management tasks;
c. Perform such other duties and functions as the President may determine.

Section 8.COORDINATORSPERPROVINCE/ETHNOLINGUISTIC/ REPRESENTATIVES.

a. Provincial Coordinators. The Provincial Coordinators shall
Ensure the representations of the ethnolinguistic group.
Make sure that their concerns are addressed.
Create a component historical society in the province being represented.
b. Ethnolinguistic Group.
Ensure that the concerns of the members are addressed properly.

ARTICLE IX
STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1. Standing Committees and Other as Maybe Needed. The following shall be
the committees:
Ways and Means
Membership
Special Projects
Information and Education
Others

ARTICLE X
Meetings
Section 1. Annual Meetings. It shall be held at the principal office of the Association on
the last Saturday of November of each year.

Section 2. Regular Meetings. It shall be held quarterly [last Saturday of January, April,
July and November] or pre-arranged date with notices sent to all members thereof at
least one week in advance.

Section 3. Quorum. Majority of the members present shall constitute a quorum. With
respect to decision making, majority of those present shall prevail and the body
shall be informed properly on the decision arrived at.
Section 4. Order of Business. The order of Business at the Annual Meeting of members shall be:
a. Proof of service of the required notice of meeting except when such notice is waived
by the members of a constituting quorum.
b. Proof of presence of a quorum.
c. Reading and Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting except when such
reading is dispensed with by a majority vote of those present.
d. Unfinished business.
e. Report of the President.
f. Report of the Treasurer.
g. Election of the officers after two fiscal years.
h. Other matters.
The order of Business of any meeting may be changed by a vote of majority of members present.

ARTICLE XI
Funds
Section 1. Funds shall be derived from:
a. Membership fees – PhP100.00 annually for five years.
Annual dues – PhP100.00
Lifetime membership – PhP1,000.00
c. Gifts/donations

Section 2. Fees and Dues. Every member, in addition to the membership fee, pays dues and/or
assessments that may be imposed from time to time.

Section 3. Disbursements. Withdrawals from the funds, whether by check or in any other
instrument shall be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the President.

ARTICLE XlI
Amendments of the By-Laws
The By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed at any meeting called for the purpose
by a 2/3 vote of the members present at such meetings, PROVIDED, that the proposed
amendment shall have been sent to the members 30 days before such meeting.

ARTICLE XIII
Effectivity and Repealing Clause
All amendments approved by the Association are effective 30 days after the approval,
unless otherwise provided and all existing provisions in the by-laws inconsistent with the new
amendments are deemed repealed.