By Anthony A. Araos
While in the scenic town of Mayoyao to enjoy quality time with family, loved ones or friends, surely the best place to stay in is Mayoyao Hostel.
Nine neatly-designed rooms await local and foreign tourists in the hostel. Four of them are dormitory-type rooms. Room rates are reasonable.
Enjoy sound sleep and experience greater resistance to stress at single beds and king size beds.
The hostel also has a conference room. Likewise, there is a spacious ground for varous activities. It also provides other services such as sound system, laundry and ironing.
By the way, Mayoyao is not just known for its enchanting rice terraces and Apto ‘or burial tombs but, also an excellent site for picnics and venue for seminars and workshops.
True vacation happiness is staying at Mayoyao Hostel. Why? This hostel is your perfect hideaway that resonates with one’s peculiar imaginative power.
You’re working very hard just for your dream house or car to be a reality. Then pamper yourself with a vacation trip to Mayoyao.
I’m so glad that Mayoyao is currently undergoing a transformation that will indeed render it more accessible. After all, it is only about 41 kilometers from Banaue. The other option: take the longer route via Isabela province. All thanks to the able and strong leadership of Mayor Ronie Lumayna and Vice Mayor Jimmy Padchanan Jr.
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Ifugao’s 11 towns are largely underdeveloped. Hence, there is need for municipal government officials to work harder to ensure a brighter tomorrow for their constituents.
In this light, said officials are enjoined to undertake monumental programs and projects to propel development, most especially in far-flung barangays (villages).
Hungduan is so fortunate to have a member at the Sangguniang Bayan who is zealously pursuing the path of enacting innovative ordinances. I’m referring to Councilor Pablo Cuyahon.
He is a sincere, honest, hardworking and intelligent legislator. Councilor Cuyahon is alo hailed by many in the promotion, protection and support of all well-meaning efforts related to saving Hungduan’s damaged rice terraces. I’m also impressed with his dedication and commitment to uplift the town’s all-vital agriculture and tourism industries. My commendation to Councilor Cuyahon for doing an excellent job in promoting quality legislation. I would like to see the rise of more highly-performing public servants like him in the not-so-distant future. To Councilor Hungduan: God bless and Mabuhay!
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One of the biggest shock of their lives in Ifugao took place at the recent Gotad ad Ifugao when Governor Pedro Mayam-o got a poor and shabby treatment during the June 14 Opening program of the occasion. Why so?
Many were wondering why the Governor ended up as a mere spectator. No welcome or inspirational message from him was heard. In fact, at the Farmers Forum (just right after the opening program at the plaza) Governor Mayam-o was heard saying: “Finally, I’m given the opportunity to greet the people and say something about the Gotad.”
The Governor’s name is conspicuously missing on the Opening program’s souvenir program. I maintain that this is ridiculous, unthinkable and unacceptable.
Truth be told, I felt bad, shocked and disappointed.
Well, I heard someone saying: “Let’s just forget it.” To my mind, it would be admitting that some are forgetting that Governor Mayam-o is the highest official of the province and there is no reason at all to disrespect him.
It is even ironic that in the cover page of the said souvenir program, the photos of Governor Mayam-o and Vice Governor Jose Jordan Gullitiw appeared.
It’s equally ironic that Gotad’s theme says “Let us take care/nurture Ifugao.” Apart from exemplary public service, Governor Mayam-o is known for his trail-blazing work at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (as Board Member and Vice Governor) that paved the way for the realization of the dream of improving the conditions of the poor by pursuing a number of noteworthy projects for the marginalized sector.
Worrisome is this development when the Opening program is easily considered an important part of any celebration of this magnitude. It’s bad enough when this miscue takes place before a sizeable crowd with participants and guests from Ifugao’s 11 municipalities; it gets worse when those who are committing these grievous errors are the ones who are loudly professing support for the Governor.
All told, this incident only sent a chilling effect not just to those who are working at the provincial government but also to the public.
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How about the error on the non-inclusion of the photos of the ten Board Members in the cover page of the Gotad ad Ifugao souvenir program.
They were also elected by the people. Thus, they are also the voices of the people.
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The tale that follows concerns the people’s perception on how the decision-making process evolves as seen from my scrutinizing eyes.
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Payment and collection of stall fees at the Agro-Industrial Fair of the Gotad ad Ifugao have been a significant source of revenues for the provincial government.
I gathered that a stall owner had to pay Php 4,000 for the duration of the fair. I got tired of counting the numerous stalls at the fair. In short, the provincial government earned a lot in just a couple of days.
Believe it or not, only ten percent of the proceeds of the said fair were earmarked for the Lagawe Central School, the fair’s venue. Is that a joke?
Is it too much in the asking if at least fifty percent of the proceeds be given to the said school? Setting aside a substantial percentage of the aggregate total earnings of the fair is vital to improving school facilities such as classrooms and comfort rooms with water tanks. How about apportioning a good part of these earnings to augment employee compensation insurance premiums differential?
Known as good men for their kindheartedness, generosity, intelligence, perceptiveness, tact and above all their relative independence from the executive department, I don’t see any reason whatsoever for Board Members James Frederick Dulnuan, Robert Humiwat and Clemente Bongtiwon to take the lead in providing remedial measures to address the imbalance of allocating the fair’s earnings.
Board members Dulnuan, Humiwat and Bongtiwon are well-known for their pro-education stance. They are caring and respected leaders.
I would be very uncomfortable to hear views that are otherwise.
Gentlemen, the ball is now on your court. Please act with dispatch on this concern.
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Pupils of the Ifugao SPED Center were certainly affected by the loud noises during the Gotad ad Ifugao activities conducted at the gymnasium and adjacent areas. This also holds true for pupils of Lagawe Central School. My heart bleeds for them.
Good wisdom tells us to hold such activities elsewhere! Why always at the Lagawe Central School? Be more creative!
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Gotad ad Ifugao is over. Celebrants have to wait 12 months to go back to Lagawe for such activities as the float parade and cultural sports competitions. In between, they are idle.
However, the reality is that many shall forget Gotad’s “Let us take care/nurture” theme. This is an undeniable fact. Why?
Having experienced the scare of bickering of politicians before, during and after the May 2016 polls that resulted to no positive games, Ifugao folks should at least know that there is in fact a longstanding need for the present dispensation to pursue and adopt pro-people policies. Governor Mayam-o should dispense pending and development in the province. Thus, I see the need to conduct other Gotad activities in other towns, for instance, in far-away municipalities of Alfonso Lista, Aguinaldo, Mayoyao or Tinoc.
Again, good wisdom tells us to hold the Gotad ad Ifugao elsewhere! Why always in Lagawe? Be more creative!
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For my food delights corner: Consider having toasted bread with pineapple spread for merienda or snack time. It goes well with pancit palabok. : It’s still hot these days and so treat yourself with your all-time favorite halo-halo.
For dinner, isn’t it a wonderful idea to have Sinigang with shrimp. Add to your meal: Java rice, breaded pork chop with sweet and sour sauce. For appetizers, ripe mangoes and cake will do.
Well, just don’t forget to pray before the meals. Remember, there’s lot of food on your table from your Creator. Many, many others are starving. You are simply fortunate.
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Life’s oddities: Only in Ifugao! The good and bad side of it at the Gotad ad Ifugao.
A stall exhibitor: “It’s good I have so many customers for my fruit shake and halo-halo. It’s bad, there is no electricity.” (Actually, the power outage took place about two times during the Gotad)
Another stall exhibitor: “It’s good there are many visitors today because it’s a holiday! It’s bad, I and many others will be closing shops today and will be heading home!” (Actually, June 19 was declared a holiday in Ifugao)
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Finally, some thoughts for our readers: “Concentrate all abilities and efforts on the task at hand, not worrying about the next job.” An all-time favorite thought since my high school days.
“The purpose of a teacher is to teach, not teaching to flunk a class.” Quoted from the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago**
