ILOCANOS INVADE TAGUM

For the past two weeks city mayor Rey T. Uy played gracious host to two batches of local officials from Ilocandia who came to our city in two separate occasions.

Coming here at a time we are celebrating our third Durian Festival, our guests many of whom haven’t seen the real durian in their life had a taste of the king of all fruits that tastes like a heaven but smells like hell.

Expectedly, some, the adventurous type, dared to taste and they liked it. Others less daring refused to try. For them the smell is so offensive. But just the same, attempting to eat this exotic fruit is an adventure in itself, adventure they could not have experienced had they not come.

Our most recent visitors from Ilocandia were local officials from the town of Pinili in Ilocos Norte province. As usual our visitors were given guided tours to points of interests that were the purpose of their coming.

It is not us that take our visitors to places we would like them to see. On the contrary, it is they who tell us the places they have heard so much about and would like to see.

On the way our visitors are awed at the wide paved roads lined with palm trees, the only local government units they said that have extensively done so.

They also took notice, as all previous visitors also did, the cleanliness of our streets and the orderliness prevailing in the city. What they see here is uncharacteristic of a Philippine city – dirty and dilapidated buildings, uncollected garbage strewn all around, streets littered with trash, and dirty public toilets.

Also noticeable they said are the on-going projects. Anywhere they look the city is a-buzz with activities by workers constructing infra projects being implemented by the indefatigable Mayor Rey T. Uy.

A week earlier our city was also visited by local officials from another Ilocandia town. Headed by lady mayor Rosario C. Go, the entourage of local officials from Curimao, Ilocos Norte, also toured the city. Recall that last year the city of Tagum was visited by local officials from 49 cities and municipalities. From the far North, the farthest town to send Lakbay Aral tours to Tagum was the municipality of Aguinaldo in Ifugao province. They comprised the first batch of our Ilocano visitors.

The honors of sending the biggest delegation of Lakbay Aral tour officials were the city of pine, Baguio City with more than 400 city and barangay officials.

The highlight of all these visits is an audience with Mayor Rey T. Uy. They always look forward to seeing the man responsible for the transformation of Tagum from a mere overgrown town to a vibrant and bustling progressive city. (Ed Valdez)

The Comval Province Council of Women gained insights and deeply overwhelmed to the success operations of the Tagum City Council of Women (TCCW) during their educational tour in the city last September 11, 2007.

The visit was spearheaded by the 1st Lady of the Comval Province, Madam Eunice L. Uy together with the different first ladies of the 11 municipalities of the said province, and women entrepreneurs with their aimed of replicating good practices of Tagum City Council of Women.

Madam Alma L. Uy, chairperson of the TCCW led the whole day tour guiding to among major livelihood programs of the council.

The first destination was at the Trade and Cultural Center wherein beneficiaries from Barangay Council of Women (BCoW) of Barangays Poblacion, South, East and Visayan Village manage the maintenance and cleanliness of the four (4) Public Comfort Rooms for a fee. The said operation is in line with its thrust of generating employment and providing source of livelihood to Barangay Council of Women.

According to Madam Alma that the Barangay Council of Women pays a monthly rental of P1,000.00 to the City and P500.00 to the TCCW. This provides better services to the public as well as good maintenance of the said facilities.

Then, the next tour was at the ‘KABUHAYAN’ Kiosks at the Public Market. Another livelihood ventures, in which BCoW from Magugpo North, Cuambogan, La Filipina and Muslim SCoW benefited from it. The kiosks are used as their ‘kabuyahan’ stores with partner agencies which help the recipients in the improvement of their respective kiosks.

The recently launched B’YANENG products engaged by the council was another entrepreneurial activity showcased by the TCCW located at Barangay Apokon compound.

The three products namely: Honey-dipped banana chips, Sinamak (counter part of the sukang pinakurat), Peanute Butter carry the product name Byaneng which is an indigenous term for a lovely maiden, model woman or princess. The B’yaneng products come in a novelty packaging material comparable to the products sold commercially.

Madam Alma pointed out that this Byaneng is also another alternative livelihood for the women of Tagum and at the same time displays the ingenuity of Tagumeños which helps promote tourism industry in the city.

Included also in the tour was the visit to the Energy Park, Motorpool, La Filipina Public Memorial Park and Christ the King Cathedral. (Geraldine B. Abella)