By Anthony A. Araos
It’s summer time in the Philippines. Surely, more foreign tourists are expected to visit various popular destinations in the country.
While they are likely to see and enjoy the beaches in Boracay, Subic (in Zambales province) and Lingayen (in Pangasinan province), foreign visitors also want to go to highly elevated places like Tagaytay City, Baguio City, Sagada (in Mountain Province) and Banaue in Ifugao, where the people enjoy a cool climate throughout the year.
This is the time when thousands of local and foreign tourists take their yearly exodus to the nation’s summer capital to cool off. Particularly, this is true during the Panagbenga Festival and Holy Week.
While not as blessed as Baguio in terms of drawing huge tourist arrival records, Banaue has also its share of relatively significant visitors count in the summer months of March, April and May.
Thus, this is the best time for Governor Pedro Mayam-o to double his efforts in order to invigorate the province’s tourism industry. Many things remain to be done and there are certainly a thousand and one investment opportunities.
Start consulting leaders in the private sector. An innovative and forward-looking tourism program is badly needed in place of the outdated one still being adopted by the Ifugao provincial government. This requires involvement and planning at the level of the Office of the Governor and the intelligent men and women outside of the public sector. No ifs and buts!
Through all of these, one leader remained steadfast on the goal to promote the interest and bring life to the tourism industry- Governor Mayam-o.
It has been said that tourism is also most helpful in promoting an image on just how rich is the culture of the people. It is, therefore, important to enhance the value of encouraging tourists and all others to visit a museum.
In Ifugao, the Kiangan Open Museum is clearly a great place to visit. The museum is an essential component of the town’s tourism industry for so many years. By the way, it is accessible to public and private vehicles.
The promotion of tourism via the museum learning experience is really compelling and empowering. For young Filipinos and tourists alike, a museum visit means a lot.
One’s learning of history and culture must not and never be limited to the four corners of the classroom.
Without a doubt, one of the most important ways that the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Tourism (DOT) can help students as well as local and foreign travelers experience, understand and appreciate the nation’s rich heritage is through organizing trips to museums. Thus, the initiative of putting up a new museum in Kiangan is a step in the right direction. It is centrally located in the main area of the town proper. I am so impressed by the fact that important Philippine artifacts are exhibited there, making them so accessible to the young.
A museum is a vital tool in ensuring that citizens are mindful of their role in society. It is a key part of a nation’s cultural heritage and identity. Sadly, there is no museum in the capital town of Lagawe. It is where the provincial government building and the sprawling Ifugao State University (IFSU) Lagawe campus are located. The largest public elementary school (Lagawe Central School) in terms of enrollment is also situated in Lagawe. Yet, there is no museum in the said municipality. This is indeed very disheartening, to say the least.
What makes you believe that one’s love of culture can be nurtured by such an attitude of saying that it’s perfectly alright not to have a museum at all? I even heard someone saying that putting up one is a bad option since it is not profitable. To my mind, this is an annoying opinion. By all standards, in my humble opinion, such thinking is quite telling. It is discomforting indeed. As if the soundness of promoting culture was being countermanded by commercialism. Is that the way to pass on the next generations the word that the culture is so rich thus, worth revisiting?
I am certain that only by working hand-in-hand, side-by-side- the provincial government and the private sector, that the realization of putting up a museum in Lagawe is possible. With the support of the Mayam-o administration and the private sector, I am confident that the task of raising the people’s awareness and consciousness of the vitality of the arts and culture in a nation is bound for even greater success.
To Governor Mayam-o: It takes persistence and solid determination to make this doable aspiration (of finally having a museum in Lagawe) a reality. I repeat it’s doable. It takes so much exercise of political will and sense of responsibility on the part of the officialdom to make this dream come true. I hope that Governor Mayam-o, who is credited for several accomplishments in the past due to his admirable spirit of advancing the common good, can act favorably on this score.
With all the foregoing premises, the question now arises: Will they put up a museum in Lagawe?
-o0o-
Another major concern in Ifugao’s education sector is on the need for new classrooms in most public schools. This is vital in providing the young a truly conducive environment for learning.
In calling well-meaning and dedicated officials like Board Member James Frederick Dulnuan, I see the urgency of establishing a framework of promoting and protecting the well-being of the young who are searching and struggling for better classrooms. Ironically, the government is more interested in the commercialization and privatization of education. This move will not serve public interest to transform the youth into productive members of society.
Likewise, acquisition of digital learning tools and online learning platform gadgets on the internet to maximize teaching, training and learning should be pursued dramatically at all Ifugao public elementary and high schools. Sadly, the province lags behind on this matter. It is simply far, far behind compared to the other provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
This is surely a herculean task for Board Member Dulnuan since the education sector in this upland province still faces a plethora of problems including but not limited to, lowly salaries of teachers.
-o0o-
It looks like the passage of the proposed death penalty bill at Congress is just a matter of time. The House of Representatives reportedly passed the proposed measure on its third reading. Previously, I pointed out that the congressmen are not likely to include plunder offense in the said law. It is certain that they are not likely to change their position. In the last May 2016 elections, it was said that the people came up with “informed, principled and conscience votes.” Oh come ‘on.
-o0o-
A recent activity, held at barangay Hapao in Hungduan, geared to promote the objectives of the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) was highly successful thus, is commendable. It was attended by school principals, teachers, barangay council officials, municipal officials, barangay health workers, barangay nutrition scholars and guests. Speakers included DepEd Principal Oliver Tobiagon, Provincial Social Welfare and Development staff Elena Otlagon as well as DILG representative LGOO V Florita Narciza.
I’m glad that Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno is steadfastly committed to pursue the LCPC program throughout the country, considering that 60 percent of the nation’s populace is children. It’s not too late in the day for Ifugao to catch up on this well-motivated program.
Congratulations to the organizers and resource speakers for conducting this program. It was a resounding success notwithstanding the fact that it was raining and there was power failure in the area. Call it resourcefulness, plain and simple.
In the true spirit of giving credit where credit is due, may I also commend Hapao Punong Barangay Ramon Gayadang for his all-out support and assistance to this noteworthy activity. It should be replicated in the 174 other barangays of the province. What are you waiting for?
On the other hand, Vice Mayor Romeo Haguyapyap aptly underscored the importance of safeguarding the welfare of the young in these difficult times. More so, at a time the government is bent to eliminate the drug problem.
Verily, I recalled a time discussing the problem on drug menace with some Punong Barangays of Hungduan in the recent past. I emphasized the importance on conducting continuous anti-illegal drug education campaign and strengthening the Barangay Drug Abuse Councils (BADAC) by providing them ample financial and logistical support.
I’m glad that the voters in Hungduan, a fourth class, predominantly agricultural town in Ifugao’s first district, opted to put into office an official with an unassailed character, competence and wholeness as a person of integrity and wisdom. He is no other than Vice Mayor Romeo Haguyapyap. Undoubtedly, Vice Mayor Haguyapyap is one of the most outstanding officials in Ifugao. The province is in dire need of dedicated officials like him.
Putting in people who will not tolerate violating the rights of children at all times is no easy job. Fortunately, this is not a problem in Hungduan.
-o0o-
Finally, some thoughts for our readers: “Laughter is a positive energy.” Dr. Madan Kataria, Founder of International Laughter Yoga Movement.**
