By Anthony A. Araos
I never imagined the positive responses from readers on my commentaries regarding the potentials of the tourism industry in Lamut town of Ifugao province. Well, I put meaning to every word I say about Lamut’s attractions vis-à-vis the needs and wants of the tourists who are on the lookout for wonderful places to visit. In short, I stand by each word in said commentaries for I’m too sure about it since these words speak of every air I breathe. There is something going on when I describe a fascinating cave in Lamut, as the dimension of expressing it resonates from a cool, crispy air.
Why Lamut? There must be a lot of good reasons to focus on this still largely farming town. Earlier, I gave a pretty good number of reasons why Lamut is a must-visit site for local and foreign tourists.
For the nth time, it is hoped that the foregoing commentary will further stimulate the growth of the tourism industry of Lamut, home of a friendly and hardworking people for so long.
Lamut, with a population of about 25,200 in 2015, has 13 barangays (villages). Contrary to a contention that the town has but a few attractions, there are so many places to see in Lamut. The lush sceneries in Lucban, Magulon and Sanafe villages easily support this argument. Sanafe is an excellent place for developing and promoting farm tourism. Another popular village is Nayon, where the sprawling campus of the Ifugao State University (IFSU) is situated. This is the main campus of IFSU.
The Payawan Barangay Fiesta attracts a significant number of visitors each year.
Of course, the Lamut Town Fiesta is a big winner. The annual festivity highlights the town’s life, history and heritage through a celebration of Lamut’s rich harvest, bountiful produce and colorful culture. Visitors have a vast array of activities to look forward during the fiesta.
To my mind, it is the best town fiesta in the province. It should be then considered as a template for economic growth, socio-cultural development and agriculture (to include fishery sector) productivity of the people.
Keep in mind that a fiesta celebrates the successes that a municipality has enjoyed and proudly shares with the province. The fiesta is a tourism, trade and investment endeavor featuring its high quality products, lifestyle merchandise items and irresistible cuisine as pride of place. If you can, you will visit a trade fair because a lot of items are available at affordable prices. This requires a good portion of your time while visiting Lamut at this time of the year. While at the trade fair (generally called agricultural-industrial trade fair), various Lamut-made items are among the top buys.
With vibrant and dedicated municipal and barangay officials at the helm, Lamut is essentially a town to visit and explore year-round.
With its most stunning natural scenery, Lamut will surely never be attractive than now.
A pleasant and comfortable visit awaits the traveler in Lamut. 2018 is certainly an excellent time to be in Lamut.
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To underscore the significance of women’s role in Philippine society, particularly on the issue of promoting peace in the country, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) conducted recently a major activity at Burnham Suites in Baguio City. I attended the program.
Billed as “Validation on the Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security for the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR),” the one-day program was intended to increase awareness of the officialdom’s initiatives in safeguarding the well-being of women in strife-torn areas in the Philippines, especially actions of the OPAPP.
Low awareness and consciousness level of participants from various government agencies on the true conditions of the burden and sufferings of women in war-torn towns in Mindanao as well as in villages in the Visayas and main island of Luzon where insurgency persists have challenged a number of distinguished speakers in the said activity.
Resource speakers Zenaida Pawid and Sittie Jehan Mutin impressed me most.
True autonomy for the Cordilleras simply means not distorting the essence of the ancestral land domain issue among stakeholders, Pawid asserted, and therefore, the heart and soul of the quest for the grant of autonomy status by way of legislated action. She pointed out that the concrete actions are needed to improve the conditions of women in the CAR.
On the other hand, Mutin sought immediate action of Congress on the still-pending Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as a realistic step in addressing the problems of Muslim women in southern Philippines. Mutin is the chairperson of the Regional Commission on Bangsamoro Women at the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The program is part of OPAPP’s continuing endeavors in line with its thrust of drafting the CAR’s Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (RAPWPS).
Further, may I take note of the significance of holding another similar activity in Ifugao, also a most fitting venue this time around with participants coming from the ranks of the private sector (nongovernment organizations and people’s organizations) in attendance to remind each one why women and children should be shielded from armed combatants at all times. We cannot be complacent about the situation. This noteworthy activity is an appeal, sending a very strong message from OPAPP for ample protection of women, to have a place of domicile without fear and trepidation. It is imperative for the OPAPP to educate the people on this matter, most especially those in the grassroots level.
The OPAPP has undergone tremendous transformation in recent times. Today, it is a strong partner of the government in attaining peace and tranquility. Congratulations to the OPAPP officials as well as the men and women behind this just-concluded activity, most especially to Helen Roxas, head of the National Action Planning for Women, Peace and Security Coordinating Unit. The OPAPP is truly blessed for having highly competent, dynamic and committed individuals who would likely to act as instruments to ensure growth and development. God bless and Mabuhay kayong lahat!
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Prayers (as well as attending and offering masses) are always welcome even beyond Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday.
Seeking greater holiness should not be limited during the Holy Week. Forming it in the Christian life goes beyond the Lenten season.
When affluent Filipinos see their countrymen in need, their hearts should go out to them. They should involve themselves in the apostolate of charity. Especially toward the most abandoned, poor, sick and needy. For short, the haves should work to rectify the evil effects of social problems by performing acts of charity or works of mercy. Such acts for the have-nots have always been rooted in the very example of Jesus Christ and espoused by the church.
Easter Sunday is not just about Easter egg hunt activity. It is also about God’s fatherly love, Mary’s motherly concern and mankind’s redemption.
In my belief, Easter Sunday is one of the many times to challenge rich Filipinos and many others in the government to take an active part in working for the alleviation of the suffering of the vast majority of the population and for the betterment of the people’s conditions.
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Filipinos are once more heading to the polls on May 14 of this year for the scheduled barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. I said it right a couple of times in the past that postponement of the synchronized elections for SK and barangay government officials in not likely to occur. But a number of barangay council officials loudly aired the “no el” (no election) scenary. Many of them even signed petitions for its postponement. Those who supported the “no el” line should be rejected by the electorate! They simply wanted to stay in power without the mandate of the people. Shame on you, for you have no business staying at the barangay hall even for a second without the blessings of your constituents.
Incoming barangay officials should come up with strategies to upgrade the conditions of the people, most especially the poor. For instance, they should look into the establishment of midwife-managed clinics and better birthing clinics in far-flung villages.
In impoverished Ifugao, forthcoming barangay officials should realize the importance of spurring livelihood enterprise, fighting poverty and improving the delivery of basic services to the people.
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May I greet all March birthday celebrants, most especially to Florita Narciza of the Department of Interior and Local Government-Ifugao.
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For our food delights corner: The following treat for your family, loved ones or friends is definitely a winning meal for lunch or dinner. There is fried chicken, lumpia shanghai, rice and macaroni soup.
For dessert: fruit salad, watermelon and chilled orange juice.
By praying and eating together, we can achieve so many dreams. Like having ample food at the table during breakfast, lunch and dinner is a fulfilling one when you pray and work very hard.
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Here are some thoughts for our readers: “Happy heart makes the face cheerful.” Proverbs 15-13
“You stretch out your hand and save me, I Lord.” Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8**
