Lakay Billy, Defender of Indigenous People (PRE-ORDER)

SYNOPSIS:

Born in Lepanto, Mankayan, Benguet, on July 16, 1936, to Ludovico Ofo-ob Claver and Maria Funa-ay who were both from Bontoc, Mt. Province, William or Billy Claver had his primary and secondary education in his parents’ province. He graduated from San Beda College in 1960. The man who had a promising future as a lawyer was given a leadership award by his alma mater, and passed the Bar Exams on the same year. He eventually married Jane Abeya from Sagada, Mt. Province who was his batchmate in high school.

The Martial Law regime from 1971 to 1986 brought untold sufferings to many Filipinos, and the indigenous people of the Cordillera were not spared. As early as the start of the 70s, Claver was certain whose side he was on. He joined the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) led by human rights luminaries Jose Diokno and Lorenzo Tañada, which provided legal aid to human rights victims. For almost a decade, Claver bravely enjoined other lawyers in Northern Luzon to join the FLAG and provide pro bono assistance to victims of Martial Law in the cities and provinces.

In the 80s, after the victorious Chico Dam struggle was over, Claver traveled to far-flung areas in Cagayan and Isabela to extend legal advice and assistance to the marginalized sectors whose human rights were violated by wealthy and powerful landowners and businessmen who were protected by the military. His dedication to the cause of the indigenous peoples of the Cordillera Region made him a constant friend and adviser of indigenous activists and human rights defenders. In 1984, he was elected as the first Chairperson of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance which to this day espouses the defense of land, life, and resources of indigenous people.

After he retired from public service, he continued to provide legal counsel to the marginalized sectors in his home province of Kalinga. After surviving strokes and complications from diabetes, he peacefully passed away in the presence and comfort of his loved ones on December 15, 2011.

Published: 2018
Written by Luz B. Maranan
Illustrated by Duday Ysabel Maranan
Size: 10 x 8 inches
Length: 16 pages
Print: Full Color
Type: C2S paper, Paperbound

❗️NOTE❗️:

THIS IS A ❗️PRE-ORDER ITEM❗️PRODUCT WILL BE SHIPPED IN THE END OF AUGUST-SEPTEMBER.

 If you are ordering an item that is currently in stock in the same order, the order will be held until the pre-ordered book or item arrives from the Philippines. Shipping of pre-ordered items from our partners in the Philippines to New York are scheduled to take place in May, August and November 2026 ONLY.

Once pre-ordered items ship and arrive from the Philippines to New York, items will be dispatched from New York to their final destination.

Due to the gas situation worldwide and especially in the Philippines, shipping of pre-ordered items are delayed and shipping from the Philippines has been set to ease our partner's in the Philippines.

Shipping during these 3 months for 2026 also allow our partnered local artisans from the Philippines such as our weavers, anitu sculptors, and brass pre-colonial gold replica jewelry pieces, the time needed they need to work on your one of a kind, handmade pieces. 

These pieces are all handmade by our local partners and traditional artisans, not mass produced. If you want a ready made and in stock clothing piece, figure, ceramic, or jewelry piece, if we have any available in stock and on hand, you purchase those. Every shipment from the Philippines we do order extra's to put up on the shop for those who want to keep an eye out for in stock items. 

❗️CURRENT SHIPPING❗️

If you are going to be pre-ordering an item and ordering an in stock item, two separate orders must be placed to guarantee arrival of in stock products within 2-3 weeks.

Our shipping days for in-stock items from New York are currently only being shipped at the beginning and end of each month. This allows time for packing and shipping items. Also due to the rising gas prices, we have decided to cut back on shipping days to make it easier on ourselves (two person team) to pack and deliver items to the Post Office 2x a month.