By Anthony A. Araos
If I have it my way, I’d like to be in an unexplored, unchartered and uncrowded place at summer time.
This time around, I’m thinking of Manaan Rice Terraces in Tinoc town of Ifugao province. To my mind, I feel more special with the simple yet meaningful pleasures found in this place. The cool air, lush scenery, amazing butterflies and birds and friendly people are just some of the assets of this destination. These so-called rare perks I’ll never change for anything worldly.
For local and foreign tourists, a trip to Manaan Rice Terraces is truly rewarding. In a far-away locality as this one, relaxation and rejuvenation of tired bodies and weary minds are not difficult to attain.
Each time I visit a rice terraces in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), something really pushes me to clear one ascending step after another. This has something to do with building strength and setting the pace to attain goals in life. A summer vacation’s objective is being reinvented? Not really. But there are good reasons to try.
Filipinos have been reaping and are still gathering a bountiful harvest of rice in these terraces. This is indeed a very good reason why tourists should visit the terraces of Ifugao. Over the years, I learned so much about the technical and scientific sides of raising upland rice in these places, how different these varieties are from the lowland ones. Now I know more or less how to tell people the advantages of modernizing the agriculture sector in this part of the country. And this gives way to a lot of opportunities for Ifugao farmers still engaging in backward practices.
For those who want to see other terraces than the ones in Banaue, head over to Manaan Rice Terraces. In this heat, it might be a good idea to bring your loved ones or friends, too!
From the capital town of Lagawe and adjacent Kiangan town, there are daily trips to Tinoc. And have a worry-free journey to this destination.
For those of us who have carried a bag pack, a planned trip to the rice terraces is significant, not just for what we’re seeing in the movies or television, but due to what are still to be seen there- people who live and learned in these unexplored, unchartered and uncrowded communities.
Experience living in these upland, rice-growing communities even for a couple of days.
Up and close at these rice terraces, one gets an exceptional view of a portion of a town. Thus, a visit to the terraces must be encouraged, most especially the young.
It makes me excited to recommend Manaan Rice Terraces to all travelers. I rate this underrated destination six out of ten stars.
-o0o-
There is one more thing our beloved readers should know about Tinoc. It is a fifth-class municipality. Main industry is still agriculture. Vegetables are predominantly raised here.
It is for this reason that I see the urgent need to improve the town’s tourism industry. Tinoc’s tourism industry, to begin with, is underdeveloped compared to the other ten towns of the province.. Certainly, there is so much room for improvement.
Municipal government officials- led by dedicated and hardworking Mayor Marcelino Catalino, should aggressively promote the town’s scenic sites as a means of boosting the tourism industry.
Since foreign tourists are easily attracted to Banaue, why not focus promotional and advertising campaigns in Banaue as well as in Metro Manila, Baguio City, Sagada in Mountain Province and even in Cebu City or Boracay.
Upgrading the town’s tourism industry is essential in raising Tinoc’s revenues. It shall generate jobs. Tourism without a doubt has multiplier effects.
Tourism surely gives a more economical solution to the problems on joblessness. Today, many are poor and unemployed in Tinoc and all other towns of this impoverished province.
It’s no wonder then countless of Ifugao women are now working in Hong Kong as domestics and Taiwanese factories. Many are also seeking greener pastures in Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East.
Oddly enough, the Ifugao provincial government is not acting smartly to improve the tourism industry. And it’s a pity that Ifugao is not cashing on the influx of foreign visitors in recent times.
The Mayam-o administration should finally come up with a better and sound tourism program blueprint. It is the only logical step in order to reap the huge dividends of attracting foreign visitors to Ifugao.
To Governor Mayam-o: Please take advantage of the projected huge tourist arrivals in the country this year.
-o0o-
I am simply wondering why the compliance rate of barangay councils in Lagawe (as well as other Ifugao towns) is below par in so far as the holding of the synchronized barangay assembly meetings for this semester this year are concerned despite massive efforts on information dissemination to conduct such.
Is it necessary at all to conduct these barangay assemblies? I really think so. For it provides the venue for the discussion of key issues affecting the people in the grassroots level.
But all of these are immaterial if barangay council officials opt not to conduct these activities. To succeed in this worthy endeavor, I see the need to impose stern measures (such as suspension without pay) of erring officials. Violations thereof Proclamation 260 (issued by then Benigno Simeon Aquino III), to my mind, constitute a major offense.
The utter disregard of the law cannot be justified by harking to flimsy reasons such as they are too busy preparing for other projects or activities. Alibis and excuses are only meant to frustrate the objectives of the barangay assembly. It is well settled that the barangay assembly’s purpose is far different from the barangay council meeting. At the peril of being redundant, there is no justification whatsoever for not holding it when weather conditions clearly permit its conduct.
-o0o-
It’s really summer time, given its relatively relaxing atmosphere more and more Filipinos are craving for halo-halo. Foreigners, too!
For me, there’s nothing better than longganisa and asado with rice for breakfast, shrimp sinigang with chopseuy rice for lunch and roasted pork (lechon kawali) with Yang Chow fried rice for dinner.
I loved cooking (American and Chinese cuisines) and culinary delights. Eat, drink lots of juices- chill up for up to three to four hours) and tea and be merry. The fun and excitement of summer just started. Seemingly, it never stops.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as fine dining in most towns of Ifugao. I’m, therefore, inclined to share information on how to prepare and cook delectable delights to some friends on the side in the absence of competitive facilities in the province.
-o0o-
Congratulations to Liaa Moira Otgalon, Aizel Kris Ananayo, Divine Gabrielle Bih-agon, Cassandra Kate Cacliong and Nichol Rocky Baguilat, who all graduated recently with high honors from the Lagawe Central School.
Congratulations as well to 26 other grade six pupils who graduated with honors. There were 67 and 100 graduates, boys and girls respectively.
School principal Elizabeth Ognayon, Parents Teachers Association (PTA) president Jimmy Lachaona and teachers should all be congratulated for earnestly providing an environment conducive for learning.
Taking all of the above into account, I can’t help but say that the above-mentioned graduates are the future leaders of Ifugao. It appears to me, we all need to pray for their continuing success and good health.
-o0o-
Close to five thousand and one letters and other official papers I have come across in Ifugao, Atty. Pedro G. Mayam-o has been addressed as Provincial Governor.
Well, is there a City Governor? Is there a Municipal Governor? Is there a Barangay Governor? Is there a Purok Governor? There is none whatsoever!
If you insist, go back to Kindergarten! So please, address him as Governor Pedro G. Mayam-o.
-o0o-
It’s also Fiesta time all over the Philippines. There’s no doubt that the Mayoyao Town Fiesta is one of the best festivities in Ifugao. So find time to visit, watch and participate in the town’s fiesta starting April 25. Mayor Ronie Lumayna is expected to be at the forefront of showcasing Mayoyao’s great strides in recent times.
All roads lead to Mayoyao with thousands to attend numerous activities during the festivity. Mayoyao has adopted the “Ikghumtad ad Mayoyao” which is similar to the similar to the “Gotad of Hingyon and Kiangan”.
Another noteworthy festivity this side of the globe is the annual Cudog Barangay Fiesta in Lagawe. Barangay council officials, residents and guests are actively taking part in various activities.
All told, the fiesta should effectively serve as a vehicle to forge stronger and better ties among the people. Usually, a town has a patron saint and so don’t forget to hear a mass. The religious team connected with the fiesta in this predominantly Catholic nation is so strong and hard to downplay.
-o0o-
Time is gold! How I wish this shall be inculcated in the minds of each one in Ifugao. Transactions are conducted so slowly, thus losing a lot of productive hours. I don’t see the logic of waiting for hours and only to talk to someone for only five minutes. Try going to the Office of the Governor and you’ll find out why this is so. Need I tell you that you cannot turn back the hands of time?
Sadly, this holds true with many other offices at the provincial capitol building, plus some other offices in the private sector. For heaven’s sake, please value time.
-o0o-
Finally, some thoughts for our readers: “The meaning of life is what you choose to make it means. Life is the consequence of our moral choices.” From the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago
“Keep a sense of humor.” A favorite thought I cherished from my high school days.
“Use what money and talents you have to make life more enjoyable for others, through service and charitable giving.” Still a favorite thought of mine.**
