By Anthony A. Araos
Ifugao’s main attractions by the month of April up until to May of this year stem primarily from the conduct of town fiestas.
The province has 11 towns, each proudly holding a festivity largely called “kulpi.” Easily, I’m inclined to cite the top four bestsellers as the ones in Asipulo, Banaue, Lamut and Mayoyao.
Fiestas are usually held during the summer season. Festivities have strong religious themes. In the predominantly Catholic nation of the Philippines, fiestas take place in a city, town and barangay (village). Who knows an incredibly smart-thinking lawmaker may come up with a law holding a fiesta even in a sitio (a smaller locality in a village) or a purok?
Activities abound during these fiestas. Without a doubt, this is a time for merry-making for the festivity’s participants. It is for the young and old folks alike, and it is not hard to do. This is a great day to enjoy meeting old and new acquaintances and utilizing the opportunity to visit the trade fair.
To my mind, however, the most important thing to do is attend a mass at the church. At the House of God, one is given the chance to deepen knowledge of faith, pray and celebrate the blessings for the last 12 months or so. Surely, it is also a good time to search for the meaning of living in a progressive and tranquil community. One has to search for something greater what residents already have and know. This is the most opportune time to teach and learn from others. What you learn in the past 12 months or so will be crucial for your success and progress in the next 12 months or so. This is precisely the reason why prayers are important. A prayer guides an individual to reach the completeness of Christian life.
There is no use holding a fiesta if residents only take part actively in the street-dancing parade by watching the same for less than an hour. While recognizing it as a crowd-drawer in Ifugao, the conduct of a street-dancing parade is both expensive and quite unnecessary. The format is practically the same for so many years. The “Kulpi ad Lagawe” reportedly scrapped it this year for the aforementioned reason. Having long and tedious practices for young participants of the street-dancing parade is also unthinkable and unnecessary because it is even just better to train them to learn the fundamentals of first-aid or swimming. In fact, improving their skills and talents are more practical and keep up with the changes in society more efficiently.
Outside of Ifugao, most Filipinos are excited about the potential economic and social benefits that a well-planned, well-managed fiesta could bring to them. After all, the fiesta is an avenue to showcase one’s culture, customs and traditions. This is your community, your place, your town, so if you will, cultural expressions reflect the fiesta. In a way, it’s a great opportunity for the town to celebrate another milestone as it reached another year of its existence. It is the way developed towns just outside of Ifugao are doing it. Simply told, Ifugao towns should take a huge step in putting their names into a higher level of development. Except for Aguinaldo, most Ifugao towns are classified as fourth-class municipalities.
The development of poor towns is through the inspiration and motivation of competent and intelligent officials and the success and cooperation of the people uniting into a common goal of making the town reach its potentials and aspirations. Every individual has a role and contribution to town-building. There is wisdom to the saying that “there is synergy in numbers.” In reality, the collective will of the people is the cornerstone of a democracy.
Take part in the productive and meaningful activities of a fiesta. Refocusing the fiesta in this part of the country- one that is God-centered, people-oriented, must bring about change. The relationship of the people with God is the centerpiece of a fiesta. Can’t you see and realize who gave the rice the residents of Ifugao are celebrating in their annual “kulpis.”
As most learning is taken from the experiences of these fiestas, be it in urban or rural areas, it must be emphasized that local and foreign tourists are in attendance as part of their persistent journey into the past, not for nothing.
These visitors are discerning a lot of experiences, through their cameras and cellphones, filled with emotions, not for naught.
There is much more of the art, weaving and agriculture around Ifugao that remains unknown to most. It is hoped that the refocused fiestas by 2019 and beyond will precipitate new thinking about the most recognizable positive aspects of the same in last hundred years or so.
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Ifugao folks have not yet seen the last of young, energetic, dedicated and well-meaning public servants since the days of the late Governor Benjamin Cappelman. I’m referring, of course, to Director Timmy Mondiguing of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Fortunately, Director Mondiguing is still actively pursuing his dream to advance the cause of improving the conditions in Ifugao, where poverty is rampant. I’m impressed of his advocacy to provide for the health and education of children. He believes that investing in education is one of the best ways to curb poverty incidence. It’s high time the youth, women, parents, teachers and other professionals start to listen to his views. And ultimately stand up for the rights of the young learners at the right time. Sadly, classrooms and other facilities of public schools in remote villages are antiquated and dilapidated. This runs counter to the policy of the state to safeguard the well-being of its citizenry, particularly the youth from the harmful effects of unsafe learning structures.
If we take a closer look into the longstanding problems in the education sector of Ifugao, we can only say that ultimately that they were brought by neglect and irresponsibility by those who walk for so long in the corridors of power.
Luckily, Director Mondiguing is gifted with the qualifications and training to enable him answer in due time the call of service and in turn challenge Ifugao folks to be with a visionary leader in turning the province into a more progressive one.
Director Mondiguing, who is credited for initiating strategic and administrative reforms at the regional level of the DOTr at Cagayan Valley as its head, is the son of lawyer and former Regional Director of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) of the then Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Alfredo Mondiguing and former Regional Director of the Department of Tourism (DOT) Carmelita Apilis-Mondiguing. His father obtained his law degree at Ateneo de Manila University. His mother is an alumnus of the University of the Philippines.
Director Mondiguing is one of the preeminent authorities in the promotion and implementation of such reforms to make transportation services globally competitive. He is the compelling face, voice and reason for Ifugao’s much-sought transformative leadership.
I can only pray that the Almighty Creator blesses greatly Director Timmy Mondiguing as well as his family and parents with more rewards. God bless and Mabuhay!
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Without any hesitation, I am strongly recommending Oyster Mushroom of Lilia Dulnuan of Lagawe, Ifugao. It’s crispy, delicious and irresistible treat for the family and loved ones during a gathering. Watching a television program is simply incomplete without one! Export quality, Oyster Mushroom is affordable and presently available at outlets in Lagawe, Banaue and Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.
Ms. Dulnuan is presently the president of the Tungngod Organic Producers Association (TOPA).
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I was rewarded recently with a good mouth-watering lunch of tinolang manok (chicken) soup, boiled string beans, rice, a slice of watermelon and orange juice at Palazzo Coffee Shop and Restaurant in Lagawe.
The restaurant offers many other great dishes. For one, pancit bihon (noodles) is ideal for snack or merienda time.
Enjoying a prime location in the town proper, Palazzo Coffee Shop and Restaurant has a lot to offer in terms of delicious and well-prepared cuisines, produce and wines.
Surrender your culinary whims at Palazzo Coffee Shop and Restaurant because the guys at the kitchen surely have the Midas touch! Don’t forget to try the restaurant’s delectable, handcrafted desserts. What are you then waiting for?
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A tip for success: Don’t ever settle for a very satisfactory rating. Aim for Outstanding rating! Attaining excellence in any endeavor gives one a tremendous sense of pride. At school or office, the road ahead could be more challenging, that one should be ready to face whatever challenge that gets on your way, even if he or she has to take a much longer road to attain success.
In oral or written communications, for instance, aim for the highest mark in order to be proficient in English or the Philippine language. Forget Taglish (Tagalog and English languages combined) for it only fits the misfits who communicate a few times and miscommunicate even more many times in public.
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The man behind the success of Jollibee Food Corporation (JFC) doesn’t come to any surprise at all. He is chairman and founder Tony Tan Caktiong. According to Forbes magazine latest annual list of wealthiest people on earth, Caktiong has a fortune of $4 billion in 2017. He is ranked 550th around the world. He is co-chair of DoubleDragon Properties Corp.
There are about 35 or so Jollibee stores in the United States. Tabuk City (in Kalinga province) has one and Ifugao has none. So who is the winner? And who is the loser? Score is 1-0, in favor of Kalinga. Immigrants from Ifugao who are in the U.S. are known to be treating their Ifugao friends at Jollibee while on a visit. By 2019 and with a new set of officials, let us all work together and overcome the mindset of “development in Ifugao is not possible.” Positive outlook in the franchise system should be a top consideration among enterprising folks in Ifugao. Plain and simple! Chairman Caktiong is a highly successful Filipino-Chinese businessman who rose from rags to riches. He started small with a shoe-string capital for his business. His business quickly grew to the envy of some Filipinos who said that the burgers were made out of earthworms. See how crab mentalities Filipinos have? Filipino business men of Chinese descent are disciplined, hardworking and creative. How about Filipinos?
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Joke time: There was a contest among the Filipino, American and Iranian husbands for having the most number of wives.
American: I have two wives. Because I am a divorcee and I remarried.
Iranian: Oh, that’s nothing. I have four wives. It’s because I am a Muslim and we’re allowed to have four wives.
Filipino: Shut up! You cannot beat me! It’s not even close to my record! I have eight wives!
American and Iranian: Really? How come?
Filipino: At the church, I just followed the priest. He said, you’ll marry for the better and for the worse. So I married four women who are better and four women who are worse. So that’s eight! (Advisory: Not to be followed, for obvious reasons.)
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Blooper in Ifugao: Two weeks ago, I saw the streamer of a business establishment in Lagawe saying it is offering, among others, the following service: Invesment plan. Correct spelling: investment. Yes, it is time for the owner to invest in spelling. It is rather good that there is no pronounced difference in the spelling and pronouncing the said word.
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For our food delights corner: it is an excellent idea to have roast pork loin with herbs and potato fries, seafood lasagna, buttered vegetables and paella rice.
For appetizers and desserts: prawn kropeck, vanilla cake, bananas and chilled orange juice.
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Finally, here is a thought for our readers: “Entrust your cares to the Lord and he will support you.” Ps 55-7-8**
