TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Rep. Ellen Jesse C. Mangaoang rallied Tabukenos to work together as equals for the larger good of all to be able to bring the city to greater heights in the future.
Mangaoang was one of the guests during the main program in celebration of the 74th Tabuk Founding Anniversary, 23rd Matagoan Festival and 17th cityhood anniversary that was held at the city gymnasium Monday morning.
“Your representative in Congress has embraced this responsibility and everyone is urged to embrace this shared responsibility,” Mangaoang stressed, saying that the said celebration summons people to a higher purpose, to rise above the narrow view of their interests and recognize that each of them can serve their interests better when they work together.
The three-term Kalinga lawmaker also urged the Tabukenos to take pride in their accomplishments, but they must also remain steadfast in their commitment to sustainable development, thus, every new day should be an opportunity to create a legacy that the future generations will be proud of.
The theme of this year’s celebration is Journey to the City of Life which perfectly captures the narrative of the city’s humble beginning up to the metamorphosis of a now thriving and fastest developing city north of Manila.
“Our city’s birth was not a mere administrative event. It was the convergence of brains, faith, and determination. Our forebears carved out a place where life could flourish, a canvass waiting for colors, a symphony yearning for notes. They laid the first bricks, sowed the seeds, and whispered to the winds, this shall be our legacy,” Congressman Mangaoang emphasized.
According to him, as people reflect on their journey, they should remember that every step they have taken has been fueled by their shared vision of a brighter future even if they have faced challenges but they have also celebrated triumphs.
He claimed that it is through the aforesaid experiences that people have forged an unbreakable bond, one that propels them forward with unwavering determination.
Mangaoang pointed that in their journey to the City of Life, people should be guided by the values that define them, integrity, compassion and a relentless pursuit of excellence which are the foundation upon which they build their dreams and aspirations.
He expounded that the said values remind people that while the road ahead may be long and winding, it is also filled with opportunities for growth, innovation and transformation.
“We envision a city where every child has an opportunity to grow, where every elder has a peaceful refuge, every women shares the pedestal of policy and decision-making and above all, a city where every dream finds wings,” Congressman Mangaoang said.
He reminded Tabukenos to look ahead with optimism and determination since the journey to the City of Life is full of hope, resilience, and unwavering faith in their collective potentials, together, they should continue to build a city that not only survives but thrives, a city that stands as a testament to the power of community and the enduring spirit of its people.
Republic Act (RA) 533 signed on June 16, 1950 created Tabuk as a municipality of the former Kalinga-Apayao sub-province while RA 9404 established Tabuk as a component city of Tabuk on June 24, 2007. By Dexter A. See