By Anthony A. Araos
From Pugol Fishponds, I’m now bringing to the attention of local and foreign tourists to the popular Yamashita Caves in Lamut, Ifugao.
Of course, the cave derived its name from the late General Tomoyuki Yamashita of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. Also known as the Tiger of Malaya, General Yamashita led for the most part the Japanese forces in the Philippines prior to his surrender in 1945 in Kiangan town of this province. Many said that the stolen treasures of Yamashita were hidden in this cave. To this day, there are believers and doubting Thomases.
Yet, there are tourists who are visiting the Yamashita Caves. It’s like going back to history. Like other attractions of Lamut, the Yamashita Cave is for real.
It is the right thing to do in Lamut and elsewhere in the town. Appreciate and eventually promote the town’s great attractions by spreading the word. It’s good for the tourism industry and the local economy. Development of Lamut is important. It needs tourists and high revenues. People need to know how all this works for their benefit.
There are so many potentials in Lamut’s tourism sites. Trying to figure it out is not that difficult. The hands of stakeholders in the private sector are already tied in. The men and women in the private sector who are steadfastly advancing the cause of “Lamut’s tourism” should continue their task with pride and happiness. It matters a lot to find ways of preserving ethnic culture and at the same time stand tall and be proud to say they’re Filipinos after all.
An adventure in the Yamashita Cave is indeed moving. It feels so right to see and understand the earth’s beginnings inside a cave. You easily know the Almighty Creator’s hand in nature’s wonders once exploring the Yamashita Cave. This is precisely the reason why the Yamashita Cave is a major point of interest in the town’s tourism industry.
Surely, the Yamashita Cave and the other famed caves of the town are heralded in my parts of the Cordilleras. Collectively, these caves explain the underlying reasons for visitors to turn the world around and believe in divine creation.
Going to Lamut from Baguio City, Metro Manila, Bontoc in Mountain Province, Santiago City in Isabela or Solano, Nueva Vizcaya is not hard. It is accessible by a variety of public transportation means. The municipal government maintains a diminutive Tourism Office just beside the municipal gymnasium.
Councilor Maria Victoria Grace Macadaeg is the chairperson of the committee on tourism, institutional linkages and external affairs. Councilor Everda Desiree Dulinayan is the vice chairperson. Members are Councilors Pio Famorca Jr., Mark Anthony Indopia and Reneboy Millano.
By far, it is good to endorse Lamut’s destinations as places of ever refreshing bounty of nature and ultimately be awed by the town’s caves and many other attractions.
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Over the years, the Women’s Month celebration program in Ifugao in March is merely of street parades and speeches of municipal and provincial government officials.
What future lies ahead for the province’s women who dangerously live in remote villages? How about those who regularly walk in dimly-lighted streets?
As it is, there is so much to be done in the area of increasing the awareness and recognition of gender concerns in health, education and employment. One wonders how the provincial government would be rated on a scale of 10. Many would say it wouldn’t have any rating at all.
Women are rarely, if ever, considered as major stakeholders and consulted in policy-making and decision-making processes. They do not have access to this key democratic process, except to express their gratitude when the work at the legislative mill has all been done. Why? The vice governor and the ten board members are all men. Yet, many and more women are now emerging as leaders in nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and people’s organizations (POs).
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In a nutshell, the failure to achieve progress in women’s representation in politics raised questions about women empowerment in Ifugao. Frankly, it is quite troubling.
The number of women wielding political power in Ifugao should be increased significantly in 2019. This is my commitment to the province’s people.
Very low participation of women in governance, decision-making processes and in programs as well as project activities should be a thing of the past. It is a fitting tribute to the invaluable contributions and sacrifices of women to history and society.
Enough of parades and speeches! Each day is a challenging day for truly empowering women. Not just in a day in the month of March. The provincial government should uplift every woman’s quality of life by providing adequate and sustainable social services.
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This is the time to grab the chance to see, understand and appreciate the essence of putting more women into office. In Lamut, Poblacion Barangay Kagawad (councilman) Luzviminda Nayao, also chairperson of IGEMCO Board of Directors (BOD), travelled a long way in elevating the status of women, focused on the purpose of the barangay government and made inroads and breakthroughs over the years. Her advocacies include expanding opportunities for women in the exercise of their political, economic, cultural and other rights. To Kagawad Nayao: God bless and Mabuhay!
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As it is now, four IFSU (Ifugao State University) presidential hopefuls have scored points for their bids with still no runaway winner. Last March 13, they appeared in a public forum at IFSU-Nayon (Lamut) campus gymnasium. The aspirants include Eva Marie Dugyon, Dinah Corazon Licyayo, Camilo Pimentel and Napoleon Taguiling, all of them presently holding key positions at IFSU.
The 11-member Board of Regents (BOR), the highest governing body in the university, set out various means in choosing the next president. For now, candidates are to be ranked then trimmed down to three. Then, they vote to appoint the institution’s new president.
Well, the forum drew a good attendance from the ranks of students and faculty. The aspirants as expected spelled out their mission and vision. In short, plans for the coming years were sounded out. Practically, there are not much of pronounced differences among them.
To my mind, a debate among the four candidates is a better way in selecting the successor of Dr. Serafin Ngohayon. It can help pinpoint the best way to determine who among them is the most qualified for the said lofty position. The debate should show who is really prepared for the job.
Over time, the consideration evolved in choosing the new IFSU head as a dynamic, intelligent, pro-active, pro-people and pro-poor partner of students and mentors as a way of developing the university into a globally competitive institution. In a closely-contested race for the IFSU presidency, I can only assume that a debate on national issues related to education, human rights, agriculture, foreign policy and national patrimony has a great impact on the selection process. What is their stand on the K-12 education program? Will they protect the national patrimony and environment by opposing large-scale, export-oriented and foreign-led extraction industries such as mining and oil exploration?
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With the recent opening of Jollibee (reportedly the largest in northern Luzon) at Tabuk City, Kalinga province once more showed how to play the game smartly. I tackled previously the absence of Jollibee in Ifugao. Likewise, I motioned that the Vietnamese are more fortunate than Ifugao folks because they have already 86 Jollibee stores. Well, my esteemed friend, IGEMCO general manager Godfrey Dominong’s favorite expression is “leave no one behind.” Clearly, Ifugao is far, far, far, far, far behind. Again and again, will it take Ifugao 100 years to have its first Jollibee store?
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Bloopers in Ifugao: At a business establishment in Lagawe, I saw the following sign posted outside its office: We are transferred here.
At a sari-sari store in another Ifugao town, it amusingly says: Best Stor. (The owner maybe rich in assets but, is a poor speller.)
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For our food delights corner: Back to a favorite Filipino cuisine. Anywhere you are across the world, there is the popular chicken and pork adobo. Coupled with pinakbet, rice and fried bangus (milkfish) and there is no doubt it’s a great lunch or dinner treat for the family and loved ones.
For desserts: egg pie, bananas and chilled mango juice.
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Finally, here is a thought for our readers: “Above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” Colossians 3:14**
