By Anthony A. Araos
There’s always a heavy stuff in a prolonged vacation in Mayoyao this Christmas season. This trip is as much a growing feeling as it is a concerted effort to project the dynamism of the town. Yes, Mayoyao is a great place and having a great place is good news!
Another relaxing way to enjoy the forthcoming holiday vacation is to take a trip to Mayoyao after spending a few hours in nearby Banaue town. After a leisurely lunch in the upland town of Banaue then head to Mayoyao. The two-pronged itinerary typically includes several attractions. These superb attractions include natural wonders and presentation of ethnic dances.
Choosing the perfect vacation place is so important for a number of reasons, and you certainly want to get it done well.
Take a relaxing vacation at the main Poblacion village or the other scenic villages. Anyway, it is a time to relax and rejuvenate. A Mayoyao trip is worth considering. Think it over, over and over.
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Tourism can generate revenues down to the grassroots level and has a multiplier effect if we can take care of tourists and the environment as well as tourist attractions.
Thus, it’s worth asking the candidates in Mayoyao on how they plan to improve the town’s tourism industry if they get elected next year. What are also their plans to safeguard the environment, particularly the forests?
Earlier, I wrote at length the vitality of Mayoyao’s lush forests. Serving as a natural buffer, trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen at the same time. Forest cover is surely helping dispose the smoke from the atmosphere because of its absorptive capacity.
Upgrading the town’s tourism program is now in the hands of upcoming officials. The new administration will also contend with an array of other fundamental concerns.
It is high time to scrutinize their views and platforms on these concerns. The candidates for mayor are incumbent Vice Mayor Jimmy Padchanan Jr. of the National Unity Party (NUP) and Councilor Rosita Innakhid of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). Vice mayoralty bets are Councilor Peter Gannaban of NUP and Rudy Chilagan Jr. of NPC.
Aspirants for councilor include Anyum Abagan (NPC), Pedro Acapen (NUP), Yolanda Allaga (NUP), Feir Bachon (NUP), Joey Bangachon (NUP), Jose Batuna Jr. (NPC), Hermoso Bimmotag Jr. (independent), Prisca Chilagan (independent), Gina Chulana (Liberal Party), James Ennic (NUP), Mengfee Hamchawan (independent), Bernard Inlaton (NPC), Clarence Lichanan (independent), Eugene Lim-ang (NUP), Myra Faith Lumayna (NUP), Gregorio Marcos (NUP), Jerome Mombael (NPC), Christy Nachegpan (LP), Romeo Panitio (NPC) and Ambrocio Powoc (independent).
By the way, the highly-respected and admired Mayor Ronie Lumayna opted not to seek any position in the 2019 midterm polls and instead support former Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao (NPC) who is running for congressman. Lumayna is on his third and last term.
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When news broke that there are about 152 candidates for senator in the 2019 midterm elections, the other “significant” news revolved around a young Ifugao lawyer among them instantly caught the attention of not just a few people in the province. Yes, Atty. Joan Shielah Nalliw of Mayoyao entered the annals of history for filing her certificate of candidacy (CoC) for the said position. Immediately, there were mixed reactions. Nonetheless, there are still a lot of challenges for Atty. Nalliw in order for her to remain in the ballot and banner the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) alongside with Atty. Harry Roque, former presidential spokesman, who is running under the People’s Reform Party (PRP) of the late Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
One such obstacle is to be declared as a “nuisance candidate.” According to Comelec Resolution No. 8678, a nuisance candidate is one who “puts the election process in mockery or disrepute, cause confusion among the voters by the similarity of names of registered candidates, or one has no bonafide intention to run for the office. It is hoped that the Comelec makes sure they will not trample on the basic right of Atty. Nalliw who is aspiring to run for public office. By disqualifying her, it will negate her right to be a part of a vital body with the constitutional grant of legislative power. Thus, I hope she makes the grade. Anyhow, Atty. Nalliw gained the distinction as having been appointed as the indigenous people’s mandatory representative (IPMR) at the Sangguniang Bayan of Mayoyao.
Well, for all practical purposes, the election fever (or to be more precise, election campaign) has formally started on Oct. 18. “Premature campaigning” activities of candidates took place at the barangay assembly meetings. Candidates were all over these places shaking the hands of residents and doing many other things for obvious reasons. Why? If you believe the saints descended from heaven to guide the candidates, frankly I would rather throw a punch on you for being insurmountably ignorant.
Republic Act. No. 9369 or the Poll Automation Law provides that “any person who files his CoC shall only be considered as a candidate at the start of the campaign period and that “unlawful acts applicable to a candidate shall be in effect only upon the start of the campaign period.”
You know how creative moneyed, traditional politicians (or trapos) are. They operate on so many ways to get the attention of incredibly stupid voters.
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For many decades, those who have decried the lack of progress of the elderly sector have waited so long to have men and women who are willing to take the cudgels of the senior citizens with great passion in Congress to contest the Senate race. He is considered as one of the top election lawyers in the Philippines. Atty. Makalintal is undoubtedly a guy of enormous experience and ability to make a big difference in the lives of the people. His expertise and experience is going to be put to better use in the Senate.
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“I am running for board member in the first district because we believe that the cooperative sector and other marginalized groups need a voice in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan,” Agustin Calya-en said in a statement. Calya-en, manager of Tinoc-based Kalanguya Cultural Community Multipurpose Cooperative and former vice mayor of Tinoc, is running under the ruling PDP-Laban party. The SP is in dire need of new faces. Mr. Calya-en is one of my hands down choices to be one of them. He is not a traditional politician.
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Once and for all, to set the record straight there is no free zone in so far as the PDP-Laban party candidate for congressman in Ifugao in the 2019 polls is concerned. Its official candidate is Siegfreid “Timmy” Mondiguing. This was affirmed no less than by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, also the party president. Governor Pedro Mayam-o is running as an independent.
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Eugene Balitang, the lawyer-accountant who shot to fame as governor of Ifugao from 2010 to 2013, jumped into the race for Ifugao congressman recently unveiling a progressive platform championing economic equity and propelling growth and development in the grassroots level. The articulate leader of the young generation, declared his candidacy with a festive and meaningful program with supporters at Bahawit resort in barangay Poblacion South in the capital town of Lagawe.
Balitang, who has campaigned in the 2016 polls for the immediate resolution of the still-unattended Ifugao General Hospital (IGH) in Lagawe, announced that he was “sick of politicians who care more about contractors than they do about the poor, ordinary Ifugao folks.”
“Our officials are letting us down. We are now one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines. How did we let this happen? Something has to change. We want our government to work for us again because there are many vital concerns of our people,” he stressed.
Atty. Balitang is known for his “visionary leadership.” Many lauded him for his great foresight, forward and innovative thinking and proactive approach to development and execution of a blueprint for success that has served as a tool for economic growth in Ifugao. Before his stint at the Office of the Governor, Balitang served as a board member- one of the most prolific legislators at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. His achievements at the legislative branch of the government include the sponsorship of measures geared at elevating the status of the poor and marginalized, most especially in remote villages.
Being an active member and official of several well-meaning and prestigious organizations in the private sector, is also a significant part of Atty. Balitang’s life. He knows too well how important it is for a leader to be motivating, enthusiastic and be able to establish partnership and involvement in order to achieve results.
Balitang filed his CoC under the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) party. He narrowly missed the seat for governor in 2016 by less than a thousand votes.
What has happened since Atty. Balitang left the provincial capitol building five years ago? Well, we cannot fault a sizeable number of people who are not just keeping their faith in him. They are fighting for their faith!
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Whoever is elected as the next congressman of Ifugao next year, he should be reminded that it is a privilege and honor to be a partner of the provincial government in achieving the vision of improving the conditions of the people. The Office of the Representative of the Lone District of Ifugao should always work to protect and enhance the interests of Ifugao and its people. Not the interests of the contractors!
This is the best time for educated Ifugao folks to demand the congressional aspirants to lay out their programs to achieve the basic tenet of good governance. All I am hearing from them is the scenario where poll results are dictated by moneyed politicians. Sadly, they are not even offering a way to counter it. Oh common, you could do better than that.
There is such a thing as educating and enlightening less-educated and lowly-educated voters here that serving the needs of the people of Ifugao in an accountable, effective and efficient, transparent, equitable and inclusive, responsive and participatory type of public service that follows the rule of law is far more important than thinking that candidate so-and-so has all the money in the world to buy votes in 2019. Do something positive about the problem. Life for Ifugao folks will happier then. As it is, these less-educated and lowly-educated voters deserve a better deal!
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At a recent barangay assembly meeting in a town of the province’s first district, a municipal health officer declared that “dengvaxia is a good vaccine.” I have never heard such garbage in my life!
Scores of young lives were eternally taken away by dengvaxia. The Senate even conducted an inquiry into the matter. This also incurred the ire of President Duterte. Be smart, take my word or not at all. I challenged the barangay council officials to have their children be given shots of the controversial dengvaxia. Or better still, the children of the speaker be subjected to the said vaccine. Hahaha! Bottom line: stop the experiment of treating youngsters as guinea pigs!
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Happy Halloween greetings! to all our readers. Make way for the “Treat or Trick” activity at home, school or office.
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For our food delights corner: For anyone who is on the lookout for delicious Thai food, the best choice is Tim Yum Gurong. The meal I took in a trip to Bangkok is especially tasty. You don’t have to go to a high-end exclusive restaurant in the Thai capital for it because Tim Yum Gurong is also available at restaurants in Makati City, Quezon City and Pasig City. Falling in love with the excellent blending of seafood items in many Thai dishes is noticeable. There is a similarity with the sinigang na hipon (shrimp) of Filipinos with soup-based meals in Thailand.
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Finally, a thought for our readers: “There will be an abundance of grain on the earth, on the top of the mountains it will overflow.” Psalm 72:16**
