By Anthony A. Araos
Barangay Poblacion West in Lagawe is taking a stab at drawing local and foreign tourists with its three-day colorful, fun-filled and meaningful village fiesta that it hopes will be adjudged as one of the best festivities the province has ever witnessed.
Various activities and events shall highlight this year’s celebration of the barangay fiesta set to kick-off with a program on April 4. The village is best known for its friendly and hardworking people.
Residents and barangay council officials led by Punong Barangay Simplicia Dipia-o shall be on hand to welcome guests and visitors from the Philippines and other countries.
Apart from the usual cultural presentations and indigenous games, the Poblacion West Barangay Fiesta has been intended at the first week of April to remind villagers of the numerous blessings they received from the Almighty Creator. Some say it isn’t right not to be grateful for God’s love for them and generosity in the past twelve months or so. Henceforth, it is a worthy goal pursuing each year. You can’t imagine more blessings are coming this year and beyond through prayers and attending a mass during the village fiesta.
In an interview, Dipia-o said the idea of holding a memorable fiesta was brought by the barangay council officials.
Dipia-o said the idea was meant to give the village more exposure.
“I think it is a way to help the tourism industry,” the village chieftain pointed out. She noted that Poblacion West has a number of important landmarks. The village’s aging barangay hall is not too far from the Ifugao State University (IFSU) Lagawe campus.
Punong Barangay Dipia-o could, therefore, focus on boosting the village’s image as a great tourist destination in the provincial stage. The undeniable truth is that it is not difficult to promote an activity-based tourism as this fiesta to benefit lesser-known destinations like Poblacion West.
The good thing about the Poblacion West Barangay Fiesta is that it underscores the strong ties and camaraderie among villagers and barangay government officials. Thus, there are much, much larger things with which to expect among them in the coming years. As a result, the Poblacion West Barangay Fiesta is expected not just to shape tradition but, also instill values of solidarity, harmony, determination and love of God and country. Presently, Poblacion West is a home for an emerging Filipino middle class, composed of diverse cultures and with solid Filipino middle-class values. To my mind, this should be replicated in Ifugao’s 175 other villages. It will help barangay council officials undercut their longstanding worries on the liquor drinking problem among youngsters by nurturing a new mindset of downplaying the traditional baya (rice wine) drinking attitude in unlimited passion. By doing so, I can proudly herald it in my next commentary. This is truly a legacy-defining action for the good of the people and its implementation is possible through an exercise of political will. Haven’t it cross their minds that at the start of their term of office barangay council officials are working on overtime just to contain the liquor problem in their puroks and communities by reviewing ordinances on this concern. You can do other things but not to teach the young to drink in wanton ways. “I will not countenance it,” is something I want to hear loudly from the highest-placed barangay council official.
Other highlights of the fiesta are the cultural parade, basketball and volleyball games and ethnic-inspired games such as batawel and akkad races, guyyudan , hanggul, uggub and huktingngan. There are competitions in native dance and songs as well as hudhud. The history of Ifugao antedates the Christian era. The main program’s speaker is Atty. Joyce Dango. Emcees are Gerry Lumanig and Betty Pegew.
Still, I mince no words for my preference of conducting a civic parade. Don’t get me wrong for I am for showcasing a distinct culture, a civic parade involving people’s organizations and NGOs is a crowd-drawer because subsequent developments in the barangay brought new waves of migration. Small wonder, lifestyle peculiar in the barangay is influenced by the modern times. Let us take advantage of the civic consciousness of the entire populace. It will be more meaningful that way. Likewise, I hope that barangay council officials will add more interactive activities next year. What I’m trying to get to is that Ifugao folks tend to limit themselves with their costumes during a parade. A fiesta needs innovations like featuring folkloric performances of the young.
Nonetheless, Punong Barangay Dipia-o has brought the highest standards of good governance to the expectations of many.
All that fine trimmings and unique dressings, however, does not make a fiesta successful.
“It is the dedication, commitment and perseverance of our people that have enabled us to strive to attain our goal of conducting one of the best fiestas ever in the history of Ifugao,” Punong Barangay Dipia-o stressed.
As is natural for a woman of her background, Dipia-o since assuming office took particular interest in improving the socio-economic conditions of her constituents. She is often times described as an “empowered Filipina.”
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The filing of an administrative case against Mayor Geraldo Luglug of Hingyon, Ifugao at the Office of the Ombudsman for dereliction of duty has been reported in the national media that it has generated a lot of attention.
The case reportedly stemmed from Mayor Luglug’s alleged failure to set up the town;s anti-drug abuse council. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) filed the case on March 20, 2019 against him as well as Mayors Josephine Cruz of of Donsol, Sorsogon, Gybel Cardenas of Bucloc, Abra, Froilan Anderenza of Claveria, Masbate, Kristine Hao-Kho ofMandaon, Masbate and Dernosthenes Arabaca of Magallanes, Agusan del Norte.
According to Assistant Interior Secretary Ricojudge Echeverri, there were “numerous DILG memorandums and Dangerous Drugs Board regulations issued” and yet, no actions were taken by these mayors. With due respect, I disagree with Assistant Secretary Echeverri on this matter, particularly on the case involving Mayor Luglug.
Mayor Luglug has done his part in so far as establishing the Hingyon Anti-Drug Abuse Council is concerned. He is not the erring individual to begin with.
Ever since President Duterte took his office in 2016, Mayor Luglug has accepted the Chief Executive’s challenge to lead the effort in eradicating illegal drugs in that part of the province.
Mayor Luglug, a member of the 4,000-strong League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), has been active in fulfilling his advocacy to clean up Hingyon town by eradicating the drug menace and other nagging problems that Philippine society faces. Mayor Luglug’s record on this matter clearly speaks for itself.
Furthermore, Mayor Luglug is a major partner and vocal supporter in the push for federalism.
What many are not fully aware is the fact that the soft-spoken Hingyon mayor has called for responsive interventions for young people so that they are safe at all times from illegal drugs.
Apart from Mayor Luglug, the other active partners in the anti-drig abuse drive are the municipal government officials, barangay council officials, Sangguniang Kabataan officials, parents, teachers and principals.
The success of the Hingyon Anti-Drug Abuse Council is spelled out to more than just setting it up at some section in the poblacion area. It is the officers’ genuine desire to face head on the challenges poised by their mandate to discharge their duties and responsibilities faithfully well that sets them apart.
The Hingyon Anti-Drug Abuse Council is a flagship project of Mayor Luglug. It is a primarily tool in safeguarding the welfare of the people. Who believes the allegations against Mayor Luglug are true? I don’t give credence to these allegations. For many Ifugao folks, such contentions evoke surprise, humor and frustration. Did Mayor Luglug endeavor so hard to shield his people from the drug problem and foresee the high-handed actions of some quarters to discredit him and invariably tarnish his good reputation? That’s heartbreaking, to say the least. Honestly, I found Mayor Luglug as someone who is hardworking, sincere and highly-principled.
Sadly, while Mayor Luglug is doing his best to protect the people, most especially the millennials, from the ill-effects of banned drugs and substances such as marijuana and shabu, he is now being blamed for a problem not of his own making. Millennials are the youth who came of age at the onset of the 21st century.
If left unsolved, the drug problem could lead to deadly repercussions to the health of the people. That is why to this day, Mayor Luglug is actively leading the campaign to stamp out the drug scourge in the town’s villages. It shall prove beneficial in Hingyon and elsewhere where the activities of drug peddlers are scorned upon. Today, the prevalence of drugs is still one of the leading concerns of President Duterte.
A strong and firm hand by Mayor Luglug and all-out support of all sectors required to contain the drug problem is still the most important “weapon” in the town’s arsenal. Gains in Mayor Luglug’s anti-drug crusade are built-up when there is a bonanza of support from the people. Enough of this incredibly stupid allegation! The key to sustaining the war against these detested drugs is strengthening the partnerships in the Hingyon Anti-Drug Abuse Council and not sowing intrigues within.
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I’m praying that the incoming Sangguniang Panlalawigan will pilot this year a system that will allow applicants for work to submit their applications online. It is high time to make job application more accessible and convenient for present-day younger generations- who are digitally inclined, more adept and savvy in pursuit of their passion and interests through the age of information. There is no doubt that the Internet has a huge influence in their educational and social growth. For starters, the next Vice Governor (who is the presiding officer of the provincial board) should first install Internet connections in the offices of all board members! The next board members should have a new mindset. If they don’t rethink, then it will be a big setback for the province. It is better to have a mindset rather than none at all.
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Too important notes: My good friend Punong Barangay Tomas Dumalti of Irisan (in Baguio City) is running for councilor under the slate of Councilor Faustino Olowan (candidate for vice mayor of the NP-PDP-Laban coalition). Coming from vote-rich Irisan, Dumalti has the distinct advantage of collaring substantial support of the city’s electorate. He is well-qualified for the job. Dumalti has an impressive track record. While Irisan had the most number of voters in Baguio, it is not represented at all in the powerful and influential City Council. In grading his performance in the barangay government, I could go for 9 out of 10, feeling fine and waking up on the right side of the bed.
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One thing that the incoming board members of Ifugao could focus on would be is to address the wide inequalities of income and the disparity between the richest and poorest households in the province. Working toward the promotion of jobs to stem the outflow of migrant workers should be a priority. I’m talking of decent and good-to-high paying jobs and not of menial ones like working at a gasoline and water-refilling station. For instance, in the tourism industry there is a need to focus on destination development in an attempt to create more jobs. Destination development would surely contribute to job generation as more businesses are created. Spillovers from a robust growth in the economy should be a welcome development because Ifugao’s economic fundamentals are strengthened. Ifugao would be affected more strongly should the slide of its economy persists. The impact from mounting unemployment problem would depend on the extent to which it is driven by the electorate’s failure to take the rare opportunity on May 13, 2019 to vote for candidates who shall provide a stimulus to economic activity in poverty-stricken Ifugao.
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For our food delights corner: let’s all travel down south and savor the wonders of sinigang na salmon (fish) sa miso. It is best served with steamed rice, eggplant omelet and breaded pork chop. For appetizers and dessert: bring out the excellence of bananas, vanilla cake and chilled pineapple juice. Remember it is summer time. You’ve got to beat the heat even if you’re in the highlands. And then, I remembered my all-time favorite “puto” and “halo halo” for snacks. A yummy treat! And all I ate was a big home-made one from Calasiao, Pangasinan. Or try a familiar Philippine bite in its dessert platter featuring mango pudding and weet glutinous rice cake dished in desiccated coconut. Just don’t forget to pray for God’s blessings at the table. **
