By Anthony A. Araos
For so long, the wise tourist goes to a destination with a stunning natural beauty.
Small wonder, the wise local or foreign traveler continues to seek more knowledge on the natural wonders of Mayoyao and its distinctive culture. To a very large extent, Mayoyao has preserved both.
Adding a special feature to the town’s landscape are the famed Chaya Rice Terraces in barangay Chaya. Visitors will find these enchanting. My friends from Honolulu, Hawaii who visited the place about three years ago said the Chaya Rice Terraces have infinitely great appeal to tourists like them.
Experience up close the chilly air at Chaya Rice Terraces around the time of the Christmas season. It is always inspiring for a visitor to strive to be better in any endeavor. It strengthens one’s convictions and invigorates each one to make a positive change. So make the most of it while in this wonderful place.
Mayoyao is 91.91 square meters offering several of the most picturesque sceneries of Ifugao. It is a truly fast-changing world. Town folks (about 17,731 of them in 2015) will find opportunities increasing as tourists continue to flock in their villages. As such, developing the infrastructure of the tourism industry around major attractions is imperative. Chaya Rice Terraces, therefore, is on track in boosting the said industry.
By the way, another site worth visiting in Mayoyao is Mount Nagchajan (1,455 meters). Of particular interest is Mount Nagchajan (pronounced ‘nagchayan’) Viewpoint, also in barangay Chaya. The late General Tomoyuki Yamashita of the Japanese Imperial Army made his last stand here before surrendering to the Americans and Filipino guerillas in Kiangan, Ifugao.
We usually find ways to make our lives happier. Some are looking to communing with nature as a means of recharging tired bodies and minds. Far from the noises, smog and other inconveniences of the metropolis, Mayoyao is an excellent place to study and appreciate nature’s biodiversity and, perhaps, even more deeply its ecosystem integrity. Then you feel a strong obligation to appreciate God’s creation and duty to safeguard the environment because logically it is the sole way Mother Earth can continue to survive. Don’t turn a blind eye!
The incoming officials of the provincial government by 2019 can ill-afford to let go these golden opportunities. That’s why you’ll find the future of the tourism industry in the faces of people struggling to make both ends meet. There are certainly many of them. They work at Mayoyao Hostel. Not a few are selling souvenir items. Some serve as tourist guides. Others make a living at eateries and sari-sari stores.
In chasing your dreams and aiming for the top, give yourself the much-needed vacation this Christmas season. The whole family will surely enjoy one in Mayoyao.
Step up your phase. What you learn and experience this yearend will be crucial for your success in 2019 and beyond. This is a year for learning and enjoying. Explore Mayoyao!
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Undoubtedly, Dr. Virgilio Bautista of Baguio City has done a splendid job at the 22-member Consultative Committee. This time around I’m just recalling some of his thought-provoking statements during the press conference and consultation program at Crown Legacy Hotel in Baguio City. He said: “When I accepted the position as member of the Consultative Committee, I felt it was a consultancy work. So, I felt and acted as a Consultant. Well, we worked from Monday to Friday, on an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedules since February of this year. For the first three days, I said that I’m a Cordilleran at the ConCom. On the fourth day, I said that I’m a Filipino at the ConCom with a duty to review and draft a constitution for the Philippines.” He said that at the press conference.
He quipped: “Whichever comes first, take it.” He said that both during the press conference and the consultation program.
Well, folks ConCom members are submitting the draft of the new Charter on July 4 to President Duterte. President Duterte is expected to discuss it at length during his SONA (State-of-the-Nation) address this month. Said draft is submitted to Congress. The Senate and the House of Representatives are convened into a Constitutional Assembly (ConAss) to go through the proposed charter. The final make-up, as crafted by Congress, is then submitted to a plebiscite by next year for approval. If passed, there is a transition period. The first elections under a federal form of government are to take place in 2022. For short, there is a time table for the proponents of the shift to a federal government. By the way, the next regional consultation program is in the Bicol Region, particularly in Legazpi City. From all the looks of it, the ConCom members are all very tired. They are not inclined to go back to the drawing boards for obvious reasons. I hate to say this, it’s all over except for the photo ops!
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Next time around please, I’m suggesting that a female category in the choir competition be included. After all, women are not only good in singing, but are also cheerful, friendly, hardworking, positive and intelligent.
With more women than men in the populace here and elsewhere in the Philippines, it is most unfortunate that a choir competition for males only was conducted as one of the events of the just-concluded Gotad ad Ifugao as it foments with a feeling that tries to cast doubts on the skills and talents of women. The failure to consider putting a female category gives excessive weight to the fact that the event’s main proponent Board Member James Frederick Dulnuan got the wrong advice on this matter. On the substantive question on having male, female or mixed categories, it only leaves powerful broadside at the very core of the concept of women empowerment. We cannot advance the cause of elevating the status of women in society if we don’t recognize that there are the basic conceptions on the capabilities of women. What is clear and undeniable is that there are a lot of distinguished female singers such as Lea Salonga, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Regine Velasquez, Sarah Geronimo, Jaya, Pilita Corrales, Nora Aunor, Whitney Houston and Madonna to name a few.
A number of women joined the Ifugao provincial government choir to realize their dreams of sharing their talents at various programs. Hundreds of women have transformed their lives by joining church, school and office choirs. Will you deprive them of being recognized as great singers?
The fact that women from all backgrounds have been able to find happiness and success with choir groups in the Philippines and other countries shows that, joining a choir can be very meaningful and fulfilling. And that’s why, even without looking at the crystal ball, the present and future of women empowerment—and the future of Ifugao in general—looks so bright if Board Member Dulnuan (who is on his third and last term and is reportedly running for the position of Vice Governor in the 2019 midterm polls), leading intellect at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, stays on the right course and endeavors to include a female category in a future choir competition. When I look forward for the year 2019, I see a clear the need for a big push for an active hand of women in the decision-making process. This entails gender mainstreaming strategies and policy implementations in the best interest of the highly regarded women sector.
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Congratulations to the men and women who are behind the naming of Camp Col. Joaquin Dunuan at barracks of barangay Poblacion North in Lagawe. Col. Dunuan stood out for his bravery, determination, persistence and love of challenges. Like Col. Dunuan, Ifugao folks should be strong, courageous and can always be expected to stand up for what is right and the things they believe in. He’s an inspiration not just to his kins and relatives as well as to many others.
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At the recent meeting of the Board of Directors (BOD) of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC)-Ifugao Chapter in Lagawe, I saw familiar faces in the persons of Eugene Balitang, Godfrey Dominong and Mario Indopia and, of course, BOD chairperson Carmelita Buyuccan. I was expecting Board Members Noli Maguiwe and Robert Mangyao to be around but they were absent.
Official data showed that there were 74 blood donors for the period covering January to March of this year. Indeed, there is much work to be done in this aspect.
A PRC chapter without ample blood supply is simply unthinkable. Ifugao is well within an area prone to earthquakes and typhoons and as such, uncertainty is abundant. The best thing to do is keep a sufficient supply of blood. Blood donation really matters because it saves precious lives. Each day, there is an urgent need for blood thus, blood donation spells the difference between life and death.
Thus far, the best way to guarantee a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood products for transfusion is to have a good supply of regular donations by voluntary unpaid blood donors. Transfusion of blood and blood products helps patients suffering from life-threatening conditions to live longer and maintain a higher quality of life, and it also supports complex medical and surgical procedures.
The PRC has programs for indigents who require blood such as the Blood Samaritan Programs and the PCSO Blood Samaritan Funds, a tie-up with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Indigents just need to secure a blood request, certificate of indigency from a hospital or social worker, or barangay certificate to get blood for free from the PRC.
There’s a lack of knowledge among Ifugao folks- young and old alike, on these matters. No one is responsible for earthquakes and typhoons happening, everyone is responsible for what happens after when blood supplies are not enough.
It is always a privilege to ponder over what matters are being discussed by the directors of the PRC-Ifugao Chapter. It is always an honor to share with them a thought or two on vital concerns affecting the province. While I constantly look out for unique and rare developments to bring to our readers, there is a greater undertow in doing so because of my background and great concern for the people, most especially the poor. How do you contribute to the cause when you’re not even a director in the first place? In itself, it is a predicament of sorts. So I’ll just step forth in my commentaries, clutching tightly to wisdom of the mind and the heart. Keep informing the uninformed! Keep educating the uneducated! Keep telling the public to donate blood and save lives!
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A tip for success: Have an active lifestyle. Exercises on a daily basis are very important in one’s life. If you’re hesitant to engage in exercise, think about the high cost of medicines and hospitalization if you get sick. Look for basic fitness programs that seek to produce body improvements. At this point, consider a calisthenics program. In a calisthenics program, be on the lookout for progress in the areas of muscular strength and endurance and cardiorespiratory efficiency. These are particularly important.
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Whoever is elected as Vice Governor of Ifugao in the 2019 midterm polls, it is hoped that he or she truly pursue a pro-education agenda. Improvement or modernization of school facilities will push progress in far-flung villages, whose people had long been decrying neglect from the provincial government. The next vice governor should prioritize programs to further improve the quality of education in Ifugao. He or she should work for increased budgetary allocation for the education sector. I’m already praying that the incoming vice governor will do everything to ensure its betterment.
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For our food delights corner: I’m strongly dishing out another all-time Filipino favorite for dinner time. So there’s pork adobo, fresh lumpiang ubod, fried tilapia (fish), rice and corn and crab soup.
For appetizers and dessert: There’s also something very special at the table for your loved ones. Bring out the wonders of cinnamon bread. You’ve got to know that cinnamon has so many health benefits. For one, it has been proven to fight fungal, bacterial and viral elements in food, thus preventing spoilage. Considering these properties, it can be part of the treatment of lung problems and even common cold. Complete this side, with bananas and chilled apple juice.
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Finally, here is a food for thought for our readers: “Accepting the real Jesus (Christ) is accepting His presence among the poor, those who get spat at and insulted in the society.” Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle
“I hail Mr. (President) Duterte for saving Boracay and saving this country from the burdens of irresponsible tourism development.” Former Albay provincial tourism officer Jose Briones .**
