LUNA, Apayao – Apayao Governor Elias Bulut, Jr. yearns for a more effective ways of celebrating the founding anniversary of the Cordillera Administrative Region by instituting mass campaign which would reach out for youths and not only remain as a provincial celebration but rather extend down into the municipal level.
Governor Bulut urges everyone during the turned over of the Unity Gong by the Officials of Kalinga led by Acting Governor James S. Edduba to devise plans and programs which would reach out for the next generation leaders by instituting a municipal level celebration in contrast to that of a traditional “Capitol Celebration” orchestrated in the past Unity Gong Relays.
“Haan nga Kapitolyo lang koma ti ag-celebrate iti Unity Gong every year. Iti met koma municipal level tapno haan lang nga datayo ti makaammo (It should not only be the Capitol which celebrates the Unity Gong every year. Rather, it should also be in the municipal level so that it is not only us who would know),” Gov. Bulut suggested.
According to Gov. Bulut, if the celebration goes on only as a provincial celebration, it would be a “copy paste celebration every July 15” of the year during the Unity Gong Relay. “Isu lang nga isu ti ibagbaga tayo, di ba? Mabalin tayo pay ketdin nga i-record dagiti ibagbaga tayon ket usuren tayo manen next year (We are just telling the same thing, isn’t it? We can even record what we are saying now then use them next year,” Gov. Bulut stressed.
For Gov. Bulut, there is a need to reach out for the youths as next leaders and even thought of Conner, Apayao as an example of a possible venue for next year’s celebration in a municipal level. “Ipakita tayo kadagiti ub-ubbing no anya dagitoy ar-aramiden tayo. Dagiti audience tayo ket haan koma lang nga isu nga isu. No awan agretiro siguron, apo mamemorize tayo nagnagan except kanyami nga pulitiko a ta adda term mi (Let us show to the youths what we are doing. Our audience should not only be the same. If no one retires, maybe we could memorize the names except for us politicians who have term,” Gov. Bulut underscored.
Gov. Bulut thanked everyone for sacrificing their time in visiting Apayao. He even teased the Officials of Kalinga that there might be issuance of suspension due to the presence of the Department Heads and elective officials. “Madanagan nak man ta awan tao diay Kapitolyo yo baka masuspinde kayo lalo ta adda ni Director ti DILG ditoy (I’m afraid that no one was left in the Capitol and you might be suspended for this particularly that the Director of DILG is here),” he said
Acting Governor Edduba thanked the people of Apayao for their hospitality and the warm welcome they showed. He even commended the leaders of Apayao particularly Gov. Bulut for his industry.
“Nagaget ti leader you, apay nga nakunak daytoy? Kasi napintas dagiti dalan yun (Your leader is diligent. Why did I say this? Because you already have excellent roads),” Edduba manifested.
Edduba posed a challenging parting statement to the delegates of Kalinga which the people of Apayao appreciated. “Kitan yo ta umun-unan ti Apayao iti Kalinga,” he said.
National Economic and Development Authority Assistant Regional Director Jade Aquino and DILG-CAR Regional Director Engr. Marlo Iringan acknowledged the valuable suggestions of Gov. Bulut. “Nakikinig kami sa sinabi ni Gov. Bulut,” declared Aquino.
Aquino said there is a need for real change and Cordillera is now ready for that change as embodied in the quest for autonomy. She has affirmed Bulut’s earlier statement for the need to reach out for the youths, thus, programs like battle of band have been programmed for youth’s involvement.
According to Iringan, he recognized the insights Gov. Bulut. “Indeed, adu ti napintas nga kapanunutan ni Governor and his recommendation is very well noted,” he stressed.
Iringan looked forward to next year’s CAR’s Founding Anniversary Celebration at the Province of Ifugao incorporating the insights learned in this year’s celebration. However, he has hope that if the referendum will be successful then next year would be the celebration of the 1st
Autonomous Region in Cordilleras and which the crowd gladly agreed.
Meanwhile, NCIP Regional Director Atty. Roland P. Calde said this time is the best moment to make CAR an autonomous region. He feared that if the quest for autonomy fails again, the provinces of Cordillera would be assimilated once more to Regions 1 and 2.
“Agkaykasysa tayo ta baka dumteng to diay panawen nga mawara-wara tayo manen (Let’s be united for there might be time that we will be divided again). This is the right time to go for Autonomy as the leaders of CAR have already signified their full support. Our leaders are already united,” Atty. Calde pointed out.
The Kalinga-Apayao Leg Unity Gong Turn-over program was held on July 11 at the ECBJR Evacuation Center and Multi-Purpose Building, Luna, Apayao. BY GERRIAHZON S. SEBASTIAN
