By Anthony A. Araos
BREAKING NEWS: Mayoyao declared a State of Calamity on Sept. 15 (through Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 96 s-2018) in the aftermath of Typhoon Ompong (international name: Mangkhut). I commiserate with the suffering of the town’s people and pray for their immediate recovery and safety. I sent a communication to President Duterte seeking extension of much- needed funds from the Office of the President for the distressed people of the town’s 27 villages. This is to accentuate the need to provide augmentation and assistance in disaster relief and rehabilitation efforts. I am also in touch with Mayor Lumayna and Vice Mayor Padchanan. I see no reason why the Chief Executive should not act with dispatch on this major concern due to the extensive damage in agriculture and infrastructure incurred by the town. My heart is bleeding for the untold pains of a populace reeling under the onslaught of the typhoon’s wrath.
In Mayoyao, Ompong’s winds reportedly toppled several primary electric poles, forcing the Ifugao Electric Cooperative to shut down power throughout the mountain agriculture town.
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A great question is worth retelling over and over again. Two years back, I was asked at a forum where I was a speaker the following query: “What is the next destination of Ifugao?” Of course, there was no argument that the primary destination then and now is Banaue.
With no hesitation, I answered quickly: Mayoyao! I never knew what a great destination like this was before. In other words, it’s Mayoyao!
At the Schools Division Office (of the Department of Education) building compound in Lagawe, I saw a sign proclaiming Mayoyao as the “hidden Shangrila of Ifugao.” I beg to disagree. For Mayoyao, in my mind, is indeed the “hidden Shangrila of the Cordillera Administrative Region.” Verily, it is high time for Ifugao folks to “think big!” In short, a new mindset is needed. No matter your stature in life, the old mindset only connotes backwardness among the populace.
One of the best ways to see the countryside is to visit Mayoyao’s picturesque villages. The views, just after the main sections of barangay Poblacion where the imposing municipal hall is situated, are particularly impressive. One of the most popular attractions is the old Spanish trail. The waterfalls also make it a popular destination.
Mayoyao is known for many wonderful things. Many municipal officials endeavored hard to improve its image. They deserved to get the credit. Among those who should be given meritorious points are Mayor Ronie Lumayna and Vice Mayor Jimmy Padchanan.
These two officials (as well as countless others) are many things to many people in Mayoyao: family heads, farmers, friends, role models, but above all, ultimate public servants.
Their strong advocacy for tourism promotion was unparalleled as they spearheaded efforts to boost the town’s tourism industry. For now, Mayoyao is in need of technical assistance in the fine-tuning as well as reinventing its tourism program. I am one with the municipal government in helping uplift the conditions of the tourism industry. It is the only way to make it more competitive.
It is high time to make local and foreign tourists declare loudly: “Mayoyao is the only place I feel at home!” It is not certainly difficult. In fact, it is do-able! For the extending hands of the private sector is always there for Mayoyao.
What is the importance of good leadership in upgrading the stock of the tourism industry? Work for more visitors in Mayoyao (as well as in the other ten towns of Ifugao) would ultimately be inadequate unless it is seen as a work for the betterment of the people’s economic standing. It should be inspired by good governance of those who walk in the corridors of power.
Along with the intelligent men and women in the private sector, competent and hardworking officials like Mayor Lumayna and Vice Mayor Padchanan should lay down the vision, goals, targets, priorities and strategies to be implemented in the coming years as outlined in a new and well-attuned tourism masterplan.
Do the present-day strategies of the municipal government match the vigorous desire of stakeholders to raise the ante of the promising tourism industry?
For the nth time, I’m asserting that Mayoyao is a perfect destination for breathtaking attractions in the town’s 27 villages. Yet, it doesn’t end there. Well, this is a spillover of my observations as discussed in the previous commentary. This has reference to the fact that the town’s truly unique native huts are also historical landmarks. As such, these Ifugao huts should be able to attract a good number of tourists. Tourists and researchers are likely to look into the huts’ age-old designs. It is like revisiting ancient architecture for an hour or so. It could be like going down to ancient time memory lane.
Think about it for a couple of seconds, if the design of the hut considered the needs of both Ifugao men and women? Was the housing space properly designed, giving them time for rest or productive activities? Was the design of the hut addressed to the activities of children in relation to their learning needs in terms of space utilization? The simplest of all means to answer these queries is to visit Mayoyao at the soonest time.
In the meantime, I’m sticking to the contention that Mayoyao is on its way to gaining the distinction as the next destination of Ifugao. It is just a matter of time. I trust and fervently hope that a lot of Mayoyao folks shall reap the benefits of this development. For it shall make the tourism industry a major source of livelihood and a means of generation of employment for the municipality. The essential purposes of tourism are not hard to understand. By ramping up spending for tourism infrastructure it shall invariably sustain Mayoyao’s economic growth. It is something I’m also praying for each day of the week. I’m not tired of weaving dreams for a prosperous Mayoyao in 2019 and beyond. I’m not tired of offering prayers for a progressive Mayoyao next year and the coming years. Deep within me is a particular longing for officials who shall stand up to the unthinkable conditions of poverty and misery. In other words, there is a pressing need for officials who shall chart a better future for the people.
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Earlier, I aired my initial recommendation to the municipal officials of Mayoyao on how to improve its tourism industry. Here is the second one. Go global to draw tourists to the town. Mayoyao is certainly a great place to relax, celebrate an important event and do many other things. I’m sending a communication to the Tourism Promotion Board, an attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT), urging it to invite tour operators from other countries to visit Mayoyao.
Having a global mindset or viewing it from a global perspective, means that key players in the tourism industry are looking at global opportunities. From a very, very practical perspective, I would suggest that it is in fact the best way to gain investments.
Thirdly, I’m urging Councilor Yolanda Allaga, chair of the committee on tourism, to sponsor a measure for putting up signages at vital trails. By this time, I supposed the municipal government has already mapped out walking trails leading to sites with astonishing natural wonders. This is most helpful to nature enthusiasts.
With the support of the municipal government and the private sector, there is no reason why developing and sustaining the tourism industry in this part of Ifugao is impossible.
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Rambutan fruits are abundant by this time in Ifugao. I saw a lot of them in Lagawe, Banaue and even in Mayoyao. I can’t believe it, but ones I bought in Mayoyao are so sweet. Just like the ones from Laguna province. Yet, most Ifugao folks just are not mindful of the fact that selling rambutan is a lucrative business. A trader in Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya is earning a lot at her small stall along the Maharlika highway. She earned Php 3,000 in an hour and 20 minutes. In Ifugao, where poverty incidence is still so high, many are jobless. Yet, they refuse to sell rambutan fruits right in their communities. In which case, there is but one conclusion: It becomes a question of not whether the often lowly-educated Ifugao woman can afford to engage in such business but how can the Ifugao woman not afford to not to afford it.
A lot of this problem stems from their lack of education and poor leadership of officials who have no time educating them on the essence of livelihood ventures. Political leaders across the Philippines are acknowledging and understanding the importance of small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Ifugao is in dire need of officials who dream and think big of the SMEs and have the resolve to upgrading the well-being of all those who are engaged in SMEs.
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The situations at the National Food Auhority (NFA) and the tourism industry in Ifugao are quite similar. Performances are in dismal state. Small wonder, most Filipinos demanded that NFA Administrator Jason Aquino be booted out of office. A news story of the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Sept. 12 was bannered “Du30 says NFA chief quitting- ‘he’s tired.’” Correction: the people are sick and tired of him. Enough of a moron running the NFA who can’t account for the fact that while the NFA imported rice from Vietnam, Filipinos are unable to buy said rice at the public markets. If I’ll have it my way, it is better for SM “Bossing” and tycoon Henry Sy to operate it. He owns 71 SM malls in the Philippines and six or more malls in China. Many others are calling for the abolition of the NFA. On the other hand, there is a great variety of private groups (both non-profit and profit making) that is in a position to make a turnaround in the ailing tourism industry of Ifugao.
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Among Lagawe’s business owners, Marlene Hotchins is way ahead in the field of baking world-class cakes. Her pineapple cake is easily recognizable as one of the “best of the best.” This cake is something else that makes it so special. It is simply great with lemon grass tea. She is also known for bringing out the wonders of Australia’s well-known cakes. So there’s no need whatsoever for you to travel to Sydney, Canberra or Brisbane to have one. Indeed, she is an all-capable genius in baking cakes. She owns Robin’s Kitchen and Café.
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Finally, here is good news for Ifugao. In the latest Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI), Lamut town placed second in the third to sixth class municipalities category. Pura in Tarlac and Puntevedra in Negros Occidental placed first and third, respectively. There are 1,490 towns in the nation.
The CMCI ranks cities and municipalities based on an overall score using four pillars: government efficiency, economic dynamism, infrastructure and resilience.
Rizal is the most competitive province in the country. Quezon City was adjudged as the most competitive city in the Philippines.
How about Ifugao? Never mind!
The announcement was made during the 6th Regional Competitiveness Summit held recently. The results were announced by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),
Let the foregoing facts serve as a guide of Ifugao voters when they troop to the polls in 2019. When they are anxious about a lot of things on Election Day (that’s May 14, 2019 to be more precise), it is usually because of the so-called “track records” of incumbent officials who are seeking a new term or are aiming for a higher position. Some will tell you: “I have accomplished a lot!” Hahaha! Tell that to the marines!
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Just about the same in the race for vice governor of Ifugao in the 2019 midterm polls. Voters are to choose from Board Members Victor Bunnol Jr. of Lamut, James Frederick Dulnuan of Banaue and Alfonso Lista Mayor Glenn Prudenciano. It is important that they make the right choice because the vice governor is the presiding officer of the powerful and influential Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP).
I’ve seen old school desks of public elementary and high schools in almost all towns of Ifugao. I was so shocked to see that these desks were defective, made of low quality materials and bad workmanship.
The next vice governor should immediately look into this matter. Along with the next chairman of the committee on education and public information, the incoming vice governor should attend to the needs of the education sector. My proposal: in choosing the education committee’s next head the SP members inhibit themselves from voting. Instead, public elementary and high school teachers, master teachers and principals should vote for the next one from among the aspiring board members. Make it a one-day synchronized electoral exercise among our mentors. Then you’ll have a “teachers’ choice” as the chairman of the said committee. It’s an “enlightened choice.” That is fair, practical and do-able.
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A tip for success: Define your position in society by identifying your strengths and weaknesses.
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For our food delights corner: I’ll go for sinigang na karpa (carp fish), tortang itlog na may bakang giniling (egg with ground beef omelet), lumpiang bangus (milkfish egg roll), steamed rice served with achara. Truly, it is yummy for lunch or dinner for your loved ones at the table.
For appetizers and dessert: there’s vanilla cake, slice of papaya and chilled guava juice.
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Finally, some thoughts for our readers: “If anyone is unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.” (2 Thes. 3.8, 10)
“Women are much more like each other than men; they have, in truth, but two passions, vanity and love; these are their universal characteristics.” English statesman and diplomat Philip Dormer Stanhope in a letter to his son**
