STA. MARCELA, Apayao – Apayao Governor Elias C. Bulut, Jr. admitted during Sta. Marcela’s own version of celebrating the 24th Founding Anniversary of Apayao that hosting the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet is not an easy task as it takes a lot of efforts and sacrifices.
A week before the formal opening of the CARAA, Bulut said he accepted the challenge of hosting the prestigious regional sporting event for the second time around as an opportunity to introduce further the province as a prime tourist destination in the north and to reveal that Apayao has already come a long way as a progressive province compared to its first hosting in 2013.
“Kunada nga napangas tayo ngem napintas daytoy ta maipakita nga kaya tayo talaga ag-host. Kinaya tayo idi 2013, haan tayo ketdi kaya itan? (They said we are arrogant but this is a good way to show that we are indeed capable of hosting. We did it in 2013, can we not do it now?),” Gov. Bulut stressed.
Bulut, who will be bowing out as governor come June 30, underscored his eagerness to host the CARAA Meet in order for him to see his mistakes and for him to correct them. “They said we will be hosting again the CARAA Meet next year and I said yes, we are much competent but of course, it depends now on the next governor, Cong. Leah (Bulut-Begtang),” he pointed out.
To give way to the full preparation of all municipalities in the upcoming CARAA Meet, the celebration of the 24th founding anniversary of Apayao on February 14 came with a twist as the supposed one-week festivity featuring float and dance parade, “Dayag ti Apayao” pageantry, agro-fair and other lined-up activities usually being held in a particular place were temporarily set aside and rather was celebrated by all municipalities separately.
In their plan to boost the tourism industry, Bulut compared the province to a pristine lady ready to be introduced and be known to other places and to foreigners due to its vast virgin forest still intact popularly known as the “last forest frontier of the North.” Bulut said one way of promoting it is through sports competition like the CARAA Meet.
“Ti probinsiya tayo ket kasla balasang nga lumaslasbang. Masapul na met ti agpapintasen tapno maamwan ken makita ti kaaduan (Our province is like a lady, getting prettier. She also needs to groom herself for others to know and see her).
Sta. Marcela’s own version of celebrating the 24th Founding Anniversary of Apayao was organized on February 18 which coincided with the unveiling of the monument of Gov. Bulut’s late father, Hon. Elias K. Bulut (EKB) at the Bacut Lake Tourism Complex and Nature Park here in time for the influx of athletes, coaches and visitors who can visit the area within the duration of CARAA Meet. BY GERRIAHZON S. SEBASTIAN
CARAA in Apayao. Selected high school students of Apayao dance the Taddo (native dance of Apayao) before an estimated crowd of 9,000, including guest speaker DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones, during the opening program of the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet on February 27, 2019 at the Apayao Eco-Tourism and Sports Complex, Payanan, Luna, Apayao. GERRIAHZON S. SEBASTIAN
