Balili houses’ painting patterned after Brazil

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The painting of houses into a single mural in this municipality showed “bayanihan” spirit among the residents.

During the formal start of the Rev-Bloom Project in    Stone Hill in Sitio Botiwtiw of Barangay Balili along Km.3 in this town last week, DOT-Cordillera regional director Venus Tan commended efforts of folks who showed their support and cooperation not only to the project but also to each other.

“More than the mural, more than the beautification, you will see the community has bonded together to spruce up their areas,” said Tan who led the ceremonial painting of houses during the program.

This Rev-Bloom project introduced by the DOT-CAR is patterned after the Favelas of Rio de Janiero in Brazil. It involves the painting of houses that have sprouted through the years on the other side of Balili River into a giant art piece.  The project is anchored in the advocacy for sustainable development of tourism destinations in the region.

The DOT-CAR is not hiring painters but the community is working with the artists from the Tam-awan Village and the Chanum Foundation who were commissioned to make the design of the Stone Hill.

The project is done with the local government unit of La Trinidad, LGU of Benguet and Davies Paints which provided primers and paints.

                “The people here cooperated and agreed on paper though talks and mediation made by the local government unit of La Trinidad and personal talks by Mayor Edna Tabanda with the different people of the barangay,” she said.

Aside from the painting of houses, the people in the community are working together to really beautify their area, Tan said.

Community coordinator Gloria Angasen who led the group of women, mostly housewives, in the painting of houses, said that they would continue cooperating and supporting each other to finish the painting chores. This activity she said has become a regular bonding moments among the neighbors of Stone Hill.

Meanwhile, Tabanda thanked the DOT for the revitalization project in La Trinidad. This she said would boost the efforts of the municipality in revitalizing the Balili River.

Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan also commended the DOT for the painting and beautification project and called on the residents of La Trinidad to appreciate the activity.

Fongwan said that residents should look at the project as a way to boost tourism in the province of Benguet which is a booming industry that would help the people particularly in their livelihood. -- PIA