By Anthony A. Araos
Standing next to Banaue Museum’s importance in promoting the province’s cultural heritage is the Cordillera Sculpture Museum. It is located not too far from Banaue Museum.
The Cordillera Sculpture Museum easily speaks of a place so rich in collection of sculptural gems.
Undoubtedly, Banaue is so blessed to have two distinct museums. Yet, only a few of Ifugao folks are visiting these museums. A good number of foreign tourists are even outnumbering them as visitors of both museums.
Clearly, there is a low level of awareness and consciousness among Ifugao folks of the significance of a museum. I know that in time the repercussions of their attitude are quite horrendous, to say the least.
On the other hand, the German or American tourist has a far different attitude on this matter. Foreign tourists give importance to a museum visit. Is it a waste of time to visit one? I even heard an Ifugao woman saying “no one will pay you for visiting the Banaue Museum. You’ll even pay an entrance fee.” Well, some people are insurmountably ignorant.
Visiting the Banaue Museum or this time around the little-heard Cordillera Sculpture Museum shall help you think better of what really happened in the past in this part of the world. It helps you to become a better person. This is precisely the reason why a museum provides a global perspective of things. The foreign tourist won’t regret spending an hour or so at the Banaue Museum and Cordillera Scuplture Museum.
On display at the town’s museums is a fascinating collection of yesteryears’ artifacts and implements. So why say “sorry I have no time to visit a museum.” Well, I really feel bad for such an unthinkable attitude. This is the heart of the problem. No one else will fit the “hopeless case” tag.
I’m curious whether anyone has asked the Ifugao youngster if he has time to visit the Banaue Museum? Chances are he or she is more inclined to watch the street dancing parade of the Kulpi or Gotad.
Go find time to visit these museums. At the end of the day, the Ifugao kid shall utter: “Thank you sir for your advice. Now, I know who I am.”
The task of enlightening Ifugao folks on this concern is quite tough. But, I won’t easily give up. It is certainly not in my character. In the first place, I don’t try to win people who think the same way. I’ll be better for the challenge, at all times.
It is high time to educate Ifugao folks that their cultural shows are all related to the existence of a museum in Banaue or Kiangan. Grab along this rare opportunity. Visit any museum in the province and bring along your loved ones to get a glimpse of the past.
The words “I love Ifugao culture” can mean all kinds of things. I’ve heard and seen a lot about the Batad Rice Terraces in Banaue. But I haven’t seen a well-photographed museum of the town. One’s sensitivity to the meaning behind the words will surely steer the people well.
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A news report of the Philippine Star on May 19 said the hottest temperature so far in the country this year was 39.8 degrees Celsius in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. It was recorded on May 17.
Well, folks in Ifugao are similarly experiencing the scorching heat of the sun. The hot weather is all over the province. Of course, one explanation for the discomfort is that it is the summer season.
Got to accept too is the fact that a good number of Ifugao folks went into cutting of trees spree to the detriment of their own well-being. They even believed that “kaingin” practice is fine. They even argued that Ifugao is allowed to do so. I swear there are a lot of them who cling to this ridiculous and silly notion.
I’m always ready and willing to tell them that it is not right to cut trees just to have wood for you to build a house or cook your food. Admittedly, tough, it is not an easy task, considering that many of them are illiterate, uneducated or lowly-educated.
At one time I told a hard-headed, old Ifugao man: “Go ahead cut all the trees in this place. Cut 100 or more trees a day. Cut all the trees near your house. Wait for the heavy rains, then you’ll have massive flooding, soil erosion, mudslides and landslides. Do it now!” Shortly, I showed him a photograph of a denuded mountain in Ormoc City. About 3,000 residents died there when floods hit the city several years back. After a week I saw him and he uttered: “I am terrified to cut the trees here.” I retorted back: “You have no other choice!”
Trees are deterrent to pollution. Trees make the surroundings cooler too.
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While taking a snack at a PWD-operated canteen in Lagawe, two female police trainees entered the vicinity. It was opportune to ask them why while they have holsters they were not carrying guns. They said that’s the regulation. So what if someone runs amok in the area in the presence of the two trainees? Or a bolo-wielding drunkard tries to attack them? In my mind, it would be a most worrying sight. Alarmingly, you’re exposing them unnecessarily to extreme danger. Oh well, we’re simply training them to be killed. Nonsense! Honestly, I am even skeptical of the claim that they are merely on trainee status. But if the police are right, why is it they are already wearing police uniforms that only put them in harm’s way from lawless elements? Better to train them to run as fast as they can away from the assailant. It makes more sense!
Imagine the Gilas Pilipinas basketball men’s national team training and practicing without balls. Tell that to coach Chot Reyes!
In the face of the growing uncertainty of the times, I am strongly urging the national government to enhance the law enforcement capabilities of the Philippine National Police (PNP), including police trainees. Let us not forget that they are on the job trainees. If you don’t buy my suggestion, better give them toy guns.
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Now with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) in place, it is high time for its officials to buckle down to work by noon of June 30. For starters, SK officials should be deputized to go after hard-headed, unthinking Ifugao folks who are engaged in open burning of garbage. The law clearly says that it is an illegal act. It is, therefore, necessary to tap the young leaders to go around the village and tell them to strictly follow the law. If they insist to continue their wayward deeds, then the SK and barangay officials should file complaints against them. Apply the law without fear or favor. Penalize them. These are revenues for your councils. Exercise your political will to advance the common good! If you can’t do that, then you have no business staying in your position even for a second.
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I am no longer surprised if I hear that students of the Lagawe National High School-Extension (LNHSE) at barangay Cudog are on a high and positive mood when they go back to their classrooms by June 4.
They have a new principal in the person of Florentina Lunag. Mrs. Lunag, who took over the post of Jennifer Dulnuan, came from Ifugao Provincial Science High School, a highly-respected learning institution in Lamut.
I am anxious of a lot of things Mrs. Lunag has undertaken since she took over the helm of LNHSE stewardship. Well, a teacher (for Filipino subject) was hired, along with a watchman (security guard). Brigada Eskwela preparation in terms of maintenance works of classrooms and the faculty office is important. She was around assisting the mentors, barangay council officials and volunteers throughout the activity. Whether it is painting the walls or cutting the grasses, a conducive learning environment is an advantage for the young learners.
Mrs. Dulnuan left this school for another vital assignment confident that her beloved LNHSE will be in the mighty and superb hands of an equally dedicated head, Mrs. Florentina Dag-o Lunag. Cheers! To Mrs. Lunag: God bless and Mabuhay!
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To really prove their worth, aspirants for Representative of Ifugao in the 2019 polls should take part in a forum (possibly sponsored by student organizations at Ifugao State University) even before they file their certificates of candidacy (CoCs) this October. It is so important to know their stand on key issues of the day. In the forum, ask these queries: Explain the impact of child nutrition in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life? What is your plan to provide relief to the people on the burdensome TRAIN law? These questions are what voters want answered. A candidate for congressman should have a very good grasp of national issues. If your knowledge is rather solely limited to issues encompassing the province’s 11 towns, don’t even dream of becoming a congressman. Please just stay home and plant rice! For one, at the House of Representatives, you’ll get to work on the General Appropriations Act (GAA) or the national budget.
This is surely a daunting reality. Nonetheless, we are compelled to accept it wholeheartedly and endeavor to separate the men from the boys. With this in mind, an aspirant’s forum is the people’s most dependable ally at this point.
It is a fast-shaping six-way congressional race in Ifugao. I would love to tell you guys who is the rightful successor of Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr. There are weird ones, the ones you wouldn’t know what their proposed bills would be. Like banning a typhoon from entering the province!
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If he ends up in the “Magic 12” senatorial race next year, Secretary Christopher “Bong” Go would be bringing tenacity and freshness to the upper chamber. His huge tarpaulins, with his photograph along with President Duterte, are conspicuously seen at all Ifugao towns and elsewhere. His handlers should be told that pretty soon the need to promote him all by himself shall inevitably arise. Former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas lost the presidency in 2016 because of his perceived closeness with then President Noynoy Aquino. During the campaign, the shadow of PNoy casted over the back of Mar Roxas. To understand the meaning of “victory,” one must learn the lessons of history.
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Congratulations to Kagawad-elect Salvador Tayaban of Poblacion East in Lagawe. I’m confident that he will be one of the partners for change as the barangay council implements policies and programs that aim to improve the quality of life of the people and push the village towards progress and development.
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A tip for success: Apply some creativity and knowledge of information technology and science in one’s endeavors and go beyond the bahay kubo Filipino mentality. There are already mansions, villas and condominiums around us. Not to mention cellphones, i-phones, laptops and drones.
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For our food delights corner: go for a wonderful breakfast treat for your family and loved ones with tocino (marinated pork), scrambled eggs, daing na bangus (milkfish) and fried rice. This is excellent with atchara on the side. Coco flakes with fresh milk practically makes your breakfast complete. If there is a slice of ripe mango or papaya, don’t even think of foregoing it. Enjoy this meal to your heart’s delight!
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Blooper in Ifugao: A government employee in Ifugao has been reprimanded by her boss for not attending the staff meeting nearly ten times. She received a memo stating that her presence is called for. “Attendance is a must,” the message clearly says so.
The staff meeting occurred as scheduled. She was nowhere in the meeting. The fuming boss asked her: What’s your excuse this time for not attending the meeting? She replied: I attended it. The boss immediately blurted out: You attended what? You were not present at all. Where were you then? She answered: At the church. I attended the mass.
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Finally, some thoughts for our readers: “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” Lk 12;15
“Pride will take a fall, and contentment is happiness.” A Chinese proverb
“I support the workers asking for a wage increase. The TRAIN law makes life harder for the workers and the ordinary people. The TRAIN law should be junked and changed for a more equitable tax law.” Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo **
