Tinglayan hosts Kalinga's Nutrition Month celebration

Baguio City - With the theme "Sa Wastong Nutrisyon ni Mommy, Siguradong Healthy si Baby", the municipality of Tinglayan will be hosting this year's provincial nutrition month celebration culminating activity on July 30, 2008.

In preparation for the activity, the Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC) scheme several activities to be undertaken province wide ensuring the full participation of the different municipalities in highlighting the importance of health and proper nutrition.

In a memorandum, Provincial Governor Floydelia Diasen specified at least eight activities to be undertaken by the different government agencies and local government units in the province to highlight the celebration.

These include information education campaign activities such as placing of streamers bearing the theme for the public to be aware of said activity, program launching and motorcade, conduct of meetings, classes, and seminars on nutrition, conduct of Nutrition on the Air over DZRK Radyo ng Bayan and IEC on environmental sanitation.

Concerned agencies are also directed to conduct capability building through training of nutrition implementers from the provincial to the municipal level and also encouraged the active participation of Non-government organizations in all nutrition related activities.

As a highlight of the event, several contested activities will be conducted such as the "Search of Mrs. Nutrition" to be participated by mothers from 21 to 35 year old, with at least four healthy children and certified to be in good health by the Municipal Health Officer (MHO).

Babies from 0 to 11 months with normal weight, complete immunization record and certified to have been breastfed will also be joining the event in the Well-baby Contest.

Public and private schools around the province are likewise encouraged to join the competitions on cooking, poster making, slogan making, jingle, draw and tell, revival dance, nutrition quiz, and extemporaneous speech.

Meanwhile in her report, Nutritionist Frances Sebastian of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) urged for the immediate release of weighing scales in the different municipalities stressing the vital importance of said equipments in monitoring the nutrition status of children six years and below.

She disclosed that during the January to March Operation Timbang, the PHO reported that Pasil ranked first with 13.68% in the malnutrition rating followed by Rizal with 12.63% which is closely followed by Pinukpuk with 12.29%.

Tabuk City is fourth with 9.29% followed by Tanudan with 9.12%, Lubuagan is the sixth placer with 7.81%, then Balbalan with 6.92% and Tinglayan with only 2.2% malnutrition rate. Read more...

Coffee production eyed as alternative for marijuana farmers

TINGLAYAN, Kalinga - The local government here is determined to enhance coffee production to eradicate marijuana plantations in its far-flung villages.

“Enhancing our coffee production will make the local farmers realize that there are other kinds of livelihood aside from planting marijuana,” Tinglayan Mayor Johnny Maymaya said.

Maymaya said marijuana planting is still rampant in the villages of Loccong, Busculan, Butbut and in a hamlet called Balay.

The mayor said the municipality is progressively being known for its Robusta coffee production. He said agriculturists are now looking for the possible cultivation of Arabica coffee in the elevated parts of the municipality.

With the new development, Maymaya said the municipal government is planning to approach more farmers, particularly those who are cultivating marijuana, and convince them to plant coffee plants instead.

Jerry Baliang, acting regional director of the Department of Agriculture in the Cordillera Administrative Region, said more than 8,000 hectares of land in Kalinga have been converted into coffee farms. Read more...

Cordillera cops on their toes after blast downs cell site in Kalinga

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Cordillera policemen were ordered on Wednesday to be on their toes after communist rebels blasted a cellular site of Globe Telecoms in Pinukpuk town in Kalinga province on Sunday.

Chief Supt. Eugene Martin, the regional police director, said security measures on vital government and private installations all over the region were being enhanced to avoid a repeat of the bombing that has disrupted cell phone services for Pinukpuk’s remote communities.

A report by the Kalinga provincial office to Martin said at least 30 rebels were involved in the attack on the Globe cell site located on a mountain ridge along the boundary of barangays Taga and Pakawit by communist rebels.

The report said the rebels forcibly entered the Globe compound at around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, and hogtied watchman Manuel Labbutan Jr and his wife, who happened to be at the cell site to deliver supper for his husband, before blasting the facility with dynamites. - GMANews.TV

Kalinga solon awards livelihood projects to poor families, inmates

Tabuk City, Kalinga (28 July) -- Contributing to the government's effort to mitigate hunger, organized groups in the province including inmates were recipients to various livelihood assistance projects of Congressman Manuel Agyao.

Significant among these support projects is the awarding of a tractor to the Kalinga Banana Producers Multi-purpose Cooperative.

Awarding ceremonies separately took place last week at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Kalinga district office and at the Tabuk Multi-purpose Cooperative, (TAMPCO) Inc. Inn this city, where a livelihood training was conducted. Read more...

Alleged NPA rebel killed in Kalinga clash

MANILA, Philippines - A suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebel was killed following a clash with Army personnel in the northern Philippine province of Kalinga over the weekend, the Philippine Army said Monday.

About 4 p.m. Sunday, operating troops from the 21st Infantry Battalion engaged an undetermined number of NPA rebels at Sitio Magmag-an in Upper Uma village in Lubuagan town, said Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, spokesman for the Philippine Army.

Aside from killing one rebel, the operating troops also recovered a Carbine and a .22-caliber Magnum revolver, Brawner said.

No government casualties were reported in the said encounter.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). The outlawed group has been waging a Maoist insurgency campaign for nearly four decades.

Peace talks with the mainstream communist movement remain stalled since August 2004.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had ordered government forces to crush the communist insurgency by the end of her term in June 2010. *GMANews.TV

Kalinga day care workers train on disaster preparedness

Tabuk City, Kalinga (28 July) -- With the alarming weather forecast about the number of super typhoons that may hit the country this year, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) taps the assistance of day care workers on disaster preparedness and relief operations, as part of its disaster preparedness efforts in the province.

Eusebia Haddac, Project Coordinator of the PSWDO said their office will conduct disaster preparedness orientation and training to properly equip 150 day care workers throughout the province. Read more...

10 irrigation projects completed in Kalinga

Tabuk City, Kalinga (28 July) -- Ten communal irrigation projects (CIP) funded by the congressional initiative of Congressman Manuel Agyao were reported completed by the Kalinga Provincial Irrigation Management Office (KPIMO). A total of P3 million was allotted from the solon's Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) that also generated 69 jobs.

Agyao was elated on the satisfactory accomplishment promising to allot an additional P4 million for other CIP projects this second semester of the year. He asked local government unit leaders to coordinate their plans with his office so that his technical men will make the final evaluation for approval. Read more...

NEA gives P8M loan to KAELCO consumers

Tabuk City, Kalinga - In its bid to electrify all barangays in the country before 2010, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) allotted P8 million loan to Kalinga-Apayao Electric Cooperative (Kaelco) consumers for household connection. Not in the form of cash loan, Kaelco as conduit provides materials needed to complete electrification of the beneficiary.

Unable to connect because of the lack of money to buy the necessary connection materials, each consumer can avail of a loan ranging from P5,000 to P7,000 with ten percent interest payable in a two-year period. However, Kaelco Board of Directors (BOD) will deliberate to allow beneficiaries to pay in three years considering the hard times now. Read more...

A new feel of city life for Tabuk

By the GO NEGOSYO team

In 1983, Thelma Bayle-Ng owned and managed a small Bayle Store with two employees, selling basic goods. To attract more consumers, prices were kept low, more grocery items were added, wider store space was constructed and more workers were employed to give better service.

Today, Thelma Bayle-Ng owns and manages the Bayle Supermart.

The story of Thelma’s success began with an economic challenge. People in Kalinga wanted lower prices, so they went to neighboring areas like Cagayan or Isabela. Thelma sought to meet the demands of the people in Kalinga and, as part of her business expansion, she also put up Bayle Baker.
Thelma has openly shared the success of Bayle Supermart through scholarship programs for deserving students. She has also extended spiritual fellowships and provided employment to reformed law offenders and their families. Read more...

Switch

By Prof. Alex Magno

Sometimes saving the world involves doing something as simple as changing the light bulbs we use.

We have about 15 million households in this country. Each household uses an average of 3 light bulbs. That adds up to 45 million bulbs.

According to estimates made by the Asian Development Bank, if we are able to switch only a million 60-watt incandescent bulbs to 13-watt compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), which deliver the same lighting capacity, the country will save roughly the equivalent electricity generating capacity of a 50-megawatt generating plant.

That is not an insignificant gain.

A 50-megawatt generating plant costs US$50 million to build. If it is powered by bunker fuel, that represents additional oil imports in a price regime that is unlikely to decline substantially. If it uses coal, this represents a tremendous amount of pollution that aggravates global warming.

And it is a gain achieved simply by switching light bulbs. No decrease in the brightness we enjoy. No additional cost in the end for individual consumers, considering the savings in energy costs over time. All it involves is front-ending some of the costs of purchasing a CFL instead of an incandescent bulb. CFLs last much longer and consume vastly less power. Read more...

Related articles: CFLs can bring down power bills by up to 80%, P.5 B allotted for light bulb conversion

Kalinga cop gets HIR Most Outstanding Award

Tabuk City, Kalinga - Proving that Kalinga police officers could top other policemen in the country in the performance of their duties, an officer from the Kalinga Police Provincial Office (KPPO) was recently adjudged as the Most Outstanding Intelligence Officer after a nationwide search conducted by the Humanitarian International Records (HIR).

Said award was presented to Police Inspector Abraham W. Galingan by Vice President Noli de Castro during the Humanitarian International Record Grand Anniversary and Award Celebration held at the Gallery Hall, Manila Hotel recently.

Insp. Galingan was bestowed the coveted title after considering his noted accomplishments and impeccable records as the KPPO Provincial Police Intelligence Officer from 2003 to 2006 showing confidence, courage, loyalty and determination in fulfilling his duties.

Among his accomplishment is the arrest and neutralization of notorious organized crime groups and Top Most Wanted Criminals.

The search and award is being conducted and presented by the HIR to advocate the promotion, information and development of social educational, cultural, economics, leadership and human values through the conduct of Biographical Research and Record of outstanding men and women in the various field of human endeavors around the world. PIA

Kalinga and Mtn. Province cultural clash brewing

Tabuk City, Kalinga – A clash over their contrasting manners of disposing cases of accidents is threatening to sour the relationship between this province and neighboring Mtn. Province.

The controversy puts Kalinga Congressman Manuel Agyao who is also representing Mtn. Province in Congress as caretaker due to the recent death of Congressman Victor Dominguez in an uncomfortable position.

This developed as a former ranking provincial official of Mtn. Province has called on Agyao to intervene in the resolution of the vehicular accident on September 8, 2007 in Magabbangon, Cudal, this city. The accident claimed the lives of 10 persons and wounded eight others.

Majority of the victims were Kalinga natives while the owner of the ill-fated truck, Alexander Miranda, was a native of Sabangan, Mtn. Province. He was among the fatalities.

Former Mtn. Province provincial administrator Evelyn Miranda, a sister-in-law of Alexander, is pleading with Agyao to do something about the efforts of the relatives of the fatalities and some survivors to impose the multa or indemnity on the family of Alexander.

She said that with some Kalinga professionals including several government officials taking the cudgels for them, the relatives of seven of the fatalities are demanding that the family of Alexander pay P50,000.00 for each of the victims as multa.

She said that at first, the agreement was for the family to raise P70,000.00 as assistance to the families of the fatalities but that when the money which she claimed is the only remaining resources of Lucia Miranda, the widow, was ready, the claimants and their supporters had said that it is not enough.

"They do not consider that it was an accident and that Alexander was also killed. They do not also seem to believe that the family no longer has anymore money. Actually, P50,000.00 of the P70,000.00 came from the sale of their junked truck, the only remaining property in the name of Alexander," Evelyn said qualifying that the amount is not being given as multa but as assistance to the bereaved families.

She lamented that some Kalinga professionals who are in a position to temper the claims of the victims appear instead to be in favor of the giving of indemnity.

"In Mtn. Province, we do not impose any compensation on account of accidents. We do not give a price to life. It cannot be bought or sold. Assistance, if any, is voluntary. They are saying that we have a different culture and that on the other hand, the practice of exacting the multa is part of the Kalinga culture. But our position is that bad cultural practices should be discarded. The practice of girls sleeping in the ulog and the boys sleeping in the ato used to be a part of Mtn. Province culture but that was when our houses were one-room affairs. There came a time when we realized that the practice has become impractical and no longer attuned with the times and it just disappeared. The bagbagto practice (organized tribal stone-throwing fights) vanished for the same reason," Evelyn said.

Evelyn is hoping that Agyao will look into the plight of Mtn. Province immigrants in Kalinga who she claimed are being treated as second class citizens in Kalinga for generations now.

She said that in cases where Mtn. Province immigrants were victimized by Kalingas through accidents or crimes, they were not paid the multa.

Evelyn is also intending to bring the case to the attention of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Mtn. Province.

Fr. Denver Marrero who assisted the Mirandas in the handling of the aftermath of the accident the family being members of the Anglican Church said that despite their own loss, the family attended to the needs of the other victims right away.

Marrero said that from the money of the family and solicitations, they were able to extend a total assistance of P130,000.00 which included a pig and a cavan of rice for each of the families of the dead victims and a portion of the funeral expenses.

Marrero also said that around a month after the burial of Alexander, the family hosted a meeting of the relatives of the victims and the surviving passengers wherein the latter had agreed that they will not claim the multa nor file charges.

Marrero related that sometime in November, the family was surprised when some of the relatives of the victims changed their minds. Bargaining then ensued with the family saying they could give only P70,000.00 to be equally divided among the relatives of the victims but the latter wanted P50,000.00 for each dead.

Marrero said that at one point during the June 9 negotiations, Lucia offered that since she no longer has any means of producing the amount demanded, she will just go to jail instead.

Marrero said that on that ill-fated afternoon, Alexander was on his way to his farm in Alubaggan, Calaccad, this city, and when he passed the parking area of vehicles bound for that place, the victims hitched because they missed the last trip for the day. **by Estanislao Albano, Jr.

Wandag and Wacnang honored for roles in conversion of Tabuk to city

Tabuk City, Kalinga - Ex-mayor Basilio Wandag and ex-congressman Laurence Wacnang led this year's list of personalities who were honored for their roles in the conversion of Tabuk into a city during the Gabi ng Parangal, one of the traditional activities of Tabuk's foundation day celebrations, on June 25, the third day of the first city founding anniversary festivities.

Wandag was credited for setting into motion the drive for the conversion of the then town into a city.

According to the plaque of recognition for Wandag, it was "during his term that his brainchild (Tabuk's conversion into a city) was not only conceptualized but also put into action. He did not heed the advice of some individuals with personal motives to subdivide the municipality. Instead, he persevered to make Tabuk into a city, a decision believed to be advantageous to Tabuk's constituents."

For his part, Wacnang was recognized for his role in the filing and passage of RA 9404 which converted the then municipality into a component city.

In his speech, Wacnang asked the city officials to come up with an effective solution to the erosion and flooding problems being wrought by the Chico River, build all weather roads to the remaining roadless barangays and to locate the new city hall in a different lot.

In his closing remarks, Vice Mayor Rainier Sarol said that it was during the term of Mayor Basilio Wandag in 1998 when the idea of making Tabuk a development center and eventually a city was born and it was Wacnang who brought the dream to a reality through the filing and passage of RA 9404.

He acknowledged the suggestions of Wacnang saying they will be duly considered even as he assured the public that as hoped for by the former solon, the city leadership is properly utilizing the increased funds of the city for priority developmental projects such as the ongoing concreting of roads in the urban center.

Another major honoree of the city government this year is the late Roberto Belgica who, as tricycle driver, returned P40,000.00 and a cellphone left by passengers in two different incidents, and as tanod of Dagupan Weste, for his dedication to duty. He died of cardiac arrest after a day long search for a stolen carabao.

Also posthumously honored during the occasion for their respective contributions to the development of the town were past mayors Tangkib (one name) who sat in 1941-1943, Pio Albert (1946-1947), Agustin Castro (1948-1950,1952-1955), Miguel Buslig, Sr. (1950-1951), Jaime Quirino (1956-1968,1981-1987), Ricarte Quinsaat (1968-1980) and Rommel Diasen (1988-1998).

The barangay councils and tanod organizations of Agbannawag, Bagumbayan and Nambaran were recognized for their peace and order efforts.

The barangay captain and tanods of Agbannawag were instrumental in the peaceful surrender of one of the suspects in the killing of Catholic priest Franciscus Madhu, the barangay officials and tanod of Bagumbayan for the recovery of two stolen large cattle and the barangay officials and tanods of Nambaran were also credited for the arrest of two notorious highway robbers.

Teddy Kub-ao of Bulo, Epifania Sal-ao of Bantay, Gerome Fernandez of Tuga, Warlito Ventura of Masablang and Danilo Marcelo of Malalao were also cited for winning in the regional level in their respective categories the Gawad Saka search of the Department of Agriculture. Kub-ao and Marcelo have reached the national level of the search.

Teacher Maribel Bravo of the Tabuk National High School received the Teacher Achiever Award of the Rotary Club of Tabuk. **By Estanislao Albano, Jr.

Tabuk City central terminal plan revived

Tabuk City, Kalinga - This city has revived the plan to establish a grand central terminal which has been shelved for sometime appropriating P12M for the purchase of a five-hectare lot to host the facility in its first supplemental budget for the year.

Mayor Camilo Lammawin, Jr., justified the appropriation saying that it is expected that with the development of the city, the prices of land will soon soar.

The mayor, however, branded as disinformation published allegations that a lot has already been bought and that someone has made money in the transaction.

According to the mayor, the negotiations with the lot owners was put on hold because the latter had second thoughts due to the speculation that the price of land will go up soon.

"There are at least four landowners who made offers to the city but none of these have been acted upon," Lammawin said adding that all four lots are located between Dagupan and Bulanao, the two centers of the city.

He also refuted published allegations that at P12M, the lot is grossly overpriced pointing out that a lot in Magsaysay, this city, which is less than a hectare was recently sold at P12M.

Regarding speculations that the city is about to borrow P300M for the project, Lammawin said that that option of funding the project has not crossed the mind of the officials of the city.

"What we are negotiating with the Land Bank for is online credit which means that we do not have to wait for the quarterly allocation of the LGU to bid out products as the bank will advance the money. The advance payment will be according to the budget and with Sangguniang Panlungsod approval," Lammawin said.

The mayor said also that not only will the transport terminal designed to put order into the traffic in the town center but will also facilitate the marketing of products because it will also have an agro-product trading post.

"It will also help local businessmen as they could put up gasoline stations, restaurants and other facilities needed by travelers and businessmen. Putting a business cluster in the midst of the existing business centers of the city will have a metropolis effect merging them and creating more business opportunities," Lammawin said.

When the construction of the central terminal was first proposed in 2005, the business community here put up a stiff opposition to the immediate implementation of the plan alleging among other reasons that it will only worsen the dismal business climate in the then municipality.

In a public hearing held by the Sangguniang Bayan February 17, 2005, local businessmen said also that while it is true that centralizing the parking of public transport is a good idea, the town can still do without it at this point in time.

The businessmen said that instead of launching the project, the LGU could maximize available vacant spaces along the provincial road running through the town and also side streets as parking areas of public transport.

But their foremost concern was that with the then business slump in the locality, the sector cannot afford another business cluster which will naturally mushroom around the central terminal. **By Estanislao Albano, Jr., ZZW; 06/29/08

Police still face a blank wall on Tabuk City grenade blast

Tabuk City, Kalinga - Almost a week after the grenade blast in the carnival area in the city government compound here which killed one person and wounded 20 others, the police could not yet establish the motive nor identify the suspects in the explosion.

Chief of Police Alfredo Dangani informed the media that there are several angles - that the grenade was lobbed from outside the fence of the city compound or that the explosive was rolled into the area from within.

Dangani said that police investigators are now trying to convince identified witnesses to shed light on the crime but it appears they are hesitant to reveal what they know for fear of being involved in the case.

"We are told that these identified eyewitnesses are saying this and that but when police investigators go to them, they say nothing. We do not want to force them," Dangani said.

Dangani said that they are moving very cautiously because they want that if they would make an arrest and file charges, it would be against actual perpetrators otherwise they would be multiplying the problem.

Dangani is hopeful that very soon, the truth about the explosion will come out because there are 21 victims and therefore more people wanting to know and are working for the truth will come out.

Regarding the motive, Dangani said that there are many possibilities such as the culprit may have been desperate and "naghahanap ng damay" or that since it is right before the celebration of the first foundation day of the city, the explosion may have been meant to sabotage the occasion.

Dangani is not inclined to believe that the motive is personal grudge because had that been so, the target would have been pinpointed and a gun would most likely have been used instead of a grenade.

Meanwhile, the police belied the report made by a national television network that a second victim in the blast had already died even as they admitted that Vicente Tabanganay, 24, resident of Bado Dangwa, this city, had lapsed into a coma shortly after he was brought to a hospital in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, for treatment. The police said that he is still in a coma.

Aside from Tabanganay, the others who were wounded in the blast are as follows: Joel Bayangan, 25-30, Casigayan, this city; Peter Mamawag, 54, Bulanao, this city; Ronnie Valdez, 38, Cauayan, Isabela; Franklin Tuddao, 15, Babalag, Rizal, Kalinga; William Degay, 26, Cabauan, this city; Florencio Pagala, 47, Pinukpuk, Kalinga; Aldrin Ayangco, 32, Tanza, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; Geoffrey Liagao, 28, Amlao, this city; Samuel Anog, 44, Cudal, this city; Aldrin Agod, 38, Bujanao, this city; Enrique Yayaen, 46, Calaccad, this city; Tyson Bulawang, 18, Bulanao; Rodrigo Caddaman, 15, Pinukpuk, Kalinga; Joel Manacnis, 30, Dagupan Weste; Guilbert Gubiangan, 32, Cabaritan, Tabuk; Gaspar Desay, Allaguia, Pinukpuk; Orodio Abuak Dumaguing, 36; Denden Estilong, Dagupan Centra, this city; and Pedro Ay-en.

The lone fatality in the explosion was Redentor Bayangan, 27, of Sucbot, Pinukpuk, Kalinga. **By Estanislao Albano, Jr., ZZW; 06/29/08

Grenade blast fails to derail Tabuk City celebration

Tabuk City, Kalinga - The grenade blast in the carnival area inside the city government compound here a day before the observance of the first founding anniversary of the city and its 7th Matagoan Festival failed to derail or even just dampen the celebration which run from June 23 to 26.

Chief of Police Alfredo Dangani declared that had the motive of the perpetrator been to sabotage the celebration, then he has failed because the celebration proceeded smoothly and the activities especially the parade on the second day were well attended.

The parade dragged for three hours because the head intersected with the hind part at the intersection of the provincial road and Quezon Street where it was arranged for the one group to stop to allow the other group to proceed alternately. This is the first time that this happened in a parade in the city center.

Police and ushers had to shove people at the entrance of the Tabuk People's Gymnasium to make a way for Tourism Regional Director Purificacion Molintas who was the guest speaker on the third day.

In her speech, Molintas made no direct reference to the grenade incident but merely said that one of the basic expectations of tourists from a place they visit is assurance of their security and safety.

She urged the city to protect its tourists net only because satisfied tourists came back again and again but because the Department of Tourism, with the aid of the law enforcement arms of the government, is monitoring crimes against tourists and by tourists.

In an interview after the program, Molintas who attended the celebration starting on the night of the first day to the afternoon of the third day said that news of the grenade explosion never gave her second thoughts about her scheduled trip to the city.

She said that bombings and kidnappings happen everywhere adding that she always makes it a point to attend ‘first time celebrations regardless of obstacles.

Molintas also intimated that she liked what she saw during the celebration although there were minor adjustments which need to be made 'apart from the need to develop the city’s 'must sees' and 'must buys.’

Molintas said that the city should be able to offer something that is truly from the city or is symbolic of what the city is such as a brand of Kalinga coffee or goodies and arts and crafts.

Regarding the Longest Hybrid Rice Linudag Show which was staged for the first time this year and was supposed to be one of the main attractions of the celebration, Molintas said that the city can improve on it in the future 'especially if they gun for the Guinness Record.'

The linudag - rice wrapped in lao leaves and cooked in bamboo cuts over slow fire - were prepared and cooked at the agriculturist office inside the city compound starting in the afternoon of June 22 and then suspended on a wire laid out along the provincial road from barangay Magsaysay to barangay Appas for an approximate length of 2.5 kilometers night of June 23.

At around 9 AM of June 24, the linudag was gathered and distributed to the public in the city compound.

The target was to link Bulanao and Dagupan Centro which are seven kilometers apart with linudags but according to City Agriculturist Gilbert Cawis who headed the committee in-charge of the event, there were a lot of things they failed to consider when they set the target such as the length of time it takes to prepare and cook a linudag which is one and half hours and likewise the availability of enough people to produce enough linudags for the distance.

'This is a learning experience. We will do better next year. We could assign all 42 barangays of the city to cook linudags so that we could produce enough for seven kilometers on time,' Cawis said.

The linudag received mixed reviews from those who were able to taste it. There were some who praised it and wished they got more but there were also those who said that the linudag they got were either too hard for human consumption or were spoiled.

A mediaman from Baguio City was also noted the absence of community participation in the activity saying that the linudag were not opened and tasted on the road nor was the public invited to view the preparation activities such as being done in similar activities in other places.

Other major events of the festival especially the search for Mutya ng Tabuk and Mr. Matagoan on the first night and the street dancing on the third day were resounding successes. **By Estanislao Albano, Jr., ZZW; 06/29/08