By Anthony A. Araos
The determination to attract local and foreign tourists at such noted sites as the Peace Museum and the Kiangan Central School, both in Kiangan town, is most admirable.
But it certainly doesn’t end there in so far as understanding and appreciating Kiangan’s other attractions all travelers like.
The town surely has a lot to offer to a visitor from Gumaca, Quezon or Canberra, Australia.
So, one may now add St. Joseph’s Church as well as the UCCP Church. The former is where the Roman Catholic faithful congregate, while the latter is a Protestant church.
Both feature the architectural style of the European and American missionaries who built them.
A salient feature of the Catholic Church is a museum located in the basement. It is valuable to see the museum for it is a depository of important items representing a distant past.
Tourists may also join Kiangan folks when they attend their masses. Just like many other places in the Philippines, Kiangan has a pre-dominantly Catholic populace.
By the way, Kiangan has 15 homestays, one pension house and an eco-lodge, all accredited by the Department of Tourism.
Getting there from Baguio City or Lagawe and Banaue towns is not difficult. There are buses, jeeps and tricycles bound for Kiangan.
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It’s time for the provincial government of Ifugao, led by Governor Pedro Mayam-o, Department of Tourism and Department of Trade and Industry to spearhead innovative projects aimed at invigorating the province’s tourism industry.
My recommendation: hold a travel and trade fair in Banaue.
The expo will showcase Ifugao’s tourist spots, travel packages, native products, diverse indigenous cultures, and culinary delights, export-quality brands made in Ifugao and business or investment opportunities.
Likewise, a “Buy Ifugao Products” campaign may be launched in the said activity.
Henceforth, both projects shall be most helpful in the drive to ensure jobs creation, income generation and propel the tourism industry to greater heights.
These projects are undoubtedly doable. There is no time to waste thinking of its practicality.
The fact is, it is not hard to sell or promote Ifugao as a major tourist destination in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). It’s time for the Mayam-o administration to turn the people’s dream of improving their conditions through the tourism industry into a reality.
Governor Mayam-o has an obligation to constantly look into the plight of the people, most especially the poor, and gear toward what can help them alleviate their difficulties. Governor Mayam-o acts as the Father of the province. Through the collective action of the executive department and the Sangguniang Panalalawigan and initiatives of the private sector and civil society organizations, the Mayam-o administration makes the task of ensuring that the life of each Ifugao improve and becime more relevant today.
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In the last CARAA (Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association) meet in Baguio City, a mere gold medal separated Ifugao and Mt. Province in the final standings. Ifugao garnered 20 gold medals, while Mt. Province went home with 19. Ifugao ranked third overall, with Baguio City and Benguet placing first and second, respectively.
Why are sports as well as provincial and municipal officials now working triple time for the next CARAA competition (to be conducted sometime in February of 2017) in Baguio City? It’s because of the aforementioned fact.
Now, why gather Ifugao’s mayors and seek their help to the cause of maintaining or surpassing the province’s position in the CARAA? Why not leave it entirely to local Department of Education officials to handle it?
Why does the Mayam-o administration not aggressively engage in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) sort of schemes to invigorate the sports development program in the province?
And why not tap into the corporate social responsibility of major business firms and establishments (such as SN Aboitiz and Ohayami Trans) as well as cooperatives in Ifugao? How can anyone from the provincial government forget that their earnings are from the people?
I have some other ideas on this very important concern.
Improvement of Ifugao’s overall ranking in the 2016 staging of the CARAA and in the coming years, in particular, and its sports development program, in general, also largely lies in the province’s emphasis on sports education.
Fact: 21 public national high schools are offering senior high school courses. At first, it was nice and gratifying to see its listing as provided by a friend of mine at the DepEd office in Lagawe.
But, none of these schools are offering a sports course. What?
A senior high school student of Ifugao who wants to take up such course has to enroll either in Baguio City or in Tabuk City. What is the negative implication of not having a sports course in Ifugao? Aside from its financial burden (of renting at a dormitory there and being away from the family), what else makes the absence of it truly bothersome?
Others want to know: How is the Mayam-o administration going to address this problem?
May I then respectfully call the attention of Governor Pedro Mayam-o, Vice Governor Jose Jordan Gullitiw and Board Member James Frederick Dulnuan, chair of the committee on education and public information. Please do what you can to get this problem immediately addressed. This is very important for Ifugao’s youth. It opens at many possibilities.
An Ifugao senior high youngster should take up a sports course right here in the province, not in a far-away place like Baguio City or Tabuk City.
Through the swift and decisive actions of Governor Mayam-o, Vice Governor Gullitiw and Board Member Dulnuan, they can correct this problem.
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With so much at stake, IGEMCO general manager Godfrey Dominong responded positively to the invitation of the cooperative of the Ifugao Philippine National Police (PNP) to be its adviser.
IGEMCO is one of the major cooperatives in the province. It is based in Lagawe and has about 6,000 members.
This development was welcomed by the men and women in uniform as it would strengthen their cooperative.
Undoubtedly, the wisdom and guidance of Mr. Dominong will have a meaningful impact on all stakeholders.
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At the just-concluded Philippine Councilors League (PCL)- Ifugao Chapter Convention in Bagaban Nueva Vizcaya, the Tinoc delegation registered a 100 percent attendance rate. Tinoc is a far-away, fifth-class municipality of the province. In attendance were Councilors Samson Benito, Dolores Donato, Danilo Baguista, Mercury Binwihan, Emita Dancio, Yolanda Patnaan, Marcos Jr Canute and Michael Pindog. With them were ABC president Andres Joce and Vice Mayor Efren Tacio.
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