LUNA, Apayao – Honoring a man whose vision reshaped Apayao’s future, the province gathered on December 5 to celebrate Provincial Hero’s Day at the Apayao Eco-Tourism and Sports Complex.
Said event commemorated the life and contributions of the late Elias K. Bulut, Sr. (EKB), whose leadership left a legacy of progress and unity to the province.
Speaking before the crowd of provincial leaders, barangay officials, and employees of the provincial government, Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Engr. Henry Caluducan reflected on EKB’s journey from a humble public servant to a revered provincial hero.
“We are not here to mourn a man who died, but to thank that such a man lived,” Caluducan said, adding that, EKB, “was not just a leader; he was a visionary, a teacher, a father, and above all, a hero in our hearts.”
EKB’s leadership came at a time when Apayao faced massive challenges. From being one of the poorest provinces in the Philippines in the mid 1990s, the province has since risen to become one of the least poor – a transformation credited to the groundwork laid by EKB’s governance.
“His visionary thinking and wisdom built the foundation for the progress we see today,” Caluducan added. “The stories of his heroic deeds must continue to be told and be imparted to all our youth so they may be inspired,”
DILG’s Taddo Awards
Part of the program was the Taddo Awards of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) – a recognition program honoring outstanding barangays in the province for excellence in governance.
The awards are a realization of EKB’s dream to strengthen grassroots leadership, a huge part of his vision for the province’s development.
“One of his dreams was to empower our Barangay Local Government Units, and today, that dream has been realized,” Caluducan stated. “Governance begins in the barangays. Without their outstanding performances, our municipalities and our province would not achieve meaningful progress.”
The ceremony honored barangay leaders alongside municipal and provincial officials for their collective efforts in driving growth in Apayao. “Their heroic acts contribute to the dur-as of our barangays, municipalities, and province,” he said while underscoring the shared responsibility of leaders at all levels.
For the yApayaos, EKB is more than a founder and a hero. He is a symbol of what is possible when vision meets action and when leadership comes from a place of love and service.
Through this celebration, it is hoped that the yApayaos will carry with them the stories of a public school teacher from barangay Butao, Calanasan, who dared to dream for his province and whose legacy will continue to inspire generations to come. By Jess Christley Marquez
