By Anthony A. Araos
I’m not tired at all telling my friends in Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Baguio City and Olongapo City as well as foreign tourists that Banaue is a must-visit place in northern Luzon.
Of course, there are so many reasons for people to visit this famous upland town of Ifugao. Rich in history and culture, Banaue is known throughout the world for its panoramic rice terraces. Banaue likewise offers comfortable and tranquil living to the people staying in the cool mountain vacation town.
Today, Banaue prides itself as one of the top destinations of the Philippines. Local and foreign tourists continue to visit the town year-round thus, the tourism industry is a major component of its vibrant economy.
However, time came when Banaue also experienced a boom in the agriculture industry. Just like in the other 10 towns of Ifugao, agriculture provides significant income to the people. Major crops include rice (particularly, the “tinawon” variety) and vegetables. Outside of the main Barangay Poblacion area, farming is so important to villagers. It is simply because agriculture has been their means of living for so many decades. Unknown to many, farmers yearn to share their craft and insights with stakeholders in the tourism industry so that the town shall reap more benefits for progress, and most of all, the cherished brighter tomorrow.
It’s too good Banaue is so blessed. For one, organic farming has gained a foothold in the town. This certainly augurs well for farm tourism (or agritourism) advocates like Sen. Cynthia Villar.
In this connection, the need to encourage the planting of organic vegetables at school gardens, home backyard gardens, farm lots and even idle lands arises.
Have an eye for innovative ventures like vegetable-picking or salad eating for local and foreign tourists in pilot sites of Banaue. Just imagine those partaking freshly-picked cabbages, lettuce, cucumbers or carrots for a bowl of salad. I’m most willing to give you other particulars just to have the right frame of mind through a myriad of not-so-complicated, do-it-yourself details. You won’t regret anything.
Recently, I asked my three friends (from the United States, Canada and France) their conditions after eating a lot of salad treats at a house in Banaue last Christmas. They remained in good health.
The great taste of fresh, organically-raised vegetables alone is worth making the trip to Banaue for. It is simply fantastic!
Alas, don’t forget that there is the lush scenery of Banaue as a major attraction for travelers.
Banaue has earned the praises of local and foreign visitors for its splendor each day of the week. Many have noticed Mayor Jerry Dalipog’s good governance in his nearly eight years of tenure which contributed greatly in attracting a number of individuals to do business here.
Dalipog’s good governance also resulted to commendable peace and order situation in Banaue. After all, tranquility is tied up to progress. Without peace and order, there can’t be economic development. Investors are likely to shy away in a place where lawless elements are freely roaming around the streets.
Dalipog’s brand of governance, which emphasized compassion for the poor and decisiveness to implement key projects for present and future generations, led the town into being recognized in 2017 by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as a national awardee for Seal for Good Local Governance.
I fervently hope that the foregoing commentary would somehow make a difference in ascertaining Banaue’s splendor by contributing to a good and better understanding of heavenly and man-made factors behind such assertion. This commentary is a way to enlighten the public on Banaue’s unique features and provide each one a viable way to do so.
-o0o-
Bloopers in Ifugao abound. I’m not kidding and here are some of them. At a bulletin board at IFSU-Lagawe campus the following item at a memorandum duly signed by a highly-placed official appeared: “To all dean.”
In a website of a municipality, this headline says: “New market site is now operated.”
A former staff of a Board Member as well as a staff of a cooperative wrote the following: “In aide of legislation” and “Medical aide benefits,” respectively.
A sari-sari store in Lagawe posted a note to customers: “We don’t sale cigarettes to minors.”
There are surely a lot of them. I need a year or two, at most, to enumerate these bloopers. Something is wrong somewhere. Fundamentally, the language instruction is so weak and it goes without saying that basic education is inherently poor. You’ve got to do something drastic before it is too late. Think of the next generations!
-o0o-
My heartfelt congratulations to the officers (led by Chief Executive Officer Charles Balachawe) and officers of Lagawe Multi-Purpose Development Cooperative (LMDC) for conducting recently their General Assembly at the Don Bosco High School Compound.
It is not difficult to understand and appreciate the LMDC’s phenomenal growth under the leadership of Mr. Balachawe. He is extremely experienced and knowledgeable of the workings of the cooperative movement. I truly admire his passion to elevate the LMDC, in particular, and the cooperative sector, in general, to greater heights. To Mr. Balachawe: Keep up your excellent job! God bless and Mabuhay!
-o0o-
Likewise, I’m saluting Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Provincial Director Valentin Baguidudol for holding recently the Go Negosyo-Kapatid Mentor Program at Kiangan, Ifugao.
Undoubtedly, Henry Tenedero inspired the participants (called “mentees”) to strive hard in order to be successful entrepreneurs. However, another “minor” speaker ironically cancelled all the positive points registered by Mr. Tenedero. At one point he declared: “Aspiring Filipino business owners need not sleep just to finish their work!” Well, that’s the height of stupidity! If you don’t sleep, chances are high that you’ll get sick. Hospitalization cost is higher than your profit. Haven’t you heard that Savemore and SM close at 9 p.m. Both establishments (owned by a Filipino with a Chinese descent tycoon) already amassed millions by that time and are giving their employees the much-needed time to go home, eat, rest and sleep. Has the sponsor run out of good speakers?
My other concern is the fate of “unsuccessful” business owners who incurred heavy debts leading to the establishment’s closure. I haven’t heard anything from the same “minor” speaker regarding this contentious issue. Except he said, “You should be willing to start a new business when your first business fails. Again, he was damn wrong. How do you get out of this predicament? In the first place, you need not put up a new business, but only undergo rehabilitation. Well, here are some hints: Go over the provisions of Republic Act No. 10142, otherwise known as the “Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act” of 2009. The other one, I’ll think it over when to share it with interested parties, not just now. Later.
-o0o-
Tips for success: Have an active and healthy lifestyle. Live in a place where the air is fresh and cool to drive off any form of stress.
-o0o-
For our food delights corner: this time around make way for prawn tempura, U.S. angus beef teppanyaki, rice, grilled eggplant and steamed mixed vegetables. The American angus beef teppanyaki, cooked in distinct Japanese way, is known to be juicy and full of flavor.
For appetizers: mocha cake, papaya and chilled mango juice. Recalled having a glass of wine in Honolulu, Hawaii several years back as an appetizer of this great dish.
Try something Japanese (or anything Oriental or Asian) this year as it becomes something memorable not to be missed.
Be it a cuisine initially prepared by a chef in Tokyo (or Beijing in China, Seoul in South Korea or even Hanoi in Vietnam), just don’t forget to pray.
-o0o-
Here are some thoughts for our readers: “There is no template for the meaning of life. Instead, the meaning of life is what you choose to make it means. Life is the consequence of our moral choices.” A quote from the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago
“Granting all of the government’s allegations to be true, however, I do not find these to be sufficient basis to warrant any continued restriction or of suspension of fundamental civil liberties,” Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza**
