TRAILS UP NORTH

Glo A. Tuazon
Am-among fever and Gen. Martin

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- In the olden tradition of celebrating the different stages of rice cycle comes a phase called am-among wherein families gather and join other clan members to share the bounty of their labor. In the yearly non-stop circle of activities and work, they set aside a time to rest, settle down a bit and just mingle and enjoy the company of family while thanking the Giver for everything that has come and gone during the season.

While into the process of picking an appropriate title and occasion to use and adapt as a municipal yearly festival, the idea of am-among was chosen. The town was not mistaken, the concept was well accepted. In Mayor Franklin Odsey describes the festival a "living tradition that catapults the family as a vehicle for social change and local governance where the members are responsible, happy, cooperative and united for a progressive municipality, and where the officialdom from top down to the barangay level work hand in hand with the people in pursuit of their vision."

Now on its fifth year, and coinciding with the 100th year founding anniversary of Bontoc as a town, the festival continues to lure visitors. In the recently concluded activity, the first few days from its opening was dampened by occasional drizzles and rain, not to count also the non-participation of upland barangays in the agro-industrial trade fair for reasons of lack of transport.

This was an unfortunate event even to these barangays even as they wanted so much to participate and sell their wares when commuter vehicle owners and drivers plying the route chose the date to stage a protest for fare increase. The upland barangays affected were Guinaang, Mainit, Maligcong and Dalican. These unfortunate events were however overshadowed by the better side of everything during the next days to its conclusion. The volleyball games were a hit, well attended and cheered by the community.

Gov. Maximo B. Dalog lauded the officials and the whole Bontoc town, pushing it to its limits with burning enthusiasm and vitality. Other highlights of the festival would include the introduction of the Tawid book, a compilation of the "hundred years of Bontoc township experience", the ground demonstrations, civic parade and indigenous games and choral presentations and the much awaited street dancing and cultural presentation. The 16 barangays of Bontoc, each with its own "tradition" to interpret was a sure hit, notwithstanding the very long 15 minute time limit each were given. Guinaang went home victorious after doing the "performance of their lives".

The presence of their honored guest in the person of Chief Supt. Eugene G. Martin, the regional police director who is a true blue Bontoc boy also lifted and inspired the people, to know that this town reared a person to success. Intended as a pun, the general was once “detained” while in grade school. He was just like any other kid.

Sometimes an angel, and sometimes less so. In casual story telling, Eugene, (the kid, not the general) reminisced his younger days, frolicking under the sun of Bontoc and the waters of the Chico River. During his talk as the guest of honor, he spoke warmly of the place, first congratulating it for celebrating its 5th Am-among festival and its 100th foundation year as a town.

He spoke of the relevance of education, reason he says, why he became what he is now. Relating the funny incidence of his detention in Grade 1, Martin said it was difficult to gather children to attend school as they would rather play than study. Parents had to physically bring them to the classrooms, in which case they always found ways to escape anyhow. In vain, his mother had to talk to the police chief then to detain "Eugene" for an hour just to teach him a lesson. So lesson learned, he never needed prodding from then on.

But children are children, and the Chico River was temptation to them. In Grade 3 he was transferred to Saint Vincent School which is farther away from the river, lessening the urge to run down and go swimming at the sight of the water. At Grade 4, he was entered at All Saints Dorm and became the youngest resident there. His funny remembrances of high school continued when he went to his alma mater Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School in the afternoon of Sept. 15 to donate assorted books, an LCD projector and screen set together with his 1971 batch mates.

The donation was valued at P50,000. These items were the much needed equipments for the high school students presently enrolled there. Looking about at the computer room and feeling the heat, Martin started the teases that eventually led to another promise of aircon unit donation. Counting the many people who were born, raised and reared in Bontoc, the regional police director is one successful fruit of love and labor that this town is very proud of. -- email: twilight_glo@yahoo.com