By Anthony A. Araos
Several towns and cities in the Philippines are now benefitting from Sports Tourism. Tagum City in Davao del Norte is a case in point. It just hosted the Batangay Pinoy National Championship. The city hosted over 5,000 youthful competitors from 81 provinces.
Many went to the DavNor Sports and Tourism Complex to see the competition. They also visited the city’s other destinations. Tagum’s latest attraction is its new, Php1-billion City Hall.
So how about Ifugao? Comparing it with the just-concluded Ifugao Provincial Athletic Selection Meet in Lagawe, a great deal is needed to be done in order to elevate sports tourism in the province. This has reference to the poor sports facilities in Ifugao. Particularly, the sight of athletes outpacing themselves at the 100-meter dash race at the soil-refurbished, so-called oval of Lagawe Central School is simply sickening and unthinkable.
But, I’m not yet giving up. Who knows, they might find better places in the future. Well, it’s time for Alfonso Lista town, after topping this prestigious event for three or so consecutive times, to host the event in 2017.
By the way, in 2013, Alfonso Lista registered 11,111 local tourists. I’m optimistic that more domestic visitors are to be accounted for in the event the town opts to stage next year’s provincial athletic meet.
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Old, small and poorly-built classrooms are a source of anguish and apprehension. New, large-sized and well-constructed classrooms are needed to facilitate the translation of knowledge in primary and secondary education into applications beneficial to society.
A good friend of mine was kind enough to say that while it’s possible to charge one’s cell phone at a library of a public elementary school in Lagawe, it doesn’t even have light bulbs. People have often complained about government-run schools lacking sanitation facilities.
One very strategic initiative for 2017 in Ifugao is to dramatically improve the conditions of public elementary and high schools.
Officials have to focus on transforming antiquated and dilapidated classrooms into modern and student-friendly learning places. The good news is that Board Member James Frederick Dulnuan is around and he is the chairman of the Committee on Education and Public Information.
Thanks to the wellspring of support from the education sector, Board Member Dulnuan is pushing for more programs and projects aimed at improving the province’s public school system.
If backed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, in particular, and the provincial government, in general, the Dulnuan-initiative in the education front is indeed significant, for this development will surely make a great headway, because teachers, parents and other stakeholders will pull together to benefit those who are in need- the impoverished young learners in public elementary and high schools.
This is in recognition of the fact that Ifugao, a poverty-stricken province in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), is fortunate to have a public servant whose commitment to promote transparent, ethical, accountable and responsive governance is undisputable.
Ifugao residents should be thankful for having an official who truly understand the need for sustaining efforts toward better governance.
Well into the closing months of 2016, Board Member Dulnuan exerted his utmost to improve the plight of overworked but underpaid teachers, pupils and students. He is on the right track.
For 2017, Service to Ifugao: service to country. His vision, after all, is to make the cause for educating the youth a tool of getting them out of the economically disadvantaged bracket. With exceptional leadership, Board Member Dulnuan, is surely inching closer to fulfilling this goal. He is truly on the right track.
Board Member Dulnuan also stands for improving the literacy of the poor. Small wonder, he is one of the most highly-regarded and respected lawmakers in the region.
Competence, hard work, dedication and the distinct brand of governance that he is upholding and pushing, many are too eager to join hands with Board Member Dulnuan on this score. For a better, meaningful education system is in the best interest of Ifugao.
Exemplary leadership applied in and out of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, can surely spell a big difference to a lot of people. This is what leadership is all about. This is what Board Member Dulnuan of Banaue has to offer in 2017 and beyond.
For helping realize the dream of obtaining primary and secondary degrees within the poor’s reach, Board Member Dulnuan deserves plaudits for his noteworthy actions. It will be a shame to waste all efforts as he has done enough so far.
It is hoped and prayed that Board Member Dulnuan shall continue strengthening the education sector in upgrading the conditions of teaching and non-teaching staff as well as pupils and students in public learning institutions. These are vital action plans that will enable educators to deliver quality education and ultimately make Ifugao’s public education system responsive and globally competitive. -o0o-
Indeed, there are some signs that the provincial government is taking steps to solve the garbage problem.
It’s high time for the Mayam-o administration, however, to discard the practice of utilizing dump sites as a solution to the problem.
The disposal and treatment of solid wastes immensely contribute to the worsening climate change situation as it produces methane, which is harmful to the environment and human health. As a result, the order of the day is the closure of open and controlled dump sites.
I am confident that Governor Pedro Mayam-o shall listen to the plea to adopt better measures to contain the problem. Thus, the time for adoption of waste-to-energy technology has finally come.
For instance, in the towns of Aguinaldo and Alfonso Lista, the pursuit of bio-mass project is ideal.
On a related note, it bears stressing that farm waste burned in the fields, a practice that contributes to air pollution, is convertible into electricity. In other words, it’s a source of energy. What do you derive from it? Energy critical to the development of a town and province.
I am most willing to help Governor Mayam-o, Aguinaldo Mayor Gaspar Chilagan Jr. and Alfonso Lista’s Glenn Prudenciano on this matter, by sharing pertinent information.
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To all our beloved readers, advanced Christmas Day greetings. Thanks a lot for your continuing support. “Guiltless Thoughts” column shall continue to be at the forefront of upholding freedom of expression, undoubtedly, a valuable feature of the democratic life. I wish all of you, Merry and Meaningful Christmas! Don’t forget to pray and go to mass. Find time also for the Simbang Gabi tradition (December 15-24) and feel the chilly air and partake your favorite bibingka and hot chocolate.
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Life’s oddities: Only in the Philippines!
Celebration of Christmas in the Philippines starts on September. The whole period covers four months. In short, the longest Christmas season celebration is in the Philippines.
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Finally, some thoughts for our readers: “When you acknowledge your need, our generous God will give you wisdom when you ask for it.” (James 1:5)
“Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” Aristotle
“What is the difference between corruption in the U.S. and corruption in the Philippines? Answer: In the U.S. they go to jail. In the Philippines, they go to the U.S.” As quoted from the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.**
