“Weaver’s Paradise”





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Photo Credits: Ayeona Huber
www.mountainprovince.net



La Montañosa was the lyric Spanish reference to the Cordillera Highlands, a savagely beautiful land ruled by jagged pine-covered peaks. The Mountain Province is bounded on the north by Kalinga, on the south by Benguet and Ifugao, on the east by Isabela, on the soutthwest by Ilocos Sur and northwest Abra. The Mountain Province lies at the very heart of the Cordillera Range. There are no flatlands except small niches found along riverbanks. The mountains slope gradually to the east to merge with the plains of Cagayan Valley. The province experiences a dry season from November to April and a rainy season the rest of the year. The climate is temperate although frost occasionally occurs during the months of December and January.

History
The rugged mountains sheltered the peoples of the Mountain Province from colonization during most of the Spanish period. There were several attempts to subdue the people of the area. In 1663, an expedition was able to penetrate the mountains and occupy the town of Kayan. However, for the most part, the Spaniards were limited to occasional punitive forays into Igorot country.

It was not until the 19th century when the Spaniards established a permanent presence in the highlands. The military outposts or comandancias of Lepanto (1852) and Bontoc (1859) were established in what is presently the territory of the Mountain Province. During the Philippine Revolution, the area was an important route of retreat for the embattled forces of President Emilio Aguinaldo.

The Americans established Lepanto-Bontoc as a separate province in 1902. In 1908, the Mountain Province was created covering the present-day provinces of Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao and Benguet. On June 18, 1966, the old Mountain Province was divided into four provinces by virtue of Republic Act 4695. The sub-province of Bontoc became the present-day Mountain Province.

People, Culture and the Arts
The Bontocs are the main ethnolinguistic group in the Mountain Province. The word Bontoc is derived from"bun" (heap) and "tuk" (top), which, taken together means "mountains". The term "Bontoc" is used to refer to the people of the Mountain Province, its capital, the people's culture, and their language.

The Bontocs are agriculturists with a strong stone terracing tradition. Bontoc communities are built around the "ato" or male councils. Bontocs are widely known for the institution of the "olag" or girls' dormitory. Unwedded marriageable girls stay at the olag supervised by older women.

The traditional belief system of the Bontocs is characterized by the belief in spirits that dwell in nature. They are, however, essentially monotheistic and believe in a paramount being called Lumawig or Kabunian. Religious practices, rituals, and cañaos attend their cycles of life, death, and agricultural activities. The chao-es is the feast for the manerwap, which is the ritual imploring Lumawig for rain. The fosog is a fertility rite.

On the occasion of feasts and festivities, the literature of the Bontocs is sung or recited. This consists of riddles, proverbs, aphorism, songs, tales, legends, and myths. This body of literature is significant because it expresses the Bontoc worldview and reflects their collective history. Festivities are also occasions to hear the distinctive Bontoc music. The Bontocs play music on gang-sa pattung, which consists of five or more flat gongs struck with padded sticks. Depending on the type of dance and the village where the performers come from, there are variations in the style of playing the flat gongs.

In the municipality of Sagada, ancient burial caves full of coffins piled one on top of the other are indications of the widespread practice during previous times. In the limestone cliffs of the town, the remains of very important persons are placed in coffins hung along the cliffside. The practice is still carried on today by non-Christian Igorots.

Trade and Investments
The Mountain Province is located at the heart of the Cordilleras making it an ideal trading center for the region. Farming is intensive in the available arable land and yields bountiful harvests rice, coffee, legumes, camote, cassava, peanuts, tomatoes, cabbage and potatoes. More than 75% of the province is classified as forests. These forests contain an abundance of pine, narra, tanguile, rattan, bamboo, vines and wild fruits and flowers. The mountains hold deposits of gold, copper, ores, gypsum, clay, sand and gravel.

Bontoc is linked with the city of Baguio via the Halsema Highway and with the Maharlika Highway via the Banawe Road. An 869-kilometre road network links the municipalities of the province with one another. Eight of the ten municipalities enjoy electric service and communal water systems and spring boxes provide most of the province's potable water. Twelve postal stations, 10 telegraph posts and 10 telecommunications establishment provide links with the outside world.

Agriculture is the main activity of the people of the Mountain Province and there are opportunities for investors wishing to put up value-adding agro-industries. The processing of fruit, honey, coffee and rootcrops can take advantage of the availability of high-quality and readily available raw materials. There are also investment prospects in developing the handicraft industry of the province. Building on the availability of raw materials and making use of the highly skilled Bontoc craftsmen, weaving, ceramic craft, basket and mat weaving promise to be profitable ventures. Bontoc's tourism industry can absorb more players in providing better accommodations, building restaurants and catering to the needs of tourists. The major tourist attractions in the province include Mount Data, the Sagada caves and hanging coffins, the Besao Stone Agricultural Calendars, and several waterfalls, hot springs, rice terraces, natural pools and traditional villages.

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map from www.globalpinoy.com


Municipalities
(10) BONTOC, Barlig, Bauko, Besao, Natonin, Paracelis, Sabangan, Sadanga, Sagada, Tadian

Indigenous people
Bontok, Kankanaey

Things to Do and see in Mountain Province...

Bontoc Village Museum (Bontoc)
Located within the Catholic Sisters’ Convent and Saint Vincent's Elementary School. Founded by Sister Basil Gekiere, ICM, it features a range of artifacts crafted by the Igorots for domestic purposes and traditional celebrations or practices. Inside the museum, one could appreciate the distinct richness of the Igorots' way of life.

Hanging Coffins
Coffins arranged in high steep rock formations.

Blackstrap and Loom Weaving Houses
Loom weaving is done in Sabangan and Sagada. Samoki, a village in Bontoc, specializes in backstrap weaving. Various colorful woven materials like knapsacks, placemats, bags, and purses are among the popular products.

Ato/Dap-ay
Traditionally, a place where the council of elders hold various ceremonies, meetings, and happenings, which may be religious, social, or political in nature. It is a public structure used as a dormitory by the bachelors, widowers, young boys, and visitors in the village. A fireplace is built at the center and a wooden pole stands opposite it where heads of animals butchered and sacrificed are hung.

Sagada Caves
Feature shimmering underground streams with golden or silvery stalactite and stalagmite formations and cool natural pools inside.

Mainit Hot Springs
Sulfuric hot spring 18 kilometers up from Bontoc; 30 minutes by chartered or public utility jeepney from Bontoc to Mainit (available from 1:00 to 2:00pm) or two hours by foot.

Mornang Hot Spring
Located four kilometers from Barlig town proper.

Sadanga Hot Spring
29 kilometers from poblacion Bontoc; with bathroom facilities.

Caves / Hanging Coffins
The caves feature shimmering underground streams with golden or silvery stalactite and stalagmite formations and cool nature pools inside. The hanging coffins are found on high steep rock formations.

Mt. Clitoris (Tadian)
Formerly known as Mount Mogao, it is conical in shape and stands proudly over 3 villages. Considered sacred; appears serene and solemn at dusk or dawn.

Mt. Amoyao (Barlig)
Thickly forested, it beckons for a wilderness walk; site of the ABS-CBN and RCPI satellites.

Besao Sunset (Besao)
A primitive formation of two rocks enabling farmers to determine seasons by how the sun's rays fit into the crevices.

Alab Petroglyph (Bontoc)
A huge rock inscribed with bows and arrows believed to tell the ancient fertility rites of the natives.

Chico River
Mountain tops and sides provide a panoramic view of the winding Chico River meandering through ricefields, rocks, and sand as well as a good vantage point to the humble dwellings of the villagers. Viewpoints: Gala (Sabangan); Mt. Polis; Pagturao (Bontoc); Maligcong

Cagubatan Enchanted Eels
The eels thriving in the spring are conceived to be sacred and thus could not be eaten. They are believed to maintain the continuous flow of water to irrigate the rice fields.

Rizal Memorial Plaza (Bontoc)
Situated at the heart of the capital town. The statue of Dr. Jose Rizal stands towering over the plaza, which serves as a good respite, playground, and meeting venue for programs and social gatherings.

Mountain Province Trade Center
A mini shopping center managed by the Department of Trade and Industry where skillfully crafted indigenous products are sold.

Rice Terraces
Mini stairways to the sky, distinct from the Banaue Rice Terraces because they are made up of perfectly engineered stone riprap.

Bauko
Bangen Rice Terraces

Besao
Besao Rice Terraces, Bucas Rice Terraces

Bontoc
Maligcong Rice Terraces, Bayyo Rice Terraces, Bontoc Poblacion Rice Terraces, Dalican Rice Terraces

Sagada
Kiltepan Rice Terraces, Tanulong Rice Terraces, Suyo Rice Terraces, Bulongan Rice Terraces, Bangaan Rice Terraces, Ambasing Rice Terraces, Fidelisan Rice Terraces

Sadanga
Sadanga Rice Terraces, Focong Rice Terraces
Natonin - Natonin Rice Terraces

Natonin
Natonin Rice Terraces

Barlig
Barlig Rice Terraces

Mountain Province Foundation Day (April 7)
An- agro-industrial trade, tourism, and cultural affair with tribal dances and songs in full regalia.

Begnas (January, June, April, September, November)
Ethnic offering of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest, where pigs or chicken are butchered for the family or clan members to partake of.

Chom-no or Chonno
The grandest and most expensive wedding celebration, which usually happens once in four or five years, where the number of carabaos butchered reflect the economic status of the family; accompanied by much dancing and singing.

Sagada Spelunking (November 27-29)
Cave exploration and trekking.

Nature Trekking
Trudging through the mountains and valleys to best appreciate the natural wonders and beauty of the province in their natural state.
Some trekking routes: Guina-ang - Dalican – Aguid; Bontoc Poblacion – Caneo; Bontoc Poblacion – Dalican; Mainit - Maligcong – Belwang

Mountain Climbing
Mountains great for scaling are Mt. Amoyao (Barlig); Mt. Calawitan (Sabangan); Mt. Pagturao (Bontoc); Mt. Ampacao (Sagada); Mt. Clitoris (Tadian); Mt. Polis (Bontoc); and Barlig Forest.

River Rafting
The Chico River offers a challenging and thrilling route for rafting especially on the rainy months of June and August.

Sources:
www.mountainprovince.net
www.wowphilippines.com.ph/
www.geocities.com/lppsec/pp/mtprovince.htm

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“Living Cultural Heritage Site”



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photo credits: David Lazar


Framed by a panorama of terraced agricultural lands that have few equals in the world today is the Province of Ifugao. It is well known for its spectacular hand-carved rice terraces which are featured in the World Heritage Foundation List and dubbed as a “Living Cultural Heritage Site” with the added distinction of being the only project of the ancient world that is environment-enhancing. This terraces is a manifesto of the marvelous engineering feat, innovativeness and indomitable spirit of the Ifugao people to maximize use of the mountainous land for food production.

The province has 45 existing and potential tourist attractions which are classified into four categories: man-made, historical, cultural and natural spots. The man-made attractions include the rice terraces of Banaue, Batad, Bangaan, Hapao, Kinga, Bacung, Nunggulunan, Mayoyao, Nagacadan and Julongan , Gohang Mummified Couple and the Magat Dam. The historical attractions which are all located in the Municipality of Kiangan are: the Kiangan War Memorial Shrine, Ifugao Museum, the Surrender Site of Gen. Tomoyuki Yamishita, the Million Dollar Hill and the Apfo’or Burial Tombs. The natural attractions include the Nah-toban and Bintacan Caves, Guihob Natural Pool, Tappiyah Waterfalls, Ambuaya Lake, Chapah Waterfalls, Buyuccan Waterfalls, Tenogtog Waterfalls, O’phaw Mahencha Waterfalls, Tukukan Sulfur Hot Spring, Bogya Hot Spring, and Ducligan Hot Spring. The cultural attractions include the villages of Tam-an, Bocos, Bokiawan, Pula, Cambulo, Matanglag and Nuntamangan. Added attractions for domestic as well as foreign tourists are the cultural festivals namely: Gotad Ad Kiangan, Gotad Ad Hingyon, Tungoh ad Hungduan, Imbayah ad Banaue, Kulpi Ad Lagawe, Tighaw ad Mayoyao, Bakle ad Nagacadan and Boklay ad Asipulo. For mountain climbing and/or trekking, the province can boast several mountains to venture and conquer like Mt. Amuyao, Mt. Napulawan, Mt. Anapawon, Mt. Nagchayan to name a few.

Ifugao is best known for its rice terraces, which can be found in almost all the municipalities of the province. Considered one of the eight wonders of the world, the famed terraces are a marvelous engineering feat achieved by the ancients to maximize use of the land for food production. These creations illustrate dramatically the innovativeness and indomitable spirit of the Ifugao people. Carbon-14 dates for some of the terraces indicate that these have been made as early as the 7th century, with terraces in the higher elevations being more "modern," 16th century creations. These terraces remain intact and useful, continuing to grow rice for generations of Ifugao upland farmers.

But Ifugao’s attractions extend beyond the terraces, its forest-clad peaks, natural pools and unpolluted air provides a poignant glimpse of a rural setting rich with unique cultural beliefs and practices which provides a restful respite from the bustle of city life.

Location
Ifugao is 348 kilometers away from Metro Manila .There are two land routes top the province: one is by way of the Maharlika Highway through Nueva Ecija, and the other is through the Halsema Highway from Baguio city.

Air routes are through Aerolift which lands in Bagabag Airport in Nueva Viscaya. From there, it takes about 45 minutes by land to Banaue, Ifugao.

The town center of Lamut, Lagawe, Kiangan and Banaue are reachable through the all-weather Bagabag-Banaue Highway.

http://www.dilg.gov.ph/CAR/img/ifu-map.jpg
map from www.dilg.gov.ph (http://www.dilg.gov.ph)

Geography & Terrain
The province is nestled deep in the Cordillera mountain range. Landlocked, it is bounded by the mountains of Benguet on the west and those of the Mountain Province in the north. Isabela and Nueva Viscaya are its neighbors in the east and south.

The terrain is mountainous, sloping into gently rolling hills and plateaus. Ifugao's mountain ranges reach an elevation of 2,523 meter above sea level. V-shaped gullies, creeks, streams and U-shaped rivers drain through the valleys.

Climate
Ifugao's elevated terrain enables residents to enjoy temperate climate all year-round. The short dry season lasts from January to late April. The wet season runs from May to December.
People

Ifugao's 3 Major tribes

1. Tuwali
2. Ayangan
3. Kalanguya

Language/s Spoken: Ifugao, Ilocano, Tagalog, English

Sourcs:
http://www.ifugao.gov.ph

Related links:
http://www.dilg.gov.ph
http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph
http://interactive.ifugaos.org

"Kalinga, the land of living waters"



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As a “Watershed Cradle”, Kalinga hosts seven (7) big rivers that provide continuous irrigation and potential energy sources not only for the province but to its neighboring provinces.

Blessed with abundant water resources and vast tracts of agricultural lands, Kalinga is also known as the "Rice Granary of the Cordilleras" where quality hybrid and inbred rice are being produced by multi-awarded farmers. Another variety of rice which is now commercially exported to the USA is the upland "Unoy" variety.

As The “White Water Rafting Capital of Northern Philippines", Kalinga is endowed with world class river rapids for the new crazed-adventure of water rafting. For the past three years tourists arrival purposely for water rafting is recorded at an average of 11,195 tourists a year. Its rapids are classified as Class 3 to 7 by international standards. Come and try an 8-hour marathon run from Tinglayan to Tabuk or you can opt for a good 3 hours marathon run from Pasil to Tabuk.

http://www.kalinga.gov.ph/images/stories/kalingamapfinal_edited.jpg
map from www.kalinga.gov.ph (http://www.kalinga.gov.ph)


Kalinga is a landlocked province in the northernmost section of the Cordillera Region. It is bounded by the provinces of Cagayan and Apayao in the north, Mt. Province in the south, and Abra in the West. The greater sections of Cagayan and Isabela are found on its eastern part.

Sharp-crested interlinking mountain peaks, steep slopes, isolated flat lands, plateau's and valley characterize the western side while the eastern section is generally rolling with gradually sloping foothills, interlocking wide track of flat lands and floodplains along its main rivers. Among land and waterforms which constitute potential tourism sights are its waterfalls, hot springs, rice terraces and subterranean rivers.

Composed of eight municipalities, the province's land area totals to 3,119.4 square kilometers occupying 17 % of the Cordillera Administrative Region's area.

A total 85.96% of the total land area has been declared under the Revised Forestry Code inalienable and disposable or public land leaving only 14.04% as alienable disposable. This can be counted as a major issue aside from the inaccessibilty attributed by the terrain of the province.

Under the national population count conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO), Kalinga registered a pouplation of 154,145. This marked an annual average rate of 2.23% from the 1990 population of 137,074. The population size of Tabuk shared the highest percentage distribution at 63,507 persons. This is attributed by the fact that Tabuk is the capital town, thus it is the center of commerce, trade and industry making the municipality an immigration area. The least populated municipality is Pasil with 8,935 persons.

The province is richly endowed with mineral resources, both metallic and non-metallic which are mostly found in the municipalities of Balbalan and Pasil and are estimated at 107,001,469 MT for gold reserves and 95,543,460 MT for the primary copper. There are also evidences on the presence of non-metallic reserves such as sulphur, gravel and sand but there are reliable data on the exact volumes and grades of these reserves.

The province's timber resources are estimated at 11,214,438 cubic meters as of 1990. Such resources include dipterocarp, pine and other species. The non-timber resources such as rattan and bamboo constitute the province's non-timber resources.

Communication services have greatly improved with the installation of telephone lines in the eight municipalities aside from the PLECS network centered at the provincial capitol. There are only telegraph station serving the municipalities of Tabuk and Lubuagan.

Brief History
The name Kalinga is derived from the Ibang and Gaddang "Kalinga" which means " headhunters". In the past, headhunting was considered noble and it symbolizes bravery. Tatoos, a status symbol which men respect and which women admire are given to warriors as reward. Thus a "mingol" or warrior enjoys a high status in Kalinga society.

The "Bodong" to the Kalingas or peace pact is an indiginous socio-political system that defines intertribal relationships. This was developed to minimize traditional warfare and headhunting and serves as an institution renewal, maintenance and reinforcement of social ties. Recently, the "bodong" was expanded into a multi-lateral peace pact providing a means of strengthening unity in the Cordilleras.

The Spanish missionaries and politico-military forces successfully penetrated into the forbidding Apayaos and Kalinga Tribal territories as early as 1608 when Father Geronimo Molina started his mission work in Pudtol (Apayao) and also in 1689 at Tuga (Kalinga) where the first Catholic Mass was celebrated.

During the short-lived Philippine Republic, President Emilio Aguinaldo in his fight to Palanan crossed the upper Kalinga areas in his vain attempt to elude his American pursuers. For 35 days, President Aguinaldo established his headquarters at Lubuangan since March 18,1900. Here, he issued his orders to his military generals and the civil officials of his revolutionary government until he was forced out of Lubuangan upon learning that his pursuers were sighted at Mabongtoto. This prompted him to escape towards Tabuk in that historic last leg of his fight to Palanan, Isabela where he was later captured.

On February 4, 1920, Act No. 2772 was promulgated reorganizing the Lepanto-Bontoc Province into Mountain Province constituted by the five provinces of Benguet, Bonito, Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao. Lubuagan was the capital of Kalinga while Kabugao was the capital town of Apayao.

On June 18, 1966, Republic Act No. 4695 was enacted creating from the old Mountain Province four separate and independent provinces: Benguet, Ifugao, Mt. Province (Bonito) and Kalinga-Apayao. On March 26, 1967, President Ferdinand E. Marcos administered the oath of office to the new officials of the four newly born provinces.

The first appointed provincial officials of Kalinga-Apayao province were: Cefereino B. Ramirez, Provincial Governor; Amadao B. Almazen, Vice Governor; and Board Members Castro B. Lamawin and Carlos Deguiom.

Presently, Kalinga is fast emerging as an "Eco-Tourism Discovery of the Cordilleras" since its operation as a regular and separate province on February 14, 1996.

Points of Interest

Aguinaldo Hill - is located at Barangay Asibanglan-Pinukpuk Road at Allaguia junction. This hill was used as a common post by Gen, Aguinaldo during the Philippine-American war.

Mini-Museum of Kalinga - a mini-museum was initiated and established by the Kalinga Special Development Authority situated in their office building at Bulano, Tabuk.

Sungang View Point - the viewpoint affords a majestic view of the valleys villages and mountains of Tinglayan, Tanudan, Tabuk and Lubuangan. A very good view of the Tulgao and Dananao Rice Terraces can be seen at the view point.

Palan-ah falls and hotsprings - this waterfalls is located at Tulgao West, Tinglayan. The name is derived from the native term "Pinalpallang-ah" which means chair. The falls spray down from approximately 100 meters above forming a pool where during a sunny day, one practically swims at the end of the rainbow.

Mt. Mating-oy Dinayao (Sleeping Beauty)- these fabled mountain ranges border the municipalities of Tinglayan and Tanudan and they take the form of a sleeping lady supinely lying its back. A vantage view of the profile can be seen from the Sungang view or from Basao.

Tinglayan Rice Terraces - from the Sungang View Point, the Dananao and Tulgao Rice Terraces can be viewed. These rice terraces are like an amphitheater along the whole mountain slopes.

Lubo and Mangali Rice Terraces - the rice terraces surrounds the villages of Lubo. The best time to view the rice terraces is during the planting season and when the rice terraces is already ready for harvest.

Mount Binaratan - this fabled mountain is located in Dacalan. It is the entry point of General Emilio Aguinaldo during his retreat to Kalinga.

Tiga-aran aran Kabunian - this area is located above Barangay Lubo at the source of Gaburao Creek. At the side is a cave where Kabunian stayed while sawing lumber for his house.

Ugid Maling Subterranean River - located four kilometers away from Poblacion, Balbalan and a good three and a half hours ride from the Capitol Town. It is a maze of cavernous boulders and rocks a top each other forming a cavern.

Balbalasang National Park - this is a monument of the opposition of the Kalingas against the logging companies.

Buaya Caves - It is similar to Sagada Caves with stalactites and stalagmites formation. The caves are interconnected with each other and cover the whole mountain slope.

Aciga Tree - this is perhaps the biggest acacia tree in Kalinga within a village. It is found at the school ground of the Aciga Elementary School and it is rumored that the tree is a landmark for the treasures of Yamashita.

Bonnong Lakes and Asibanglan Lakes - this is a mountain lake in Pinukpuk where eels thrive and can be recommended area for research.

Aguinaldo Hill - this is the hill where the Katipuneros made their last stand in Kalinga from pursuing the American from Abra.

Padcharao Lake - the name is derived from the plants that abounds in the lake called "Chargo" in the Pasil and is located approximately from 1800 to 2000 meters above sea level.

Pasil Natural Dam - it is located at Puapo, Dangtalan and was formed after the mountain side eroded. It is ideal for boating and picnic site during the summer months.

Kabunian Bridge and Springs - these two natural landmarks are found in Maglucsad and Galdang respectively.

Guinaang - this village has its historical importance to Kalinga as the retreat haven of President Aguinaldo. This is where the Headquarters were located and the campsite.

Malibong Weavers Village - this is the center of the ethnic weaving industry in the province. The village is along the road and one can buy souvenirs right from the weavers.

Bananao and Manangol Viewpoint - this is along the road towards Tinglayan and on can have a panoramic view of the Chico River.

Elephant Hill - this is located in Rizal and is a site of an archeological digging where the other half of the remains of the elephant dug.

Capitol Tourism Plaza - the tourism plaza is located at the Capitol Ground and one can have a view of the Tabuk Valley.

Rizal Lagoon - a man made lagoon fronting the Rizal Municipal Hall.

Chico Dam - project located at Sitio Ngipen, Calanasan, Tabuk, constructed by the National Irrigation Administration.

Rice Terraces - rice terraces at Barangay Tulgao, Tinglayan, 14 kilometers from the National Highway Road could be reached by vehicle. The barangay road was constructed by Father Gilbert Obin, a catholic missionary assigned in Tinglaya. It offers a better panoramic view of the rice terraces and the sprawling villages of the different barangays of Tinglayan

Source:
http://www.kalinga.gov.ph
http://www.nscb.gov.ph

Very nice! thanks for starting this thread. I want to learn more about Kalinga Province.

anyway, is it still being called Kalinga-Apayao? thanks!

Very nice! thanks for starting this thread. I want to learn more about Kalinga Province.

anyway, is it still being called Kalinga-Apayao? thanks!Nope. Kalinga and Apayao are now two separate entities since 1995. Kalinga's capital is Tabuk and Apayao's capital is Kabugao

Ifugao hosts 2nd Regional Loach "Yuyu" Congress

by Vency D. Bulayungan

Hungduan, Ifugao -- In line with the national government's poverty alleviation program, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources(BFAR) in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and the provincial government here conducted recently a two day Regional "Yu-yu" Congress here.

The congress featured the support of the Provincial Government and BFAR to the development of yuyu here. "Yuyu" or the Japanese fish is the One Town One Product of this municipality.

BFAR National Director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr. cited the growing fishery in the province posing the challenge to the Ifugaos to expand hatchery to include carp.

Sarmiento promised to render assistance in making Cordillera fish sufficient. Allocation for aquaculture are included in next years national budget with appropriations for laboratory equipment and technical training, he said.

To ensure food sufficiency, he encouraged fisherfolks or farmers to submit proposals in line with the objectives of rice and fish adequacy. "Fish insufficiency is unacceptable in a country within the coral triangle which is comparable to the Amazon Forest biodiversity," Sarmiento said.

On the other hand Governor Teddy Baguilat Jr, informed that Ifugao is producing 55% of the fishery production of the Cordillera. Aside from tilapia which are clean because of running water and the fishes are fed with less feeds, 'yuyu' and Pangasius are also being produced in the province.

Farmers here revealed that yuyu played a great role in the nutrition of the upland areas in the region. It has sustained their fish protein requirement until the advent of the cash economy when the value of yuyu is no longer appreciated.

Yuyu production here as well as other upland areas of the region revolves around the rice production system. Rice is planted in January or February and harvested in June and July. After rice is planted, catching yuyu is not allowed until harvest is completed in July.

Unknowingly, the Ifugaos are practicing the fishery resource management technique of observing close season when the fish are allowed to grow and reproduce, and the open season when fisherfolk can harvest the fish. Despite the practice, the farmers believe that production has declined in recent years not only in Ifugao but all over Cordillera. (PIA-Ifugao)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p081010.htm&no=B5

Ifugao TESDA says upgrading skills improves lives

by Vency D. Bulayungan

Lagawe, Ifugao -- In order to prepare pupils and students a hopeful and significant position in the work place, some 50 school kids all over the province participated recently in a technical-vocational and entrepreneurial skills contest.

Speaking during the opening program of the 2008 Division Student Technologists and Entrepreneurs of the Philippines (STEP) Skills Development Competition (SDC), TESDA Provincial Director. Ronald Ibay, said that today and even for the next two generations, the need for skilled workers to keep the country's economy afloat will remain.

"Admittedly not everyone is molded to become a blue collar worker and many of those who are working as technician or craftsman are into these trade areas out of necessity," Ibay said.

He said that licensed engineers are trooping to TESDA offices to learn the technical application of their degree in order to land a job. It is no longer surprising for us to see degree holders wanting to learn skills to enhance employment opportunities.

With the theme "A STEP Higher: Upgrading Skills, Improving Lives," this year's edition of the skills development competition featured new skills contest packages such as flower arrangement, fresh fruit shake preparation, stool making, marcotting, tie dye, basic encoding, book binding appliqué, dustpan making, sales inventory and extension cord making.

Ibay said that the present generation is kind of lucky to have access to information that makes learning much easier. "It is also through this access to information that will guide you towards your career development," he said.

Data from the National Statistics Office show that as of January 2007, services sectors still employed the highest with 50.6%, followed by agriculture (34.7%) and industry (14.8%). This picture is not likely to change rapidly within the decade, Ibay said. (PIA-Ifugao)

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=26488156

Ifugao celebrates 19th National Stat Month

by Vency D. Bulayungan

Lagawe, Ifugao -- In an effort to promote, enhance, and instill nationwide awareness and appreciation of the importance and value of statistics to the different sectors of society, government employees and public officials here launched recently the 19th National Statistics Month (NSM) with the theme Demand-Driven Statistics: Key to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development.

Governor Teddy Baguilat Jr here said that this is in line with Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 001 - 08 of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) enjoining all agencies of the government, academic institutions and the private sector at the national and local levels to actively participate in and support the celebration of NSM.

"The activity will elicit the cooperation and support of the general public in upgrading the quality and standards of statistics not only in the province but the whole country," Baguilat said.

The NSCB has created the NSM steering committee to oversee and coordinate the implementation of the various activities and programs to be undertaken during the month-long celebration such as symposia, workshops, orientation seminars, publication of statistical reports among others with particular emphasis on the theme.

The MC states that participating agencies such as the National Statistics Office, Bureau of Agricultural Statistics Department of Education, Department of Trade and Industry and others are requested to display their own NSM streamers.

It also states that the participating agencies and organizations in the NSM celebration were requested to earmark funds for their respective activities as well as for common NSM activities. (PIA-Ifugao)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p081010.htm&no=B2

Ifugao implements 2008 DA-assisted projects

by Dan B. Codamon

Lagawe, Ifugao -- Various projects assisted by the Department of Agriculture (DA) have been implemented in this province for the year 2008 in pursuance with the Agriculture and Fishery Modernization Act of 1997.

These projects under the so-called Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) High Value Commercial Crops (HVCC) include farm-to-market roads, irrigation systems, spring development, tramline and post harvest facilities.

According to Engineer Efren Malijan of the Provincial Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Office (PAENRO) here and also the project coordinator for agricultural infrastructures of the province, the post harvest facilities involve multi-purpose pavements in the amount of P100,000 each for the barangays of Pugol, Magulon and Hapid of Lamut Municipality, Barangays Amduntog and Antipolo of Asipulo, Barangay Dolowog of Alfonso Lista and Barangay Ubao of Aguinaldo.

Six flat bed dryers were also constructed in the municipality of Lamut and one in Alfonso Lista costing P500,000 per unit and irrigation system in the amount of P1 million was built in the town of Hungduan including a tramline also costing P1 million started at Barangay Nungulunan of the same municipality.

Farm-to-market roads were also implemented in the amount of P100,000 each which are now nearly finished in the Municipalities of Kiangan, Tinoc, Banaue, Lamut, Aguinaldo and Mayoyao.

In addition, ten small farm reservoirs costing P20,000 each were erected in the municipalities of Asipulo, Kiangan, Lamut, Lagawe, Aguinaldo and Alfonso Lista.

The projects were announced during the First Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council Congress held at ISCAF, Nayon, Lamut recently so that the beneficiaries and stakeholders can closely monitor them for their proper implementation to really serve their purpose, said Engineer Malijan.

Hopefully, if all these projects are finished by the end of this year, these can help the farmers and fisher folks increase their yield, improve their living condition, attain food security and alleviate poverty in the countryside. (PIA Ifugao)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p081010.htm&no=B7

"Cordillera's Last Nature Frontier"

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/16/Ph_seal_apayao.png/140px-Ph_seal_apayao.png



The Cordilleras begin as low hills in Apayao's north and rise to peaks as high as 2,500 feet above sea level in a chain that runs from north to south. Apayao is bounded in the north and east by the province of Cagayan. To the west of the province lie Ilocos Norte and Abra while the province of Kalinga lies to the south. The Cordillera dominates the landscape but towards the east, the mountains give way to some lowland swamps.

The climate of the province is perceptively drier in the months between November and April and wet the rest of the year. Rains fall heaviest in the month of September and typhoons occasionally visit between July and October.

http://www.dilg.gov.ph/CAR/img/apa-map.jpg


Apayao is located deep in the Cordillera mountains of Northern Luzon. These mountain range form a natural boundary between the Ilocos Region in the west and the Cagayan Valley in the east. The Apayao river rises from its extensive watershed along its western slope and peaks. The river courses along the heartlands of the province, meanders beside the town of Kabugao following a northward route towards the Pacific Ocean through the coastal town of Abulug, Apayao.

The province is classified into upper and lower. Upper Apayao with 3 municipalities occupies 67.2% of the total land area and has mountainous topography classified by towering peaks, plateaus and intermittent patches of valleys. Lower Apayao on the other hand with 4 municipalities is 32.8% of the total land area is generally flat with rolling mountains and plateaus.

The total population of Apayao, as of September 1, 1995. was 83,660 persons. This implies an increase of 8,940 persons or about 12 percent, over the 1990 census count of 74,720. The Itnegs are the dominant ethnic group in the area.

Anthropologists mostly foreigners who conducted ethnographic study of the people write various speculations on the origin of the term. Some say that the town Pudtol use to be inhabited in colonial times by "people who speak the Isnag language" and were classified as "Filipinos who have come to be called a cultural minority" the writers say that all other people living outside of the Hinterlands who speak other vernaculars are simply called "Filipinos".

The apparent focus of early studies on ethnic cultures in the islands showed the emphasis on classifying the inhabitants into minority and majority cultural groups. The purpose of this was administrative in nature. The Spanish and the American regimes found that Filipinos along the Coastal places and lowlands were easily brought into the folds of law under these respective regimes. Those living in the mountainous and hills were rebellious and opposed to the presence of foreign rulers in their midst. Different set of laws were implemented in governing these so-called minority and majority cultures. The term Itneg, therefore, became demanding tag of identity for the Apayao people for many years until the end of the American rule in the country.
http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/tiffany/126/apayao.gif
Picture resource - On The Cordillera by W.H. Scott.



Brief History
The first reported Spanish expedition to this place was made in 1663. this was followed 122 years later in 1785 by the Spanish explorer Guillermo Galvez who was sent from Cagayan Valley to put down a revolt. At the close of the Spanish regime Apayao was organized into 2 separate "Politico Commandancias" for administrative purposes. These were known as "Apayao" which was established in 1901 as part of Cagayan province and "Itawes" which was also form as part of Cagayan. In 1707, Apayao and Itawes became separate sub-provinces. Itawes later became known as Kalinga sub-province. Both became part of the Lepanto-Bontoc province which was created by Act No. 1876 of the Philippine Commision.

Thirteen years later on Feb. 4, 1920, Apayao and Kalinga became sub-provinces of the mountain province which was created by operation of Act. No. 2772 of commission. Included in this province were Bontoc, Benguet and Ifugao. On June 18, 1966, Republic Act 4695 was enacted by the Philippine Congress providing for the division of the mountain province into four autonomous provinces. This resulted in the merging of Apayao and Kalinga into one province known as Kalinga-Apayao for almost 30 years.

Apayao became an independent province by virtue of RA 7878 authored by congressman Elias K. Bulut. Kabugao was legislated as the capital town. The inauguration of the new province was held last Aug. 1, 1995. The signing of the law creating the province was done last February 14 of the same year.

Apayao consists of seven municipalities: Kabugao, Calanasan, Conner, Pudtol, Flora and Santa Marcela.

The town Kabugao is the oldest of the municipalities, having been organized as early as 1913 under the American military regime in the islands. It became a regular municipality on June 25, 1963 under executive order No. 42 together with the municipalities of Luna, Calanasan, Conner and Pudtol. These five towns have been existing as township since the Spanish and American colonial rules in the country. The rest of the municipalities were created by legislation only after the last Pacific war.

Flora was created on June 22, 1963 under RA 3672. It was formally a part of Pudtol township. The area that is now Santa Marcela was taken again from Flora and Luna and created into a municipality on June 17, 1967 under RA No. 4974.


Points of Interest
The Apayao River - Unpolluted, Traversing 6 Apayao municipalities navigated by motor boats, with wildlife and fishes still visible along its banks. Various Water Falls of different sizes along Apayao river.

POTENTIAL SCENIC SPOTS
Dacao Irrigation Intake - Flora
Negritos village
Jamboree site - Flora Proposed Panay Airport Site - Sta. Marcela
Swan Hilltop view - Pudtol (overlooking Apayao river and 4 municipalities of Apayao)
St. Solo - Pudtol, the highest peak in Apayao
Lizardo Brooks - Pudtol
Turod View Deck - Luna
Bue Heaven - Calanasan
Agamata Park - Calanasan
Various Water Falls of different sizes along Apayao river

POTENTIAL GAMES AND RECREATION SITES
Maton Subterrian River - Pudtol
Agora Wildlife Sanctuary - Pudtol
Anag-Sicapo Wildlife Sanctuary - Kabugao
Apayao River - Calansan to Luna
Purit Cave and Danao Lake - Calanasan
Anganupan Cave - Paco Valley
Malabanag Hot Spring - Paco Valley
Malabisin Lake and Underground River - Paco Vallley
Gululan Falls - Bacubac, Paco Valley
Bayugao Lake - Dibagat, Kabugao
Ladda Pond - Musimut, Kabugao
Bacut Dam - Sta. Marcela
Abbot Cave and Lover's Lane - Luna
Swan Ogee Dam - Pudtol

HISTORICAL SPOTS
Spanish church at Brgy. Mataguisa, Pudtol. One of the oldest in the Philippines.
Spanish Church Ruins at Brgy. Emilia, Pudtol

MAN-MADE
Dacao Irrigation Intake Structure - located at Flora
Bacut Dam - located at Sta. Marcela
Swan Ogee Dam - Pudtol
NPC Tunnels - located at Ginned Pudtol

Source:
http://www.geocities.com/lppsec/pp/apayao.htm
http://www.nscb.gov.ph/rucar/fnf_apayao.htm
http://www.dilg.gov.ph/CAR

Kalinga AHMP task force organized

Tabuk City, Kalinga -- Taking action to achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger in the province, partner agencies and officials headed by Governor Floydelia Diasen recently met and organized the Kalinga Provincial Anti-Hunger Task Force.

Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (PSWDO) Digna Dalutag, who is also the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program (AHMP) Provincial Coordinator said that this is an offshoot of the advocacy and consultation meeting on AHMP held recently in Baguio City in response to the directives of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to address hunger throughout the country.

"With the present food crisis world-wide placing poor families in greater risk to hunger and malnutrition, the President has directed government agencies and local government units to embark on the Accelerated Hunger-Mitigation Program to address these needs," she said.

She relates that during the consultation meeting in Baguio City, the municipalities of Tinglayan, Tanudan and Pasil in Kalinga were identified by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) 2003 survey as among the municipalities with high poverty incidents in the country.

"As a commitment in support to the AHMP, representatives from Kalinga during the consultation pledged to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger in the province by reducing our subsistence incidence of population from 17.7% in 2000 to 8.5% and poverty incidence of population from 39.3% to 19.65% by 2015," she revealed.

As agreed during the organization of the KPAHTF, Dalutag said that they will be "refocusing their target and will be considering all municipalities of the province leveraging the program in our level." She said the province has been supportive in the implementation of the AHMP since the issuance of the President's directive in 2006 and have considerable accomplishments in the province.

Based on the framework, the AHMP she said is giving focus to addressing the two major reasons of poverty and hunger - unavailable or insufficient food to eat and no money to buy food.

As measures, the government is giving focus to two measures which are the supply side demand side she explained.

Under the demand side, key agencies government will be working on increasing food production and enhance efficiency of logistics and food delivery in the target areas.

Government programs covered under the demand side would be focusing on endeavors to 'put more money in poor people's pockets' through the provision of employment opportunities, promote good nutrition and population management towards a healthy and more productive citizenry.

With the National Nutrition Council (NNC) as the oversight agency, the Arroyo administration adopted a holistic approach to mitigate hunger with the creation of the AHMP trough Executive order 616 to address the hunger situation in the country.

The Family Income and Expenditure Surveys (FIES) had identified the province of Kalinga as one of the Priority 2 among 20 provinces in the country and in the latest survey was listed as one of the top priority provinces along with Tawi-twai, Northern Samar, Apayao and Surigao ddel Sur for being among the food poor areas in the country. (ggd/PIA-Kalinga)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p081010.htm&no=A5

2nd Bagsakan Center in Kalinga opens

by L. Lopez

Tabuk City, Kalinga -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) opens the second bagsakan center in Kalinga, a flagship program of President Arroyo under the Poverty Alleviation and Hunger Mitigation Program.

Provincial Agriculturist Gerry Jose said Barangay Tuga of this city, will have its own bagsakan center, managed by its barangay council.

In the program guidelines, DA will provide P150,000.00 soft loan without interest to the bagsakan center to augment its seed fund.

Government creates bagsakan centers in strategic points in the countryside to bring down basic commodities to the poor at affordable prices.

Recipients of these projects are usually farmer cooperatives and other DA-accredited non-government organizations.

Jose said goods being sold at the centers are the direct produce of members, offered at prices lower than the commercial rate.

This is tied-up with the other programs of DA like the Gulayan para sa Masa, where farmers are provided certified vegetable seeds for propagation and livelihood. The program has now expanded with its livestock component.

Bagsakan centers are supposed to be trade points of the Gulayan program, he added.

These programs of government when rolled all together are geared towards the solution of poverty and hunger among low-income families, Jose said.

After Tuga, the other barangays to be provided with bagsakan centers are Malalao, Lacnog, Bantay of Tabuk City; Taga, Pinukpuk; Salegseg, Balbalan and Lubuagan. (PIA)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p081004.htm&no=25

Mt Province readies for Lang-ay 2009

Bontoc, Mt. Province -- The fifth edition of the home-grown Lang-ay festival next year promises to be another exciting event of festivities, cultural extravaganzas, indigenous foods and home-brewed wine.

During the launching of Lang-ay 2009 last Friday, spectators were treated to the different cultural dances of the various municipalities of the province such as, Bontoc festival dance 'pattong', the 'takik 'of the western towns, and the ' halip' of the eastern municipalities. The 'Tukab' and ' tebyag' marked the symbolic opening of the lang-ay.

School children, students, government employees, religious, and folks participated in giving a preview of what to expect in next year's Lang-ay, which is now a huge crowd drawer.

All the spectators were also served native delicacies like the patupat and cassava suman and native coffee while the program was going on. Other preferred to have a free taste of the rice wine or "Tapey' .

In their messages, both Presidential Assistant Thomas Killip and retired Bishop Francisco Claver, SJ., stressed the importance of embracing one's culture making the Igorots of Mt. Province unique.

Composed of seven parts, the launching program started with "bugao", followed by a Eucharistic celebration at the Sta. Rita Cathedral.

It ended with a meeting of the Lang-ay Development Council where some comments and observations regarding the past Lang- ay festivals and suggestions for the forthcoming festival were presented.

Other highlights include the launching of the Palit-Ilaw Mt. Province Program, the unveiling of the Mt. Province Capitol Complex and the inauguration of the Procurement Service Mt. Province sub- depot at the Bontoc General Hospital grounds.

The Lang-ay festival is a week-long celebration culminating on April 7, the foundation day of Mt. Province. (PIA)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p081004.htm&no=14

DOLE grants assistance to Bontoc organic citrus growers

by Juliet B. Saley

Bontoc, Mt. Province -- To help generate employment, increase the income of the Bontoc Organic Citrus Growers Cooperative members, enhance and sustain their organic farming with more production and market, the Department of Labor and Employment regional office is granting this cooperative a financial assistance amounting to P782,750.00.

The assistance is under the DOLE-Adjustment Measures Program and the Unlad Kabuhayan Program Laban sa Kahirapan and comes in the form of equipment, supplies and materials. This will be turned over by DOLE Regional Director, Atty. Ana Dione to the cooperative on October 18.

Based on the project proposal submitted by the cooperative to DOLE, the amount will be used to purchase three portable shredders, 12 motorized grass cutters, 6 soil testers, and 120 earthen jars.

According to Miguela Limmayog, Provincial Head of DOLE Mt. Province, the Bontoc Organic Citrus Growers Cooperative based in barangay Maligcong, Bontoc has 90 members who are mostly residents in this barangay. Some members come from barangay Caluttit who have farms at or near Maligcong.

Coop members are engaged in organic fertilizers and pesticides production and they have been practicing organic farming the indigenous way. Their traditional farming practice was enhanced by the organic farming technology they have learned from Benguet State University and the La Trinidad Organic Practitioners Association.

To give each member a chance to make his own organic fertilizer, the members will be grouped into five clusters wherein each cluster will share one portable shredder which will be placed in a strategic area which is accessible to all members of the cluster. The cooperative has already acquired two shredders and with the additional three to be purchased, each cluster will have a shredder.

The citrus growers said the use of a shredder is of great help. What we chop manually in a half day can be done by the shredder in just two hours and even finer, they added.

In an informal meeting with the citrus growers in barangay Maligcong last October 7, Director Dione saw the actual situation and the needs of the members. She also admired the members of their advance knowledge which they have shared during the discussion.

Knowing that some of the members are also engaged in bee keeping, Dione encouraged them to maintain and to increase the number of bees as they are the most important pollinators.

Moreover, the DOLE regional office will also give assistance to the Samoki Weavers Association who are engaged in loom weaving. The agency provides one High Speed Sewing Machine and an Edger Machine (Zigzagger) worth P45,000.00 to help them improve their product and to be competitive with the other weavers.

According to Jocelyn Culaling of DOLE Provincial Office, there are 25 members of the association. (PIA MP)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p081010.htm&no=B1

Tadian town bans smoking in public conveyances, gathering areas

by Juliet B. Saley

Tadian, Mt. Province -- Smoking is now prohibited in public conveyances, government offices and other gathering places in this municipality following the passing of the Provincial Board a resolution last September 22 approving Municipal Ordinance No. 03,s.2008 of this town.

The ordinance prohibits smoking in public conveyances, assembly halls, health centers, government offices, classrooms, restaurants/eateries, snack bars and other gathering centers except in duly designated smoking areas.

Owners, managers and/or operators of public conveyances, restaurants/eateries, snack bars and other gathering centers are required to post warning notice of "No Smoking Inside" in their area of operations to be strictly observed.

The Municipal Health Office is tasked to inspect installed "No Smoking "sign in conspicuous places provided in all identified areas. The Philippine National Police is identified as the right arm of the municipal government unit in the implementation of the ordinance.

Anybody found guilty of violating the provisions of this ordinance will be meted penalty with a fine of P150.00 for the first offense; P250.00 and P500.00 for the second and third offense respectively. Fines collected shall accrue to the municipal coffer. (PIA-MP)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p081010.htm&no=A9

Nature, Culture and Beyond...


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Ph_seal_abra.png/140px-Ph_seal_abra.png

Hemmed in the towering mountain ranges of the Ilocos on the west and the Cordillera in the east, the province of Abra occupies the western portion of the Cordillera region. It is bounded on the north by Ilocos Norte and the south by Ilocos Sur and Mountain Province. Towards the east is Kalinga and on the west, the province of Apayao. As it straddles the Ilocandia and the Cordillera, these landlocked province is a melting pot of the lowland people of dominant Spanish ancestry and the unique ethnicity of the upland Tingguian tribe.

Insulated by the mountainous gazebo, nature has remained prestine in Abra and life goes on in a relaxed pace away from the humdrum of urban cosmopolitan living. With a land area of 3,975.6 square kilometers, Abra accounts for one-fifth of the regions land area, the largest province in the region. It possesses the most number of municipalities(27) and barangays(303) among the seven Cordillera provinces. The seat of the provincial government is at Bangued, its capital town which is four hours from Baguio City and 10 hours from Manila.

The province teems with empressive natural resources. Among the region's seven provinces, it has the largest area of alienable and disposable land totalling 98,420 hectares, more than one-fourth of the region's A & D lands. More than half of its land are forestlands which are repository of a myriad of forest products and minerals such as gold, clay guano, rock phosphate and cement raw materials.


Brief History
Abra was created a politico-militar province in 1846, prior to which it comprised part of the old Ilocos Province and later to Ilocos Sur when Ilocos was divided into two provinces in 1818. Civil Government was established in Abra on August 19,1901, but on February 1905 it was re-annexed to Ilocos Sur. Abra remained a sub-province for 12 years regaining its status as a province only after the passage of Act 2683 in March 1977.

Abra remained as a province of the Ilocos Region until the creation of the Cordillera Administrative Region by virtue of Executive Order #220 dated 15 July 1987 signed by then President Corazon C. Aquino.

The province of Abra is envisioned to be developed as the North Gateway to the Cordilleras highlighting its rich cultural (both upland and lowland ) and historical heritage.

Municipalities
Bangued
Boliney
Bucay
Bucloc
Luba
Malibcong
Manabo
Peñarrubia
Pidigan
Pilar
Sallapadan

http://www.abra.gov.ph/images/stories/abra%20map%20edited.jpg
from http://www.abra.gov.ph
Things to Do and see in Abra...

Pinaing (Sacred Stones)
(Dumayco, Penarrubia; 6.62 km. from Bangued). In the hollow of a huge Balete Tree are found sacred stones called “pinpinaing” by the village people, which symbolize the “anito” (spirits) of their ancestors.

Don Teodoro Brillantes Family Museum
A private museum which houses the collections and mementos of the Brillantes family, with a strong reflection of Spanish culture.

Old Roman Catholic Churches
Among the traces of the cultural heritage left by the Spanish colonizers, these churches are found in the municipalities of Bangued, Tayum, and Lagangilang.

Abra River
The biggest, longest, and most popular river among the numerous rivers criss-crossing the valleys of the province. It is where all rivers and streams converge together. An ideal place for swimming and fishing.

Boliney Hot Spring
(Bani, Boliney, Abra). Can be reached by jeepney after a 32 kilometer travel on a dirt road. Ideal for hot and cold baths.

Tugot ni Angalo
(Kabaruyan, San Quintin). Translates to "Footprints of Angalo" – Angalo being the Adam or First Man in Abra mythology. Believed by the locals to be the set of footprints of a real giant in San Quintin, it measures around 15 meters long, five meters wide, and ten feet deep. On a clear day, it can be seen visibly even from a distance.

Libtec Underground River
(Barangay Libtec, Dolores). An enchanting underground river where appears, from a distance, a cave protruding at the surface of a seemingly empty field. But underneath the surface is really a flowing underground river that mirrors the jutting stalagmites, creating the awesome view.

Kimkimay Lake
(Taquib). One of the several lakes of Taquib in Villaviciosa. According to legend, it was formerly a dwelling of several families. A favorite place for town picnics, swimming, and fishing.

Sibud-Sibud Cave
Located along the newly constructed road of Tineg, it can be reached after a 33 kilometer or 1 ½ hour travel. An ideal place for nature lovers.

Limbo Lake
Another lake located in Villaviciosa. While not as popular as Kimkimay Lake, it offers an ideal place for campers and hikers as it can not be reached by jeepney or bus although the distance needed to be traveled is negligible.

Don Mariano Marcos Bridge
Located along the Abra Kalinga National Road, it is the third longest bridge in the country, with a total length of 886.812 linear meters.

Tangadan Tunnel
A 40-meter tunnel located along the Abra-Ilocos Sur National road, it can be reached from the Narvacan Junction after cruising a winding 9-km. road that cuts through the hills bordering Abra and Ilocos Sur. A popular landmark of the province where dignitaries and other prominent visitors are often welcomed.

Lusuac Dam
(Lagayan). A gravity irrigation dam that is also an ideal place for fishing and swimming. Travel time is 1 ½ hours.

Victoria National Park
Features a shrine of the Blessed Mother cradling the Infant Jesus built near the reservoir of the Bangued waterworks as well as a swimming pool. Located atop a hill overlooking the town of Bangued and neighboring municipalities of Tayum, La Paz, Pidigan, and Penarrubia.

Borikibok Resort
(San Miguel, Bucay, Abra). It can be reached by traveling the winding 16-km. Penarrubia-Bucay Road. Offers a cool, shady, cozy ground for picnic lovers; heart-shaped swimming pool; and dance & conference square under the shady atmosphere of trees.

Brima Resort
(Penarrubia, Abra). Can be reached by traveling a 7 ½ km. distance along an asphalt-and-gravel road. Boasts of a swimming pool under the shade of mango trees, making it an ideal place for swimmers who prefer the cool water and a cozy atmosphere.

Malamsit Calm Spring
(Tingguian, Penarrubia, Abra). One of the province’s first privately developed resorts, it is located in the historic lowland town of Tingguian. Offers a swimming pool with clear and calm water amidst ornamental plants and shady fruit trees.

Manabo Irrigation Project
A Php 6 million project jointly undertaken by the Miserdor, an association of German Catholics, the Bavarian Ministry of Agriculture, and the people of Manabo. Ideal for educational trips, with its Roman-inspired aqueducts, spacious swimming pool, and one-kilometer tunnel.

Palayan ng Bayan
Vast tract of barren land converted into agricultural land upon the launch of the Palayan ng Bayan program in the province in 1974, a sister program of Masagana '99. The site covers a sprawling 56 hectares atop a hill.

Abra River Irrigation Project
A project of the Abra Church and the National Irrigation Administration designed to irrigate approximately 3,900 hectares of farmland in the municipalities of Tayum, Bangued, Pidigan, and Penarrubia. The project enables the people of these municipalities to harvest crops twice a year.

Provincial Capitol
Three-storey building situated north of Bangued Town Plaza and northwest of Bangued Municipal Hall.

Malanas Dam
(San Juan, Abra). A gravity irrigation dam that taps the water resources of Malanas River irrigating a sizable portion of the ricefields of San Juan. Can be reached by mini bus along the Bangued-Dolores-San Juan Provincial Road. Travel time is 30 minutes to one hour; traveling distance is around 0.6 kilometers.

Mary Barbero Park
The town plaza of the municipality of Tayum which is located 5.6 km. northeast of Bangued. Boasts of a man-made lagoon, a playground for children, and century-old acacia trees surrounding the landscaped plaza. Named in honor of Mrs. Mary V. Barbero, wife of the late Deputy Minister Carmelo Z. Barbero.

Arya Abra
Celebrates the creation of the province on March 1917 by virtue of Act 2683. Cupped by a grand cultural parade depicting Abra in its historical stages starting, from the early pre-Spanish era to the present times.

Tingguian Festival.
Ethno-cultural festival featuring the rich and colorful dances, rituals, and songs of the Tingguians.

source:
http://www.abra.gov.ph
http://www.nscb.gov.ph
http://www.bangued.gov.ph
http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2412/1801597489_5a68504a32.jpg?v=0 (http://flickr.com/photos/bangued/1801597489/)
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Kalinga brew exhibited in international expo

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Kalinga Brew, the pioneer commercialized coffee product in package distribution is finding its way to more Asian and European countries.

According to Dixie Catacutan of the Department of Science and Technology – Kalinga Training Center (DOST-KTC), Kalinga Brew and Kalinga Blend are being promoted in the international market through exhibits supported by the agency.

Antuza Refalda, proprietress and sole producer of the organic coffee product has gone to Hongkong last August and scheduled trips to China and Taiwan then to Italy to join international expositions.

Refalda said Kalinga Brew is gaining prominence among coffee drinkers because of its special aroma particularly the selected processed coffee beans known as “Kapin de Motit (Civet coffee).

http://www.nordis.net/blog/?p=3109

More Kalinga tribes give their consent to geothermal exploration

FLORO TAGUINOD
GMANews.TV

TABUK, Philippines — Barring any impediments in the enforcement of geothermal power exploration in Kalinga province, local executives are optimistic that the recent signing of an energy project here will provide a big natural power source for the country.

Recently, the Department of Energy (DoE) has approved a major geothermal project in the towns of Pasil, Tinglayan and Lubuagan.

The exploration will cover about 27,000 hectares and will be jointly explored by Aragorn Power and Energy Corp. (APEC) and Guidance Management Corp. (GMC).

Natividad Sugguiyao, provincial director of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), said that the geothermal service contract (GSC), was signed recently by Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes originally covers only the towns of Tinglayan and Lubuagan but the exploration will be include Pasil once all the affected tribes in the ancestral domains will give their free and prior informed consent (FPIC) to the activity.

According to The Voice of Kalinga blogspot, however, the tribes of Balatoc, Colayo, Dalupa, Guinaang and Dangtalan in Pasil municipality have signed separate FPIC documents and memoranda of agreement.

The blogspot said also covered by the exploration area are the ancestral domains of the Uma tribe in Lubuagan town and Dananao, Tulgao, Sumadel, Bangad and Tinglayan in the municipality of Tinglayan.

It cited a source as saying that the Tulgao tribe has already “out-rightly rejected the proposal due to fears that the exploration will affect their water sources while negotiations are still underway for the consent of the other tribes."

Sugguiyao explained that some tribes were still in the process of reviewing the details of FPIC.

“The residents in the affected areas just want to make sure that the project will not have adverse effect on their community, they haven’t totally rejected the idea," she said.

Pasil Mayor James Edduba said the geothermal exploration is so far the biggest investment made by any group in the province and is expected to produce geothermal energy for the next 50 years.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/124304/More-Kalinga-tribes-give-their-consent-to-geothermal-exploration

Ifugao DPWH bares 2007 PGMA-implemented infrastructure projects

by Dan B. Codamon

Lagawe, Ifugao -- This province is now enjoying the benefits of the accomplished 2007 infrastructure projects implemented under the program of President Gloria Arroyo which she mentioned during her State of the Nation Address (SONA).

According to the Department of Public Works and Highways here who supervised the various projects costing P30 million for the SONA infrastructures and P53 more on regular infrastructures, these projects are now facilitating the travel and transportation of people within the province and to and from the other nearby provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Quirino and Mt. Province.

In addition, tourists and visitors planning to visit the world-famous Ifugao rice terraces can now make their travel faster, easier and more comfortable because of these finished roads.

The SONA projects amounting to P30 million include the concreting of the Sumigar to Mt. Polis section in Banaue measuring 769.5 meters and the concreting of the Awan-igid to Sumigar section with a length of 738 meters amounting to P10 million and also the concreting of the stretch between View Point to Awan-igid section with a length of 670.35 meters also costing P10 million.

The other road projects built under the 2007 program are the concreting of the Junction Alfonso Lista of Ifugao to the Paracelis, Mt Province boundary road measuring 484.50 meters costing P8.7 million, the concreting of the Pinto-Caragasan to Kiling road here in Alfonso Lista amounting to P14 million with a length of 772.50 meters, the concreting of the Busilac to Pinto section with a length of 654 meters costing P10 million also of Alfonso Lista municipality and the Busilac to Caragasan sections valued at P20 million.

There is no record of infrastructure projects for Ifugao for the year 2008 because according to the DPWH, all the projects for 2008 were bided at the DPWH Regional Office in Baguio City. (PIA Ifugao)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p081018.htm&no=36

Ifugao population office organizes responsible parenthood movement

by Vency D. Bulayungan

Lagawe, Ifugao -- In order to empower the families in the 11 municipalities here, the Provincial Population Office (PPO) organized the Provincial and Municipal Responsible Parenthood Movements (PRPM/MRPM) Teams here.

According to Nora Martinez of the PPO, the program aims to make couples aware of their basic responsibilities as parents, awakening in them a sense of responsibility and commitment towards their families, neighbors, community, society and nation as a whole.

Martinez said that this is one way of imparting vital information to couples especially the men so that they will be able to consider responsible parenting as a way of life towards the attainment of sustainable human development.

In the past, most of the programs implemented by the government were participated by women. It is now time to involve both parents, Martinez said.

According to Martinez, the municipal teams are conducting RPM classes at the barangay levels. These activities are being monitored by the Provincial Team.

The RPM which is composed of the Provincial/Municipal Agriculture Officer, Provincial/Municipal Health Officer, the PPO and Social Welfare Officers is in response to the directive of the President for the Department of Health and the Commission on Population to formulate and carry out an aggressive and systematic strategy to promote responsible parenting and natural family planning.

The core of the plan is a grassroots campaign to bring the program as close to the people as possible. (PIA-Ifugao)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p081018.htm&no=35

Ifugao PNP arrests seven violators for illegal logging

by Vency D. Bulayungan

Alfonso Lista, Ifugao -- The Police force here apprehended seven violators of Presidential Decree (PD) 705 otherwise known as illegal cutting of trees.

Chief of Police Senior Inspector Emmanuel Viernes said his men arrested Reyunante Nato, 29, Joel Belmonte, 37, Michael Tenoso, 25, Joel Belmonte, 37; Michael Tenoso, 25; Mark Lucas, 16; Guilbert Alcesto, 27; Nestor Nato, 27 and Dimie Pillien, 36, all from the Municipality of Cordon in the neighboring province of Isabela.

Viernes said the suspects were caught by his men transporting illegally sawn gmelina logs at Barangay Namillangan here without the necessary documents. The PNP estimated the confiscated logs to more or less 2,000 board feet.

"These logs were loaded in a forward truck owned by a certain Camacho Avelino of Sentro Sur, Roxas and Poblacion, Cordon, Isabela," Viernes said. The truck and logs were impounded at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office here while the suspects were brought to the police station here for documentation.

Meanwhile, the PNP personnel of the Municipality of Lamut arrested a certain Ponciano Tayaman Guinaat for violation of PD 1602 or illegal gambling particularly jueteng. Guinaat who is now committed at the Provincial Jail was arrested at Lagawe.

PSSupt. Joseph Adnol said that these accomplishments of the different Police Stations in the municipalities are the offshoot of the continuous Police pro-active services and information dissemination being conducted in the barangays.

We encouraged the community people to help us eliminate illegal activities by reporting all sorts of illicit activities done in their locality. "We ensure appropriate actions against violators," Adnol said. (PIA-Ifugao)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p081018.htm&no=34

Ifugao PNP conducts media relations, public speaking seminar

by Vency D. Bulayungan

Lagawe, Ifugao -- Cognizant that a peaceful environment through a well informed citizenry will lead to a developed community, the Provincial Police Office in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency here conducted recently a two day seminar on media relations and public speaking at the PPO Conference Hall here.

Speaking to Police Information Officers (PIOs) from the 11 municipalities here and the PPO, PSSupt. Joseph Adnol said that this activity will help improve the relationship between the media and the police force.

"The PIOs who are responsible in releasing information to the media will be able to learn how to deal with the said group," Adnol said.

However, Adnol said that the participants will also learn the rules on the release of information to media, what not to divulge in accordance to law or the policies of the PNP. There are information which are considered confidential that cannot to given such as vital data that might hamper on going investigations.

The first of its kind to be conducted in this province, the participants who underwent a mock press conference experienced how to answer questions from the media. SPO3 Edwin Inhumang, Asst. Investigation Officer said the activity taught him to be prepared and be knowledgeable of data pertaining to his work.

Obviously feeling nervous when they had their practicum in public speaking, the PIOs had the chance a speaking in front of a crowd with an impromptu speech, introducing a guest speaker, and delivering a message as guest of honor in any activity in the community.

Noemi Cacanindin, the Assistant Provincial Information Officer of the PPO said that she never expected this opportunity of speaking in front of the public and the media, to be a part of her life as a policewoman. "I am challenged and I know that with constant practice, I will be able to speak in public when I am called to do so," she said.

Other topics discussed during the said seminar were newswriting and TV/ radio interviews.

Adnol encouraged his men to apply in their own locality whatever they learned in said seminar. (PIA-Ifugao)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p081018.htm&no=33

Scouts rule Abra on October 15

by Maritess Beñas

Bangued, Abra -- The Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Abra Council is observing the 2008 Scouting Month and its 62nd anniversary this October.

The occasion is marked with varied and meaningful activities that give the young scouts the distinct opportunity to demonstrate the nobility and purpose of the Scout Oath and Law and the Scout Slogan: "Be Prepared."

One of the highlights of the celebration was the conduct of the Scout-Officials-for-A-Day (SOFAD) program. The SOFAD is a traditional activity being held every year which involves the selection of Outstanding Senior Scouts in the province.

This year, Eagle Scout Henri Lomeus N. Ching of the Divine Word College of Bangued, one of the National Finalists for the Ten Outstanding Boy Scouts of the Philippines (TOBS), was chosen the Scout Provincial Governor for the Day last October 15. He took over the position of Governor EustaquioP. Bersamin, also the concurrent Honorary chairman of the BSP-Abra Council.

Ching led 52 other Senior Scouts in the province who participated in the SOFAD program and acted as SOFAD in the various elective and appointive positions in both the provincial government and the national offices in the province.

Dr. Patrocinio Abaya, the provincial administrator and guest speaker during the ceremony turned over the BSP provincial flag to Ching and inducted the SOFADs before they were escorted by the agency heads to their respective office assignments.

The agency heads gave the SOFADs a uniform one-day honorarium of P400.00 to the lucky Scout Officials as they performed the duties and functions of the agency heads they took over during the day.

The SOFADs who took over as members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on the other hand, conducted the regular session of the provincial board at 1:00 in the afternoon with SOFAD Paulo Cataniag as Vice-Governor presiding.

This year's most active school-participant is the Divine Word College of Bangued with 37 Senior Scouts out of the 53 SOFADs participating.

The BSP is one of the prime movers of character building, citizenship training and skills development in the country. Scouter Wilfredo L. Gascon serves as the Scout Executive of the Abra Council. (PIA-Abra)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p081018.htm&no=30

DTI Abra readies for regional competitions on poster making and quiz bee

by Maritess Beñas

Bangued, Abra (18 October) -- The Department of Trade and Industry - Abra Provincial Office is now ready with its contestants to the regional level competitions in poster making and quiz bee.

Abra champions Mc Arthur M. Taloma of An-anao Elementary School in Tayum, in the poster making contest and Emeriza B. Alcantara of Rosalio Eduarte National High School in Bucay, in the quiz bee will be representing the province in the regional level competitions on October 29 to be conducted by the DTI-CAR Regional Office.

Mr. Eugenio P. Millare served as coach for Taloma while Ms. Gina A. Alfaro coached Alcantara.

Other winners in the poster making contest are: Second Prize - Marjorie Batallones of Agtangao Elemetary School, Bangued, with Ms. Eizabeth V. Castillo as her coach; and Third Prize - Mark Anthony Napoles of Tayum Central School in Tayum, with Ms. Jennifer C. Balbuena as her coach.

Judging of the winning entries to the poster making contest was based on this year's theme of the Consumer Welfare Month celebration: "Leading the Consumers Toward Efficient Lighting for a Brighter Future" with the following criteria: relevance - 40%; creativity - 30%; visual impact - 20%; and adherence to the rules - 10%.

Prizes were given by the DTI-Provincial Office through Provincial Caretaker Arell F. Bañez. Cash prizes for the major winners were: First Prize - P2,500.00; Second Prize - P1,500.00; and Third Prize - P750.00.

The other winners in the quiz bee were: Second Prize - Elaine L. Babac of Manabo High School in Manabo with Ms. Floresca B. Tuscano as coach; and Third Prize - Laden Joy Gumastin of Dilong High School in Tubo, with Ms. Rebecca B. Mariano as coach.

Questions during the quiz bee centered on the rights and privileges of the consumers. Cash prizes were: First Prize - P3,000.00; Second Prize - P2,000.00; and Third Prize -P1,000.00.

The DTI-Abra also gave tokens of various native food products such as Inladit, dried mangoes, dried kondol and kamias prunes by the OTOP Pasalubong Center to the members of the board of judges and the coaches of the contestants as well as consolation prizes to all those who participated in the competitions of both the poster making and the quiz bee.

The OTOP Pasalubong Center, managed by the DTI-Abra Provincial Office is located at the DTI-Abra Provincial Office and at the PARTUAT ti Abra Building in front of the Provincial Capitol Building in Bangued and managed by the Provincial Governor's Office. (PIA-Abra)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p081018.htm&no=31

Mt Province gets allocation for 303 grantees under PGMA-Training for Work Scholarship Program

by Juliet B. Saley

Bontoc, Mt. Province (18 October) -- The provincial allocation for the implementation of the PGMA-Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) for the province is already approved and released.

According to Provincial Director Gabriel Cayacay of TESDA Provincial Office, the province is given an allocation of 303 grantees.

Of the total, 50 is allotted for Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) NC II; 40 for Commercial Cooking NC II; 35 for Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) NC II; 20 each for Carpentry NC II, Housekeeping NC II, Massage Therapist NC II, and Household Service Worker NC II.

Eighteen grantees is also allotted for Flux Cored Welding (FCAW) NC II, 15 each for Hydraulic Excavator NC II, Wheel Loader NC II, and Rigid on-Hiway Dump Truck NC II; and 10 each for Building Wiring Installation NC II, and Consumer Electronics Servicing NC II.

Each grantee will be entitled to P10,000.00 for those who undergo training in Backhoe Loader NC II (for 216 hours), Hydraulic Excavator NC II (216 hrs), Wheel Loader NC II (216 hrs), Rigid on-Hiway Dump Truck NC II (162 hrs), SMAW NC II (304 hrs), FCAW NC II (286 hrs).

Those who enroll in GMAW NC III (for 80 hours) is entitled to P7,000.00 per grantee; P6,000.00 each to those who take up Consumer Electronics Servicing NC II (for 438 hours); P5,000.00 per grantee who take up Household Service Worker NC II (256 hrs), and Building Wiring Installation NC II (402 hrs); P3,500.00 for each grantee who enroll in Carpentry NC II (for 120 hours), Commercial Cooking NC II (436 hrs), Housekeeping NC II (436 hrs); and P1,500.00 per grantee who will take up Massage Therapist NC II (for 500 hrs).

The money will not be given to the grantees, it will be given directly to the institution where the grantees enrolled in payment of their training fees.

Qualified to avail of the program must be at least high school graduate; 18-40 years old; must undergo Pre-Assessment; and preferably job seekers/out of school youth (OSY) or unemployed. (PIA-MP)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p081018.htm&no=24

Provincial Board reiterates conversion of provincial roads in Mt. Province

by Juliet B. Saley

Bontoc, Mt. Province (18 October) -- The Sangguniang Panlalawigan here is reiterating the conversion or reclassification of various provincial roads into national roads.

In its Resolution No. 127 dated June 23, 2008, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan requested the conversion of various provincial roads to national roads.

As explained in the resolution, the lack of manpower coupled with financial constraints currently experienced by the provincial government especially in the matter of creating additional positions of Highways Maintenance men and procurement of road maintenance facilities have left several provincial roads unattended.

It is for these reasons that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan reiterated its request for the conversion of the following provincial roads into national roads: Mt. Province-Ifugao road via Poblacion, Natonin-Toboy to Aguinaldo, Ifugao road; Abatan-Mabaay road; and the whole stretch of the Dantay-Sagada-Besao-Tadian road.

In the validation and evaluation conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways, however, only the Dantay-Sagada road also known as the Rev. John Staunton road meets the criteria for reclassification from provincial road to national road. (PIA MP)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p081018.htm&no=25

Farmers benefit from fertilizer subsidy

by Juliet B. Saley

Sabangan, Mt. Province (18 October) -- To help farmers increase their production and to lessen the impact of rising prices of fertilizer in the market, the national government and the local government units are joining hands to ensure that farmers will receive government assistance in the form of farm inputs.

In this municipality, there are 1,750 farmers identified by the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist to benefit from the fertilizer subsidy. There are 319.97 hectares total rice field area of the farmers.

According to Agriculture Technician Lilia Jagodilla, under this program, the farmers are given four bags of fertilizer per hectare, two bags of which are provided by the Department of Agriculture with a counterpart of one bag each by the provincial and municipal LGUs.

The fertilizer will be distributed to the farmers based on the rice field area of each farmer. They will be given coupons which they will use to claim their fertilizer.

Accredited dealer of fertilizer in Mt. Province is Ms. Fely Omengan of Sagada who sells at P250.00 per sack. Delivered price costs P290.00 per sack of which the P40.00 is the freight per sack from Sagada to Sabangan. The freight will be the counterpart of the farmers which they will contribute among themselves. (PIA MP)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p081018.htm&no=26

DBM sets up Procurement Service depot in Bontoc

by Andrew Doga-ong

Bontoc, Mt. Province (18 October) -- The Department of Budget and Management has established a Procurement Service (PS) Sub-depot in the province.

The Mt. Province PS sub-depot located at the Bontoc General Hospital compound is the first in Northern Luzon and the sixth provincial sub-depot opened in the 81 provinces in the country.

PS Executive Director Estanislao Granados, Jr. explained that the putting up PS depots would help ensure economy, convenience and efficiency in acquiring goods for the government as well as its employees.

Granados said the Mt. Province PS sub-depot, for a start, will sell common office supplies emphasizing that these supplies are intended for government offices and employees only. He added that the goods or items at the depot are sold at cost lower than the current market prices.

The PS Executive Director also encouraged the government officials of the province to put up a PS Exchange Commissary where government employees can buy commonly used supplies and household needs at reduced prices. This, he said would help government workers cope up with the increasing prices of necessities.

Granados, however, reiterated that commissary items are for government workers personal consumption and not for re-sale.

Expressing the gratitude of the officialdom and government workers to the DBM, Governor Maximo Dalog, Sr. said the establishment of the PS sub-depot shows the deep concern of DBM to the people of Mt. Province saying this also adds up to the many blessings coming to the province.

Dalog said the presence of the PS in the province would indeed make the procurement processes faster as government offices and employees can easily buy items at the depot without going to the tedious process of bidding, canvassing, etc. which is one of the reasons government procurement is delayed.

Also gracing the opening of the PS sub-depot is DBM Cordillera Regional Director Liza Fangsilat who congratulated the officialdom and government workers for taking the challenge of operating a PS sub-depot.

The opening of the PS sub-depot was one of the activities during the launching of Lang-ay 2009. (PIA-MP)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p081018.htm&no=27

Kalinga celebrates Children's Month

Tabuk City, Kalinga (18 October) -- The province is setting up a province-wide event for this year's Children Month celebration to culminate the occasion which will be participated by the day care and grade school pupils from the eight municipalities here.

According to the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) Women and Child Welfare Coordinator Gretchen Curameng, through Presidential Proclamation No. 267, the month-long event aims to raise public awareness on various issues affecting the children.

"Through the various activities conducted during the month-long event we are exercising one of the basic rights of our children that is to have an active participation in the community," she said.

With the theme "BRIGHT CHILD: Sa tamang pag-aaruga, kinabukasan ay maginhawa," the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under the Bright Child Program looks into the promotion of psychosocial care and development programs for the children which she said could be implemented through home-based and center-based child minding and day care services, supplemental feeding in day care centers, effective parenting and nutrition education.

To be a bright child, she said that there is a need for the support and partnership of key government entities to be able to provide the children the essential care and protection during their early lives especially from six years below.

Aside from government support, parents play a vital role since they are the ones directly managing the social, mental and physical growth of their children. To help these parents perform their roles better, the government she said had designed programs for Effective Parenting to provide them the proper knowledge and skills ensuring the growth and survival of their children.

As a thrust to ensure that the country would produce more productive citizens for the next generations to come, the Arroyo Government have given priority attention to the welfare and proper care of the children developing comprehensive programs to answer the various needs of mothers and children. (ggd/PIA-Kalinga)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p081018.htm&no=23

DepEd Kalinga moves to address hunger in schools

Tabuk City, Kalinga (18 October) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) in the province, in partnership with Bethesda Ministries International (BMI) recently held a joint activity integrating their programs to better address malnourishment and to improve the health conditions of public school children in the province.

Bolstering the Gulayan sa Paaralan (Vegetable Gardens in School), a project component of the Programang Agrikultura Para Sa Masa of the Arroyo Administration to fight hunger and poverty, DepEd Kalinga in cooperation Department of Agriculture Bureau of Plant Industry, conducted a two-day training on Organic Plant Production for all elementary and high schools in the province.

This is to provide educators the needed skills on organic vegetable production and provide them a venue to discuss the implementation and sustainability of the program in their respective schools.

With elementary and high school children appreciating the program and armed with the skill in vegetable production, they will learn to be self-sufficient and in their own way help alleviate hunger in the family, Deped officials say.

Integrating this program in their home economics subjects will also promote better appreciation among school children and students the importance of proper nutrition and the nutritional and economic value of planting vegetables in school and at home.

Jointly with the activity is the launching of the Bethesda HAPAG-ASA Vitameal Feeding Program, an integrated feeding program sponsored by the Bethesda Ministries International, Inc. where DepEd Kalinga Feeding Program Coordinator, Julia Bateg said that the project will benefit around 4,513 undernourished pupils in the province who were identified based on their height and weight status.

"To correct the nutritional status of our undernourished children, they will undergo supplemental feeding with the provision of vitameal everyday for 120 days, five days a week," she said.

Said vitameal supplement contains multi-vitamin fortified rice and lentil pack formulated to provide the ideal therapeutic food solution for malnourished children to regain back their ideal health status saving them from starvation and give them hope for a productive life and future.

She underscored that the school administration should closely monitor the project implementation to ensure that proper procedures are being followed and for them to assess the impacts of the feeding program.

Bateg said that parents also play a vital role in the implementation saying "they have to actively participate in the process where they will be undergo health and nutrition classes and will be taught how to properly cook the vitameal which must be mixed with other nutritional ingredients."

She said that the common procedure for using vitameal is to mix one part vitameal to eight parts of water soaking it for two hours, then cooked for 15 to 30 minutes mixing it with other ingredients.

"This can be eaten as viand or as a snack," she said.

Each pack of vitameal mixed with other food she informed could feed 130 pupils in one feeding.

This provision from the Bethseda she informed is the first shipment from the organization saying that with proper implementation, DepEd Kalinga will be expecting more to totally address malnourishment in the province which is identified as one of the food poor areas in the country.

"We are looking forward for more feeding programs in partnership with Bethesda International. Based on our proposal we are targeting at least 4,000 or 50 pupils per school in the province for this school year," she said.

During the event, BMI Executive Director Donald Soriano headed the turn-over of the around 500 vitameal boxes to Deped Kalinga and 100 boxes for Apayao. (ggd/PIA-Kalinga)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p081018.htm&no=21

Kalinga hosts 8th Regional STEP competition

Tabuk City, Kalinga (18 October) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) and its partner agencies conducted the 8th Student Technologists and Entrepreneurs of the Philippines (STEP) competition here to bolster the technical and vocation programs.

Hosted by the province, the three-day event was participated by all the provinces in CAR signifying that said government learning competency program is in full implementation in the region.

Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Regional Director Cenon M. Querubin in his message delivered by his Assistant Regional Director Engr. Emmanuel Abalos, underscored the advantages and benefits of acquiring skills especially in applying for jobs or in self-employment.

"We should use our skills to improve our lives," he said encouraging the participants coming from the elementary and secondary schools all over the province to hone their skills and endeavor to become world class global workers.

With the government doing all its best to provide the training opportunities through Deped and TESDA, he urged the participants and those seeking better employment to avail of the technical vocational scholarships being offered in accredited institutions all over the country.

The TESDA Director also pointed out the advantages of having skills for those who chose to work in the country and for those planning to put up their own businesses.

"Entrepreneurship can make wonders by using your expertise utilizing our raw materials," he said encouraging them to strive harder to continuously improve their services, this way they will not only make their venture more profitable but they will be helping to improve the country's economy as well.

The 8th STEP Competition theme is "A step higher: Upgrading Skills, Improving Lives."

Meanwhile, Deped CAR Regional Director Benito Tumamao emphasized that STEP should be implemented in all levels sharing his observation that there are still institutions that are not fully complying the program's requirements.

He said that aside from the academic area, children should also be taught to acquire skills saying that everybody "need skills to survive."

Retired Division Supervisor Pacita Sarol, who represented Gov. Floydelia Diasen, challenged the participants to strive harder and do everything to obtain the qualifying skills certificate for them to fully utilize the skills acquired. She said that in support to the skills scholarship program, the Provincial Government of Kalinga had allotted P1 million to sponsor the free education of around 200 grantees all over the province.

The STEP is a co-curricular organization to enhance life-long skills and support the learning competencies of the work-education and skills training program of the TEPP component of the MAKABAYAN subject to provide a venue for students from both public and private schools to gain relevant knowledge and skills on technical and vocational education. Among the focus areas in this year's STEP are Home Economics, Agricultural Technology, Industrial Arts, and Retail Trade. Elementary and secondary school students can avail of the course offerings through DepEd's Center for Students and Co-Curricular Affairs. Said program is a component of the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Programs (AHMP) - a comprehensive approach to address hunger and poverty in the country of the Arroyo Administration. (ggd/PIA-Kalinga)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p081018.htm&no=22

P20-B Katas ng EVAT fund earmarked for irrigation

by L. Lopez

Tabuk City, Kalinga (18 October) -- Government earmarks some fund from the Extended Value Added Tax (EVAT) revenues for the restoration and rehabilitation of irrigation systems throughout the country, as part of its food security program.

National Rice Program Coordinator Frisco Malabanan, who was Guest of Honor and speaker, during the Cordillera Regional Rice Information Caravan and Techo-clinic here last week said the project aims to irrigate about 375,000 hectares of rice land in the country.

Speaking before a large crowd of farmers, Malabanan stressed the high contribution of irrigation facility to average yield, which he said is increased by 5 metric tons per hectare and even enables farmers to harvest rice twice a year.

In some parts of the country where they lack irrigation, farmers can only harvest 2.8 MT per hectare and because they solely depend on rainwater, they only have one cropping in the whole year.

But with the Food Security Program of government, making the country self sufficient in rice by the year 2010-2013, funds are poured in to the agriculture sector, Malabanan said.

President Gloria Arroyo in her SONA stated the national agenda towards self-sufficiency in food by 2010, though the period to complete the entire program may extend up to 2013, Malabanan explains.

He exhorted rice farmers in the province whom he said are 'the feeders of the Cordillera region', because of the volume of rice coming from the Kalinga, being the top rice producing province of CAR.

At the same time, Malabanan called on rice farmers to share in sustaining infrastructure facilities provided by government, appealing for religious and timely payment of irrigation obligations so that local government units will have enough funds to maintain the project.

You may now know how costly these facilities are and if we will not give our share to sustain them, we will not maximize their use and may ultimately cause us our gained opportunities, he said.

Malabanan reiterated the need to organize irrigators associations to establish partners of government in the implementation of projects.

He cited the present approach where government ties-up with organized farmer groups instead of individuals in the delivery of farm interventions and assistance. (PIA Kalinga)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p081018.htm&no=20

DTI Kalinga holds consumer education seminar

by L. Lopez

Tabuk City, Kalinga (18 October) -- Giving the essence of this month's celebration of Consumer's Welfare Month, the provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) conducted a Consumer Education Seminar before high school students last week.

Speakers from the agency took turns in discussing topics on Consumer Act, Rights and Responsibilities of Consumers, Product Standards and the One Town One Product (OTOP) program.

DTI Provincial Director Grace Baluyan stressed consumers' awareness on their rights and welfare and urged them to assert it for their protection.

If we have a vigilant buying public, we can prevent proliferation of low quality products in the market, which may lead to more serious problems that can endanger lives and properties, she said.

Reports show the high cases of accidents that were caused by poor product standard and this is what we want to avoid through a well-informed public, Baluyan said.

Capitalizing on the high idealism of young students, Baluyan exhorted them to be bold in coming out in the open anytime they come in contact with these kinds of products sold in the market.

As consumers, it is your right to get maximum satisfaction for every item you buy explaining government's policy against product imitation and smuggling.

RA 7394 or the Consumer Welfare Act protects interest of consumers, promotes their welfare and establishes standards of conduct for business and industry.

Baluyan also offered the services of DTI for consumer's complaints, having jurisdiction over these cases, assuring government's action on the protection of consumer's rights and welfare.

Meanwhile, a team from the DTI, who acted as members of the Provincial Consumer Net, found out that not even one of the 23 China milk brands banned by Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) is present among the groceries rounded-up in the province last week assuring consumers that Kalinga is spared from melamine-laced products.

Victor Benganio of DTI-Kalinga said the monitoring was made upon the advice of DTI-CAR to the province, in the absence of BFAD branch, and will continue until such time that the melamine scare shall have been totally eradicated.

Benganio advises the public on the easy detection of China dairy products from the Chinese characters in the label and urged anyone to report of any case to authorities. (PIA Kalinga)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p081018.htm&no=19

Contract signed to explore geothermal energy in Kalinga

Baguio City (18 October) -- The Department of Energy (DoE) signed recently the Kalinga Geothermal Service Contract (GSC) with Aragorn Power and Energy Corporation (APEC) and the Guidance Management Corporation (GMC) for the exploration of geothermal power source in the municipalities of Lubuagan, Pasil, and Tinglayan.

The GSC was signed on September 24 this year, in Manila by Secretary Angelo Reyes for DoE, Willy Ocier and Joaquin Rodriguez for APEC and GMC respectively.

A separate Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed between the communities who have given their Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) for the project and the two geothermal companies.

According to the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Provincial Office here, the contract allows APEC and GMC to explore an area of 26,250 hectares for the duration of 50 years: 5-year exploration period with 2 years extension; 25 years production and 18 years extension.

As of this writing, of the 11 ancestral domains covered by the application for exploration, only the IPs of Colayo, Balatoc, Guinaang, Dangtalan, and Dalupa-Ableg, all of Pasil have given their FPIC for the project.

Earlier, IPs in the ancestral domains of Tulgao, Dananao, Sumadel, Tonglayan, Bangad all of Tinglayan; and Uma in Lubuagan, complained to DoE why they were included in the coverage of the exploration when in fact no FPIC came from them.

According to NCIP-Kalinga Field Office, the GSC stipulates that only the areas with the FPIC of the indigenous peoples (IP) affected are to be explored. While conducting consultations with the remaining IPs to get their FPIC, the NCIP assured the communities that the provision of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) are strictly followed by the power and energy companies.

DoE also assured complaining IPs that although their barangays were included in the application for exploration, APEC and GMC are not permitted to explore in their areas unless their FPIC on the project is obtained.

Under the separate MOA between APEC-GMC and the four communities who gave their FPIC on the project, terms and conditions were clearly stipulated for compliance by both parties.

If geothermal power is found positive, another MOA will be forged to govern the production stage, this time under the terms of the Philippine geothermal law. (PIA-Kalinga)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p081018.htm&no=18

DILG cites Balbalan town achievements

Balbalan, Kalinga (18 October) -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) acknowledged the fast phase of development this town has achieved during its 100 years of existence.

DILG Provincial Director Francisco Gamatero, who is the Guest of Honor during the launching and groundbreaking of Balbalan's centennial celebration last week, said development is not only observable but also felt by the people with development gains trickling down the villages and services being brought closer to their doorsteps.

Particularly cited by Gamatero was local governance where the local government unit (LGU) performed well in tax generation. Balbalan, which used to be a 5th class municipality is now a third income class LGU with P52.1 million internal revenue allotment for this year.

"Every visit is a surprise one when you learn of a new change in the local governance of Balbalan," he said adding that the local economy is vibrant and booming.

He also mentioned various completed infrastructure projects and are now serving their beneficiaries. He also cited the protected environment sustained thru the efforts of the communities.

The opening of the road from Poblacion to Tawang, Buaya and Mabaca through Pinukpuk was the initiative of Balbalan LGU. It bought heavy equipments worth P4.3 million and was able to save P50 million since the road excavation contract is done by administration.

He called on all citizens to pay religiously their taxes and reiterated to local officials their oath of office to serve the public without reservation. "We must work today for the good future of our children and the next generation," he said.

Balbalan was awarded as one of the most peaceful LGU in the country because of the unity and cooperation of the people. He said the Executive-Legislative Agenda (ELA) is the proper forum for more collaborative efforts for development.

Vice Mayor Martin Bog-acon affirmed that with ELA as venue, plans, programs and projects are satisfactorily implemented. "Governance flow smoothly without disturbance since we polish everything on a joint level discussion with the Executive," he said.

One of the best practices introduced in Balbalan is the equal representation of the association of barangay captains (ABC) and the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) to the legislative body. Representation rotates every month among ABC members and SK chairmen to give everyone the chance to participate in municipal governance.

Meanwhile, Edwin Wayagwag, staff of Senate President Manny Villar who represented the Senator during the launching said it is only through peoples' initiative that an LGU can attain progress citing Villar's sipag at tiyaga values.

Wayagwag assured he will bring to the attention of the Senate President some resolutions requesting assistance from the Senator. (PIA-Kalinga)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p081018.htm&no=17

Balbalan town celebrates Centennial

Balbalan, Kalinga (18 October) -- After 100 years of existence as a district and now a municipality, this 3rd income class local government unit (LGU) celebrates its centennial with fitting events depicting stages of its progress into one of the province's fast developing towns.

The celebration was launched recently with raising of the barangay flags lined up infront of the municipal hall and the ground breaking of the cornerstone of its foundation in 1908 during the American period. The place particularly Banao was first visited by Dr. Dean Worcester, member of the 2nd Philippine Commission in 1905.

Balbalan (including Balinciagao of Pasil) was crated along with Lubuagan, Tinglayan, and Tabuk as a municipal district by virtue of Act No. 1876 of the Philippine Commission. Walter Franklin Hale (Sapao) appointed Juan Puyao as its first Presidente formally giving Balbalan a political administrative set-up. Balbalan proper was made the seat of the municipal district government but was transferred to Salegseg (Poblacion) in 1938 being the center of the established barrios.

Barangay officials were called for a meeting during the launching program to prepare the long activities until summer of next year. Committees were formed to make early preparations and the final program and invitation will be distributed soon.

Among the lined up activities are the production of a documentary on "Balbalan Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow"; Book launching; flag installation of the 14 barangays; search for outstanding iBalbalan; search for 100 years old and above iBalbalan; search for centennial baby; ball games during summer next year; indigenous music extravaganza; and trade fair.

There will also be sports competition where players will be playing in the native attire; concert plays accompaniment in indigenous musical instruments; and all barangays to have their own original in English or in the local dialect.

The culminating program will be held next year with a grand canao.

Mayor Allen Jesse Mangaoang urged the participation of all the people in the series of activities to commemorate the 100 years of existence of Balbalan. (PIA-Kalinga)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&fi=p081018.htm&no=16

Kalinga farmers prefer inbred to hybrid rice

Lyn V. Ramo, Northern Dispatch/GMANews.TV

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Despite government intervention to promote hybrid rice in the country, most Kalinga farmers plant inbred rice varieties, aside from the traditional rice they now export to the USA.

Without mentioning figures, a rice farmer here said most prefer to plant the inbred rice because of the high volume of inputs and attention required by the hybrid seed varieties.

“A hectare of hybrid rice requires at least eight cavans of fertilizers while the inbred needs only six for the same land area," our informant who opted for anonymity said.

A bag of fertilizer costs P1,800 to P1,900, according to agriculture technical officials. Hybrid seeds range from P3,500 to P4,000 per 20-kilo bag, while inbreds costs only around P1,200 or even lesser. Traditional rice growers, however, maintain their own seed banks.

Grace, in her 30’s, a farmer from Pasil town, said she tried planting hybrid rice varieties but reverted to inbreds after she lost a fortune when a typhoon did not spare her rice paddies. She said, hybrid rice stalks tend to bend at the slightest wind, unlike the inbreds and the traditional rice that proved to be sturdier.

“Diay apitek a 150 cavans ket nagbalin a 20 laeng kalpasan a nabagyo daytoy," (I expected 150 cavans but only got 20 after a typhoon hit the crops) Grace said. She said the hybrids are so sensitive to climatic changes, unlike the inbreds.

Tabuk City now boasts of being the hybrid capital of the Cordillera, but its farmers find woes with the newest seed technology.

Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Juliana B. Aclam said there are farmers who have tested the hybrid but plant inbred rice. She confirmed reports that Kalinga farmers prefer the inbred to hybrid rice.

Top-down planning

“Kasla baby a maaywanan dagiti hybrid," (Hybrids are like babies that need care) Gerry Bulaat, secretary-general of the Timpuyog ti Mannalon ti Kalinga (TMK) told Nordis in a separate interview.

Bulaat said the government did not consider the local situation in its planning resulting in wrong priorities.

Jessie Fernandez, Philrice supervising science specialist, based in Isabela said inbred rice yields an average of 120 cavans per hectare, while the hybrids could bring out 150 per hectare.

Both Philrice and private seed companies produce hybrid seeds. Inbred rice was first introduced in the 70’s by the Masagana 99 program of then Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos. Philrice first developed these seeds to produce hybrid. Later, private companies followed suit, according to Fernandez.

DA Sec. Arthur Yap, in press release, stressed that while DA recognizes the potentials of hybrids at increasing farmers’ income, it also emphasizes on the extensive use of certified high-yielding varieties or inbreds, which are responsive to irrigated, rain-fed and upland rice ecosystems; unique or sub-optimal rice environs; specific seasons and climatic conditions; and commercial markets.

Cost of seed, production

Farmers, however, could not produce their own seeds because of decreasing production. This is reportedly due to degeneration of the seed variety, that farmers have to buy seeds.

“Pinadas mi nga inmula manen diay bin-i ket saan a bumagas a kas idi damo daytoy nga imula, uray isu met laeng ti ikabil nga abono," (We tried replanting the seeds and found out these do not yield as much as when these are first planted, even if we applied the same amount of fertilizers) said Ricardo Sad-ang, 52, of Tinglayan town.

Alyansa dagiti Pesante iti Taeng Kordilyera’s (Apit Tako) Fernando Bagyan once said in an earlier interview, these are terminator seeds. These could not produce their own seeds for later propagation, thus, compelling farmers to procure their planting materials from seed-producing companies like Syngenta, Monsanto, Asian Hybrid, Bio-seed and the like.

Sad-ang has been planting his two-hectare rice land to hybrid varieties. He said he had tried different types of hybrid seed varieties, but still get only around 90 cavans per hectare.

Philrice has reportedly produced Mestizo varieties M1, M3 and M7. Private seed companies produce other hybrid varieties.

According to Aclam, many inbred varieties are cultivated in Kalinga. “Farmers have asserted for the certified inbred seeds. Their experience have taught them," she told Nordis.

Unoy remains a favorite

Meanwhile, the traditional unoy is still being cultivated in most Kalinga towns. Aclam said only the lower Tabuk barangays and the town of Rizal do not produce unoy rice.

Upper Tabuk, Tanudan, Balbalan, Upper Pinukpuk. Pasil and Tinglayan produce unoy.

Unoy rice varieties prefer the upland conditions, according to Aclam, noting that the taste and yield differ when these are planted in the lowland farms.

A negligible portion of unoy is now being exported to Montana, USA.

According to Apit Tako Spokesperson Virgie Dammay, unoy is now being produced in commercial quantities, with the provincial government trying too hard to meet the export quota for organically produced rice.

“This export program led farmers to devote more rice lands to the production of unoy. Even traditional vegetable swidden farms are now being planted to unoy," said Mila Lingbawan of Innabuyog-Gabriela. She said, unoy was originally a paddy rice.

With more and more farmers encouraged to produce unoy for commercial purposes, TMK fears environmental degradation.

“It commands a higher price, farmers tend to produce it for sale amid food shortage and hunger," said Bulaat.

Rice took center stage here Wednesday as the agriculture department gathered more than a thousand rice farmers, seed producers, local government officials and agriculture employees.

The rice info caravan featured a one-day stakeholders’ forum at the city gym.

Neither Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo nor Yap came to the dismay of the contingent. The duo was invited as main guests.

The forum focused on Arroyo’s center piece agriculture program FIELDS as government agencies focused on improving its organic fertilizer program; restoring irrigation systems, extension services; loans; dryers and post-harvest facilities; and production and promotion of hybrid seeds.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/128196/Kalinga-farmers-prefer-inbred-to-hybrid-rice

Yay! bat naman pinagsama ang dalawang province na ito. dapat ipaghiwalay para matukoy natin pagkakaiba nila.

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http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5738/mapofnagave1.png

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5738/mapofnagave1.png

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3076/3150592470_2e4fd21564_b.jpg

ALL AROUND THE WORLD CELEBRATES TONIGHT


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From SSC-Iligan City

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!!

From SSC Naga

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!!

From SSC Naga

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n250/bobtaz08/SSC.jpg?t=1230790298

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DOT to promote Igorot products sale in Mountain Province's "Lang-ay Festival" (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Tourism_24/DOT_to_promote_Igorot_products_sale_in_Mountain_Province_s_Lang-ay_Festival.shtml)

BAGUIO CITY, March 7 (PNA) - The Department of Tourism (DOT) Friday assured that Igorot products will be aggressively promoted during the "Lang-ay Festival" in Bontoc, Mountain Province next month.

This was learned from DOT regional director Purification Molintas before embarking for Bangued, Abra for the tourism-oriented Abrenian festival.

For the past four years, the official said that the Mountain Province's "Lang-ay Festival" has succeeded in expanding the local markets for rattan backpacks, abaca bags, molasses called "moscovado", roasted coffee beans for brewing purposes, and other handicrafts out of indigenous fibers and materials.

For this year, the DOT has extended its tourism promotions for Baguio City and the provinces in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) as the projected tourist arrivals in the area this year will reach two million.

"This is why we have been actively promoting Panagbenga or the annual flower festival of Baguio, the strawberry festival of Benguet, as well as the other festivities in the provinces of Kalinga, Apayao and Ifugao in order to give our visitors a variety of interesting cultural festivities and other amenities," he said.
Molintas has assured that despite the global financial crisis, the local tourism will remain as a good income generating for business and source of local livelihood, especially in farming and manufacturing industries. (PNA)

^^ From the bottom-most thread to the top (for now) in the Luzon section! :lol:

Apayao eco-tourism to go full blast with improved access roads and airports from Cagayan (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Tourism_24/Apayao_eco-tourism_to_go_full_blast_with_improved_access_roads_and_airports_from_Cagayan.shtml)

CALANASAN, Apayao, March 12 (PNA) - The Department of Tourism (DOT) Tuesday assessed that Apayao province is ready for an extensive ecological-tourism industry mainly because local and foreign tourists have improved access to the area.

DOT Regional Director Purificacion Monlintas made the assessment as she personally inspected access roads which have been greatly improved in the last five years.

Besides, she said, the tourists can be offered better access to this area when they availed with the services of the existing ports and airports in nearby Cagayan Province.

"However, our tourists in Baguio and other areas can also take the usual route towards Pangasinan and eastward to Nueva Vizcaya via the Dalton Pass, or through the Baguio Aritao Road which traverses Benguet to reach the Cagayan Valley region in just over two hours," she said.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in her latest Christmas vacation in Baguio, inaugurated the bypass road from Benguet to Vizcaya which already cut the usual travel time between the regions by five hours.

President Arroyo is the first president to visit this town to promote the province rich eco-tourism potentials like waterfalls, rivers and virgin forests.
Molintas earlier said that the province should embark on the popularization of white water rafting here so that Apayao would have a good share in the thousands of visitors coming to the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) for adventure. (PNA)

Top 10 PMA graduating cadets share humble beginnings
Manila Times
12 March 2009 | 1:10 AM

FORT DEL Pilar, Baguio City: Majority of this year’s top 10 graduating members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Masiglahi Class 2009 were raised by middle-income parents but they have proven their worth in the premier military institution in Asia.

A check on the profile of the top 10 class members revealed that their fathers were plain farmer in their respective provinces while their mothers were plain housewives.

Another distinction they shared with one another was having graduated valedictorians or with honors in their secondary education.

Topping this year’s PMA graduation is 23-year-old Air Force cadet Karl Winston Cacanindin of Aurora province whose father is a draftsman while his mother is a high school teacher.

Cacanindin, who will graduate magna cum laude, will receive the Presidential Saber and PGMA Achievement Award for academic excellence from President Gloria Arroyo, who will be the guest of honor and speaker during the graduation rites at the Borromeo Fields on March 16.

The valedictorian will also receive the Philippine Air Force Saber, Athletic Saber, Mathematics and Natural Sciences plaques besides the Joint United States Military Assistance Group or Jusmag award.

This year’s salutatorian is Army Cadet Leemuel Manicdo, 22, from Moncada, Tarlac, whose father is a mechanic and mother, another simple housewife.

Manicdo, who graduated as high school salutatorian, will receive the Vice Presidential Saber, Philippine Army Saber, Academics Group award, Humanities, Management, Social Sciences and Army Professional courses plaques, Jusmag award, Association of Generals and Flag Officers award and for the Australian Defense best over all performance award.

Navy Cadet Roger Flores, 25, of Iloilo City, who was raised by an accountant father and housewife mother, ranked number three in the class. He will receive the Secretary of National Defense Saber, Philippine Navy Saber and Jusmag award.

Fourth is Navy Cadet Nelson Liwanag, 24, of Tanauan, Batangas, whose father is a farmer while his mother is a vendor. He will receive the Navy Professional Courses plaque, Australian Defense Best Over all performance in the Navy and Jusmag award.

Army Cadet Larry Longe Mayao, 25, of Mainit, Bontoc, Mountain Province is ranked fifth and the only Cordillerans to be in the elite rank of topnotch cadets this year.

Mayao, who graduated from Pines City National High School and Pinsao Elementary School, was 10 years old when his mother passed on. His father was once a laborer who had to raise him along with nine other siblings.

Assistant PMA Supt. Brig. Gen. Rommel Martin of Bontoc, Mountain Province and member of PMA Class 1978 congratulated Mayao for proving that a cadet from the minority group was in equal footing with the other cadets.

Another Army cadet, Erick Ryan Mabborang at age 23 is among the younger graduating cadets is the son of farmers from Enrile, Cagayan, ranked sixth over all.

Army Cadet Carlito Santiago, 24, of Isabela, whose parents are farmers and traders, ranked 7th and he will receive the PGMA Achievement Award for Excellence, Chief of Staff Saber and Tactics Group award.

Army Cadet Glenn de Ramos, 22, of Pasay City whose parents are farmer and housewife ranked 8th and one of the brigade commanders of the class.

Just as Filipino women are celebrating the Women’s Month, Air Force Cadet Cynthia Forteza, 22, of Urbiztondo, Pangasinan landed ninth place in the overall roll of merits.

Forteza is also the recipient of the Computing and Info Sciences plaque, Leadership plaque, Air Force Professional Courses plaque and Australian Defense Best Overall Performance award.

Completing the topnotch list is Air Force Cadet Christopher Ian Dupalco, 22, of Bohol, whose father had died and raised by his mother, a teacher.

PMA Supt. Vice Admiral Leo-nardo Calderon Jr. told reporters that the topnotch graduating cadets have good academic records during their elementary and high school days, even with parents from low and middle-income earners.

There are 161 male and 23 female members of the Masiglahi Class 2009. One hundred of them will join the Army, 37 in the Air Force and 47 in the Navy.-- Harley F. Palangchao

100 new high schools await PGMA green light --Nograles (http://www.positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Education_20/100_new_high_schools_await_PGMA_green_light_--Nograles.shtml)

MANILA, March 25 (PNA) -- Even as the country counts every strand of economic options to shield the Filipino family from the effects of the global economic crunch, Speaker Prospero Nograles on Tuesday said education remains the highest priority.

"This is a Constitutional mandate we will never deviate from," said Nograles as he reported that awaiting the signature of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are 100 local bills establishing the same number of new national high schools spread nationwide.

The Speaker noted that during the first regular session of the 14th Congress, the legislature has approved and transmitted to the Office of the President 114 local bills, 100 of which seek the establishment of new national high schools all over the country.

The proposed high schools are to be located in Surigao del Sur, Zamboanga del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Leyte, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Oriental Mindoro, Negros Occidental, Bulacan, Nueva Vizcaya, La Union, Agusan del Sur, South Cotabato, Kalinga, Bohol, Mandaluyong City, Ifugao, Zamboanga Sibugay, Nueva Ecija, Dinagat Islands, Misamis Occidental, Mountain Province, Benguet, Antique, Batangas, Tarlac, Davao City, Masbate, Lanao del Sur, Cagayan de Oro City, and Aurora.

Marikina City Rep. Del de Guzman said the building of these new schools would be part of the infrastructure development for education, which would also generate jobs during their construction and spur productivity among downstream industries supplying building materials and related enterprises.

"These are collateral benefits resulting from the development of educational infrastructures," he added.

Nograles and House Majority Leader Arthur Defensor noted that the committee on basic education chaired by Rep. De Guzman is one among the most prolific committees during the first regular session in terms of number of bills acted upon and approved by both chambers of Congress.

Defensor said that apart from the 25 measures signed into law, there are some 10 bills of national interest that await the President’s signature.

Seven other bills -- five national and two local -- are pending in conference committees and expected to be ratified during the early weeks of the resumption of the regular session of Congress on April 13.

Statistics from the Bills and Index Section of the Plenary Affairs Bureau show that as of March 9, the House recorded some 6,090 bills filed (3,268 national and 2,822 local), and some 6,067 have been referred for committee actions.

Some 960 bills -- 22 national and 838 local -- are also pending action by the Senate. A total of 33 measures (18 national and 15 local) have been approved by the House on second reading.
During the same period, 1,042 resolutions have been filed, 373 were adopted by the House, and 669 referred for action by the various standing and special committees. There were 25 concurrent resolutions, eight adopted by the House, three House resolutions adopted by the Senate, and one adopted by both Chambers. There were also 33 House Joint Resolutions filed. (PNA)

napanan dagitay taga-Abra, Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Provincesen?

kumusta kay amin dita kakabsat! :)

ARYA ABRA :banana:

http://i44.tinypic.com/2sa16pc.jpg
by banguedenio (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bangued/)

Hi. Can anyone advise me what the safest route from Baguio to Banaue is? Thanks in advance

Inudey falls ground, Mountain Province

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http://images.google.com.ph/imgres?imgurl=http://cache.virtualtourist.com/2109391-Beas_Community_rice_Fields-Mountain_Province.jpg&imgrefurl=http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/83cd0/745/&usg=__Fy5KA_Us2hKEb8f9cSTbHed599E=&h=420&w=560&sz=35&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=AppRWGArit24NM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmountain%2Bprovince%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

Inudey falls ground, Mountain Province

http://cache.virtualtourist.com/2109391-Beas_Community_rice_Fields-Mountain_Province.jpg

http://images.google.com.ph/imgres?imgurl=http://cache.virtualtourist.com/2109391-Beas_Community_rice_Fields-Mountain_Province.jpg&imgrefurl=http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/83cd0/745/&usg=__Fy5KA_Us2hKEb8f9cSTbHed599E=&h=420&w=560&sz=35&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=AppRWGArit24NM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmountain%2Bprovince%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

wow, ang ganda naman nito. where is this in mountain province?

All Abra national roads now passable, bares solon (http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090403.htm&no=77)

Bangued, Abra (3 April) -- "All national roads in Abra province are now passable." This was the declaration of Congresswoman Cecilia Seares-Luna after she personally conducted an unannounced visit to the road building project along the Abra-Ilocos Norte National Road last week.

Luna, together with some of the engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways – Abra District Office headed by Engr. Benjamin Belandres traversed the Abra Ilocos Norte Road from Danglas town to Nueva Era in Ilocos Norte. The people of Nueva Era were delighted to see their relative, who is now the congresswoman of the province of Abra. They expressed their gratitude for the initiative of the congresswoman to finally open the road which primarily connects their tribes.

Relative to this, Luna gave her assurance that the on-going construction of the Calaba Bridge which is a vital component of the Abra-Ilocos Norte national road network is continuing and hopes to be finished before the end of the term next year in order to render the entire road network serviceable not only to the people of Abra who reside across the Abra River but also to the neighboring provinces in the north particularly Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao and Kalinga.

Meanwhile, the Manabo Bridge which had become a landmark of corruption in government because it had long been standing there unfinished, will soon be continued and finished. Luna said, an initial fund of P135 M have already been allocated and approved and is now ready for bidding.

It can be recalled that Present Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself saw the Manabo Bridge during her visits to the different municipalities in the province and even jokingly named it as the "biggest diving board" without a pool to service. And she took the challenge and promised the people of Abra to have the bridge finished before the end of her term as president in 2010. (PIA-Abra)

"NARS" starts in far-flung barangays of Kalinga (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Health_21/NARS_starts_in_far-flung_barangays_of_Kalinga.shtml)

TABUK, Kalinga, April 22 (PNA) -- Exactly 35 registered nurses have started working for government health facilities in the far-flung towns of this province under the Nurses Assignment in Rural Areas (NARS) recently launched by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provincial officer Lourdes Canseco said under the program, the new nurses serve the communities for six months before they can go to other employment, including abroad.

She said that NARS would give the new nurses immediate employment after passing their board examinations with a salary of P8,000 a month.

NARS aimed to provide local employment as well as to sustain the demand of overseas workers abroad, particularly the Filipino nurses.

"The new nurses are now deployed in the towns of Tanudan, Pasil, Rizal, Tinglayan, Pinukpuk and Lubuagan--all in Kalinga," she said.

The nurses that will be deployed in rural areas under the program will do 3 Is -- initiate primary health, school nutrition, maternal health program, first-line diagnosis etc; -- inform about community water sanitation and do health surveillance; and -- immunize children and mothers.

Canseco said these nurses will serve as roving nurses for rural schools.
She added that the rural services of the new nurses are also important to help them gain substantial experience for eventual employment in the country and overseas. (PNA)

BANGUED, ABRA
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Photo credit: ian_520 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/75283907@N00/)

KABUGAO, APAYAO
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Photo credit: gadzilla firefox (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14105413@N07/)

BONTOC, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
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Photo credit: caitriana (http://www.flickr.com/photos/caitriana/)

ALEMET, IFUGAO
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Photo credit: IRRI Images (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricephotos/)

BANAUE, IFUGAO
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Photo credit: Ian Ong (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianong/)

TABUK, KALINGA
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Photo credit: phage547 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/phage547/)

SAGADA, MT. PROVINCE
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Photo credit: benjiecabanas (http://www.flickr.com/photos/benjiecabanas/)

ang dami pa lang magagandang view sa cordillera..
thanks for sharing.:applause:

Naga council opposes local gov’t code change (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20090626-212599/Naga-council-opposes-local-govt-code-change)

By Jonas Cabiles Soltes
Inquirer Southern Luzon
First Posted 20:45:00 06/26/2009

Filed Under: Laws

NAGA CITY, Philippines -- The Naga City Council has passed a resolution strongly opposing a House bill seeking to amend the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act 7160) to allow several municipalities to become cities by exempting them from income requirement.

In the resolution, passed on June 16, the council said it was joining the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) in opposing the bill which it said discriminates against other local government units in favor the 16 municipalities that recently lost in the case “LCP versus the Commission on Election.”

In the case, the 16 municipalities argued that they should be exempted from the minimum income requirement to be a city because their charters had been approved by Congress before the Supreme Court nullified their elevation to the category of city in November last year.

The Naga City Council said the proposed amendment would violate the “equal protection clause under the 1987 Constitution” and would be a retroactive implementation of a law, which is in violation of Section 450 of Republic Act 7160.

It also noted that the 16 municipalities must comply first with the requirements provided under Section 450 of Republic act 7160 which states that to become a city, a municipality should have an annual income of at least P100 million.

It said that when the decision of the Supreme Court in the LCP vs Comelec case became final, Naga City, for instance, was notified that it was going to receive an IRA adjustment amounting to P42 million.

The cities reverted back to being municipalities and call themselves the "League of 16", which include Baybay (Leyte province), Bogo, Naga and Carcar (Cebu), Catbalogan and Borongan (Samar), Tandag (Surigao del Sur), Lamitan (Basilan), Tayabas (Quezon), Tabuk (Kalinga), Bayugan (Agusan del Sur), Batac (Ilocos Norte), Guihulngan (Negros Oriental), Cabadbaran (Agusan del Norte), El Salvador (Misamis Oriental), and Mati (Davao Oriental).

BANAUE, IFUGAO
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Photo credit: Ian Ong (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianong/)
This is themost beautiful picture of Banaue Rice Terraces I've ever seen.:cheers:

ALEMET, IFUGAO
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Photo credit: IRRI Images (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricephotos/)

this one is even more beautiful...but this is in Alemet.:cheers:

Bagsakan Center established in Abra (http://pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=car&y=&mo=&fi=p090704.htm&no=21)

by Maritess Beñas

San Quintin, Abra (4 July) -- The first Bagsakan Center (Trading Post) in the Cordilleras funded by the Department of Agriculture was established and opened in Barangay Villa Mercedes, this town last June 24, 2009.

Department of Agriculture Cordillera Regional Director Cesar D. Rodriguez led the inauguration and blessing of the establishment.

The Bagsakan Center in San Quintin is the first in the region that is funded by the DA in partnership with the local government unit. DA provided P1 million the local government unit of San Quintin for the establishment and maintenance of its first three years of operation.

According to Provincial Agriculturist Ms. Marlita O. Basingan, San Quitnin was chosen by the DA Central Office because of the outstanding performance of its Barangay Bagsakan Center, which is one of the best throughout the country.

Last year, five Barangay Bagsakan Centers were established in Abra in the municipalities of Danglas, Pilar, Manabo, Lagangilang and San Quintin.

The project aims to support the national government's hunger mitigation program to correct malnutrition by helping the farmers increase their income, generate employment, and provide a market place where fresh farm produce are sold at a lower price.

During the opening of the Bagsakan Center, around 200 vendors, mostly farmers from Abra, went to sell their products of fruits and vegetables like rambutan from Sallapadan, squash noodles from Dolores, papaya from San Quintin, and various vegetables from the vegetable bowl-barangays of Pidigan and Bangued including fresh water fish from Abra's fisherfolks.

Fruit and vegetable dealers from Kayang and Baguio City also came to sell their products who, in return bought Abra products as their backload.

Meanwhile, San Quintin Mayor Amador Diaz said they are still trying to determine the best day for them to declare as their Market Day in town. (PIA-Abra)

great photos of Ifugao, really love those pics...

BANAUE, IFUGAO
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Photo credit: kfa (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kfa/)

IFUGAO'S TRADITIONAL COSTUME(S)
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Photo credit: litrato at larawan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/litratro_at_larawan/)

this one is even more beautiful...but this is in Alemet.:cheers:

where in Ifugao is Alemet? Is it in Lamut?

President Arroyo to visit Abra province on Saturday
(http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=225345)By Freddie G. Lazaro

BANGUED, Abra, Aug. 21 (PNA)--President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is expected to visit the province of Abra on Saturday.

While in Abra, the President is set to attend a mass at the Bangued Cathedral.

Afterward, she will meet with local officials and officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to discuss matters on peace and development in the province.

Abra Governor Eustaquio Bersamin said the President will also grace the opening of the newly-constructed Ugnayan Center, built within the capitol.

The center will accommodate the local offices of various government line agencies to facilitate the efficient delivery of basic services to the populace.

It was recalled that last year, President Arroyo visited Abra province specifically in the town of Pilar to launch an upland development program called FIELDS.

The program reportedly contributed to the improvement of the agricultural outputs of the farmers and development of various local industrial products.
In her previous visit, the President also introduced various infrastructures projects like repair and completion of farm to market roads to provide accessibility in the different towns of Abra. (PNA)
LAP/lvm/FGL/rma

BANAUE, IFUGAO
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Photo credit: kfa (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kfa/)

truly a wonder....:cheers:

^^indeed! a breathtaking view!:)

I really miss banaue... I jsut stayed there for 2 hours before heading to SAgada.... ang dami pang ino-offer ang Banaue sa mga tourists na hindi ko pa napuntahan....nxt time hehehe

BANAUE, IFUGAO
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Photo credit: Ian Ong (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianong/)

wow awesome really nice view.......i hope it will be preserved.......

Ifugao Rice Terraces gets $50,000 from UNESCO for rehabilitation (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=527103&publicationSubCategoryId=67&newsalert)
By Artemio Dumlao (The Philippine Star) Updated November 27, 2009 12:00 AM

Lagawe, Ifugao , Philippines – The world-renowed Ifugao Rice Terraces got a $50,000 grant from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) for its rehabilitation.

Ifugao Gov. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. in announcing the grant said the series of typhoons have severely affected the rice terraces in the province.

“In the previous years, our ancestors could predict when the rain comes and consider it as a blessing. But now, because of climate change, rains have become destructive to our farmers, even causing pestilence in our rice terraces,” the Ifugao governor said during the recent Accelerated anti-Hunger Mitigation Program (AHMP) forum and Barangay Nutrition Scholars Congress at the Lagawe Central School in Barangay Poblacion here.

Baguilat said the Unesco’s $50,000 assistance is a response to help the recent wrath of typhoon Emong that battered the province, along with other succeeding typhoons.

The damage wrought by the typhoons to the rice terraces have also tremendously reduced harvest especially when the “Tinawon” rice (a native rice variety that has gained prominence and delight) is open for export.

“While we cannot ascertain yet, definitely it will affect our production. In fact, we are asking the Department of Agriculture to repair our irrigation system. And this is the first time that the National Irrigation Administration is assisting us because of the destruction,” the governor said.

The Unesco grant will be solely used for the rehabilitation of the rice terraces in Banaue, Mayoyao, Hungduan and Kiangan towns.

if we really want to protect the terraces.. i think dapat paalisin talaga yung mga bahay diyan pati yung mga nakatira.. may be build far from the terraces.. i mean.. sigur yung hindi naman diyan nakalagay.. maybe 250meters away lang pwede na basta wala diyan mismo sa palayan..

any updates on my beloved province Abra? anyhting good news?

Ang sarap ma in-love sa Sagada!! :cheers:

Ang ganda ng view, ang ganda ng waterfalls, adventure dun sa cave, at good clean wholesome fun alang jutts! hehehe :lol:

Ang sarap ma in-love sa Sagada!! :cheers:

Ang ganda ng view, ang ganda ng waterfalls, adventure dun sa cave, at good clean wholesome fun alang jutts! hehehe :lol:

ahhh, i just spent a week in Sagada! just got home... i had so many unforgettable moments in there. i have photos to share here, soon. :D

ahhh, i just spent a week in Sagada! just got home... i had so many unforgettable moments in there. i have photos to share here, soon. :D

Haha, yes, mas lalo na pag kasama mo love interest mo! :cheers:

I took these photos while on the bus heading to Sagada
Somewhere in Benguet - Mt. Province
Nov. 29, 2009 by rustyboi (http://www.flickr.com/photos/restymail/)

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Sagada! (Day 1)

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^^awesome views......

High court reverses itself, upholds cityhood laws (http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=3670)

THE SUPREME COURT has reversed itself on laws converting the status of several municipalities into cities, and upholding congressional prerogative on the matter.

In a 35-page decision penned by Associate Justice Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr. that declared the so-called cityhood laws constitutional, the high court sided with the second appeal of 16 municipalities whose first motion for reconsideration was denied more than a year ago.

Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio penned the original decision on Nov. 18, 2008 that upheld the petition of the League of Cities of the Philippines to declare the 16 cityhood laws as unconstitutional.

The cityhood bills automatically lapsed into laws on various dates from March to July 2007. They covered the municipalities of Baybay, Leyte; Bogo, Carcar and Naga in Cebu; Catbalogan, Samar; Tandag, Surigao del Sur; Borongan, Eastern Samar; Tayabas, Quezon; Lamitan, Basilan; Tabuk, Kalinga; Bayugan, Agusan del Sur; Batac, Ilocos Norte; Mati, Davao Oriental; Guihulngan, Negros Oriental; Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte; and El Salvador, Misamis Oriental.

The high court then noted that the Constitution required Congress to set the criteria for the creation of cities within the 1991 Local Government Code, not through the passage of cityhood laws.

The affected municipalities then filed a motion for reconsideration on Dec. 10, 2008. In a session last Jan. 13, the court denied the petition with finality, but the resolution was withheld when former solicitor general Estelito P. Mendoza, the 16 municipalities’ counsel, asked that other magistrates absent during initial discussions on the issue be included in deliberations on the motion for reconsideration.

On March 31, the court denied the motion for reconsideration since "the basic issues raised therein having been passed upon already," but the municipalities countered with a "motion for leave to file and to admit attached second motion for reconsideration."

In the latest decision, six magistrates upheld the cityhood laws, four dissented, and three abstained. The court has 13 magistrates with two slots of retired justices still to be filled up to complete the 15-member court.

In upholding the cityhood laws, the high court said: "Congress can... impose the said verifiable criteria of viability [for cityhood]. These criteria need not be embodied in the Local Government Code..."

It also debunked the league of cities’ contention that the laws would erode their share of the national revenue contrary to the Constitution’s equal protection clause. "The fundamental right of equal protection does not require absolute equality. It is enough that all persons or things similarly situated should be treated alike...," the court noted.

ABRA CAPITOL - BANGUED, ABRA
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BANGUED MUNICIPAL HALL
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Photo credit: banguedenio (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bangued/)

BANAUE, IFUGAO
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Photo credit: kfa (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kfa/)


kakainlove naman itong picture. "MAGAYUNON".

TABUK, KALINGA
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Photo credit: phage547 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/phage547/)

I know exactly this spot!! it's beautiful but dangerous :cheers:

any news from bout Abra?! ano ang latest?

World heritage province of Ifugao gets its first state university (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=2&rid=251077)
By Louie A. Morente

LAMUT, Ifugao, Jan. 6 (PNA) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the formal inauguration on Wednesday of the Ifugao State University (IFSU), the sole tertiary educational institution that is expected to sustain the excellent educational tradition in this world heritage province and the rest of the Cordilleras.

At the IFSU main campus here, the President led the reenactment of the October 14, 2009 signing in Malacanang of Republic Act No. 9720 that converted the former Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry (ISCAF) into a state university.

In her impromptu remarks, the President said the conversion of the state university will help sustain “the tradition of excellent education in the Cordilleras and the province of Ifugao.”

IFSU started as a farm settlement elementary school in 1920 and became ISCAF in 1982 with four other satellite campuses in the towns of Alfonso Lista, Tinoc, Lagawe and Asipulo.

As the premier institute of higher learning in this this third-class province, IFSU offers courses in agriculture and forestry, education, computer science, business management, health sciences, engineering and industrial technology, among others

President Arroyo also thanked the local government officials for adopting her as “The Most Distinguished Daughter of Ifugao,” conferring on her the name “Gulinamay,” culled from a folk song tale which means “a hardworking woman with strong character.”

The President also told the audience that she is happy with the recent upgrading of the Halsema Highway that connects to the tourism destinations here such as the Ifugao rice terraces, the Philippine War Memorial Shrine, and the surrender site of former Japanese Imperial Army General Tomoyuki Yamashita in Kiangan.

The President said she yearly visits the rice terraces which tourists now find more accessible with the improved condition of the Halsema Highway which was first opened by her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal.

The President, accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III and CHED Chairman Emmanuel Angeles, among others, was welcomed by some 4,000 students, local government officials and other guests during the inauguration rites at the IFSU main campus gym.

She was welcomed by Ifugao Governor Teddy Baguilat Jr., Lone Dist. Rep. Solomon Chungalao, Lamut Mayor Francis Tenenan, the 10 other town mayors led by Ifugao Mayors’ League president and Alfonso Lista Mayor Charles Cattiling, and IFSU president Serafin Ngohayon.

Upon her arrival, the President was garbed by welcomers with the native Ifugao attire called "tapis."

Baguilat and Chungalao thanked the President for her projects and programs which pushed the development of their province.

Ngohayon also hailed the President for her scholarship program and the conversion of IFSCA into a state university.

“Thank you, Madame President, for giving the opportunity for our young people to realize their dreams of a bright future,” Ngohayon said. (PNA)

President Arroyo at Ifugao State University (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=21)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/images/ifugao%202.jpg

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, wearing an Ifugao attire, waves to the crowd after she led the re-enactment of the signing of Republic Act 9720 that converted the Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry into the Ifugao State University (ISU) Wednesday (Jan. 6) at the IFSU Gymnasium in Lamut, Ifugao. Also in photo are lone District Rep. Solomon R. Chungalao and Gov. Teddy Baguilat Jr. and other local officials. (PNA/NIB photo by B. Canilang)

PGMA re-enacts signing of RA 9720

http://www.pna.gov.ph/images/ifugao.jpg

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, wearing an Ifugao attire, re-enacts the signing into law of Republic Act 9720 that converted the Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry into the Ifugao State University (IFSU) in ceremonies Wednesday (Jan. 6) at the IFSU Gymnasium in Lamut, Ifugao. Also in photo are lone District Rep. Solomon R. Chungalao and Gov. Teddy Baguilat Jr. and other local officials. (PNA/NIB photo by B.Canilang)

I'll never forget my last visit there back then when I was a highschool student. I got the chance for the trip, because of the student exchange program hosted by the Rotary Club of Quezon City. It was a very nice place and the people are very hospitable. I really owe them my life when I was there and the family that took care of me. I'll never forget this place. I definitely love Mt. Province!

Hydro plant to help save Banaue Rice Terraces
(philstar.com) Updated January 22, 2010 04:55 PM

MANILA, Philippines (AP) – International electric power producers have donated a $1 million hydroelectric plant to the Philippine government that will raise funds to help save the country's famous rice terraces, officials said Friday.

The 220-kilowatt plant donated by the nonprofit group e8 is now operating in the northern Ifugao province, home to 4,000 square miles (10,000 square kilometers) of steepling rice terraces carved out of the mountainsides some 2,000 years ago and irrigated by spring waters.

The terraces, the main tourist attraction
in the northern Cordillera region, were included in the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in Danger in 2001 after about 30 percent of them were found abandoned. Damage to some of their stone and mud walls threaten to erode the mountainsides.

Johane Meagher, e8 executive director, said that the hydropower plant's $70,000 in annual revenue will go to a conservation fund to rehabilitate the ancient rice fields. The project will also showcase sustainable rural energy development, she said in a statement.

The group turned over the plant to the Department of Energy at a ceremony in Manila Friday, said Mario Marasigan, director of the Renewable Energy Management Bureau.

The plant, built by Tokyo Electric Power Company, was completed in December and has been connected to the region's main grid, providing about 18 percent of Ifugao's power needs, Marasigan said.

Canada-based e8 comprises 10 electric power producers from seven members of the G8 — the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Germany and Russia.

http://mb.com.ph/sites/default/files/images/Untitled-5_19.jpg
RICE TERRACES HYDROELECTRIC PLANT

The majestic Rice Terraces is set to benefit from a $1-million hydroelectric plant donated by e8, a non-profit group of international power producers, to the Philippine government which is seeking funds to help save the country’s famous landmark in Northern Luzon. (AP)

Maganda talaga ang Cordillera mountains, at lahat ng mga bulubundukin sa CAR! cool na cool mga photos!!! Nakakainggit na naibabahagi ninyo ito dito. Dami ko ring mga photos na kinuha diyan sa cordi pero kailangan ko pang pag-aralan paano ito i-post at need ko din ng mas mahabang oras para gawin ito. Hay... siyana ampay ya!!!

yesterday sa UP Diliman regarding sa Phil.Daily Inq. presidentiable debate.. tinanong si Gibo kung ano yung pinakaliblib na lugar ang napuntahan na niya and he said salapadan, abra.. nakita niya yung mining industry doon at malaking potential daw para sa probinsya ng abra yun pero hindi dapat masakripisyo ng husto ang kalikasan..

sabi ko noon mabanggit lang nito ang Abra kung ano ang makikita niya dun e talagang iboboto ko siya.. at since nabanggit niya kahapon talagang solid na ang boto ko sa kanya.. hindi lang abra ang makikinabang dito kundi pati ang cordillera region.. kaya kung ako sa mga kapwa ko cordillera e iboto na natin si Gibo.. panahon na para sumulong o makilala ang CORDILLERA REGION.. hindi lang Baguio city ang pwedeng mag offer ng kung ano.. maraming porbinsya ang sakop ng CAR so ito na ang hinihintay natin..

ZyVqDxO4Sxg&feature

Power firm donates 11 computers and printers to Ifugao town (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=259043)

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Feb. 16 (PNA) -- Hydro power firm SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) Magat Inc. recently handed over at least 11 sets of computers and printers to various public schools in Aguinaldo town in Ifugao province.

The computers and printers were turned-over to school officials during a program witnessed by Aguinaldo town Mayor Delfin Bullan, Vice Mayor Gaspar Chilagan, Councilor Agustin Natuno and SNAP External Relations Manager lawyer Mike Hosillos.

Rhoda Santos, SNAP Magat Inc. communications officer, said the computers and printers will benefit at least 1,600 students and teachers of eight public schools in Aguinaldo town.

SNAP Magat owns and operates the 360-megawatt Magat hydroelectric power plant bordering the towns of Ramon, in Isabela province and Alfonso Lista, in Ifugao province.

The company is a joint venture of Aboitiz Group and SN Power of Norway, which took over government operations in 2007.

Mayor Bullan accepted the equipment on behalf of the schools, vowing to ensure proper maintenance and maximum use of the computers for the children and teachers.

“We thank SNAP-Magat for bringing this project to our municipality. These computers will go a long way in the educational development of our children,” Vice Mayor Chilagan also said in his welcome remarks.

Lawyer Mike Hosillos, the SNAP Magat’s external relations manager, also expressed hope that the project will help improve the teaching and learning process among teachers and school children.

“SNAP wants to make a positive impact on the communities where we operate through its program of corporate social responsibility (CSR). We don’t want to see children being left behind in this computer-driven age,” he said.

Hosillos also emphasized that other than CSR projects, SNAP promotes a culture of honesty and integrity in the conduct of its business, ensuring compliance to applicable business laws.

Aside from the donation, SNAP-Magat also supported a medical and dental mission last month, benefiting 111 dental patients and 67 medical patients also in Ifugao.

The mission was spearheaded by Don Bosco High School Alumni Association Batch 84.

The volunteers provided medical services to residents of Barangays Cudog, Boliwong, Burnay, Buyabuyan, Caba, Tunggod, Ponghal, Poblacion in Lagawe and some from the municipalities of Lamut and Kiangan. (PNA)

VOTE STRAIGHT: LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD (ABRA)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE: CECILIA SEARES-LUNA
GOVERNOR: EUSTAQUIO BERSAMIN
VICE-GOVERNOR: ROLANDO SOMERA

BOARD MEMBERS: (multiple Lakas-Kampi-CMD Candidate, choose one from each member)
1st member:
-RUDOLFO BERNARDREZ JR.
-NOEL BERONA
-ELMER GAYAO
-NANCY LUPAND

2nd member:
-SERAFIN ALZATE
-ALLEN BACHILLER
-KATHLEEN BALBIN

THIS SECTION IS FOR MUNICIPALITY OF BANGUED ONLY
MAYOR: DOMINIC VALERA
VICE-MAYOR: ALLAN PERALTA SEARES

COUNCILORS:(multiple candidates LAKAS-KAMPI-CMD)
-DANILO ADAME
-FIDES ALZATE
-RAMON BERALDE
-ANGELTINO BIGORNIA
-SALVACION BORJA
-NEVELLE LUCERO
-JOSEPH VALERA
-FLORENCIO VIADO

Some of my photos of Sagada, Mountain Province:

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PGMA to open Phase 2 of vital Halsema Highway Monday (http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=1&rid=261470)

BAUKO, Mountain Province, Feb. 28 (PNA) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will inaugurate here Monday the second phase of the newly-rehabilitated Halsema Highway project as part of her super region tour in Northern Luzon.

The Halsema Highway, a 180-kilometer access road linking the northern hinterlands to the main roads of Luzon, is one of the priority projects of the President in the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle, one of the five growth regions she identified in her 2006 strategic development plan.

The highway is a significant project as it provides link between many provinces of Northern Luzon to Metro Manila. It is the only accessible road from Baguio City to the croplands of Benguet and Mountain Province. It is also a vital link to Banaue in Ifugao, a major tourism destination in the region.

The highway project consists of three phases in varying stages of completion: Phase I, which covers the La Trinidad to Mt. Data portion and completed in 2006; and Phase 3, which stretches from Bontoc to Banaue, now under rehabilitation and expected to be completed this year. The 50.4-kilometer Phase 2 will be opened to vehicular traffic in today’s event.

Rehabilitated at a cost of P1.094 billion, Phase 2 was widened and concreted with adequate drainage structures, slope protection and retaining wall.

Part of the project was the completion of the Mt. Data bridge in Boga, Bontoc.

The highway is seen to reduce travel time between Baguio and Bontoc from seven hours to just four and a half hours.

Expected to join the President at the inauguration will be Public Works and Highways Secretary Victor Domingo and local executives and residents of the province. (PNA)

http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/photos-mar2010/ph4-030110.jpg (http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/photo.htm)
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo leads the ceremonial drive-thru along the second phase of the new-rehabilitated Halsema highway project in northern Luzon Monday (March 1). Also in photo are DPWH Sec. Victor Domingo, Mountain Province Gov. Maximo Dalog. (Exequiel Supera/ OPS-NIB Photo)

http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/photos-mar2010/ph3-030110.jpg (http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/photo.htm)
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo unveils the marker of the second phase of the newly-rehabilitated Halsema Highway in Mount Data Mountain Province Monday (March 1). Assisting the President are Mountain Province Gov. Maximo Dalog, DPWH Sec. Victor Domingo, Mountain Province Rep. Manuel Agyao and DPWH Under Sec. Romeo Momo. (Exequiel Supera/ OPS-NIB Photo)


http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/photos-mar2010/ph2-030110.jpg (http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/photo.htm)
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is welcomed by Mountain Province Lone District Rep. Manuel Agyao during her arrival at the Mount Data Halsema Highway in Mountain Province, Monday, (March 1). The President inaugurated the newly-rehabilitated Halsema Highway. Also in photo is Mountain Province Gov. Maximo Dalog. (Exequiel Supera/ OPS-NIB Photo)

Source (http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/photo.htm)

Abra farmers get help (http://mb.com.ph/articles/246244/abra-farmers-get-help)

BANGUED, Abra — At least 5,000 farmers from 25 of the 27 towns in this conflict-stricken province have received fertilizer and seed subsidies from both the national and local governments to help them cope with the effects of Typhoon Pepeng last year.

The provincial agriculturist’s office said the fertilizer and seed subsidy is also intended to help the farmers combat the effects of the prolonged dry spell.

The local agriculture office said there are 3,442 hectares of rice farms in the 25 towns of the province that have been totally or partially damaged by Typhoon Pepeng when it wrecked havoc in Northern Luzon for over two weeks last year.

Under the guidelines in the grant of the fertilizer subsidy, the assistance is given to beneficiaries in the form of certificates of entitlement so that they could start planting their crops for the next harvest season.

The national and local governments also distributed seed subsidies to the affected farmers over the past several weeks.

Initially, a total of 2,017 hectares of rice farms with 2,558 farmers were able to benefit from the distribution of the certified seeds.

Mt Province officials, residents thank PGMA for rehabilitated Halsema Highway (http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p100306.htm&no=41)

Bauko, Mt. Province (6 March) -- Local officials and residents of this landlock province openly expressed their gratitude to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the rehabilitation and improvement of the once humpy- bumpy Halsema high way.

President Arroyo motored to Mount Data, Bauko from the Lepanto Mines airstrip on March 1 to inaugurate the 50.4 kilometer Mount Data to Bontoc road stretch or which is referred to as the Phase II of the Halsema Highway Rehabilitation project.

Phase I of the Halsema Rehab project starts from La Trinidad, Benguet up to Mount Data, Bauko which was completed in 2006 while phase III starts from the capital-town of Bontoc to Banaue, Ifugao which is under construction and is expected to be finished by April.

In his welcome remarks at the Boga bridge where the short program was held, Governor Maximo Dalog thanked President Arroyo for pouring in billions of pesos for the improvement of major roads leading to the Cordillera Heartland. He said the crucial concreting of the road trunklines will usher in the development of the people and the communities not only in Mt. Province but the whole of the Cordilleras.

The Halsema rehabilitation project including that of the Bontoc – Tabuk road and the Sabangan – Cervantes road are part of the President's flagship projects in the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle to hasten economic development in this part of the region.

The Provincial Chief Executive also thanked President Arroyo for being the number one tourism promoter saying the President's frequent visit to Mt. Province perked up the tourism industry in the province. The President usually made a working visit to Mt. Province during the Christmas holiday season and Holy Week.

Noting the many programs and projects the province received from the present administration, Dalog concluded that Pres. Arroyo is the only the incumbent President that showed much concern and sensitivity to the needs of the people of Mt. Province.

Road users and commuters in thanking the President said the concreted road would now allow them to experience the basic convenience of traveling. They said travel time is significantly reduced such that they can reach their destination much earlier as compared to when the road is still unpaved.

A road worker in his interaction with the President said the Halsema rehabilitation project gave him the opportunity to be employed like hundreds of local residents in the province.

The improved Halsema road will be one of the legacies of President Arroyo to the people of Mt. Province and the whole of the Cordillera.

Drought imperils rice terraces in Philippines (http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Philippines+%26+South+Asia&month=March2010&file=World_News20100307104846.xml)
Web posted at: 3/7/2010 10:48:46
Source ::: THE PHILIPPINE STAR

BAYOMBONG: Banaue town in Ifugao province, where the famous rice terraces are located, has been placed under a state of calamity due to the continued dry spell caused by the El Niño phenomenon that has dried up rice fields.

“The terraces have practically dried up to the extent that even a slight rain could cause landslides,” said Banaue Mayor Lino Madchiw.

The dry spell has affected thousands of hectares of agricultural crops and livestock nationwide, and the drought now threatens Banaue’s world famous rice terraces, leaving the paddies parched and highly vulnerable to erosion.

The drought has damaged 65 million pesos worth of palay, vegetables, fruits, and livestock.

Because of the drought, large earthworms have penetrated the paddies and endangered the terraces, which is a World Heritage Site and one of the country’s top tourist attractions.

The perceived lack of interest among young Ifugao natives towards tending to the centuries-old terraces has aggravated the degradation of the terraces, sometimes referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”

The terraces begin at the base of the mountain range and extend several thousand feet upwards.

Two of the terrace clusters in Banaue, namely Bangaan and Batad, have been listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) as a World Heritage Site. International experts have been sent by Unesco to Banaue to help locals preserve the terraces.

Local officials of several towns in Luzon and the Visayas also plan to declare a state of calamity in their areas after agricultural crops and livestock were wiped out by the current dry spell.

Representative Anna York Bondoc of the fourth district of Pampanga reported yesterday that eight towns in her province were expected to declare a state of calamity in areas affected by the drought that threatens 14,000 hectares of rice fields where irrigation water has been cut off.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is set to declare a power crisis in Mindanao and implement emergency measures costing almost 10 billion pesos after the drought affected hydroelectric power stations in the region.

The weather bureau reported that a moderate El Niño still prevails over the equatorial Pacific and may last until June.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) confirmed that 15 more provinces in Luzon had been experiencing a dry spell for the past three months.

Pagasa said Ifugao, Abra, Kalinga, Apayao, Mt. Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Bataan, Zambales, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal have experienced no rains in the past three months.

AFP turns over completed projects in Abra's former rebel-influenced village
NARVACAN, Ilocos Sur, March 17 (PNA)--The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) turned over a newly constructed health center and a completed barangay electrification system in a simple ceremony in Barangay Palaquio of Bucay, Abra last Monday.

The village is a depressed community in Abra and used to be New People's Army (NPA) rebel-influenced till it was liberated by government soldiers.

The ceremony coincided with the conduct of free medical and dental mission benefiting at least 400 residents, in the presence of Abra provincial officials led by Abra Rep. Cecilia S. Luna.

Colonel Essel C. Soriano, commander of the Army’s 503rd Brigade based in Lagangilang, Abra, said on Wednesday these projects are part of the Kalayaan Barangays Program (KBP) projects amounting to P4.5 million.

This was funded by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and implemented by the National Development Support Command of the AFP through the Army’s engineering unit for construction.

Other projects being constructed in the area, which are expected to be finished by the end of March, are the rehabilitation of a farm-to-market road and the construction of barangay water system.

According to Soriano, similar KBP projects are being implemented in Barangay Layugan, Bucay; Barangay Sabnangan, Luba town, both of Abra province.

Colonel Francisco C. Datalio Jr., the chief of staff of the Army’s 54th Engineering Brigade, said that more barangays in Abra will also be benefited by the KBP projects upon the recommendation of the Army field units in the area.

“Actually, we are trying to finish projects for six barangays already programmed before the end of June 2010,” Datalio said.

Meanwhile, Soriano assured that the Army’s ground troops based in Abra will continue to recommend to the different priority barangays in the province to avail of the KBP projects.

These areas were already cleared from the influence of the NPA.

"For long term peace solutions, the efforts of the military have to be complemented with development so that the effects will be lasting and mutually benefiting,” Soriano said.

In response, Palaquio barangay chairman Nonito Alagao expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Philippine Army for implementing the much needed projects in their place. (PNA)
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=264909

Bangued's quaint downtown area.

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^^Wow! I love the greenery! :okay:

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:banana::cheers:

Aboitiz launches agro-forestry project in Ifugao
‏MANILA, May 13 (PNA) -- SN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc. (SNAP-Magat) and Ifugao non-government organization Social Action Development Center (SADC) recently launched the Livelihood, Enterprise and Agro-forestry Development Project or LEAD aimed at curbing deforestation in the Ifugao watershed areas.

In simple ceremonies held at Brgy. Cababuyan, Hingyon, Ifugao on May 6, 2010, SNAP-Magat and SADC were joined by the Inado Peoples Organization (IPO), an upstream community made up of some 30 families. LEAD is a first joint project of SNAP-Magat with an NGO.

“We strongly believe in grassroots initiatives because residents of the community know best what needs to be done in their own community. It is our way of helping develop forest areas while providing livelihood opportunities to upstream communities,” Vice President for Corporate Services Michael C. Hosillos said.

SADC Chairman Fr. Valentin Dimoc said five nurseries of forest and agro forest trees will be established in five areas identified in the upstream communities of Ifugao. Conversion of grasslands into forests through the planting of fruit-bearing and other agro-forest trees will provide livelihood for communities.

He added that organic farming is also a component of the LEAD project through the establishment of shredding areas to manufacture vermicompost as organic fertilizer for farmers. Vermicomposting is a process that uses earthworms to turn organic wastes into high quality compost.

The LEAD project implementation is expected to run for three years and will be piloted in Brgy. Cababuyan with the IPO which has an established membership of professionals and farmers.

Aptly named after the native term for “fertile ground,” IPO has experience in implementing microfinance and seedling production activities in the municipality. (PNA) http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=3&sid=&nid=3&rid=275540

Bangued's quaint downtown area.

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:cheers::cheers::cheers:
^^Wow! I love the greenery! :okay:

Agree!:cheers:

Manila and other urban areas in the country should look like this!:)

PIA Press Release
2010/06/05

62 Barangay Bagsakan, 1 Barangay Center now operating in CAR
by SC Aro

Baguio City (5 June) -- The hunger mitigation project under the Department of Agriculture and the local government units has already gone a long way accounting for one Bagsakan Center and 62 Barangay Bagsakan operating in the Cordillera region.

Still scheduled to be launched in the region are 10 Bagsakan Centers and 30 Barangay Bagsakan.

Marlyn Cosalan of DA-Regional Field Office said their office provides buildings or structures for Bagsakan Centers and facilities for Barangay Bagsakan Projects.

The only operational Bagsakan Center to date is located in Abra. The operational Barangay Bagsakan are distributed as follows: Abra - 5; Apayao - 2; Benguet - 26; Ifugao - 6; Mt Province - 13; and Kalinga- 10.

The selection of recipients is based on the identified priority 1 or priority 2 provinces under the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program of the government.

Another criteria is that the barangay or the partner organization should have the commitment to undertake the project by providing the land and building or structure, operating capital and create a Barangay Bagsakan management team that will operate the project.

The project is a barangay-based food depot and distribution system offering affordable, safe and quality food products such as meat, poultry, fish, vegetable and fruits which directly links farmers and fisher folk producers to the consumers.

A community participated retail food distribution system, it makes accessible low-priced food products to the marginalized sector as well as increase income of agriculture and fishery producers. (PIA) [top]



...experience Cagayan North...and find out the true meaning of adventure...
www.cagayan.gov.ph www.tuguegaraocity.gov.ph www.facebook.com/MySantaAna www.facebook.com/pages/CAGAYAN-NORTH

Mt Province folks grateful to Pres. Arroyo
Bontoc, Mt. Province (26 June) -- The people of Mt. Province should be thankful to President Arroyo for she is the only president that showed concern and sensitivity to the needs of the people in this province. This is the common comment given by people who were interviewed.

The improvement of major roads leading to Mt. Province alone is a great help to the province, they said.

We have to appreciate how President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo stayed in office for nine years, said TESDA Provincial Director Gabriel Cayacay. She is a hard working president and despite those criticisms against her, she even works harder.

Aside from improvement of major roads, various hunger mitigation programs of the Arroyo administration have also benefited the people here and the beneficiaries are very grateful for what they have received.

The province is a beneficiary of the "Bagsakan ng Isda sa Barangay" program which is a component of the Hunger Mitigation Program of the Arroyo administration wherein the BFAR provides initial capital to be used by identified organizations which will serve as the vehicle for the enhancement of the efficiency of food delivery to the barangay.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program (4Ps), a poverty reduction strategy of the present administration being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development that provides grants to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education particularly of children aged 0-14. The program provides each family beneficiary a cash grant of P500 per month for health and nutrition expenses and P300 per month per child for one school year or 10 months for educational expenses for a maximum of three children for five years. This program is benefiting 1,564 beneficiaries in the province.

The Food for School Program of President Arroyo is being implemented through the Department of Education and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to benefit identified school children in the public elementary schools and in day care schools. It hopes to curb hunger and malnutrition among elementary and day care school children, aside from increasing school attendance.

A total of 19,405 electric consumers in the province with below 100 kilowatt-hour electric consumption benefited from the "Pantawid kuryente: Katas ng VAT program, a P500 one-time cash subsidy. This is a program launched by the Arroyo administration as a measure to fight against poverty.

The Katas ng VAT: Tulong Para Kay Lolo at Lola program has also benefited identified elders in the province who are 60 years old and above.

Other hunger mitigation programs implemented in the province include Programang Gulayan ng Masa which aims to reduce rural hunger and improve nutrition in targeted provinces and urban areas through the promotion and establishment of household backyard/container gardens and communal gardens as well as provision of training, starter seeds, small farm implements and organic fertilizers; Barangay Bagsakan Center; fertilizer subsidy; SEA-K and Tindahan Natin, among others.

The Comprehensive Livelihood and emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) of the Arroyo administration implemented by various departments of the government has also benefited the province.

The program aims to provide livelihood opportunities to laid off overseas Filipino Workers and other unemployed sectors.

The Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture and other agencies of the government have implemented the CLEEP program.

The DPWH hired skilled and non-skilled workers under its Out-of-School Youth Program Serving towards Economic Recovery (OYSTER); DOLE paid workers hired by Tadian LGU and the Provincial Government under its Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa mga Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program and also hired nurses under the Nurses Assigned in Rural Services (NARS) program; DSWD hired enumerators and area supervisors who conducted data gathering for the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction, and the DTI hired Price monitors who conducted price monitoring of basic commodities and hot products affecting the consumers and a financial analyst who assisted micro-entrepreneurs on financial services.

For education, the Pangulong Gloria Scholarship (PGS) program implemented by the Technical Education, Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) has benefited the province. Beneficiaries were able to acquire their skills for free.http://pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=car&y=&mo=&fi=p100626.htm&no=32

I think this should have its own thread? I didn't see one if there already is

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Breath taking shots...

Awesome! I miss Sagada...

Some of my Banaue and Batad pix...

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Wow wow wow!!!

Ganda ng view... Ayaw ko lang ang amoy... pero maganda... Sana lang pwede pang mapaluwangan ang mga daan...

BONTOC, MT. PROVINCE
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Photo credit: onbangladesh (http://www.flickr.com/photos/onbangladesh/)

BONTOC
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Photo credit: Reynald Nuñez (http://www.flickr.com/photos/reynaldnunez/)

Some of my Banaue and Batad pix...

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life here must be really laidback. the terraces loom over the landscape. great pictures. :)

Some of my Banaue and Batad pix...

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^^Gotta go see these places one day...hoping soon

__________________________

...experience
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/object2/1966/95/n271918910232_3329.jpg
and find out the true meaning of adventure

BONTOC
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Photo credit: Reynald Nuñez (http://www.flickr.com/photos/reynaldnunez/)

SA BONTOC BA TLGA TO?? BAKIT MAY TRICYCLE NG TUGUEGARAO DIYAN??

^^SA BONTOC BA TLGA TO?? BAKIT MAY TRICYCLE NG TUGUEGARAO DIYAN??

Baka sa Tuguegarao pa sila bumibili ng trike nila haha.:lol:

^^

Baka sa Tuguegarao pa sila bumibili ng trike nila haha.:lol:

Yep... Bontoc yan.

Maganda ang climate dyan... malabig... maganda ang view.. but I dont like the smell...

Pero sa bi ng prof ko, kultura na kasi ng mga Ifugao ang mag-alaga ng mga baboy... By the way, people of Ifugao and Bontoc Mountain province ay bumababa pa sa Santiago city para doon mamalengke at ipagbili ang mga produkto... Ganoon sia kasisipag....:)

^^

Baka sa Tuguegarao pa sila bumibili ng trike nila haha.:lol:

Yep... Bontoc yan.

Maganda ang climate dyan... malabig... maganda ang view.. but I dont like the smell...

Pero sa bi ng prof ko, kultura na kasi ng mga Ifugao ang mag-alaga ng mga baboy... By the way, people of Ifugao and Bontoc Mountain province ay bumababa pa sa Santiago city para doon mamalengke at ipagbili ang mga produkto... Ganoon sila kasisipag....:)

^^

Baka sa Tuguegarao pa sila bumibili ng trike nila haha.:lol:


Yep sa Bontoc yan or some part ng Ifugao...

Maganda ang climate dyan, malamig at maganda ang view, but I dont like the smell at yung mga bagong bahay, hindi akma sa view sa paligid...

Sabi ng prof ko, kultura na kasi nila ang mag-alaga ng baboy at ito ay isang status symbol... Appreciating the place includes appreciating the culture, kaya ok na yung amoy.... haha:)

By the way, people of Ifugao and parts of Mountain province ay bumababa pa sa Stgo para dun mamili at ipagbili ang mga produkto nila, ganun sila kasisipag...:):)^^

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^^Office of the Governor

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^^Tourism building and DPWH building at the background

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^^Department of Education

^^maganda rin ang capitol ng apayao kitang kita sa highway,,,,way to go apayao province ^_^:banana::banana::banana::banana:

^^Hi-tek pa yan. From CCTVs to VoIP. May WiFi pa ang buong compound including the parking lot... :banana:

Back to Batad
by Benjamin Locsin Layug

www.biyahero.net
source (http://biyahero.net/index.php?option=com_k2&id=78:back-to-batad&view=item&Itemid=71)


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My first trip to Banaue, Ifugao, and its showpiece, the stupendous Batad Rice Terraces (the Eighth Wonder of the World), was way back in April 1998 with my then 11-year-old son Jandy. Back then, there were no cell-phone signals (making my cell phone useless) and the camera I brought with me was an instamatic Canon Sureshot Joy that used your standard-issue film. Since then, I have been pining for a return. Well, wishes do come true, and I have returned.

Though without Jandy (he had a cold) or my daughter Cheska (she had commitments), I was traveling with seasoned professionals, all members of the Ayala Alabang Camera Club (Steve Albano, June Bagaindoc, Jules Capucion, Nonie Castillo, Mel Dimapilis, Rene Enriquez, Bebet Gaudinez, Lawrence Bryan Lee and Rosevie Sevilla), master guide Lester Susi, plus some friends (sisters Pearl Giselle and Phoebe Uno, Ivy Belimac and Arvic Camua). To put on some professional air, I brought with me my Canon EOS 500D digital SLR, which I recently bought in Singapore.

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BATAD Village(top left), THE Batad Rice Terraces(above), the Eighth Wonder of the World

We left Manila on May 22, 9:30 pm, via an air-conditioned GV Florida bus with its own toilet (convenient for this 341-km/10-hour trip, including stopovers). We arrived in Banaue at 7 am the next day, just in time for breakfast at People’s Lodge and Restaurant (nostalgically the same place I stayed in during my first visit). From its balcony, we had a panoramic view of the town, its backdrop of rice terraces and the winding Ibulao River (traversed by a hanging steel bridge). After some souvenir shopping at nearby stores, it was off, via a hired AUV, to the Km. 12 Junction (called the Saddle), takeoff point for the 4-km hike to Batad. We only made it halfway, as a fresh landslide blocked our way, adding another 6 km to our arduous hike.

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Luckily, there were porters to carry our backpacks (at P200/pack). Still, it wasn’t a walk in the park as we had to hurdle, aside from landslides, aching muscles, sore feet, rough mountain trails (sometimes narrowed to footpaths where only one person at a time could pass) and deep, treacherous ravines. Even in the cold mountain air, most were sweating profusely due to the hot sun. Would-be backpackers gave up their backpacks to porters, one had a bout of gout (nice rhyme there), another collapsed from insulin shock and another was on the watch list (having had a quadruple bypass). Just the same, the photo opportunities were great, plus there were about six rest stations offering relief and refreshments (as well as souvenir items) to hikers.

From the Saddle, it was downhill most of the way, reaching our destination, Simon Viewpoint Inn and Restaurant, by 3 pm. At its view deck was the breathtaking amphitheater vista of the Batad Rice Terraces. Tripods were set up and cameras started clicking.

After a late lunch and a short power nap, I joined the others in exploring the terraces up to the Central Viewpoint, traversing very narrow pilapil (terrace walls) to get there. Once back at the inn, it was all camaraderie, food (pizza, pita bread, highland rice, veggies, fries, etc.), wine (native rice wine called tappuy) and song (provided by the guitar-playing and crooning Jules). Lights out at the inn was 10 pm and gladly so, as we were all dead-tired. Sleep came easy to the weary. Come morning, it was decision time. There were two options. For the adventurous, there was the 30-minute (according to the locals) hike to Tappiya Falls, something I never got to do during my first visit (which was just a day tour). The other was an easier hike down to Batad proper. I chose the former, but half opted for the latter. Joining me were AACC members Jun, Steve and Vi plus Pearl, Phoebe, Ivy, Arvic and local guide Mang Vicente. After a hearty breakfast, we all left by 7 am, taking the same route to the Central Viewpoint.

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Beyond the terraces, it was a slow, lung-busting and steep (with slopes reaching 45 degrees) hike. A meandering river came into view, indicating how near we were to our destination. Across this river and upstream along the far bank was the beautiful and impressive, 25-meter-high waterfall with its enormous swimming natural pool. We were in luck as running across the falls was a rainbow, making for another beautiful and rare photo-op. While the others went bathing, Jun, Vi, Steve and yours truly started clicking.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j54/jrdollesin/biyahero/life-pic06.jpg

After 30 minutes of this bather’s and photographer’s heaven, it was time to go, as we had another long hard climb ahead. A rest stop at the Central Viewpoint provided an opportunity to pose (for a fee) with Apo Ben, an Igorot dressed up in full tribal dress (complete with spear and feathered headdress). We arrived at the inn by 11 am in time for lunch, but with no power nap as we had to pack. Bebet and Bryan had left by then to allow themselves longer rest stops. We left the inn with our porters by 1 pm. The hard part was the hike, now uphill, to the Saddle but from here it was downhill all the way to our pickup point, arriving by 4:30 pm. Our AUV brought us to the town proper in time for an early pancit dinner. We left Banaue by 6 pm on board a similar GV Florida bus and arrived in Manila by 4:30 am the next day.

Again, this rewarding experience helped me gain a healthier respect for the hardworking Ifugao’s ingenuity, the wonders of God’s creation and, in spite of the long hikes, an additional three pounds (thanks to the pizza and nutritious highland rice!)

Question lang po. Anu bang specialty sa Apayao na magandang ipam pasalubong? :D

Starting around 02:30 GMT on Saturday, September 25 (10:30 AM [Philippine Time] on Saturday, September 25), SkyscraperCity will be down while we re-work our back-end network. The downtime may take as much as 7 hours as we have to move servers around a bit.

For Questions or Comments, please visit this thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1221255).

Ni Joy Cantos (Pilipino Star Ngayon) Updated November 11, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Idineklara ng Armed Forces of the Philippines na insurgency free na ang Kalinga matapos na iturn-over ang Internal Security Operations (ISO) sa mga opisyal ng lokal na pamahalaan.

Ayon kay Col. Yerson Depayso, commander ng Army’s 501st Infantry Brigade, itinurn-over na ng kaniyang tropa kay Kalinga Gov. Jocel Baac ang ISO operations matapos na mapilay ang operasyon ng mga rebeldeng New People’s Army.

Nabatid kay Depayso na lumagda sila ni Baac sa Memorandum of Agreement bilang simbolo na insurgency free na ang Kalinga.

Susuporta na lamang ang AFP sa lokal na pamahalaan sa kampanya laban sa insureksyon dahil hindi na naman ito problema sa lugar.

Nilinaw naman ni Brig. Gen. Pompeo Limbo, assistant division commander ng 5th Infantry Division na ang hakbang ay hindi nangangahulugan na inaabandona na ng militar ang misyon upang bigyang proteksyon ang taumbayan sa lahat ng banta sa seguridad partikular na ang NPA.

Magugunita na nauna nang idineklara ng AFP na insurgency free na ang Marinduque, Cavite, Guimaras, Siquijor, Biliran, La Union, Bohol, Aurora, Cebu, Quirino, Tarlac atbp.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=628919&publicationSubCategoryId=49

PIA Press Release
2010/12/01

Ifugao Heritage Office proposes P10M project to rehabilitate rice terraces

by Vency D. Bulayungan

Lagawe, Ifugao (1 December) -- The provincial government here proposed a P10M conservation program for the Ifugao Rice Terraces World Heritage sites.

Renato Patacsil, Project Coordinator of the Ifugao Cutural Heritage Office (ICHO) said the amount will cover the restoration of the damaged and abandoned rice terraces which will eventually maximize rice production of the terraces owners and optimize the function of the Ifugao Rice terraces.

The said amount is also intended to fund activities to impart to the rice terraces owners the economic value and sense of belongingness and restore the dignity of the Ifugao Rice Terraces (IRT) as they are the prime stakeholders. It will be used to rehabilitate and make operational the Communal Irrigation System (CIS) and to restore the universal value as well as the heritage value of the rice terraces; strengthen partnership of the local government units and terraces farming communities in the implementation of the IRT conservation plan and management of the watershed area that includes protection, planting and enhancement that contributes and minimize the practice of small scale illegal logging and slashed and burn in the watershed area.

The conservation program also aims to deepen the appreciation of the local people of the universal value of the Ifugao rice terraces and to encourage massive participation in the implementation of the project.

"Furthermore, we hope that through the efforts of all stakeholders such as the Local Government Units and the farmers, the terraces will be delisted from the list of endangered world heritage sites," Patacsil said.

Patacsil said that ICHO is expected to restore 5,384 cubic meters of eroded stonewalls in the municipalities of Banaue, Kiangan, Hungduan and Mayoyao, considered as the four heritage sites; rehabilitate and make functional six CIS supplying water to approximately 110 hectares in said heritage sites and enhance and protect100 hectares of woodlots. (PIA-Ifugao) [top]
link (http://pia.gov.ph/?m=12&fi=p101201.htm&no=F1)

Municipality of Banawe
As of October 24, 2010

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Banaue Rice Terraces
As of October 24, 2010

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:cheers: so beautiful!

Tam-an Village, Banaue
October 24, 2010

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Cultural Show @ Banaue Plaza Hotel

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http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs588.ash2/151025_1725224459162_1494918746_31814596_5948042_n.jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31814626&id=1494918746)

:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

credit to Ma'am Jhay:)

PIA Press Release
Tuesday, December 14, 2010


Tabuk-Bontoc SONA project to terminate in April 2011


TABUK, Kalinga (14 December) -- Stakeholders of the Tabuk-Bontoc road project vowed to finish the concreting of this State of the Nation Address(SONA)project by April next year.

A consensus was arrived at during the Infrastructure Monitoring Advisory Group of Bontoc-Lubuagan-Tabuk (IMAG-BLT) held at the Kalinga District Engineering Office (KDEO) last week, to finally address the causes of delay in the multi-billion project even as they also vowed to fast track its completion.

Congressman Manuel Agyao called on all concerned particularly the contractors and the KDEO to coordinate all remaining activities with local government unit officials of Tinglayan, Lubuagan and Pasil.

"Join hands and efforts, reach out to those claimants and look for reasonable remedies on their claims. We are running out of time," he told the group as he expressed of his worries that the non-completion of the SONA project might affect in-coming projects.

Governor Jocel Baac while pushing for the project's immediate completion, appealed to all concerned to have patience in resolving problems mostly on road- right- of- way(RROW). He stressed that the problems should not impede the completion of the project.

Tinglayan Mayor Fernando Abay reported during the meeting that his group has already settled some problems and advised contractors to continue work on sections in the Tinglayan side where problems were solved. His group was earlier tasked to resolve issues within their areas.

Lubuagan Mayor Johnny Dickpus also told members of IMAG-BLT that problems on the Lubuagan side can be readily solved if KDEO project engineers coordinated with his office as agreed during the IMAG-BLT meeting last month. "It was only on December 8 that they came," he said.

"Let us stop blaming residents along the project route, you come and let us all work and look for solutions of these problems," he told KDEO personnel in utter expression of his dismay why it is taking so long to address the RROW problems.

Pasil Mayor James Edduba reported minor problems on the Pasil side. He requested for the restoration of a concreted section that cave-in due to slide including the clearing of slides and other road obstacles. KDEO promised to clear slides until December 20.

On the other hand, DPWH-CAR Regional Director Edilberto Carabbacan directed contractors and KDEO supervising engineers to "do it fast" in order to meet the termination target on April 2011. "Let's not think of our own selves, think of the future, our children, he said appealing also for everybody to do their best for the realization of the SONA project.

This road project when completed will improve transport mobility and accessibility to Mountain Province and the Ilocos Region and enhance agricultural and tourism development of the areas. (PIA)

link (http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=CAR&id=8144)

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Tappiyah Falls, Batad, Ifugao

After a long hike going to the rice terraces of Batad, you can visit the falls just beside the mountain. But before you reach it, you need to balance your way on the dikes "pilapil" of the rice terraces so that you wont fall in the field and be covered with mud. You can swim along the cold water of the falls and enjoy the rest of the day with your friends and loved ones.

photo credits to the owner. (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=130515340310298&set=a.132876613407504.18130.119418201420012)

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Sea of Clouds at Mt. Ampacao (1889 MASL - meters above sea level) Sagada, Mountain Province at dusk
by Miggy Teotico

Mount Ampacao offers a majestic view of Sagada and surrounding townships. The vantage points offers a unique chance to catch an awe-inspiring view of the sun as it sets behind the mighty Cordilleras - visitsagada.com
photo credits to the owner. (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=143590232336142&set=a.143554985673000.22633.119418201420012)

ABRA VALLEY GRAND HOTEL - BANGUED, ABRA
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Photo credit: machiavelli145

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Batad Rice Terraces, Barangay Batad, Banaue, Ifugao Province
by Israel Corda

For the more adventurous there are a number of other viewpoints and villages near Banaue. Batad is one such village and is famous for its ampitheater-like terraces rising to the mountaintops. It's about 16-km from Banaue but the distance can be shortened 12-km by taking a jeepney part way. Still, getting to Batad requires hiking over a steep ridge into the bowl-shaped valley.
photo credits to the owner. (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=184180998277065&set=a.131218766906622.17644.119418201420012)

By DEXTER A. SEE
January 9, 2011, 3:49pm

BONTOC, Mountain Province, Philippines — At least 1,958 students of the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) here received scholarship grants from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to ensure that they will be able to finish a descent course to help them become responsible and productive citizens of the province.

The budget for the scholarship grant of the indigent students is incorporated in the annual budget of the NCIP contrary to claims of some politicians that the same is their initiative when they just asumed office last July way ahead before the 2010 budget was signed into law.

Under the NCIP’s financial assistance for poor but deserving students, each student will receive at least P2,500 per semester to help them defray their expenses in trying to hurdle the challenges of college and technical-vocational education.

Aside from MPSPC students, those enrolled in several technical-vocational institutions in the province will also be receiving such assistance provided that they pass the stringent screening process so that those deserving students will be the ones to avail of the assistance.

From 2005-2010, MPSPC had been the first higher education institution in the country to provide its students with full scholarship through the initiative of the late Rep. Victor S. Dominguez and continued by Kalinga Rep. Manuel S. Agyao, who acted as the province’s caretaker, when the former succumbed to a heart disease.

The state-run institution which was established through Republic Act (RA) 7182 signed by former President Corazon C. Aquino on January 17, 1992 is the only higher education institution in the province.

Lawyer Amador Batay-an, NCIP-CAR regional director, exhorted the beneficiaries of the financial assistance program to value the small aid given to them and to concentrate in their studies so that they will succeed in their desire to acquire a descent education which they could use to help improve the living condition of their families in the future.

He said life has become too difficult to hurdle, thus, the present and future generations must realize that education is still the best inheritance that parents can give them because it could not be taken away from them.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/297494/ncip-grants-scholarships-1958-indigent-students

BANGUED, Abra – The farmers of Abra stood out in the regional and national levels of the search for Outstanding Farmers of the Year 2010.

Provincial Agriculturist Jesus Villamor Jr. said yesterday that four awards were given to Abrenian individual farmers and groups for their outstanding performance in production as well as marketing initiatives and efforts.

The individual farmer-awardees are Mr. Efren T. Millare of Barangay Baug, San Juan and the PAMORA Farms, Inc. of Barangay Garreta, Pidigan. The Department of Agriculture — Cordillera Administrative Regional Field Unit (DA-CARFU) gave the awards to the regional winners last Dec. 23, 2010. (Dexter A. See)

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/300048/bulacan-marks-112th-year-ph

January 26, 2011, 5:23pm

LAGAWE, Ifugao, Philippines — The 11 municipalities here are beneficiaries of a rice donation program from Thailand which will be used as part of the government’s initiative to provide local residents with staple food to sustain their daily need for rice.

The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers (MSWDOs) will give 10 kilos of rice per person a day. The 5,936 sacks of rice will be distributed as follows: Banaue-1,500, Kiangan, Hungduan and Mayoyao with 500 each; Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista, and Asipulo with-350 each, Hingyon-350 and Lagawe, Lamut, and Tinoc each with 332. (Dexter A. See)





TABUK, Kalinga, Philippines — Twenty-nine children of former rebels from different parts of the province have received scholarship grants under the government’s amnesty program for rebels through the joint project of the Office of Presidential Assistance on Peace Process (OPAPP) and Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and the local government.

Program Coordinator Eusebia Haddac of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office said OPAPP scholars are given a stipend of P5,000 per semester while those under the province get P2,000. (Dexter A. See)


http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/300810/thailand-donates-rice-ifugao-folk

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Hanging Coffins of Sagada, Mountain Province
by Juvaline Mana-ay Dionisio

These hanging coffins-which were a traditional way of burying the dead- are found on the limestone cliffs made of Sagada. Not anyone was qualified to be buried this way; one had to, among other things, be married and have grandchildren.
photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=188282677866897&set=a.170604632968035.42588.119418201420012)

Grippin' Sagada
by Miggy Teotico

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Sagada Rice Terraces

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She belongs to one of the tribes, unable to stand straight because of her age. She is estimated to be more than 90 years old where none among the tribesmen in Sagada was able keep track of it. Look at her unique headband too. It is made out of a long bone spine which could be from a snake.

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Sea of Clouds at Mt. Ampacao (1889 MASL - meters above sea level) Sagada at dusk

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Mt. Ampacao Sunset

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Stalagmites inside the Sumaging Cave, Sagada - Sumaging Cave is probably one of the most popular caves in Sagada. Aptly nicknamed as the Big Cave, was created by water erosion. Almost every year, thousands of visitors would trail down to see the magnificent and unorthodox display of stalactites and stalagmites. Historically, the cave also served as hiding place of Filipino soldiers and Guerillas during World War II. Prior to the War, this was also a habitat and eventually also became burial grounds for the Indigenous People of the Cordillera. During your visit, expect to have a guide. They will show you the different forms of the cave rocks where they give names such as "pig pens", "pregnant woman", "frog pool", "elephant formation", etc. Moving farther, you can go down the steep rocks barefoot because the rocks are flat and rough enough. Upon arriving there, you'll be surprised because there is a waterfall and below it is a deep pool, and you can swim there. - waypoints.ph

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Rice Terraces of Sagada

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Sagada Rice

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Echo Valley, Sagada

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Watefalls inside the Sumaging Cave, Sagada

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Tribal Coffins at the Lumiang Burial Cave, Sagada

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Wild Berries - poisonous

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Light inside the Sagada Cave Connection, Lumiang to Sumaging - a journey traversing entrance and exit points of the caves could last more than 4 hours. It may be long a long trek inside but it sure is amazing.

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Sunset over at Mt. Province

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Waterfalls inside the Sumaging Cave

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On the way to Sagada from Baguio (6 hour trip)

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Tribal Coffins at the Lumiang Burial Cave, Sagada

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Sagada Town Proper

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Up close the rice terraces

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View of Ambasing, Sagada going to Mt. Ampacao Summit

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Sagada, Mountain Province - Sagada is a 5th class municipality in the province of Mountain Province, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 10,930 people in 2,158 households. It is located 275 km. north of Manila, 140 km. from Baguio, and it is adjacent to Bontoc, the provincial capital. - wikipedia.org

Sagada, Mountain Province
"You have to see Sagada at least once in your lifetime.
The scenery, the people, and the culture are all so beautiful"
- Miggy Teotico
photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=143515202343645&id=119418201420012&aid=22622)

DILG regards Tabuk as a city
January 28, 2011, 7:57pmBAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo clarified that Tabuk, the capital town of Kalinga and 15 other new cities which were earlier created under the law will remain as component cities of their respective provinces until such time that the constitutionality of the laws that created them shall have been resolved with finality by the Supreme Court (SC).

Robredo issued a memorandum to this effect and as such Tabuk is still considered the second city in the Cordillera Administrative Region and referred to as such in various communications and have two additional members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, as well. (Dexter A. See)
Root (http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/301238/dilg-regards-tabuk-a-city)

PIA Press Release
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Lang ay Festival introduces innovations

By Angel Baybay

BONTOC, Mountain Province, Jan. 30 – Except for the change of schedule, the crowd-attracting Lang-ay Festival activities observed the previous years will be had this year. This was the agreement reached by participants of the public consultation held last Tuesday here.

The street dancing and the cultural presentation will be on April 6, a day before the official birth of the province when it became a distinct local government unit from the rest of the sub-provinces of the old Mountain Province.

Winning cultural groups however will present their numbers during a formal program on April 7 which will be graced by an invited guest of honor. In the previous years, the street dancing and other big events are scheduled on April 7.

As explained, moving the street dancing to April 6 will decongest activities on April 7 that usually run continuously up to mid afternoon.

A mass will formally open the annual Mountain Province Day celebrations on April 4 followed by an indigenous ritual and after which will be the ceremonial ribbon cutting to formally start the agro-industrial fair at the provincial plaza.

A surgical/medical mission shall be done at the Bontoc General Hospital where free surgical operations will be offered to ailing people who could not financially afford the services of other health institutions. (abaybay/PIO Mt.Prov PGO//PIA CAR)
link (http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=CAR&id=14281)

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photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1274474317809&set=o.119418201420012)


Sumaging Cave is the best tourist spot in Sagada

Perfect for SPELUNKERS and NON-SPELUNKERS and city type people, you should see the place and experience the adventure of the exotic sumaging cave and Lumiang Cave.(photo taken by vanjo de guzman)

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photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1557657429263&set=o.119418201420012)

Bomod-ok Falls or Big Falls at Sagada, Mountain Province
by Norman Dave Q. Sarmiento

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photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1557654069179&set=o.119418201420012)

Sunrise @ Mount Pulag
Mount Pulag (or sometimes Mount Pulog) is the third highest mountain in the Philippines. It is Luzon’s highest peak at 2,922 meters above sea level. The borders between the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya meet at the mountain's peak.
Because of its high elevation, the climate on Mount Pulag is temperate with rains predominating the whole year. Rainfall on the mountain averages 4,489 mm yearly with August being the wettest month with an average rainfall of 1,135 mm. Snow has not fallen on its top in at least the past 100 years.
The mountain hosts 528 documented plant species. It is the natural habitat of the endemic Dwarf Bamboo, (Yushania niitakayamensis) and the Benguet pine (Pinus insularis) which dominates the areas of Luzon tropical pine forests found on the mountainside. Among its native wildlife are 33 bird species and several threatened mammals such as the Philippine Deer, Giant Bushy-Tailed Cloud Rat (“bowet”) and the Long-Haired Fruit Bat. Mount Pulag is the only place that hosts the 4 Cloud Rat species. It has one of the most diverse biodiversity of the Philippines, with the newly found (since 1896) 185 grams Dwarf cloud rat, Carpomys melanurus, a rare breed (endemic to the Cordillera) and the Koch pitta bird among its endangered denizens.
Taken @ 6AM

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photo credits to Norman Dave Q. Sarmiento (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1557650109080&set=o.119418201420012&pid=31291608&id=1470076091)

Sunrise @ Mount Pulag

Mount Pulag (or sometimes Mount Pulog) is the third highest mountain in the Philippines. It is Luzon’s highest peak at 2,922 meters above sea level. The borders between the provinces of Benguet, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya meet at the mountain's peak.
Because of its high elevation, the climate on Mount Pulag is temperate with rains predominating the whole year. Rainfall on the mountain averages 4,489 mm yearly with August being the wettest month with an average rainfall of 1,135 mm. Snow has not fallen on its top in at least the past 100 years.
The mountain hosts 528 documented plant species. It is the natural habitat of the endemic Dwarf Bamboo, (Yushania niitakayamensis) and the Benguet pine (Pinus insularis) which dominates the areas of Luzon tropical pine forests found on the mountainside. Among its native wildlife are 33 bird species and several threatened mammals such as the Philippine Deer, Giant Bushy-Tailed Cloud Rat (“bowet”) and the Long-Haired Fruit Bat. Mount Pulag is the only place that hosts the 4 Cloud Rat species. It has one of the most diverse biodiversity of the Philippines, with the newly found (since 1896) 185 grams Dwarf cloud rat, Carpomys melanurus, a rare breed (endemic to the Cordillera) and the Koch pitta bird among its endangered denizens.[1][2]
On February 20, 1987, a large part of the mountain was designated as a National Park with Proclamation No. 75. This act aims to preserve the environment around the mountain due to threats from increased development such as conversion to agricultural lands, timber production, hunting, and increased tourism.
Love when I seeing it. Its a sea of clouds & the sun has a cap. Taken at around 5am at the summit.
Norman Dave Q. Sarmiento

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photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=479485949961&set=o.119418201420012&pid=6082643&id=712534961)

Mt. Pulag

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photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1735361985348&set=o.119418201420012)

Bomod-ok Falls "Big Falls" Sagada, Mt. Province

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photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1735341024824&set=o.119418201420012&pid=1941806&id=1277535535)

Sumaging Cave, Sagada, Mt. Province

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photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1735313864145&set=o.119418201420012&pid=1941760&id=1277535535)

Echo Valley (land of hanging coffins) Sagada, Mt. Province

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photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=1&view=global&subj=119418201420012&pid=420781&id=1747580374&prev=1&oid=119418201420012&fbid=1218644523402)

Sumaguing Cave
Sagada, Mt. Province

Sumaguing Cave has the largest chamber of all connecting caves in town (there are more than 60 known caves underneath Sagada). One needs to trek down a slippery trail from its mouth to see the magnificent formations of stalactites and stalagmites that took thousands of years to shape. These formations were carefully sculpted by nature itself to form contours that were given fancy names such as king and queen’s curtains, giant fudge, pregnant woman, mickey mouse, alligator, dancing hall and rice terraces.

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photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=1&view=global&subj=119418201420012&pid=5108790&id=692837837&prev=1&oid=119418201420012&fbid=440269772837)

Finding Bliss (Batad, Banaue, Ifugao)

Batad is a delightful place to find or rediscover oneself, to appreciate life
for all its simplicity, to convert back to your faith, to relive the
passion within, to feel blessed, etc. The serenity of the
place is just captivating that the only problem you’ll encounter is how
to convince yourself to go back home…Batad is simply magical...no words can perfectly describe the place and the pride it bestows on our people.

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photo credits to the owner (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?op=1&view=global&subj=119418201420012&pid=7153573&id=549919044&prev=1&oid=119418201420012&fbid=498415829044)

Etag is one of the most popular food in Sagada, it’s an
Igorot variety of smoked ham, they salted them and smoke them for a few hours every
day then hanged it, and age them for at least 2 weeks. In Sagada cuisine, it
was often accompanied by a chopped sayote. This photo was taken during the
Sagada Saturday morning street market and they sell it for about Php200-300 per
kilo depends on the quality of meat, but if you are craving on these along your
tour, you can easily order it at some restaurant in Sagada.

Bontoc officials get pointers on good governance from DILG
BONTOC, Mt. Province, Feb.4 (PIA) - Barangay officials of this capital town were given pointers on the guideposts of good barangay governance which they could adopt in the performance of their duties.

Department Interior and Local Government provincial director Rufina Fegcan, one of the resource speakers in the two-day training for barangay officials, here discussed the tenets of good barangay governance such as transparency, responsiveness, accountability, and participation or TRAP.

Fegcan said barangay officials should observe the TRAP principles to promote and sustain good governance in their respective localities.

To realize the TRAP principles, Fegcan said barangays officials should conduct semestral assembly for the purpose of reporting accomplishments of the barangay about its programs, projects and activities, finances, including problems and other concerns.

The Local Government Code requires the conduct of a barangay assembly every first Saturday of March and third Saturday of October.

To further promote transparency, barangays should post in conspicuous places their itemized monthly collections and disbursements, and annual summary of income and expenditures in order to show how much and for what specific purposes barangay funds were spent.

Fegcan emphasized that it is also expected that every barangay provide prompt and adequate services to their constituents. She said this can be achieved by creating functional barangay committees and establishing barangay public Information Desks where information about the barangay are available and accessible to visitors and residents.

The DILG director said good governance also promotes people's participation by providing the mechanism for the public to express public opinion and ideally exert influence regarding decisions and actions made at the local level.

She said this could be manifested in various barangay activities like symposia, public hearings, memberships in barangay-based institutions/councils, and formulation of barangay development plans, among other activities.

In the same training, LGOO V Edison Baddal lengthily discussed the tasks and responsibilities of barangay officials starting from punong barangay, council members, secretaries, and treasurers as well as the benefits due them.

Concerned organic staff of the Bontoc local government units also gave lectures on development planning, revenue collection, budgeting, and resolution and ordinance preparation. **(PIA CAR– Mt.Prov.)http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=car&id=15330

Mt. Province generates P6.7M in real property tax
BONTOC, Mt.Province, Feb.4 (PIA) – The province generated a net amount of P6,706,367 on the annual real property tax collected by the local government units in the 10 municipalities in the province.

The amount represents the annual tax of one percent on the assessed value of real property such as lands, buildings, machinery, and other improvements affixed or attached to real property within the territorial jurisdiction of the province and an additional annual tax of one percent on the assessed of real property for the Special Education Fund (SEF).

Based on the record of the Provincial Treasurer’s Office here, of the total amount collected, P3,354,442.00 was for the 1 percent basic real property tax and the remaining P3,351,926.00 for the SEF.

For 2010, the municipality of Bauko had the highest total collection of P1,624,870 (basic real property tax and SEF) followed by the municipality of Bontoc with total collection of P1,614,485. The municipalities of Paracelis collected P919,043; Tadian - P852,732.00; Sagada – P463,501; Besao – P356,168; Sabangan – P350,636; Natonin – P220,727; Sadanga – P159,445; and Barlig – P143,860.

Provincial treasurer Cawed Gamonnac said real property tax is a provincial imposition and its proceeds are shared by the three levels of the local government units wherein the provincial share is 35 percent. The municipality where the property is located gets a share of 40 percent and the barangay where the property is has a share of 25 percent.

Proceeds of the additional one percent for SEF is equally shared between the provincial and municipal school boards in support to public schools programs and activities approved by the local school board.*(PIA CAR -MP)http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=car&id=15323

Reminders:

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2. When posting online articles/news items. (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/announcement.php?f=585&a=477)
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'Cool weather ends this month' (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=657116&publicationSubCategoryId=200)
MANILA, Philippines - The state weather bureau suggested that Filipinos enjoy the cool weather this month while it lasts as higher temperatures are expected by March.

Robert Sawi, weather branch chief of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said the northeast monsoon – the system that brings rain and cool weather to the country – is expected to end this February.

Sawi said the public can expect gradually increasing temperatures in the coming days.

“Normally it (northeast monsoon) ends in February and since we are in the middle of February I think it (cool weather) is the last hurrah,” Sawi said in a text message to The STAR.

Sawi, meanwhile, said Pagasa expects a normal onset of the summer season for the areas under Type I climate.

It includes Metro Manila Ilocos Region, western part of Mountain Province, western part of Nueva Ecija, Central Luzon, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan , Bataan, Zambales, Occidental Mindoro, southern parts of Antique and Iloilo, northwestern part of Palawan, and the southern parts of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental.

Areas under Type I climate have two pronounced seasons – dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year. Its maximum rain period is from June to September.

Although there will be rains during the dry season due to lingering La Nina phenomenon, high temperatures are still expected during summer, Sawi said.

Meanwhile, Sawi said rains would continue to prevail over southern Luzon, eastern Visayas and Mindanao in the next few days.

However, he said, no tropical cyclone is likely to affect the country this week.
malapit na ang summer!!! :banana::banana::banana:

Again, fighting for forests

BY NERIC ACOSTA

PRESIDENT Noynoy Aquino signed Executive Order (EO) 23 this week, declaring a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the country’s natural and residual forests and creating an anti-illegal logging task force to enforce this. The EO boldly asserts the state’s role as the primary protector of the country’s natural wealth and heritage found in our forests.

After all, Article XII, Section 2 of the Constitution provides that “the exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources shall be under the full control and supervision of the State.”

The EO exercises not only the state’s functions to enforce the laws that prohibit the wanton abuse of the resources of the forests, but also the constitutional mandate to pursue as a matter of state policy the conservation of the country’s ecosystems and their biodiversity to maintain a “healthful ecology,” as framed in the Philippine Constitution.

The EO clearly states that the State has the obligation “to protect the remaining forest cover of the country not only to prevent flash floods and hazardous flooding but also to preserve biodiversity, protect threatened habitats and sanctuaries of endangered and rare species and allow regeneration of residual forests and development of plantation forests.”

In the larger context of climate change adaptation and longer-term mitigation measures, returning the forests to the center of ecological and conservationist policy thrusts is not only timely but also imperative. If we cannot stop the unabated destruction of our already degraded forests, which provide us with incalculable ecological services—soil quality, clean water, watersheds, carbon sinks and clean air—we run the risk of rising food insecurity and economic dislocation, greater floods and increasing vulnerabilities to climate-related disasters, and, all told, unsustainable human communities.

That is the spirit with which to view the logging moratorium—not in isolation, but in terms of the larger and longer-term challenge of national adaptation to the mounting impacts of climate change on a high-risk archipelago like ours. As the Worldwide Fund for Nature avers, “the EO creates the crucial, though temporary, space needed for the public and private sectors to build consensus on new land use priorities, re-defining how we sustainably manage our fast-dwindling natural resources in preparation for a climate defined future.”

A logging moratorium, as such, does not address completely the need to abate severe deforestation and preserve biodiversity, nor guarantee the aggressive reforestation of critical watersheds and logged over areas around the country. For sure, a moratorium is only as good as its effective and sustained enforcement. Such bans in the past failed to have the optimal impact of curbing deforestation simply because the mechanisms to make it work were inadequate or unsound. Worse, a ban could even give rise to the unintended or opposite effect—that of even more illicit logging activities—if loopholes remain unplugged and gray areas of implementation are used to circumvent the law, and definitions of what are allowed or prohibited are not made clear and categorical.

The forests are, after all, more than just the physical composition of trees and wildlife habitat; the forests refer as well to the interaction of natural resources with human communities within forestlands. That is why the Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) program initiated in 1995 became the national strategy for the sustainable development of forestland resources, involving upland communities and organizations, local governments, indigenous tribes and local enterprises.

Some of the CBFM areas have succeeded in this respect, while others have been abused or have suffered from government neglect or collusion with illegal logging interests.

In this case, the EO will have to further define the needs of the communities who rely on the forests and their resources for sustenance and, as with indigenous peoples, for the anchors of culture and ancestral land. Plantation forests and the domestic local wood industries, on which thousands primarily rely for livelihood and employment, will also have to have clearly defined parameters and rules governing permits and contracts. And necessarily, government will have to ensure that forest monitoring and compliance systems are in place and sustained.

That is why forestry as such is far more complex than it appears. While important to parallel this moratorium on logging activities with massive regreening—reforestation, or “rainforestation” with indigenous tree species—there is, apparently, more to forest management than curbing illegal logging and instituting tree-planting programs.

What the EO jumpstarts is the process of making development truly sustainable and consonant with a national climate change adaptation-mitigation strategy. An EO like this should give even more reason to at last clearly delineate our forest lines—and put in place a sound national land use plan. And in the larger framework of the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change, this sets the tone for moving the country towards the nascent global REDD-plus plans.

The REDD—reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation—is a proposed incentive system for reducing greenhouse gas emissions wherein industrialized countries would provide financial incentives for forested, developing countries to manage and protect forests and increase their so-called carbon stocks. While still underdeveloped as a mechanism, the REDD-plus system offers a country like ours unique opportunities to engage local communities and the private sector to rebuild our degraded forests as integral to our responsibility to be a part of the global stewardship of the earth—and its life-giving though fragile bounties.

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source (http://www.facebook.com/notes/bro-martin-d-francisco/again-fighting-for-forests/10150102718511817)

By Marlet D. Salazar
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:50:00 02/20/2011

Filed Under: People, indigenous people

MANILA, Philippines—How does one prosper? Let Cathryne Jonne Tobiagon Licudine count the ways.

Licudine has worked as a bank branch manager, an auditor and financial analyst. For a brief time, she taught at Saint Louis College. She is also a doting mother to a 2-year-old boy.

Just last December, she finished a 16-month program at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City on a scholarship.

The overachiever in Licudine landed her at the top 10 percent of her class at AIM and was a Dean’s Lister during her last term.

She measures her wealth not by what she takes to the bank but by what she learns and applies in life.

The best way

“From the start, I believed that education is the best way to a better life. We were not well-off and I’m determined to change our life,” says Licudine.

Licudine is a proud member of the Tuwali tribe in Ifugao. Her mother is from Kiangan, Ifugao, while her father is an Ilocano from Tagudin, Ilocos Sur. She calls Baguio City her home.

Licudine has a degree in Law and Letters at the University of Baguio. She also has an undergraduate degree in Accountancy from Saint Louis College in San Fernando City, La Union.

Early bird

She was working at Camp John Hay when AIM held a road show in Baguio City, encouraging people to enroll at the business school.

Although she had dreamed of taking up graduate studies in Business Administration, she was still surprised when she was accepted at AIM.

“I was actually looking forward to taking the bar exams that year when AIM had a road show in Baguio,” Licudine said. “I came in early because, ever since, I’ve really wanted to study at AIM.”

Being an early bird paid off. After a series of pre-enrollment tests and interviews, she was admitted not only as a student but as a scholar.

Her stint at John Hay Management Corp., a subsidiary of the Bases Conversion Development Authority, was the longest she had spent throughout her working life. Before that, she worked as a branch manager at Banco San Juan.

“The last position I held there was internal auditor,” she said of her time at John Hay.

As a result, the report she turned in to complete her MBA requirements revolved around a subject she knew best: “Internal Audit as a Tool in Formulating Corporate Strategies for Facilities Manager Inc.”

“Having been an internal auditor for a while, I realized that internal audit can also be instrumental in policy-making,” Licudine explained. “Internal auditors should be leveled up and should be ‘used’ in formulating corporate strategies and recommending ways to correct errors. These are the things we should do for the company to move up.”

Passion

For Facilities Manager Inc. (FMI) - Servicemaster Philippines, Licudine formulated a corporate strategy that involved—and would reward—employees.

“At AIM, we studied different models and how to come up with different strategies,” Licudine said. “I’m trying to espouse that, through internal audit, you can formulate corporate strategies.”

Involving employees was also one of the things Licudine had recommended to help the company achieve its objectives. If the ultimate goal is to increase profitability, employees should also get something in the end for their participation.

The passion was evident in Licudine’s eyes while she explained the importance of internal auditors to a company’s corporate strategy.

Licudine’s law background also helped her in analyzing case studies during her classes at AIM.

“A businessman’s point of view is different from a lawyer’s,” she explained, “I had to raise several legal issues in many of our case-study discussions. More often than not, we disagreed.”

In spite of this, Licudine sees her law background more of an advantage than a disadvantage in her future employment when paired with her MBA.

“The good thing is, I’d know the boundaries,” she said. “The law specifically states where the boundaries will be.”

This way, she added, she could minimize or avert legal concerns.

Licudine’s stint at AIM erased every misconception she had in the past. She thought that MBA is all about teaching how to run a business or troubleshoot problems along the way.

But “I realized that, in a business, we deal with different types of people and different cultures.”

AIM has long been known to promote cultural diversity among students coming from different countries throughout Asia. Licudine is the first from the Indigenous Peoples of Ifugao to have completed an MBA program at AIM, as far as the records show.

“I take pride in being a Filipino, and an Ifugao at that, especially when we go on discussions,” she said.


http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20110220-321352/Teacher-auditor-scholar-mom

Jollibee Bangued, Abra
by: Fernando Mendoza (http://fernandomendoza.blogspot.com/2010_03_01_archive.html)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ou95lwkXJVI/S6xu9_ab17I/AAAAAAAABMw/ZL_AQaIEAUE/s1600/08330031.jpg

Calaba Bridge
Bangued, Abra
by: by: Fernando Mendoza (http://fernandomendoza.blogspot.com/2010_03_01_archive.html)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ou95lwkXJVI/TCJD5HThC2I/AAAAAAAABSo/Ko7i87royTM/s1600/DSC04467.JPG

Jollibee Bangued, Abra
by: Fernando Mendoza (http://fernandomendoza.blogspot.com/2010_03_01_archive.html)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ou95lwkXJVI/S6xu9_ab17I/AAAAAAAABMw/ZL_AQaIEAUE/s1600/08330031.jpg

Owo may Jollibee narin pala sa Bangued! nice!:banana::banana::banana::cheers:

gusto ko ring puntahan ang Abra, lalo na sa Abra river

February 23, 2011, 3:32pm

BANGUED, Abra — Thousands of farmers along the different tributaries of the Abra River are now harvesting tilapia as a result of the tilapia fingerlings dispersal project of Governor Eustaquio P. Bersamin.

True to his promise to really help the farmers uplift their living condition by providing them income augmentation sources, Bersamin dispersed thousands of fingerlings to the many fish-farmers in the province.

The tilapia fingerlings were grown in various fishpens and fish cages in barangays along the Sinalang River and the Abra River particularly in barangays Namanrabar and Malamsit in Penarrubia, Malita in Bangued; Balais in Lagangilang and the different barangays of Bucay and Tayum.

The tilapia fingerlings are home-grown as these are raised in the two hatcheries in the province - Kirmay Fishery in barangay San Marcial, San Isidro; and at barangay Malamsit, Penarrubia.

The Kirmay Fishery is the old fish farm in the province where fingerlings are produced and operated by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG). The Malamsit Hatchery, on the other hand, is private-owned but supervised by the OPAG.

The hatcheries are being improved and expanded for more productivity to be able to cater to the needs of more fish farmers in the province.

The Governor has also started the repair and rehabilitation of the very old and dilapidated administrative staff building in the Kirmay Fishery.

Meanwhile, the fish farmers have expressed gratefulness to the provincial government for the support they got in their fish farm activities. The fingerlings have been given for free and they are now harvesting and selling at an average of P100.00 to P120.00 per kilo in the market thereby providing them an added source of income to help improve their living condition, especially those living in the upstream of the various river systems in the province.

The experience of the fish farmers who have availed of the fingerlings dispersals have inspired their fellow farmers, who have also now expressed desire to go into fish farming as an income augmentation activity.

Because of the increasing number of farmers availing of the distributed tilapia fingerlings being distributed by the provincial government, agriculture stakeholders are confident that the province will be able to become fish self sufficient in the coming years, especially if the river systems are maximized for fish production to serve as an alternative source of livelihood for local residents.

Aside from fish production, the other sources of livelihood of people in the different parts of the province include rice and tobacco production as well as the propagation of fruit-bearing trees.

Abra is one of the provinces in the Cordillera included in the list of the top ten poorest provinces with poverty incidence recorded at 50.1 percent. (Dexter A. See)

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/305912/thousands-abra-farmers-benefit-tilapia-dispersal-project-abra

By DEXTER SEE
February 21, 2011, 4:25pm

BONTOC, Mountain Province (PIA) – The European Commission (EC) recently released the amount of P4, 750.000.00 for the improvement of health facilities which will help in improving the delivery of health care services to the people, especially in the far flung communities of the province in the future.

Madelyn P. Tudlong of the Provincial Health Office here reported during a recent Provincial Health Board meeting that the amount of P200, 000 is allotted for Besao District Hospital; P300,000 for the repair of the rooftop and doctors quarters for Bontoc General Hospital and P700, 000 for the repair of various wards of Bontoc General Hospital.

The remaining amount is appropriated for the rehabilitation/ renovation of existing barangay health stations(BHS) namely: P450,000 for Tamboan BHS in Besao; P350,000 each for Mayag BHS in Bauko, Can-eo BHS and Guina-ang BHS, both in Bontoc; Mabalite and Cagubatan BHS, both in Tadian municipality.

The amount of P400, 000 is allotted for Saliok BHS in Natonin; 200,000 each for Ambasing and Madongo in Sagada, and Sta. Isabel in Natonin.

Laylaya BHS in Besao is allocated P150,000 and P100, 000.00 each for Ambagiw and Agawa, also in Besao.

Governor Leonard G. Mayaen informed the board that he designated Provincial Assistant Engineer Edward Likigan of the Provincial Engineering Office to be in-charge in the implementation of these said projects so that they will be completed in due time for the benefit of providing local residents accessibility to improved and better health facilities.

The provision of the funding support from the EC is part of the provincial government’s effort to make available state-of-the-art health facilities for the people so that they will not be constrained to go to the urban centers just to be accorded sufficient health care.

At the same time, Mayaen said the provincial government, with the assistance of the Department of Health and other foreign partners, is working on the establishment of rural health units in the province’s 145 barangays so that sick people will be able to receive initial health treatment prior to being moved to hospitals to cater to their complicated condition.

The governor underscored the importance of providing appropriate health care to the people so that they will be able to be healthy and productive to be able to contribute to the upliftment of their living conditions and economic growth in their respective places.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/305550/p47-m-mountain-province

February 20, 2011, 6:25pm


TABUK CITY, Kalinga, Philippines — The Regional Development Council (RDC) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) wants local officials and representatives of this rice-producing province to be included in the Cordillera Rice Terraces Commission so that thousands of rice farmers will benefit from the assistance being extended to rice terraces farmers in other areas of the region.

Kalinga Gov. Jocel C. Baac, newly appointed RDC-CAR chairman, presented to the region’s policy-making body that there are rice terraces in the various parts of the province which are worthy of fame and are in dire need of support so that it will be preserved and protected for the benefit of the present and future generations of members of the Kalinga tribes.

The scenic and historic man-made rice terraces are situated in the towns of Lubuagan, Balbalan, Tinglayan, Pasil, and Tanuda.

In Tingalayan, the rice terraces from the Sungang view point include the Dananao and Tulgao terraces which are likened to an amphitheater along the whole mountain slopes which will surely gain the interest of nature lovers, especially European tourists who usually spend a break in most parts of the country.

On the other hand, the rice terraces in the villages of Lubo and Mangali surround the residences, making it a scenic attraction at a distance.


Earlier, former President Fidel V. Ramos created the Ifugao Terraces Commission in1994 but it was subsequently superseded by the creation of the Banaue Rice Terraces Task Force which eventually stopped operation in 2002 following reports that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was inclined to delist the Ifugao terraces from the list of world heritage sites because of massive invasion of informal settlers and poor maintenance.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/305363/kalinga-seeks-inclusion-terraces-commission

@Hugo, active ka rin pala sa thread na to a, diba malapit lng ang Abra sa La union?

@Hugo, active ka rin pala sa thread na to a, diba malapit lng ang Abra sa La union?

kapag napapadaan ako sa manilabulletin.com may nakikita kasi akong mga good news sa mga provinces na ito kaya nagpopost din ako dito:)

Malayo ang Abra mula sa La Union. Sa Ilocos sur adjacent ang Abra

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The province will no longer be included in the next phase of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNICEF)-funded Country Program for Children (CPC) following the significant gains in the efforts to improve the health of the children in the province.

The two-year extended partnership of UNICEF and the local government of Mountain Province through CPC VI ends this year. Mt. Province UNICEF focal officer Dr Martha Cayad-an, in her meeting with key program implementers here, said UNICEF will channel its fund resources to provinces that still have high poverty incidence and still belong to the Club 20 poorest of the poor. (Dexter See

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/306436/bulacan-wins-athletic-meet

:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana: Arise, the highest Province of the Philippines!!!!

February 26, 2011, 6:09pm

SAGADA, Mountain Province – Approximately 50,000 coffee trees planted in different parts of this mystical town are projected to bear fruits in three to five years which is expected to boost the local coffee industry and provide a source of income to hundreds of coffee planters.

Currently, only 7,000 coffee trees now supply the coffee demands of the growing number of local residents and thousands of tourists who frequent the town anytime of the year.

The mass coffee production was initiated by the local coffee council five years ago.

Among the coffee trees that are propagated in the town is mundonovo variety of Arabica coffee, a cross of the dwarf San Ramon and the typical varieties.

More than 1,000 individuals in the town are now involved in the lucrative coffee production and that most of them are doing the planting in mountain slopes which also serve as a vital watershed plant that could help in the government’s effort to rehabilitate and protect the province’s deteriorating watersheds caused by the invasion of informal settlers.

The local coffee production is being supported by the Philippine Australia Assistance Community Project, the Montanosa Research and Development Center and the provincial government led by Gov. Leonard Mayaen. (Dexter See)

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/306434/coffee-plants-seen-boosting-mt-province

Ang sarap ma in-love sa Sagada!! :cheers:

Ang ganda ng view, ang ganda ng waterfalls, adventure dun sa cave, at good clean wholesome fun alang jutts! hehehe :lol:

i want to ago to sagada.
how many hours ang travel time from baguio?

I think this should have its own thread? I didn't see one if there already is

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2060/2475050009_5d7a9d46d4.jpg
[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriscab/"]

here's a dedicated thread for the rice terraces, see link below:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=355384

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO
March 26, 2011, 3:51am

IFUGAO: Stairway to heaven

People flock to the province of Ifugao because of the gracefully contoured rice terraces nestled within the rugged Cordillera mountain range. The rice terraces reach up to heights of 1,500 meters and if stretched end to end, will extend to over 20,000 kilometers. They are said to showcase an irrigation system, which uses gravity to bring forest waters from about 1,800 meters high down to the lowest tiers.

The rice terraces can be viewed from the town of Banaue. However, the more spectacular terraces can be found in Batad and Mayoyao. Batad rests snugly at the bottom of a magnificently steep circle of terraces, which resembles an amphitheater. With no visible encroachment of civilization, the place is home to a village of authentic Ifugao people.

Mayoyao, on the other hand, is a three-hour ride from Banaue along a road which dips and climbs hundreds of meters along picturesque terraced hills, forests, and villages. Houses here have huge roofs and a neater, less crowded layout. The views of the terraces along the route are awesome.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/311446/summer-escape

by Larry Lopez

TABUK, Kalinga, March 31 (PIA) – Women in the province see potential source of additional income after undergoing a three-day training on bayong making under the Bayong Industry Development Assistance (BIDA) program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Melvin Banggolay of DTI-Kalinga said bayong industry is now one of DTI’s flagship programs on livelihood, aside from the coffee industry in the Cordillera region.

According to Banggolay, the program, aside from providing livelihood, also supports government advocacy on the use of bio-degradable materials in place of plastic materials for households.

Elaborating further about the bayong making program, Banggolay said the program just used bayong as generic term for all products from buri weaving.

While some of the women participants are already doing buri weaving, they are limited only to mat production. This time, they acquired new skills on the production of hand bags, shoulder bags, wallets, and other varied items.

Banggolay said after the basic training, there is a need to further train the participants on dyeing and designs to produce a more competitive quality outputs.

As a support to the new industry, DTI is presenting a buri propagation plan to the province to assure sufficient resource material. At present, supply of buri raw materials comes from the nearby province of Cagayan.

DTI-Kalinga also vowed to establish tie-ups with existing bayong traders as initial prospect buyers of the bayong products from the province. *(LL-PIA-CAR,Kalinga)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=car&id=25276

:cheers::banana::banana:

By DEXTER A. SEE
April 17, 2011, 5:32pm

LAGAWE IFUGAO, Philippines — The Ifugao rice called Tinawon is now being packaged locally and for abroad for a premium price despite the worsening effects of climate change to the local agriculture industry thereby giving farmers a big boost in their income for their families.

Identified as the One Town One Product (OTOP) of the municipalities of Hingyon and Banaue, the tinawon variety is a high value crop which is grown in high elevation terraced areas of the province which is now in demand both in the local and international markets because of its aroma and quality which other rice varieties do not have.

Local officials of these two towns are assisting their respective farmers to intensify production to be able to meet the demands of the market considering that more individuals are patronizing the native rice considering that it is organically grown.

Records from the provincial government show that a total of 27,851 hectares are planted with tinawon in the irrigated rice paddies in Banaue and other municipalities. The Department of Trade and Industry claimed that total production reached as high as 27,851 metric tons thereby giving a big lift to the local rice production which is the major source of livelihood of the people.

Hingyon was able to export 700 kilos of tinawon through R.I.C.E. Inc., a non-government organization assisting the farmers to ship the product to the United States while the Banaue cluster site was able to produce and export 2,040 kilos. The produce generated P102,000.00. Organic markets in Metro Manila are also interested to sell Ifugao rice.

Ifugao mythology said that tinawon is the rice of the Ifugao gods. It was bequeathed to an Ipugaw (man of the earth) in exchange of the fire technology of man. From then on, the

Ifugaos of old planted rice in their terraces but had always acknowledged the participation of the Ifugao deities. Thus rituals are offered to the gods in almost every phase of the agricultural system of the Ifugaos. The Ifugaos believe that the tinawon is a gift of the gods to the people of the earth.

It is called tinawon because it is only harvest once a year. This medium-size rice grain, ranging in color from white to red, requires six to eight months growth period and therefore can only be harvested once a year.

Tinawon is the original rice variety planted by the Ifugao ancestors in the terraces.

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/314522/ifugao-rice-invading-various-markets

2010 Pics... this is Holyweek din. Ngayon lang nagkaron ng chance to post pics here..

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/8195/img0415zz.jpg
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/1382/img0418qa.jpg
Victoria Park

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St. James the Elder Cathedral view from Victoria Park

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Sleeping Beauty view from victoria park

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Sleeping Beauty view from my relatives house

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Jabee Bangued...

beautiful photos of beautiful Bangued! Wow!

HINGYON, Ifugao — An ordinance protecting the municipal rivers in the different barangays here was enacted recently by local legislators to promote the value of protecting river systems, which are the source of food for many villagers.

Known as “Sagip Ilog Ordinance” (SIO), authors by Councilors James Banawol and Francis Baguidudol, said polluters will be penalized under the measure.

The first offense carries a fine of P300 or a penalty of one day community work; second offense – P500 or two days community work; third offense – P1,000 or three days community work.

Succeeding offenses will be penalized P2,000 or five days community work but depending on the discretion of the court where the cases are filed. (Dexter A. See)

http://mb.com.ph/articles/315574/ifugao-fine-river-polluters

April 24, 2011, 4:46pm

BONTOC, Mt. Province — Electricity has now reached all the 144 barangays (villages) of Mountain Province including Barangay Balili of neighboring Mankayan town in Benguet through the Mountain Province Electric Cooperative (Mopreco) but some households at sitios or villages are yet to be energized primarily because of the huge investment required to string the power lines to the far-flung communities.

According to Cesaria Kiat-ong of Mopreco, there are already 26,605 households that are energized as of January 2011.

But with the National Statistics Office (NSO) 2010 projected household population of 31,130, there are still 4,525 households in some sitios that are without electricity.

In terms of villages, Mountain Province is now 100 percent energized but Mopreco is doing its best to have all the sitios energized the soonest although the rural electric cooperative needs huge capital expenditures in order to bring power to the non-viable communities in the mountain communities, Kiat-ong added.

It can be recalled that the provincial government through a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) has extended P1 million financial support to Mopreco which will be used to partially fund the energization of at least three sitios namely, the upgrading and extension to Sitio Mati-im of Alab in this municipality, energization of Sitio Bansa of Monamon Norte in Bauko, and the energization of Sitio Lower Amolong of Poblacion in Paracelis.

Kiat-ong said that energization is also on-going at Sitio Pumangwaw of Barangay Banawel, and Sitio Lotot of Barangay Butac in the municipality of Natonin.

Presidential Decree (PD) 269 which created the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and outlined the national government’s rural electrification program mandates all rural electric cooperatives to ensure that electricity will be brought to all households nationwide even in non-viable communities.

http://mb.com.ph/articles/315459/144-mountain-province-villages-now-energized

By DEXTER A. SEE
April 24, 2011, 4:45pm

TABUK CITY, Kalinga, Philippines — Pasil and Tanudan, both 5th class municipalities, are listed as pilot areas for the implementation of President Aquino’s Convergence Framework in the province of Kalinga in order to help spur economic activities that will improve the living condition of poor families.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which spearheads the new flagship program of the government to reduce poverty, combines the three major poverty alleviation programs – Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), and Self Employment Assistance para sa Kaunlaran (SEA-K), and have them implemented all at the same time in program areas.

Under the 4Ps or granting of conditional cash transfer, beneficiary-mothers receive P500 for pre-post natal care, while their children with ages below 14 years old who are in school get P300 cash allowance.

Government hands down infrastructure projects like day-care centers, farm-to-market roads, irrigation facilities, and other community based projects to identified barangays (villages) covered under the KALAHI-CIDSS.

For SEA-K, low-income families get livelihood assistance in the form of zero-interest soft loans payable in one-year from the government as start-up capital for livelihood projects and income generating activities.

In Kalinga, Jeoffrey Garcia of the DSWD field office there said the Convergence Framework will be launched on July in Pasil and Tanudan, before it will be adapted in the other municipalities.

The concept of convergence, Garcia explained, is pooling of resources and expertise to set up systematic channeling of efforts in the pursuit of a commonly agreed goal aimed at addressing poverty.

There is a need to harmonize government’s poverty reduction efforts in both program and operation level to generate greater impact beyond what each program could accomplish on its own, Garcia elaborated.

Through convergence, use of government resources is maximized at the same time, duplication of efforts is avoided.

When there is harmonized implementation, operational efficiency is enhanced that would assure maximum results from the programs, Garcia claimed.

The strategic focus of the framework is linking poverty flagship programs and empowering local government units, non-government organizations, services providers and intermediaries.

Existing programs under the KALAHI-CIDSS are implemented in 48 provinces, 78 provinces for SEA-K, and 79 provinces under 4Ps.

http://mb.com.ph/articles/315458/antipoverty-drive-benefits-2-town

Nothing beats Sagada, especially the Caves... Gaano man kalayo ang Sagada, siguradong babalik-balikan ko sya...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2287/5716634881_5fde8c648f_b.jpg

Banga-an Rice Terraces, Sagada, Mountain Province (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sundaebrain/5716634881/sizes/l/in/photostream/)

Abra: Tayum Church, Bangued Cathedral & the Gabriela Silang Monument

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/TOpWpw00CUI/AAAAAAAAHew/N3nZ2QpB2VM/s400/abra01.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/TOpWq_WA2OI/AAAAAAAAHe0/aRgECeE73XE/s400/abra02.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/TOpWvfnekHI/AAAAAAAAHe4/y2NR7rk5Jd0/s400/abra03.jpg

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http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/TOpW4pXA1nI/AAAAAAAAHfI/CxHpEJBk-Dw/s400/abra07.jpg

all credits to ivan henares
http://www.ivanhenares.com/search/label/Central%20Luzon

Kalinga: Chico Dam & Chico River

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/TO6TY_a0OHI/AAAAAAAAHfU/V-6dC65fve0/s400/kalinga01.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/TO6TZVM6P-I/AAAAAAAAHfY/Y4lA_4EQbvI/s400/kalinga02.jpg
all credits to ivan henares
http://www.ivanhenares.com/search/label/Cordillera%20Administrative%20Region

Apayao: Ruins of old Pudtol Church

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/TO0ynfK7P1I/AAAAAAAAHfM/SBAhC5CPZbs/s400/apayao01.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-fGx2wDrdVc/TO0yovdROLI/AAAAAAAAHfQ/_yeNBvSmW3g/s400/apayao02.jpg
all credits to ivan henares
http://www.ivanhenares.com/search/label/Cordillera%20Administrative%20Region

http://cl.cooltext.com/rendered/cooltext529649617.gif

http://flags.redpixart.com/img/1129/flag_256.jpg

...sa dibdib mo'y buhay...

Ipagdiwang, Araw ng Kalayaan, Hunyo 12, 2011

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is there any Viado forumer here na nasa manila by August?!

Nothing beats Sagada, especially the Caves... Gaano man kalayo ang Sagada, siguradong babalik-balikan ko sya...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2287/5716634881_5fde8c648f_b.jpg

Banga-an Rice Terraces, Sagada, Mountain Province (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sundaebrain/5716634881/sizes/l/in/photostream/)

This view is...awesome! :cheers:

BONTOC, Mountain Province — Sangguniang Panlalawigan here enacted recently an ordinance prohibiting the indiscriminate spitting of “moma” (betel nut) in public places.

It has been a common observation in all municipalities in this province that roads, pathways, walkways and even buildings and vehicles have not been spared of the reddish spittle of irresponsible people.

“While we respect the right of individuals to chew moma, it must be noted that the people have also the right to a clean and healthy environment,” the ordinance stated. (Dexter See)

from: mb.com.ph http://www.worldnewspaper.com.ar/english/filipinas/Manila-Bulletin-Manila-Metropolitan-Manila.8854.html

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5145/5652940629_2697e9c8d3_z.jpg

Hanging Coffins

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5022/5653511508_f9e832c1fb.jpg

Bomod-ok Falls

By DEXTER A. SEE at mb.com.ph
September 5, 2011, 3:43pm

TABUK CITY, Kalinga, Philippines — The City Agricultural Office (CAO) here is promoting the revival and establishment of coffee plantations in the area to develop said high value crop as the city’s One Town One Product (OTOP) and boost the promotion of coffee as one of the alternative sources of livelihood for the thousands of agricultural stakeholders.

City Agriculturist Gilbert Cawis Sr. said there is a need to encourage farmers, especially former coffee planters to engage once again in the farming activity considering its economic advantage and sustainability compared with other crops following the rapidly increasing global demand for coffee, especially Arabica coffee which is popularly produced in the Cordillera as one of the cash crops.

He said that several farmers have converted their coffee plantations to corn fields believing that they would gain more and faster compared to coffee production unknowing that the latter is now considered as a descent source of livelihood for the people because of the increasing global market as Arabica coffee is now the demand of the international community because of its long lasting aroma and caramelized taste.

To address this, the local agriculture office conceptualized a plan to advance the city’s coffee management and production program to get farmers’ venture in coffee agri-business in order to significantly increase coffee production to cater to the growing demand so that the same will be sustained and that the local farmers will not eventually loose track of the international market for the lucrative commodity.

source link: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/333265/coffee-promoted

Canadian miner signs deal to develop Abra gold site
ABRA MINING and Industrial Corp. (AMIC) has signed a joint- venture deal with Canada-based Olympus Pacific Minerals, Inc. and other firms for the exploration and development of the Capcapo gold mine in Abra.
The deal also included Jadbra Mining Corp. and Philearth Mining Corp. as well as Jabel Corp. which jointly owns the mining claims over the site covered by Mineral Production Sharing Agreement 144-99-CAR, a disclosure to the local bourse yesterday showed.

Olympus Pacific separately said in a statement posted on its Web site dated that it has the option to acquire a 60% interest in the Capcapo gold project, subject to compliance with Philippine foreign ownership laws. More: http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Corporate&title=Canadian-miner-signs-deal-to-develop-Abra-gold-site&id=39322

Abra Boy Scout leader gets national award
BANGUED, Abra, Oct. 3 (PIA) -- Gian Lee Carlo Quiban, a Senior Boy Scout of the Philippines (BSP) of the Divine Word College of Bangued was awarded as one of the Ten Outstanding Boy Scouts (TOBS) in the country for 2011.

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, national president of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, handed the awards to the 10 national winners of TOBS 2011 in Makati City, October 1.

Quiban, a consistent honor student since grade 1 and editor-in-chief of their school organ, the CORAZONIAN, topped this year’s search for TOBS because of his involvements in various concerns such as environmental protection and his voluntary participation in all the community affairs and services that the BSP – Abra Chapter is engaged in. More: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=car&id=57259

Housing for state workers underway
BANGUED, Abra, Oct.3 (PIA)-- The homeless employees in the province may soon have their own homes with the development of Kit’s Ville in Penarrubia now underway.

The housing project is one of the promises of Governor Eustaquio P. Bersamin when he assumed office in 2007.

Bersamin admitted that it is only now that this housing concern is being addressed as he had prioritized roads and bridges which he believes are the most important in order to spur the economic development of the province and health services to have a healthy and productive citizenry. More: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=57220

7 days after "pedring" in IFUGAO - from of dr joseph g bulayungan
by Hero Peewee Bacuño (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.257031347666040.55601.100000775308891&type=1)

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7 days after "pedring" in IFUGAO - from of dr joseph g bulayungan
by Hero Peewee Bacuño (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.257031347666040.55601.100000775308891&type=1)

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Sagada Rice Terraces

Mt.Pulag
by Michael Zantua


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all credits to Michael Zantua
http://maykol.multiply.com/photos/album/121/Another_Mt._Pulag_Year-end

Guys, 13 days left to continuously vote for our Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) as one New 7 Wonders of Nature. There are three ways to vote. Please the check below link:
http://www.filamnation.com/2011/07/vote-for-puerto-princesa-underground-river-ppur/

Sa mga nasa Pilipinas, pwedeng bomoto through text. Text PPUR to 2861 or for automatic 1 vote per day Text PPUR<space>ON to 2861.VOTE NA para hindi pababa ang trend ng PPUR natin.

Mt.Pulag
by Michael Zantua


http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii202/maykolz_photo/_MG_4762.jpg

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all credits to Michael Zantua
http://maykol.multiply.com/photos/album/121/Another_Mt._Pulag_Year-end

Ang ganda! malamig sa mata :cheers:

By MYRNA M. VELASCO
December 2, 2011, 3:58am

MANILA, Philippines — Another hydro project with 600-megawatt potential is up for final signing by the Department of Energy (DoE), making it the second project to be sealed following some injected improvements in the renewable energy (RE) template contract.

The proposed facility, wherein the RE service contract was already pre-signed recently, was proposed by Pan Pacific Power Corporation, a local company being represented to the DoE by Fluelen Ortigas.

The contract has been subsequently elevated to Energy Secretary Rene D. Almendras for final signing. The Pan Pacific project will involve developments at the twin rivers of Apayao and Abulug in the Cordilleras, considered the watershed cradle of northern Luzon.

It is not known yet who would be the developers’ deep-pocketed principals or project partners, since developing a 600-megawatt facility will merit massive investments ranging from $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion.

source: http://mb.com.ph/articles/343345/doe-signs-re-contract-600mw-apayao-hydropower-project

December 2, 2011, 4:21am

MANILA, Philippines — Around 700 elementary students and teachers from five municipalities of the Mountain Province got a taste of fun and exciting science experience while watching science films as the Science Education Institute’s (SEI) Science Explorer brought the Science Film Festival to the Cordilleras last week.

The Science Explorer, the Philippines’ first and only mobile science learning facility, brought to students and teachers of Bauko, Sabangan, Bontoc, Sagada and Besao a brand new experience in science and technology through interactive science activities coupled with international films to excite the pupils on the wonders of science.

SEI director Dr. Filma G. Brawner expressed her gratitude to ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. (AFI), Goethe Institut (GI), and the Department of Education (DepEd) for the opportunity to serve the people of Mountain Province through the Science Film Festival which is now on its second year.

“We hope that through the Science Explorer we were able to show to the elementary students of Mountain Province how exciting it is to be a scientist. We thank AFI and Goethe for the chance to serve the people of the Cordilleras through fun and exciting science experiments,” she said.

:cheers:


source: http://mb.com.ph/articles/343348/the-science-explorer-goes-mountain-province

BANAUE, Ifugao — The Department of Agriculture is spearheading a National Government initiative to rehabilitate typhoon-damaged portions of the world-famous Banaue Rice Terraces in a bid to restore the agricultural and engineering wonder’s status as a World Heritage Site and a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, in a meeting with local and National Government officials at the Banaue Hotel last Friday, announced that an initial P30 million will be earmarked for the rehabilitation of portions of the rice terraces that were damaged by recent typhoons. (Rizaldy Comand)

source: http://mb.com.ph/articles/343158/luzon-earthquake

by Dexter A. See

TADIAN, Mountain Province—-At least 15 lawmakers have signed a resolution in the House of Representatives mandating the Department of Public Works and Highways to provide funds to complete a vital bridge linking the Mountain Province and the Ilocos region.

Leading the group pushing for the Aluling bridge in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur across the Abra River are Benguet Rep. Ronaldo Cosalan, chairman of House committee on public works and Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat, chairman of the House committee on national communities.

“The completion of the Aluling bridge project will greatly enhance access of upland agricultural products, tourism, environmental preservation and protection, agro-industry and small and medium enterprises not only in the Ilocos region but also in other provinces of the North Luzon growth area,” read the explanatory note of the proposed measure.

source: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNation.htm?f=2011/december/13/nation5.isx&d=2011/december/13

sana makapunta ako sa Banaue and Sagada :d

^^ on your long vacation. :) May byahe ata roon ang Victory Liner

NARAGSAK NGA PASKUA!
[MERRY CHRISTMAS]

From the World Heritage City of Vigan and Heritage Province of Ilocos Sur

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11 bridges up for construction in Kalinga
by Peter A. Balocnit

TABUK CITY, Kalinga, Dec. 27(PIA) -- Eleven bridges are up for construction next year to improve access and mobility along a major road network here.
Department of Public Works and Highways – Kalinga District Engineering Office (DPWH-KDEO) construction section chief, Teodoro Owek said the new bridges are replacement of dilapidated bridges along said the Tabuk-Bontoc road that connects the provinces of Kalinga and Mountain Province.
These bridge projects are funded from regular DPWH appropriations, Owek said.
Meanwhile, KDEO called on the public to understand the process of governance in the bidding and implementation of projects the province.
KDEO Maintenance Chief Engr. Manuel Madio made this call amidst public query why most projects are implemented during the rainy season. He said their office has been plagued with criticisms from people expressing their discomfort when roads and bridges are not passable or cause traffic because construction and repair works are ongoing and often taking long because of bad weather condition.
Madio clarified the DPWH like any other department is strictly following a planning calendar and anchors its mandate on the plans and activities of that given year.
He explained that much as they wanted to implement projects earlier in the year, it cannot be because d Congress deliberates on the national budget mid-year approval is usually early the following year.
“Funding of projects will follow which also takes a long period spending the whole first quarter months until the issuance of their special allotment release orders,” Madio said.
“Then next will be the bidding process, so midyear again probably June or July when project implementation starts and that will be the rainy months in Kalinga,” Madio explained adding that the worst cause of delay in project implementation is problems on road right-of-way claims. (JDP/PAB-PIA-CAR,Kalinga)

http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=car&id=69862

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Happy New Year! Greetings from SSC CDO "TSADABOYS".

Photo by Kurt6500

A lot of people are afraid of the year 2012 with a lot of reasons behind it but I know faith in God will help us survive all the trials ahead. May we all have a blessed and faith filled 2012! Happy New Year from Albay Legazpi Thread!!!


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Batad: Unlimited Rice Baby!
http://www.theworldbehindmywall.com/2012/01/batad-unlimited-rice-baby.html

Im now in Tabuk, meron bang bus from Tabuk to Kabugao?

THE NATIONAL Tobacco Administration (NTA) is extending P5.4 million worth of loan assistance to support tobacco production in the province of Abra, the agency said in a statement on Wednesday.

NTA Administrator Edgardo D. Zaragoza said separately in a telephone interview that farmers can use the funds to buy materials needed for planting and other production inputs.

“This fund is part of our intervention to enable farmers to produce good-quality tobacco leaves for their buyers,” he said.

He said farmers can borrow from NTA’s field offices in their areas P35,000 for every hectare of land to be planted with tobacco.

He added that NTA is looking to provide the same assistance to other provinces where tobacco is being planted, particularly La Union, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.

source (http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Agribusiness&title=P5.4-million-loan-facility-for-Abra%E2%80%99s-tobacco-farmers&id=44885)

PREPARATIONS are under way for implementation of two Science and Technology-based Farm (STBF) projects involving arabica coffee in the Mountain Province, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) said in a statement earlier this month.

The pilot projects are in the municipalities of Besao and Sagada.

The Mountain Province is considered a natural habitat for arabica coffee with its year-round cool temperature, the statement read.

Arabica is believed to contain less caffeine than many other commercially cultivated coffee species.

In a recent meeting in Sagada among PCARRD staff involved with STBF projects, Concepcion Wangdali, provincial coordinator and manager of the Bontoc Provincial Farmers’ Information and Technology Services center, said arabica coffee is the “one town-one product” of five municipalities in the Mountain Province, namely: Sagada, Besao, Sabangan, Tadian and Bauko.

source (http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=21&title=Mt.-Province-coffee-backed&id=44883)

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Banaue_RT_Pano7 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5692971589/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

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Banaue_RT_Pano1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5693545402/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

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Banaue_RiceTerraces1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5693542450/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

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Banaue_RiceTerraces2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5693543426/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

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Banaue_RiceTerraces3 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5693546514/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

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Talop_RiceTerraces1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5693547812/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

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Talop_RiceTerraces2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5693548990/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

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Bangaan_RiceTerraces2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5693551732/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

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Bangaan_RiceTerraces1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5692980657/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5266/5692998477_0fbb543197_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5692998477/)
Road to Sagada (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5692998477/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

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Lake Danum, Sagada (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5693573066/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

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Lake Danum, Sagada (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5693574850/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5024/5693572258_1b3c936676_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5693572258/)
Sumaging Cave, Sagada (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5693572258/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5183/5693570872_2d3ec7941b_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5693570872/)
Sumaging Cave, Sagada (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5693570872/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5301/5693569234_3a4d73627c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5693569234/)
Sumaging Cave, Sagada (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5693569234/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5064/5692961389_fecbfdfcda_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5692961389/)
Banaue_Imbayah5 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5692961389/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5224/5692962389_487f7528b9_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5692962389/)
Banaue_Imbayah6 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5692962389/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5266/5692963303_dc39cb0f63_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5692963303/)
Banaue_Imbayah7 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5692963303/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5187/5692964837_6ec54ef038_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5692964837/)
Banaue_Imbayah1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5692964837/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5225/5693535370_4b4351d74d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5693535370/)
Banaue_Imbayah2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5693535370/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5143/5692968875_0e84238395_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5692968875/)
Banaue_Imbayah4 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bongbajo/5692968875/) by bongbajo (http://www.flickr.com/people/bongbajo/), on Flickr

Kalinga River Rafting (http://www.ambot-ah.com/white-water-river-rafting-kalinga/) - along the Chico River
photos taken during Lakbay Norte (http://www.ambot-ah.com/lakbay-norte-3/) tour.

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Beautiful Chico River

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Scenery along the Chico River

more: http://www.ambot-ah.com/white-water-river-rafting-kalinga/