Imee Marcos graces Bodong Festival

By Ruth Cupang

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Sen. Maria Imelda Josefa "Imee" Marcos, the guest of honor of Kalinga's 28th Founding Anniversary and 4th Bodong Festival, paid homage to the province's cultural heritage and pledged to provide cash assistance and agricultural machinery to local farmers and associations on Tuesday, Feb. 14.
    In her speech, Marcos acknowledged the challenges facing local farmers due to the pandemic-induced inflation and announced that 1,000 farmer beneficiaries will receive P5,000 each through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program, and eight farming associations will be granted rice farming equipment to help them cope with their losses.
    She pledgef to provide 12 units of rice planters, seven units of rice combined harvesters and a unit of recirculating dryer.
    She then highlighted her ongoing support for the province, including the provision of P163 million in aid in 2021, and the funding of various infrastructure projects throughout the province.
    At the end of the ceremony, Marcos conferred the "Natatanging yKalinga Award" to two cultural legends of the province: Maria "Apo-Whang-od" Oggay, the world's oldest traditional tattoo artist and recipient of the "Dangal ng Haraya" award, and Alonso Saclag Sr., also known as "Apo Kesu," a National Living Treasure for his cultural music and dance.
    Marcos has a strong connection to the province as she was adopted as a daughter of Kalinga in 2018 through traditional ethnic practices and was named "Laggunawa," which means a beautiful, courageous and virtuous daughter of a tribal chieftain.