By Anthony A. Araos
ZigZag Weekly continues to be on the rise in the Philippine media with the exponential elevation of online and mobile services. www.zigzagweekly.net is one of the attributes of digital transformation that is best driven by the country’s young urban demographics and the widespread usage of mobile devices that enable internet access.
ZigZag Weekly continues to grow so much so that it has a strong following across sectors in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and even outside. It is incredibly enlightening albeit it has few pages to speak of.
A well-meaning newspaper indeed should not and need not be seen as a tool of prohibitive cost due to production expenses and advertising support but rather as an investment in the future and a catalyst for a new and challenging era of innovation. This means ZigZag Weekly is doing its best to stretch its resources just to fulfill its avowed mission of informing and enlightening the people on key issues affecting them. At the end of the day, a thick newspaper means nothing if it doesn’t say anything.
It is again the time to reflect on this publication’s overriding philosophy: “News as it should be. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” This is what gives the ZigZag Weekly its rare reputation. That thought proves ZigZag Weekly’s enduring appeal. These qualities may also reflect the effects of various views in its Editorial-Opinion pages, as expressed in depth and breadth by the Editor and Publisher Atty. Tony Pekas and a number of columnists.
The long journey almost to the top was unbelievably surreal. It made many believe that miracles still do happen. The men and women of ZigZag Weekly, I’m sure, will forever be grateful to a lot of people, including subscribers and advertisers as well as those who are selling the newspaper at newsstands.
ZigZag Weekly has been in the business of enlightening countless readers for more than 25 years. Stay with it as ZigZag Weekly starts its next 25 years journey. Yes, I’m sure of it because it has persevering endurance. Glide on to the farthest length of glory and be with a winner. As it conquers new heights, belated 25th Anniversary greetings to ZigZag Weekly! ZigZag Weekly is always there for you!
-oOo-
Finally, here are some thoughts for our readers: “It is not a sin to be poor. What is a sin is if you are poor and you don’t strive to rise above yourself.” Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domogoso
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.” Ephesians 3:16
-oOo-
For our food delights corner: Bring out the once-in-a-lifetime treat of black pepper beef. The secret is in the preparation, margination and imagination. At times, a lot of imagination makes sense at the kitchen. Also, focus on the freshness of your ingredients. This meal is best served with longganisa Vigan, mixed vegetables, lobster with young corn soup and steamed rice. For appetizers and dessert: leche plan, avocado and chilled orange juice.
This delicious lunch or dinner treat is always ready to be served for the family or loved ones. Make it a memorable one by blending meal time with a timely conversation of future plans. Always think of the gastronomic wishes of your dear ones and prayers for all the blessings at the table. Be thankful for God’s goodness upon your life.
-oOo-
The pleasure of arnis training is something well-worth considering by leaders in the education sector After all, arnis is the national sport of the Philippines. Surely, not basketball by any centavos even if it has been said a number of times that the Philippines is a basketball-crazy nation. Anyhow, it is high time to promote arnis among the young- both in urban and rural areas. It is a way of teaching self-defense and at the same time instilling “discipline” in the youth sector. It also promotes physical fitness. The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) should be at the forefront of conducting arnis training programs.
Essentially, arnis is not an expensive sport. Learning it is not even difficult. Boys and girls tend to excel in the sport at various competitions. Educational institutions should evolve effective ways of teaching arnis in order to have a truly integrated and nationalistic-inspired educational system.
-oOo-
Brainy tidbit: Governor Jerry Dalipog played a key role in developing the tourism industry in Banaue during his incumbency as mayor prior to assuming Ifugao’s highest government position. This is a cue for him to invest in innovative projects using technologies focused in the field of tourism development. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, the tourism industry’s dismal performance was evident.
Governor Dalipog should tap the private sector as a means of saving the tourism industry. He should seriously think of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme as an instrument to obtain the much-needed funds for these projects. Make it a project of Governor Dalipog and a private firm joint venture in each town of the province. It shall ultimately invigorate the economies of the 11 municipalities. All told, the PPP is an example of shared leadership. Look, look through the “success stories” of PPP projects in many towns in the Philippines.
Many times, PPP funding would be needed to fund big-ticket infrastructure projects. PPP funding for mega-projects has enabled the government to pursue public investment projects without causing government debts to escalate.
Due to the magnitude and complexity of these projects, it is prudent for Governor Dalipog to hire a consultant from the private sector. Let the brightest from this sector handle the project consultancy services of these vital endeavors. “Make the PPP work for Ifugao’s tourism industry” should be a good rallying battlecry!
-oOo-
Soon the season for mangoes is over. I have seen lots of mangoes at Barangays Namillangan, Sto. Domingo and Bangar, all in Alfonso Lista town. I also gathered that Punong Barangay Alona Cadelina of Dolowog (also in Alfonso Lista) is raising mangoes in her home turf.
The mango industry has suffered a lot in recent years because of the worsening menace brought about by kurikong caused by the Cecid fly. The deadly Cecid fly is responsible for the ugly black depressed spots on the skin of mango fruits. The flesh of the fruit is still good to eat and so it is sold at a cheaper price. Mango growers have been complaining of huge losses due to this problem. Mango prices, they say, have hit rock bottom price. As a result, some of them are even giving the mangoes for free. Do you want a slightly-damaged but cheap mango? Or do you want undamaged but expensive one? Kind of a combination of both- undamaged but cheap, I guess. Like most people, I see the urgency of interventions from the government to really save the mango industry. Henceforth, I see the need to establish a continuing program in research on organic farming as a means of undercutting the high costs of fertilizers and pesticides (including insecticide, fungicide and herbicide). Bring in the good fortune to mango growers by telling them to not to use pesticides if they can avoid them entirely. Further, I believe we should recognize the need to put up processing facilities for dried mango, puree and jam.
-oOo-
Figure out who is worrying most with the return of thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to the Philippines following the devastation wrought by the COVID-19 problem?
The OFWs are presently called the “modern-day” heroes by the government because of their invaluable contributions to the economy in terms of remittances. Yes, their remittances are keeping afloat the Philippine economy. In other words, land-based and sea-based OFWs are pumping money into local and national economies. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, in the first nine months of 2019 remittances tallied at $24.64 billion. For short, cash sent home through banks and other sources by Filipinos living and working abroad matters. Today, there’s big problem. Most of them are now jobless. Back home, they are not likely to get jobs. And I’m speaking of decent and high-paying jobs. The truth is that the OFWs in the United States, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar or Japan are well-compensated by their employers. So providing them jobs would be reflective of modern economic realities and take into account of their acknowledged role in Philippine society. By doing so, the Duterte administration shall promote job creation and poverty reduction. While I have some answers to the aforementioned query, a move in such direction offers a sensible solution to this problem. It is the only move.**
