ESTABLISHMENT OF VIGAN STIMULATION AND THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY CENTER (STAC): A CHILD-FRIENDLY ENDEAVOR

Every time I attend the 5 o’clock mass in the afternoon of Sundays, the presence of small children always catches my attention. Pre-schoolers ages 0-5 innocently and happily doing their thing as if the church is their playground. I feel amused observing these toddlers. In fact, I remember my own kids when they were at that age. I also remember those that I’ve seen as students but have become grown-ups and still attending the same 5 o’clock mass, now with their own children.

I consider these children relatively lucky. At least, they are free from disabilities, but what if the unexpected happens? What if despite preventive efforts, our children become disabled due to disease? What if our children are inflicted with disabilities due to accidents?

The city of vigan is not only sensitive to the infrastructure and economic needs of the biguenos but also to the special needs of children particularly those with disabilities. The establishment of the Stimulation and Therapeutic Activity Center is indeed a manifestation that Vigan is truly a child-friendly city. This is a welcome development for all us. This is giving importance to the children as hope of the motherland. If I may paraphrase the song, The Greatest Love of All, “ the children are really our future, teach them well and let them lead the way, show them all the beauty they posses inside, give them a sense of pride, let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be, LET THE CHILDREN GROW IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, LET THOSE WITH DISABILITIES FEEL THAT THEY TOO CAN BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this inauguration!

(Welcome Message delivered on October 1, 2007 at the Inauguration and Launching of the Vigan Stimulation and Therapeutic Activity Center located at the Market Annex)

NORTH COTABATO VISITORS OBSERVE THE ELECTRONIC SESSION OF THE VIGAN CITY COUNCIL

Visitors from North Cotabato Province came to Vigan last September 8-10, 2007 primarily to observe the electronic session of the Vigan City Council. The delegation headed by Board Member, Atty. Celestino Rapacon consisted of the legislative staff of the Provincial Board of North Cotabato. The visit coincided with Vigan's celebration of the World Heritage Solidarity Day.

SAVE BANAUE RICE TERRACES, SAVE THE FILIPINO HERITAGE

The Banaue rice terraces in Ifugao is a natural heritage and considered as one of the eight wonders of the world. Because of its unique physical features, it has attracted local and foreign visitors. It has become a world heritage site because of its universal value. Thus, a source of pride for Filipinos. Now, it is in the brink of being delisted from the prestigious Unesco world heritage list of sites and monuments due to the fact that its integrity as a natural attraction is being disturbed by the unregulated construction of concrete houses right on the rice terraces itself. Moreover, the new generation of Ifugaos is not so keen in tilling their ancestral lands that most of them try to migrate elsewhere to seek for greener pasture.

The lack of awareness on the significance of the rice terraces and the quest for economic deliverance are contributory in Banaue’s inclusion in the endangered list of heritage sites. This is a challenge to the local government of Ifugao and the Philippine national government. The local officials of Ifugao should have relentlessly educated their constituents on the value of their ancestral lands. The history of the place, customs and traditions, and the awesome view of the rice terraces which was painstakingly etched from the mountains by their ancestors centuries ago are enough reasons to make one proud of its rich legacy and identity. The local officials should have exercised its regulatory powers in order to conserve this heritage site. The people should have realized that without Banaue rice terraces, Ifugao won’t have the kind of international recognition and distinction that it has now.

As in any other heritage site, the perennial issue is how to increase revenues through heritage conservation and improve the lives of the people. The effects of heritage conservation must trickle down to the poor. This has to be addressed in order to enlist the support of the populace. As the saying goes, “you cannot educate a hungry stomach.” Awareness and appreciation entails education.

The call of the hour is not only to save Banaue from being delisted from the UNESCO World Heritage List but to save it from natural and man-made disturbances. We should not allow the pristine and breath-taking beauty of the site to disappear forever or else the next generation will have nothing to appreciate.

SOLIDARITY DAY INTERACTIVE PARADE DEPICTS VIGAN HISTORY

LET'S CELEBRATE SOLIDARITY DAY

On september 8, 1993, the Organization of World heritage cities was founded in Fez, Morocco. The organization served as an umbrella group of all heritage towns and cities inscribed by UNESCO. As of December, 2001, the organization was made up of 203 Cities. Of the member cities, seven are located in Africa, 36 in Latin America and the Caribbean, , 120 in Europe and Canada, 20 in the Arab States, and 20 in Asia and the Pacific, including our beloved VIGAN. This brings pride and prestige for all of us, This is indeed a cause to celebrate, that’s why we are gathered here this afternoon.

As we celebrate solidarity day with the rest of the world, we also renew our commitment to protect the rich legacy of the past. We have started making Vigan a livable city, the challenge for all us now is to make our city globally competitive. Efforts have been exerted to conserve the ancestral houses of vigan. The challenge now is to protect other forms of heritage such as the intangible, the natural and the movable. Vigan has become one of the favorite destinations of tourists, the challenge now is to come up with an organized tourism promotion to attract both local and foreign visitors. We now have to change the mind set that Vigan is just one of the attractions. Let’s view Vigan as a corporate entity, which is a source of economic opportunities.

Lets celebrate solidarity day, I welcome all of you in this celebration. Let's all say Viva Vigan!

DILG UNDERSECRETARY MARIUS CORPUZ TURNS-OVER A FIRE TRUCK TO THE CITY OFFICIALS OF VIGAN CITY