By Anthony A. Araos
In a matter of days it is already another year. To be more exact, it is 2019. It is very important as I see it as a turning point in time in agriculture, tourism and everything else. Meantime, let’s stick to the remaining days of this year. Like many others in this part of the world, I am looking forward to spending an enjoying, meaningful and fulfilling Christmas season vacation. What precisely do I want when speaking of a “meaningful” and “fulfilling” vacation? Well, to my mind, having the peace of our Lord Jesus and seeing the people caring for others.
The essence of Christmas is simply an abundant feast of love, spread for all people. The love of God is overflowing in the world. Not just in the Philippines. Even in North Korea and Syria- believe it or not! Think about it seriously: how good and how pleasant it is for Filipinos to finally live together in unity. Or in Ifugao: how good and how pleasant is for Ayangan and Tuwali folks to finally live together in unity. As they gather at the table on December 24 for Noche Buena they must realize that first, they are Filipinos, and second, their province is Ifugao. It is as simple as that. No ifs and buts!
-o0o-
A significant change in the political landscape of Ifugao has been the decision of former Tinoc Vice Mayor Agustin Calya-en to run for board member in the first district. He is a candidate of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan is a powerful and influential body. It makes a lot of difference in the lives of the people. Sadly, in recent times it drifted to another direction. It has become a venue for traditional politicians or “trapos” to push their own selfish agenda. For short, it served as a springboard for upward mobility.
Calya-en, manager of the Tinoc-based Kalanguya Cultural Community Multipurpose Cooperative, is not a “trapo.” He shall push for transparency in the provincial government and has a heart to serve the people.
He is also noted for his unwavering commitment required of a public servant, as manifested by his proven track record in government.
Calya-en, also an officer of the Kilusang Pagbabago (KP), was honored for his excellence in public service during his tenure as Tinoc’s second highest ranking official.
Recognizing him as one of the exceptional sons and daughters of the Ifugao State University (IFSU), Calya-en has been chosen to be the keynote speaker and guest of honor of the institution’s alumni homecoming program on December 30, 2018. Venue is the IFSU gymnasium at the Lagawe campus.
Consistent with his advocacy for education, Calya-en said he would work for the betterment of teachers and students.
Calya-en should be able to help for the rapid modernization in agriculture. For this to happen, it requires high-level of training for farmers. Likewise, there is a need to infuse substantial funds in the agriculture sector in Ifugao’s 11 towns. Let’s say, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan shall be providing 20 million pesos each municipality. This is strictly for the construction of farm-to-market roads, irrigation systems and post-harvest facilities. Each town would then independently decide how this would be spent in support of the agriculture modernization program.
Pursuit of the overall development agenda of the provincial government might well have been less possible had Calya-en opted to simply contest the mayoralty post in Tinoc. This is a proof of Mr. Calya-en’s unceasing efforts to improve governance as well as social and economic development in a higher level. This is a confirmation of the fact that he is a caring, compassionate man and a great humanitarian. This is important because a strong and dedicated leader will bring about the desired outcomes in an all-important branch of government as this one. Competence is a great virtue needed by public servants. Leadership traits are critical if the mission of truly helping impoverished Ifugao folks is to succeed.
If elected, Calya-en is expected to buckle down to work immediately. There is a lot of work to make a turnaround in the poverty problem in the province, which I expect Mr. Calya-en to actively take part in.
It can be a huge help to the program’s participants to listen attentively to Mr. Calya-en’s message and accordingly pass the word around that he is a tried and tested and well-meaning public servant. He is bringing to the office an improved capacity not only to implement but also plan, design and monitor programs and projects that address the people’s pressing needs and concerns. He is also in a position to help in formulating interventions (strategies and activities) to address various issues affecting the people.
Mr. Calya-en is known for his humility. Yet, he has the stuff of greatness. Organizers of the program (high school batch of 1984) made an excellent choice for its main speaker. Nourishing the ideals of the school- love for God, country and alma mater, lies the matter of choice. You’ll feel bad if you’re not around to get his insights.
-o0o-
Allow me not to belabor the obvious. It’s the Holiday season and the festive mood is all over the places you’re probably going around this month. Of course, December and up until the first week of January of 2019 or so Filipinos celebrate Christmas and New Year.
Despite the Christmas trees lanterns, caroling and parties each day of the yuletide season, I don’t know if there’s no more marked difference between the rich and the poor when it comes partaking their traditional Noche Buena, but I’m so sure there are still so many poor people in the Philippines.
No doubt about it that many are still poor. Rates of unemployment, poverty and hunger are still very high. To complicate matters, inflation rate even increased. Last September, it went up to 6.7 percent. Prices of basic goods and services are relatively high. The poor man’s canned sardines’ prices went up a few days ago. Believe it or not: I’m buying the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper at a Lagawe store now at 25 pesos- up by a peso just a week ago or so. Yet, the Inquirer is still priced at 18 pesos.
Over the years, growth has benefitted primarily the rich. The rich became richer and the poor became the poorest. Since growth has largely been consumption-driven rather investment-driven it follows that the poor ended up at the darkest side of life. This is evident in an impoverished province like Ifugao. Sadly, agricultural growth and productivity remain low. Majority of poor people live in rural areas and depend so much on agriculture. Thus, farmers are poor.
There’s no point in telling sun-baked farmers to manage their finances and budgets. What the hell is the point in asking the jobless Ifugao folk to do the same?
A good friend of mine here said she doesn’t buy the idea that there is a high unemployment rate in the country. Well, about 5 million adult Filipinos are unemployed in the second quarter of 2018, according to the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results nearly four months back.
This is just the stark reality of Christmas spirit in the Philippines for the haves and otherwise. Well, it is high time to also think of tricycle drivers who are not covered by the government-sanctioned subsidy under the “Pantawid Pasada” program. Only the jeepney driver is given a monthly subsidy of 2,542 pesos by the Departments of Energy and Transportation.
How about sharing the blessings as well as to senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) by retaining their exemption from value-added tax (VAT)? Many of them are poor. Fact: about 7.5 million senior citizens and 1.4 million PWDs are entitled to this VAT exemption. It is a timely and relevant Christmas gift for an elderly or the PWD.
There are many other pointed cases of inequalities and instances of wealth disparity in the country. I truly hope that honest-to-goodness steps are taken by the officialdom in order to increase the capacities of the underserved Filipinos for them to be able to actively contribute to the task of nation-building. This is the true essence of Christmas.
-o0o-
Through a vacation trips to Banaue or Mayoyao in 2019 one gets a better understanding of these truly scenic towns, these towns are blessed with unique landscape of panoramic sceneries. With respect to tourism, it is time for their incoming officials to promote two-way tourism by establishing sisterhood ties with other towns or even cities in the country or in the international level. By doing so, this action is even building people to people connectivity and mutual understanding. This should be considered seriously by municipal government officials as a turning point in the tourism industry. Not too long, they’ll see and appreciate tangible benefits to the people.
-o0o-
I wish all our readers a happy and meaningful Christmas! I wish the ZigZag Weekly family the same. I’m heading to some quite far-away place for the holidays and meet a lot of fine, kind and sane people. I’m truly missing some places, truly reverberating with life. I’m also looking forward to see and check my yin and yang energies. It really pays to balance things out there as a means of addressing head on the challenges in life. Particularly, pay good attention to fortune and energy cycles. I have to find my way back to the center of life. While recharging, I’ll be praying for the reduction of total poverty and food poverty levels in the Philippines, most especially in Ifugao and the entire Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). I shall also pray for job creation in the countryside, most especially in remote villages of Ifugao.
-o0o-
I’m honored and privileged to have met recently Rhylee Brown of the Peace Corps. Ms. Brown, who hails from Maryland in the United States, is presently assigned in Ifugao. She is friendly, hardworking and dedicated to her job. Hopefully, with the support and assistance of the private sector, she’ll be able to help in reinvigorating everyone to educate the province’s children and help them become responsible citizens and attain a better and brighter future. Something quick and drastic has to be done to break the intergenerational poverty here by helping the young become productive members of society. Sadly and alarmingly, a significant number of children are not in school. The failure of real growth in the agriculture sector is largely responsible for this problem. Agriculture is the main industry of Ifugao.
Education, agriculture and poverty are all interrelated. There is a need to improve agricultural productivity because majority of the poor people are in the rural areas. There is a need to raise rural income in order to surely make a dent in rural poverty.
-o0o-
Congratulations to the organizers as well as Poblacion South Barangay Council officials for the successful conduct of this year’s Senior Citizens Assembly. It was held at the barangay hall grounds. Punong Barangay Crisante Daang exhorted the elderly sector to continue contributing to the task of nation-building. Other key program participants include Municipal Social Welfare Development Officer Susana Galangi, senior citizens association president Fortunato Tayaban, Raymundo Madangeng, Flora Monsalud, Natividad Tayaban, Rosario Baguilat, Eduardo Puguon and Evelyn Orizar. There were also participants from barangay Tungngod, also in Lagawe. Senior citizens from Ibulao, Bullago, Habbiyan, Dugong, Banao and Bahawit were in attendance.
-o0o-
In continuation of my Sinigang na hipon (shrimps) treat in my “Food delights corner,” let me just stress the need to put premium in the inclusion of kangkong leaves in my all-time favorite meal. It is my ideal food item for my Noche Buena. Even outside of the archipelago, I’ll buy it at the Philippine store or oriental grocery. So I’m not missing it for the holiday season. I’ll try my luck to be on the lookout for gabi or taro. Don’t forget to have some appetizers, dessert and say your prayers for blessings at the table.
-o0o-
Finally, some thoughts for our readers: “God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
“Love is patient and kind. It bears all things, hopes all things, endure all things. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians13:4-8)**
