By Anthony A. Araos
For a relaxing and fulfilling vacation this Christmas season, local and foreign tourists should consider going to Anne’s Resort in Kiangan.
Situated at barangay Baginge, Anne’s Resort is not too far from the capital town of Lagawe.
There are two swimming pools (the smaller pool is for children and the bigger one is intended for adults) for visitors.
Events held here include parties for birthday or wedding occasions, business meetings and training seminars.
The cool weather in the mountainous portion where the resort is nestled certainly would be a plus factor when one is on the lookout for a great destination during the Yuletide season.
Surely, the uniquely-designed resort and invigorating setting provide continuous fun and recreation for the entire family. Certainly, if one is looking for a pleasantly memorably vacation in Ifugao, he or she should simply consider Anne’s Resort.
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In a recent visit in Kiangan, I came away impressed with the efforts of Tourism Officer Yanni Albano to uplift the tourism industry.
I believe that the Guyguyon administration still has a lot of challenging tasks ahead. It must improve infrastructure in the said industry. It must shepherd an honest-to-goodness effort to promote aggressively other sites (such as Anne’s Resort and Ambuaya Lake) in the municipality. It has to be done now as Kiangan has a lot to offer. Will the municipal government not do something proper to take advantage of the growing domestic and foreign arrivals in the Philippines?
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Nine Supreme Court (SC) justices easily and successfully made Filipinos a laughing stock in the world by allowing the burial of deposed strongman Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Indeed, their arguments are alarming and frightening. I don’t want to spend time in looking for the meaning of the word “hero” in a dictionary.
The widely condemned decision brought forth only serious implications.
Apologists and rabid supporters of the late president said its time to move on, but the argument is not to everyone’s thinking.
On September 21, 1972, Marcos declared martial law. Congress was padlocked. Media outlets were closed. The Constitution was suspended. Opposition, labor, peasant and student leaders were arrested. This marked the beginning of the Marcos dictatorship and the death of democracy in the Philippines. The end of his dictatorial rule came on February 25, 1986. Marcos’ one-man rule was toppled by the People Power Revolution.
The use of the argument to “move on” is an extremely perilous means of resolving this issue, with disastrous impact on the lives of present-day and incoming generations of Filipinos.
The reason why the “move on” argument has a very high magnitude of danger is that its advocates want to forget the horrors of martial law. In this period of emotion and sentiment, Filipinos have to put it up themselves to Rise Above the “decision” of nine intellectual pygmies. The “move on” argument is reckless and serves no purpose but to unnecessarily fan the flames of ignorance and amnesia.
Historical truths need not be distorted. If Marcos’ misdeeds are not true and he’s a hero, there should be a corresponding correction.
Without conceding, if the next President shares a different view on this issue, should the remains of Marcos be brought back to Batac? If this happens, does this not nullify the very basis of the “decision”?
To my mind, the “decision” is the result of overriding political considerations rather than a judicious consideration of the facts and the law.
In the past, the SC issued many rulings stating that Ferdinand Marcos was a plunderer and human rights violator. Yet, the “decision” of nine SC justices now becomes the very basis for some to call Marcos a “hero.”
The implications of the “decision” matter. The coercive power of the “decision” is being used by some to advance the notion that no wrongdoings or excesses by the authoritarian regime of Marcos ever occurred.
If there is no move to rectify the SC blunder, why not even enshrine the name of Ferdinand Marcos in the Dambana ng mga Bayani in Quezon City? Either way, you can come up with the new definition of the word “hero.”
There is an urgent need for all (most especially the nine SC justices) to revisit Philippine history as a means of undoing this injustice. Healing on, moving on. This is far from it. It only widens the scar.
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It is only right, proper and imperative that the Barangay Tanods (village watchmen) in Ifugao must be recognized for their invaluable contributions to all efforts related to the maintenance of peace and order.
Henceforth, they deserve to be adequately compensated with security of tenure.
Unfortunately, these overworked but underpaid tanods are not even being given insurance and other benefits. I thought that the tanods are among the front-liners of the barangay government. Tanods are assigned difficult tasks.
Check it out: tanods lack training and equipment. They are bearing the brunt of the economic difficulties. Yet, they are receiving low allowances. Tanods conduct foot patrol until the wee hours of the morning. They have no hazard pay. They help out in the collection of garbage. Worse of all: when they get sick, they couldn’t even afford to buy medicines or go to a hospital.
Improving the plight of the tanods will address the issue of curbing crime incidence.
Hopefully, Board Member Robert Mangyao will have the all-out support of his colleagues of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. In other words, Board Member Mangyao needs all the backing of the others in the legislative arm of the provincial government.
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Congratulations to Kiangan Councilor James Talib who was elected recently as Vice Chairman of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL)- Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Chapter.
Talib, who is also the secretary general of the PCL-Ifugao Chapter, is the youngest councilor in Ifugao.
Councilor Talib is an ardent supporter of social and economic reforms. He is a true public servant with uncompromising values. He is undoubtedly hardworking, dedicated and committed leader.
His success in the just-concluded PCL-CAR chapter polls in Tabuk City is a clear manifestation that he has the trust and confidence of many in his own town and others in the region. Moreover, I expect him to interact with his colleagues in the CAR and help craft better strategies to curb societal problems lawmakers must address resolutely for future generations. I’m so sure Councilor Talib was humbled by this meaningful development at the heart of the Kalinga province.
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Finally, a thought for our readers: Is there a good politician? Is there an honest burglar? This is quoted from the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
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Life’s oddities: Only in the Philippines. A mother is asking her daughter why she took so long to buy a liter of Coke. Mother: Why do you have to buy it at the mall’s supermart? Daughter: It’s only Php 43.00. Mother: How about in the sari-sari store? Daughter: It’s Php 50.00. (A sari-sari store is supposed to be the poor man’s store. It is no longer true!)**
