LAGAWE, IFUGAO – – Key leaders in the private sector of Ifugao recently hailed Asipulo town fiesta as a model for the Cordillera region, for instilling values to the young and promoting the welfare of the people.
Surprisingly, officers of nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and even concerned residents of Banaue, Hingyon and Hungduan acknowledged the attractiveness factor of this town’s festivity, more known locally as Kulpid Asipulo.
“Whenever I visit Asipulo for its town fiesta, I feel a great sense of happiness and fulfillment. I have yet to see another town in the province match its greatness,” a Banaue NGO leader said.
“Surely, I don’t mind the long trip from Banaue,” she added.
Hingyon-based and internationally-acclaimed engineer Julio Tindungan also shared this sentiment. “Fiestas will be judged by three criteria: Quality, better quality and the best quality. To my mind, Kulpid Asipulo is one of the best in the Cordilleras,” he told the ZigZag Weekly.
Thus, Asipulo has continued its decade-long distinction as having one of the major town fiestas in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Asipulo holds its annual fiesta on April 17 to 20. It has consistently ranked among the top drawers in Ifugao in terms of attendance and significance. It has been described as the “jolliest” not without ample basis. Attaining such mood was well-considered. Technical preparations were well-laid out, well-prepared and well-implemented.
Apart from municipal government officials and employees, other participants include barangay council officials, leaders of youth groups, NGOs, people’s organizations (POs) and others in the private sector. Teachers, pupils, students and all others in the education sector are also extending their assistance during the fiesta. Visitors and so are guests from Ifugao and elsewhere are also expected to be around. They are likely to interact with Asipulo folks, the “unsung heroes” of the hometown of Vice Governor Jordan Gullitiw.
Mayor Armando Domilod said the recognition underlines Asipulo town fiesta organizers’ consistency and commitment to its people of presenting a quality-laden, relevant festivity.
“We continue to invest in developing the skills and talents of our constituents for they are at heart of the municipal government’s overall growth and development plans,” he said.
Days prior to the opening day of the fiesta, concerned residents volunteered their time and energy to help in preparing various activities as well as clean-up or spruce surroundings of the town’s main venues for the fiesta.
Areas within the main barangay Antipolo host major activities of the fiesta. Most key activities are scheduled to be conducted at the municipal gymnasium. It is just adjacent the municipal hall.
Asipulo local governance record is known for its distinction as a national awardee of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). It was adjudged, along with Banaue and Lamut towns, as winners of the prestigious Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) for 2017. Translated, it clearly manifested its capacity to deliver fundamental services to the people, most especially the poor.
Asipulo ranked 747th out of 852 municipalities in 2017, according to the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index Survey (CMCI). The capital town of Lagawe’s ranking is 814. In 2015, Asipulo ranked 33rd in the CAR.
Well-paved roads and lodging inns are badly needed to support the town’s flourishing tourism industry. This would entice visitors to return to Asipulo. There are a number of attractions that gladden the eyes of local and foreign tourists.
Asipulo residents have time and again proven that they overcome difficulties of the uncertain times.
For four historic days, Asipulo folks and their guests are to witness the development that marks the town into what it is now. Mayor Domilod is expected to proudly present and herald the accomplishments, successes and awards received by the municipal government.
Under the leadership of Mayor Domilod, the municipal government implemented an innovative program that promoted a culture of readiness for disasters. It has a community-driven disaster-preparedness program, marked by clearly-identified evacuation centers that can operate on a short notice.
The need to understand and appreciate these hard-earned gains is built and tied into the direction Asipulo is taking on by 2019 and even beyond. A strong pro-people, pro-poor program is one of the formulas for Asipulo’s economic development and anti-poverty thrust that includes initiatives in tourism, health, agriculture, education and business.
Asipulo has to put a high premium on poverty reduction program. It is still a fifth-class municipality. About 90% of the total area of Asipulo is used for agriculture, which in 2016 employed nearly 70% of the civilian labor force. Because of inadequate support from the national government, agricultural improvements and investments were far from satisfactory.
The town’s economic engines will be fueled by increased production in the agriculture sector. If and only if the Duterte administration can sustain efforts that lead to higher economic growth rate and more jobs in underserved towns as Asipulo, then poverty levels are expected to somehow decline significantly.
In the near-term, attention is needed in providing farm-to-market roads, post-harvest facilities and equipment to ensure the much-needed modernization of the town’s farms. The more long-term objective of eradicating poverty among soil tillers and their beneficiaries will require structural reforms that lead to higher investments in extending them marketing and credit lines and training programs.
Farmers in Asipulo as in the other ten towns of the province are largely poor. Even if they want to work longer in the fields, they only bring home meager earnings. People who earn less than $1.25 (Php 62) a day are considered poor by the World Bank.
Aside from the traditional parades and trade fair and exhibitions, a fiesta should include the conduct of a forum to discuss what is needed to make production less expensive, stabilize labor costs and reduce post-harvest losses.
Underscoring the importance of agriculture’s modernization program, Regional Director Narciso Edillo of the Department of Agriculture (DA) has been invited to be the opening day keynote speaker.
Highlights of the fiesta include the cultural and float parades. To showcase youngsters’ ingenuity when it comes to clothes and accessories, students of Asipulo National High School will take center stage here at the municipal gymnasium on April 18, and give audience an eyeful of dazzling presentations at a fashion show. There is also a talent show on April 17.
Other crowd-drawing features are the agriculture fair, basketball and volleyball games and indigenous games.
To ensure that residents and guests enjoy the four-day festivity, many other unique activities are slated at key venues. To fulfill this, a water bonsai-making and demonstration has been scheduled on 2 p.m. of April 18 at the food terminal. It’s a rare method that does not use soil and requires less space than the conventional one. Individuals can plant trees all year round. A nine-event, three-day indigenous skills competition starts at 1 p.m. on April 17.
A stellar point of the fiesta is the Kesimelan Trek. Kesimelan is one of the tallest and popular mountains in Asipulo. Abundant with natural resources, this mountain is a great place to be mesmerized by the splendid sight of a sea of fog early in the morning, as well as to enjoy other activities related to exploring nature’s wilderness.
Dental mission as well as blood-letting and blood-typing activities by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC)-Ifugao Chapter take place at 8 a.m. on April 19. Dentists and PRC personnel are to spend a great deal of their time here as manifestation of their goal of helping treat oral health problems and rectify dwindling blood supplies. This addresses the issue of promoting the well-being of the people, most especially the poor, sick and needy. Therefore, the two-fold outreach clinic, as a social development tool, aims to maintain a healthy citizenry.
The fiesta also offers a cultural extravaganza at the municipal grounds. Partake in the spectacle of cultural shows depicting native dances, ancient rituals of Hudhud and Liliwa and gong beating.
In addition and more importantly, the fiesta is capped by an ecumenical service and joint evangelistic concert at the municipal gymnasium on April 16. This is the perfect time for participants to know their duties and responsibilities as productive and upright members of society.
This early, Asipulo folks- young and old alike, who in one way or another contributed to the growth and development of the town, are ready to show great pride of place.
Pray, eat, sing, dance and be glad. The fun and excitement never stops. At the end of the day, visitors can sit back and relax and say they made the right choice in staying momentarily in a town with a reputation for economic, environmental and social sustainability. **By Anthony A. Araos
