By Anthony A. Araos
Quickly, I’m ending this trilogy of sorts on the so-called birds’ migratory sanctuary of Alfonso Lista. From “More birds to come” to “More, more and more birds to come” and here’s the last piece of my commentary titled “A few or no more birds to come.” I wouldn’t mind making a mistake of working on that premise. Not at all! With due respect, therefore, the municipal government should listen and heed the call to safeguard the town’s environment.
The truth is that birds from other countries are not likely to come if the environment is dirty. These birds are likely to go instead to places like Pampanga and Saranggani provinces. Earlier, I recommended to the Sangguniang Bayan the creation of Environment Scouts and that Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials are deputized as such. The recommendation stays.
In the deft scope of promoting tourism, the Alipio administration should avert the destruction of the environment at all costs. If realized, expect more, more and more birds to come. Cleanliness, proper waste disposal and sewage management shall give way to sustainable environmental program. In turn, this shall catalyze further expansion of the tourism industry. In other words, more, more and more tourists are coming.
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I’m extending my belated birthday greetings to Alfonso Lista Mayor Edralin Alipio. His advocacies are indeed laudable. The neophyte mayor’s goal for 2020 and beyond is improvement of the conditions of the people, most especially the poor. Translation: to help reduce poverty incidence and make a difference in the lives of the poor.
Mayor Alipio is a stalwart of the Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats, just like Vice Mayor Agapito Dominguez Jr. His victory in the four-cornered mayoralty race this year bears a lot of significance. With it, Alipio seemed to have finally arrived as a key player in the town’s socio-political landscape. Now, he is one of Alfonso Lista’s dominant leaders.
Mayor Alipio has greatly influenced the people’s prevailing mood and attitude to act collectively in solving socio-economic problems. Under his stewardship, the Office of the Mayor has been truly responsive to the needs of various sectors.
The truth is that I always pray for my kins and loved ones. Mayor Alipio is not my relative. But I prayed for his good health and continuing success in present and future undertakings. To his constituents of this fast-emerging farming town: Ah, raise your hearts and raise your eyes. And look above to heaven’s sky. Here is a young, vibrant and visionary leader. Support him each second of the day!
By many, Mayor Alipio (as well as Vice Mayor Dominguez) is a bright and sparkling light of Alfonso Lista and to show the way through obstacles, clouds and nights.
Together with Representative Solomon Chungalao, Governor Jerry Dalipog, Vice Governor Glenn Prudenciano and Vice Mayor Dominguez, it is hoped that Mayor Alipio puts premium to construction of connective infrastructure such as roads, bridges, irrigation and water supply. An infrastructure push in the next two to five years is vital to the town’s growth and development. The economic rate of return of the aforementioned items is undoubtedly high.
Alfonso Lista is vital for Ifugao’s growth as it is the “corn granary of the Cordillera Administrative Region.” The Alfonso Lista market is going to be a pillar of the northern Luzon business that is why it needs a corn processing facility and an integrated corn research center. Why the corn processing facility? It shall deter or cut down huge losses of farmers. Why the integrated corn research center? It shall establish a continuing program on research, education and information to enhance corn production.
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I would like to congratulate Vice Governor Glenn Prudenciano for employing hardworking and dedicated personnel such as Roland Ramonte. Needless to say, well-meaning and competent employees like him will play a key role in ensuring efficiency at the Office of the Vice Governor in the coming years and contribute to better trust by the public. Other offices at the provincial capitol building should emulate the highest quality and efficiency of the Office of the Vice Governor. I am positive that Mr. Ramonte could help in bringing Vice Governor Prudenciano much closer to the people. On that note, I offer my best wishes to Mr. Ramonte for his health and prosperity. God bless and Mabuhay!
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Many are impressed of the actions in the past taken by Councilor Diony Macadangdang of Alfonso Lista. This is precisely the reason he won in the May 13, 2019 polls. Councilor Macadangdang is a partymate of Mayor Alipio and Vice Mayor Dominguez. At the Sangguniang Bayan, he is in a position to support the pro-poor agenda of the mayor, In turn, Mayor Alipio and the people should reciprocate this with his continued political participation by 2022 and beyond. For now, I also see him as a key player in legislating practical reforms at the powerful and influential municipal council.
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I congratulate the eight Alternative Learning Systems (ALS) teachers of Alfonso Lista. I met them recently at the town’s program for out-of-school youth (OSY). I commend them for remaining a steadfast partner of the government in educating the OSY sector.
However, I’m expressing my dismay over the unbelievably low wages they are currently receiving. On the average, an ALS mentor is getting PhP 7,000 a month. Less the taxes he or she is paying to the government, the take home pay is just about a little over Php 5,000. The government has to do some concrete things to improve the dire conditions of the Alfonso Lista ALS teachers and elsewhere in Ifugao as it will be easily negated by inflation. They need higher wages to cope up with the high cost of living.
Their misery doesn’t end here. Their transportation allowances were also scrapped. They have to shoulder the cost of photocopying important materials for their students.
My recommendation is for the Sangguniang Panglalawigan to provide the ALS teacher a PhP24,000 hazard pay allowance each year. Right now, these Alfonso Lista ALS teachers and the others in the province’s ten towns are devoted to their duties of educating the OSY from poverty-stricken families in remote and underserved villages. In other words, they are living in great difficulties.
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Brainy tidbits: This Christmas season when handing gifts to children always think of their interests. Don’t let the idea of extravagance dampen the spirit of thoughtfulness in you. Even less expensive gifts for their school needs are worth giving. We’ve always been reminded to save for a rainy day. So save some for their needs for the other 11 months of the year. Knowing the kid’s interests and how he or she responds to a toy or book is very helpful.
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For our food delights corner: For a pre-Christmas Day treat at the table during lunch or dinner, a meal of Chinese pork longanisa, Shanghai rolls, mixed vegetables, rice and asparagus soup is an excellent idea. For appetizers and desert: be cake, bananas and chilled mango juice. There’s another time for the ham and cheese. For now, focus on a good meal and nutrition. Likewise, get enough exercise and sleep. Of course, don’t forget to pray for all these blessings and more ahead of December 25 and January 1, 2020. Prayers must be one’s strength.
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Did you know? Coconut milk powder is good for one’s health. It is considered as a herbal ingredient. It can lose excess weigh naturally. Just as essential are mangosteen, turmeric, purple corn and green barley. Take note of the fact that this Christmas season it is not all about merry-making activities around the community, but there is also the health perspective agenda to seriously consider. For short, stay fit and healthy!
By the way, to maintain good health one must drink a lot of juice in the morning. Better to squeeze out the juice of fresh vegetables (like carrots) and fruits (like mangoes).
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Blooper in Ifugao: A calling or business card of an Ifugao board member listed at the back side the office’s three personnel. It says: STAFFS. Correction: it should be STAFF. Please STOP saying STAFFS. This STAFFS thing is a matter that would make you want to laugh or cry!
By 2020, I’m praying that board members are able to say “NO” to a lot of stuff on the so-called “STAFFS” that are just a buff of jokes outside the province.
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I am ever optimistic that Governor Dalipog is in a position to convert a good number of Ifugao’s bodies of freshwater into ecotourism zones. Of course, ecotourism is doable in the province. Local and foreign tourists may experience the multicultural richness of the province in an ecotourism village. If provincial government officials truly want to promote culture, make no mistake that the best thing to engage next year and beyond is ecotourism. Ecotourism projects also thrive in Ifugao’s mountain resorts.
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Unlimited odd thoughts unloaded: The local formal name of the Philippines is Republika ng Pilipinas. While the local formal name of Cambodia is Reacheanackhak Kampuchea. On the other hand, the local formal name of Brunei is Negara Brunei Durussalam. It is just getting longer. Anyhow, the three countries are member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
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Finally, here are some thoughts for our dear readers: “I have the ability to do all that I have promised.” Rom 4:20-21
“When they fled to Egypt to escape Herod, they were refugees, too, traveling into the unknown without any guarantee they’d ever return home. Indeed, they changed plans and returned to Galilee because of the political climate.” Matthew 2:19-23
“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3-4**
