BEHIND THE SCENES

GAMABA awardee builds heritage center
ALFRED P. DIZON

Recent news reports have it that the people of Kalinga – officials, religious groups and non-government organizations are doing their share in making the province more peaceful through activities like mediating tribal wars and holding peace fora.

But for this farmer of Lubuagan town, one could do one’s share in attaining peace through one’s own peculiar way. An article emailed by the province’s Philippine Information Agency said this simple resident established a center for culture and arts out of his own resources out of his love and passion for his culture.

Today, some 10 kilometers away from the Poblacion and 900 meters above sea level stand four traditional houses made of local materials he built on a 30-hectare mountain. From his concept to build what he called the "Mampoya-awan Village" (retreat home), Alonzo Saclag, one of the 11 Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) national awardees during the Philippine Centennial Celebration at Clark, plans to put up 24 houses of that type and assign each to keep a traditional arts cum museum.

He told the PIA he sold some of his properties to raise money to develop the area. From opening of the road to the site, laborers were hired to excavate, landscape the area and riprap it with squarely formed stones transported from down.

Why Awichon was selected as the place, 66-year-old Saclag who has nine children, said he wanted it away from the Poblacion to keep it free from disturbance. "It is not a sanctuary confined only for low profile people seeking seclusion from boredom but for all from different walks of life escaping from the daily routine at home, office or of business so they could be closer to nature," he said.

Part of the landscaping would be rice terraces on the upper portion of the hill which was earlier planted with forest tree species and fruit trees. He said it would have a domino effect on locals since the center would be opened for more development and in effect, generate employment and attract small entrepreneurs to earn income aside from being a tourist destination, venue for retreat and seminars and probably a shooting location for movies.

The place could also serve as production center for local products since it is suited for agriculture, Saclag said. It overlooks Pasil valley and the gold-rich mountains of Batong Batong Buhay Gold Mines complex.

He said the project would be his contribution in making Kalinga more peaceful as it would remind people of the famous words of Jose Rizal "Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan. We cannot disregard the preservation of culture and arts.” But for the project to fully materialize, Saclag said he wants help from government and private donors. "I may partly succeed but to fully accomplish this plan, I need help from government and philanthropists who have the same passion as mine." Those who are willing to help could go directly to his place or contact the PIA provincial office in Tabuk City, the former capital town of the province.