LAGAWE, IFUGAO – – A youthful Ifugao leader is in favor of observing each year the month of January as the Bible month, an action gladly welcomed by various sectors, saying it is necessary.
“There is a strong need to strengthen the faith of the people on God regardless of their religious affiliation thus, the declaration of the month of January as Bible month is important.”
This was the sentiment of the articulate youth leader from Kiangan Aezle Dumangeng, president of the Ifugao Sangguniang Kabataan Federation and concurrent Board Member.
Dumangeng is one of the supporters of a proposed ordinance at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) expressly backing a similar measure at the Senate. One of the authors of the Senate bill is Joel Villanueva.
The SP is also composed of eight elected board members from the province’s first and second geographical districts as well as the presidents of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) and the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) in the province.
All of the other ten board members are expected to support the proposed ordinance.
The endorsement was meant to beef up support for the effort apparently related to the reformist thrust of the government’s Moral Recovery Program.
“I will make a way to encourage the young like me to be bible-centered,” Board Member Dumangeng said.
Through this measure, Ifugao folks and many others in the country’s 80 other provinces are encouraged to read the bible on a daily basis and consequently strengthen their faith in God.
Tackled previously by the influential and powerful SP, the said ordinance may well be interpreted in several ways or viewed in different angles. It was observed that even the version of the bible itself to be considered as point of reference was intriguingly and amuzingly contested by some board members to the consternation of many. Nevertheless, promoting bible reading effectively shall instill the value of love of God, commission of good deeds and denouncement of evil acts.
The SP version of the bible month declaration did not differ much in content and intent from the Senate bill.
“So I lend my voice to the cause of fortifying the faith in our Almighty Creator,” Dumangeng stressed.
In an exclusive interview with the ZigZag Weekly, Dumangeng underscored the “vitality of the spiritual dimension of a youngster’s life and inevitably overcome temptations and vices,” as she called on the youth to always remember that it is fulfilling to give flesh to the greatest commandment to love God and our neighbors.
Dumangeng, 21, at the same time raised the significance of the real world of Scripture awareness among the youth and unconvinced of one’s righteousness, now affecting them.
Institutionalizing the role of the bible in the lives of the people in these uncertain times is likewise a welcome development and a not a few quarters are likely to say that they are glad it came along. For one, President Duterte’s highly-publicized attacks, spats and rants on priests and bishops has been a regular cause of contention between the Chief Executive and the Catholic Church.
Dumangeng also cited the SK”s efforts to develop not just the young’s physical and mental potentials or attributes to the fullest, but also the spiritual aspect.
She pointed out that throughout the world, youngsters are being transformed into productive, law-abiding and morally-upright members of society.
“They should play an active role in building better communities and refrain from misdeeds,” she added.
The remark complimented the concern among people who are alarmed by the proliferation of the usage of banned drugs, gambling, drinking, delinquency and pregnancy among the young.
For the most parts of Ifugao, smoking among the young is prevalent. Selling of cigarettes to minors in places frequented by them like the vicinity of schools, is a daily occurrence. Their good-for-nothing parents and elders just don’t care at all. They should take the back seat. Ask for help.
Society will benefit from the timely and well-meaning deeds of youth leaders like Ms. Dumangeng if they are given expanded roles and greater voices in the decision-making and policy formulation processes. Not mere spectators in the Big League!
All told, the dedication for a bible month celebration and the support extended by the youth representative at the provincial board is the provincial government’s means of expressing solidarity with like-minded individuals and institutions for advancing the plan.
“Once the plan is realized, it will greatly contribute to the laying the foundation for strengthening the moral fabric of our people,” Ms. Dumangeng motioned.
Dumangeng, a business management graduate of Ifugao State University (IFSU), moreover stressed that passage of SP ordinance is helpful in augmenting inter-faith dialogue.
Ms. Dumangeng is a visionary and vibrant leader who is prepared for the herculean task of upgrading the conditions of the youth sector and is fully aware that being at the top of the helm of the SK can be physically taxing. Maturity, selflessness and dedication to duty need no citation. There are transcendent ways of sharing one’s energies in public service, and an official does not need to figure it rather too long that you just need a heart to serve the citizenry dutifully and faithfully well at all times. The public servant’s worthiness, therefore, is determined by a burning passion to serve the people.
In such a short span of time since she assumed office, Ms. Dumangeng, also the chair of the Banguinge SK, has already inspired a number of youngsters to strive hard in their endeavors. Yet, one of her distinct qualities is genuine humility.
To be sure, Board Member Dumangeng simply works hard instead of engaging in grandstanding and “pa cute” antics.
Meanwhile, the 2019 three million pesos budget of the SK office has yet to be approved by the SP.
Board Member Dumangeng has urged her colleagues to think about the “implications” of immediate enactment of the SK budget. She said her constituents “trust that our legislators will consider approving the proposed budget for the best interest of young, dedicated and promising SK officials and all others,” whom she called “one of the most important stakeholders in our unflinching efforts to achieve inclusive growth.”
“This is a fair request,” Dumangeng said.
One million and four hundred thousand pesos have been aside for the conduct of seminars and training programs. The outlay is vital as a means of broadening the knowledge and skills of SK officials.
According to Ms. Dumangeng, the SK is set to develop an Eco-Theme Park in Lamut town. A building for the SK Federation is also being eyed out of the donated land in the said town. The facility, she said, is a priority project that could help “instill pride among the youth sector and serve as a legacy of current SK officials.”
The building project is perhaps the Ifugao SK Federation’s most ambitious plan to date, which provides an office for present and incoming officials. This means more efficient and effective operations.
Presently, it holds office at an obscure portion of a building next to the main capitol building where the SP members’ luxurious, state-of-the art offices are situated. In contrast, its office has a few and antiquated furnishings. One has to negotiate a very steep stairway to reach the office. It lacks personnel, Board Member Dumangeng has to make both ends meet with scarce resources and with her underpaid staff. For months many said they were concerned of the SK Federation office’s unimaginable location. There is not a single signage to indicate where the hell on earth it is situated in the provincial capitol compound.
Seemingly, the provincial government thought that the SK Federation never existed at all! This shabby and poor treatment runs counter to the Dr. Jose Rizal’s thought that the youth is the hope of the Fatherland!
Still, significant portion of the SK’s budget is for personnel services (PS) and maintenance of operations and other expenses (MOOE). Viewed realistically, the SK operates on a shoe-string budget.
Is there a way for the Ifugao SK Federation to even raise and deploy resources to accomplish this plan and other strategic goals and objectives?
For starters, by seeking assistance from the national government will infuse the much-needed funds for the planned facility.
Board Member Dumangeng is up to task of alleviating the plight of young people, many of them are poor. Their pitiful conditions have drawn wide attention the national government and it is hard to exclude them from poverty reduction programs. Ifugao is one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines. It is high time for the provincial government to really invest in the young’s future for them to have a fighting chance to be a part of inclusive growth. The success of the provincial government’s agenda of addressing the problems of impoverished youngsters lies in putting them high on governance priorities. Increased budgetary allocation for the SK office is the order of the day. **By Anthony A. Araos
