MORE NEWS, IFUGAO

Comelec rules: Election execs erred in proclaiming wrong barangay candidate
By Dan B. Codamon

LAMUT,Ifugao- The Commission on Election 2nd Division finally ruled on the petition filed by a candidate for barangay kagawad here to correct the error committed by the board of election tellers regarding election returns during the October 29,2007 synchronized barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections and proclaimed him the winner.

The petition filed by Noel Bueno Arquero, a candidate for barangay kagawad in Barangay Mabatobato, this municipality alleged that the BET of precincts 27A and 27 B committed errors in canvassing and tallying his votes resulting to the proclamation of the wrong winner. He said in his petition that based on the tally bars in the election returns for these two precincts, he got a total of 115 votes.

But when his votes were written in the space provided for in the total number of votes obtained in figures and in words, the BET “due either to deliberate intent or sleepless night and confusion” entered a wrong figure. Instead of writing 115 votes, what was written was 105 votes or 10 votes less than what he got based on the tally.

As a result of the mistake committed, another candidate, Juanito Gangano, Jr., was erroneously proclaimed as 7th placer obtaining a total vote of 175. If the mistake is rectified and his total votes in all the precincts are correctly tallied, he would place 7th with a total of 185 voted credited in his favor.

Arquero asked the Commission for an order correcting the mistake so that he would be proclaimed 7th elected barangay kagawad of barangay Mabatobato. Upon receiving the copy of the petitioner on Nov. 21, 2007, the Comelec issued an order directing the BET and the board of canvassers of the barangay and affected candidates to file their answers to the petition within three days from receipt of the petition.

On Dec. 5, 2007, respondent members of the BET and BOC of Barangay Mabatobato filed their answers contending they did not deliberately commit the mistake for after they came to know of the error, they checked the copies of the election returns with the Comelec office in Lamut and it was only at that time they discovered the mistake committed.

They further claimed that during the canvassing or immediately after it finished, no one not even the watchers present raised the mistake in the writing in words of the total votes of Noel Arquero. They attributed the mistake made to the pressure, exhaustion and sleepless nights they suffered while doing their election duties so they prayed for an order directing them to correct the mistake done in the election returns and statement of votes so as to truly reflect the voted by petitioner Arquero.

On Dec. 10, 2007, Juanito Gangano, Jr., submitted an opposition affidavit to the instant petition claiming that Arquero’s reliance in the petition for correction of manifest error as a remedy is not proper because it is contrary to Section 70 of the General Instructions on the conduct of the Oct. 29, 2007 Elections and prayed that the petition be dismissed.

The Comelec however ruled the petition appeared to be with merit and that being an administrative body, the Commission was not bound by the technical rules of procedure and it must be set aside in order to ascertain the merit of the case. After considering the premises, the Comelec 2nd Division ordered the BET and BOC of Barangay Mabatobato to reconvene after due notice to all parties concerned and make the proper corrections in the number of votes obtained by petitioner Noel Bueno Arquero and that he be proclaimed as one among the winning kagawad candidates of Mabatobato. He assumed office as of press time.

Ifugao folks mark ‘tungoh’ in rice cycle tradition
By Ramon Dacawi

HUNGDUAN, Ifugao – Villagers of this remote, scenic town of ancient rice terraces gathered on a plateau beside the town hall on April 16 to mark the “tungoh”, a period of rest in anticipation of a bountiful harvest.

From a parade that depicted the evolution of the traditional Ifugao costume, to the beating of the gongs, chanting of the “hudhud” to the ethnic games of prowess and speed, villagers recalled and revived vanishing aspects of a rich culture that, for generations have been attached to the traditional rice cycle.

Youthful mayor Pablo Cuyahon explained the annual cultural festival, launched over a decade ago, was part of a program to mend the fraying cultural fabric and sense of identity, especially among the younger generations of Ifugaos.

He said “tungoh” could give reason for Ifugaos to come home and retrace their roots, implying that while visitors are welcome, it is more of a cultural event than a contrived tourism come-on.

Past editions of “tungoh” saw villagers in full regalia bringing out their priceless gongs andheirloom from antiquity for the “tayo’n di bimmoble” (villagers’ traditional dance) that for this year,became a contest among the nine barangays.

The best gong beaters, renders of native songs and ethnic ensemble, together with chanters of the “hudhud”, were cited, together with the strongest and finest in ethnic games.

Hudhud, or the traditional romantic tales that touch on wealth and prestige, is traditionally chanted by women during harvest and to break the monotony during funeral wakes.

Aside from the Cordillera rice terraces, the hudhud is inscribed in the WorldHeritage List in the field of oral tradition.

The evening fare on Thursday featured chorale andfolk dancing contests dubbed “Echoes of the Past”.

The endurance of Ifugao youth was tested early Friday morning with a climathon, or race to the top of and down Mt. Napulawan, the province’s highest and historic peak where Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita, commander of the Japanese forces, made his last stand before surrendering at the end of the second world war.

A team from the National Sports Commission will record the individual times of the climbers, the best of which so far was less than two hours.

As the runners made their descent to the town hall plateau, villagers continued their ethnic contests in akkad (stilts), bangngunan (leg wrestling), mumbayu (rice pounding) and quiz bee.

The “mumbaki” or tribal priests, set the tone of the festival last March 30 with the “Hamang di Boble”, the traditional ritual and practice in the construction of a native house.

This was followed by an open chess tournament, a “Tree for Legacy” reforestation, mass civil wedding, and “hogop di bale” (housewarming ritual) on Tuesday.

Ifugao, Isabela settle Magat transfer tax
By Robeliza Halip

LAGAWE, IFUGAO--- Gov. Teddy Baguilat of Ifugao and Gov. Grace Padaca of Isabela signed a memorandum of agreement equally sharing the P114 million pesos transfer tax accrued from the sale of the Magat Hydro Electric Power Complex to the SN Aboitiz Power from the National Power Corp.

Judge Anghad of RTC Branch 36 in Santiago, Isabela was part of the dialogue recently conducted between the officials of the two provinces in Punta Amelita, Isabela. The dialogue was attended by officials of the two provinces and designated representatives of the SN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc.

The agreement came about after series of discussions in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya and Cordon, Isabela between the concerned provincial and municipal officials. The issue on boundary dispute is still for settlement as basis on who will collect the real property and business tax of the operation of the dam. A conference was set on May 23 for the discussion of the due and demandable business tax of the Magat Dam operation.
“It is ironic that we host one of the biggest dams in Asia producing electricity for other provinces yet electrification remains to be one of the problems of our municipalities and some are set to lose electricity due to payment failure to electric cooperatives of Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya.” said Baguilat.

The governor is hopeful that despite his critical stance on the issue, the government will still look into the concerns of the province especially on the share on the national wealth and other programs that would benefit the Ifugao populace. Baguilat earlier ctiticized the government for its inaction on the request of the province of Ifugao for the release of the P28 million tax from the operation of the Magat dam. The SN Aboitiz is still waiting for the legal mandate from the Department of Energy for them to release the tax share of Ifugao.

Search on for beauties in Ifugao town fiesta By Jun Kindipan Dumar LAGAWE, Ifugao-The search for the most beautiful native young women here is on as town officials prepared for the launching of its town fiesta on April 24.

Councilor Mariflor Dipia-o, committee chairperson bared requirements for applicants to the the “Search for Miss Lagawe: must be an Ifugao native and a resident of the municipality, must not be less than five feet in height and must be 18 years old but not more than 23 during the pageant. Birth certificates are also required as proof of date of birth. Medical certificate is also required to reveal if the candidate is physically fit to join the event. Married, pregnant, and single parents are disqualified to join said pageant.

Winners in the most awaited showdown of Lagawe beauties would be be entries in the “Search for Miss Ifugao June this year during the Ifugao Day celebrations. “Candidate in this selection must agree that if selected as winner, she must abide by the rules and regulations governing the pageant and must agree to participate in other pageants requiring the representation of the municipality,” Dipia-o said.

Candidates who are interested to join the pageant should accomplish the following requirements: application form available at the office of the sanguniang bayan, medical certificate from RHU-Lagawe, photo copy of birth certificate (original must be presented) and photo copy of community tax certificate.

General criteria for judging are poise and beauty (40 %), wit for (30 %), talent (20 %) and stage presence and overall impact at ten percent.

Those interested, may contact councilors Dipia-o at 0918-232-9333 or Maria Tasha Habawel at 0926-616-5615.