BAUKO, Mountain Province – The celebration of the town’s Begnas di Bauko festival turned to be successful following the participation of the thousands of residents and visitors alike in the numerous activities that were lined up for the crowd drawing event.
This year’s Begnas was celebrated with the theme “ Bauko: Headwater of major rivers in the North, concertedly, we nurture and protect for the next generation.”
March 8 was a localized celebration of the International Women’s Day participated by the women of the 22 barangays in a parade that ended by fellowship program at the municipal oval, Poblacion, Bauko. They re-echoed the theme “We make change, work for women”. The night was the Search for Miss Begnas promoting tourism and youth enhancement among the young generation of Bauko.
The second day, March 9 was graced by Assistant Secretary of the Department of Transportation –Office of Commuters’ Affair (DOTr- OCA) Elvira Y. Medina with Chairman Emmanuel C. Virtucio of the Office of Transportation Cooperatives (DOTr-OTC). They delivered the message of an authentic culture that encourages harmony and unity. Liken to a group of stones that form the riprap of highways, harmony and unity of the Bauko people will soar high and conquer even the greatest challenge of all times. The celebration of Begnas is recognizing an identity that is genuine heritage of the people of the mountains.
Engr. Glen Murphy of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) represented Director Efren F. Piñol on the third day of the celebration with the school children taking the center stage for the day’s celebration. He challenged the theme of the celebration focusing on the most active resource of the municipality – its people. Bauko is blessed with natural and cultural resources which must be developed and sustained but most importantly, there has to be development and sustainability with the human resource.
The occasion was celebrated with cultural presentation from the twenty two (22) barangays of Bauko and talent showdown from school children from the schools of Bauko. It also featured different products of the 22 barangays like the pottery of Bila, weaving of Guinzadan, vegetables (organic and non-organic) of Barangays Sinto, Monamon Sur/Norte, Mount Data, Mabaay and Leseb. Barangay Mount Data awed the people with its booth made up of recycled materials.
The Bauko community and officialdom through Mayor Abraham B. Akilit expresses profound gratitude to all the guest, visitors, constituents and contributors for the success of the event at the same time ask understanding to some inadequacies of services during the festival.
By Arsenia Addon
