Pre-Christmas tributes

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March L. Fianza

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Nestor Bagtang Fongwan, 68; Benguet Congressman, served as governor 2007-2016, La Trinidad mayor 1998-2001 and 2004-2007, vice mayor 1992-1995, was acting mayor of the municipality from October 1994 to January 1995, and councilor 1988-1992.

He passed away on December 18, 2019 due to a lingering illness, serving as Benguet Representative for shorter than six months since July this year.

Prior to a colorful political career, Fongwan helped establish the Benguet Electric Cooperative as a director in the board and also worked with the Provincial Auditor’s Office of Benguet.

He was also a businessman in his private life having managed a trucking business and a farmer who personally watched over his vegetable plots near his house. At one time while he was on hiatus as a government official, I passed by him watering his plants.

As new governor in 2007, Fongwan talked about the production of potatoes with less moisture content to meet the demand of fast food chains that sell French fries. He said locally grown potato varieties have too much water content, so that food chains import their potatoes.

In relation to this, he then planned to establish greenhouses where tubers and cuttings for these type of potatoes can be grown. The project was proposed to be a 10-year potato program.

I remember that sometime on his second as governor, he questioned the automatic renewal of expired mining exploration permits, particularly the case of Royalco Philippines Inc. in Gambang, Bakun.

Fongwan cited the fact that it is not good for IPs if mining companies automatically renew exploration permits without going back to their host communities to get their consent.

These were some of the few things he had in mind that he was able to relate in some of our informal meetings. But there are a lot more that I cannot write about here. I am sure that he will always be remembered. Bless his soul as he now rests in peace.

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 Cesario Baniwas Tuling, 65. He was an old friend that I met in high school. I knew Sario, as he is fondly called, before I met his siblings. He succumbed to a lingering illness last week.

In those days when it was really very safe to have long walks, he invited us to a bonfire near their old house in Tuding. Many years later, I saw the area where we had that bonfire already filled with big houses. It is now what is called the Monterrazas Subdivision.

It was only in the late 90s when we had families and children that I found out that Sario was related by blood to my in-laws who trace their roots to Suyoc, Mankayan. He was one “bayaw” who was loved by Tuding and Itogon. Bless his soul as he now rests in peace.

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Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year