By Nimia M. Lungay
The 180th Foundation Day anniversary, SUMAD 2008 of the municipality of Balilihan will be tomorrow, which falls on the last day of the Environment Week celebration.
The week-long celebration opened last Tuesday, with the raising of the national, provincial, municipal flags. The 31 barangay flags were raised for the first time simultaneously with the municipal flag. The presentation of the eight candidates for Miss Balilihan SUMAD 2008 followed after which the Tree Planting in the Municipal Tree Park adjacent to CVSCAFT - Balilihan campus was done by the LGU Officials and employees and the CVSCAFT students.
The Coastal Clean-up along the Abatan River Balilihan portion was done by the Special Forces of the 4th SF 2nd BN, SOCOM PA based in Baucan. The whole day of September 24 was the Sports Fest participated in by teams of the LGU, ABC, Dep-Ed and National agencies based in Balilihan. The Municipal CIVAC in Haguilanan Grande and the neighboring barangays is set on September 25, 2008. Aside from the medical and dental services with free medicines from the PCSO supplementary feeding, deworming of ruminants, haircut and massage are among the services offered.
The whole day of September 26 will be the gathering of agricultural and cottage industries products from the 31 barangays and the putting up of exhibits in the booths situated beside the Municipal Hall premises. In the evening the Talent's Night for the Miss Balilihan Sumad 2008 will be held at Assemblyman Eladio I. Chatto Sports and Cultural Center/municipal gym.
The opening of the Agri Fair will be at 2:00 P.M. on September 27, 2008. To lead the guests in the ribbon cutting rites are Congressman Edgar M. Chatto, Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera with the three Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Members, Hon. Cesar Tomas M. Lopez, Hon. Alfonso R. Damalerio II and Hon. Jose E. Veloso. The Regional Executive Director of Region 7, Ricardo Oblena will lead the agricultural officers with PATCO Bohol APC Project Manager Engr. Eugene Cahiles, Provincial Agriculturist Liza M. Quirog and Provincial Veterinarian Stella Lapiz. Other heads of the agencies, DTI Provincial Director Nanette Arbon, DOLE Provincial Director Wilson Cenas and Provincial Tourism Officer Josephine R. Cabarrus and the Municipal Officials led by Mayor Victoria M. Chatto and Vice Mayor Dominisio L. Chatto will assist in the opening rites. To bless the 37 booths is Rev. Fr. Reuben Neron L. Angcla of Mt. Carmel Parish.
After a short program inside the Agri Fair area with Congressman Edgar M. Chatto and Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera as the speakers, the Launching of the LGU Bagsakan Center will cap the activity in Poblacion.
The Ground Breaking of the TESDA Training Center in Cabad will immediately follow. To lead the capsule laying are Congressman Edgar M. Chatto and TESDA Regional Director Rossana Urdaneta and Provl. Director Francisca Opog. The Provincial Vice Governor and the three Provincial Board Members and the rest of the invited guests who assisted in the opening of the Agri Fair will join the ground breaking.
In the morning of September 28, 2008, DAR Secretary Nasser C. Pangandaman will lead the guests in the site visit to the ARCDP Farm to Market Road Project in Boyog Sur to San Roque. Visits to vegetable gardens and farms starting in the LGU Demo Farm and Green House will be done with Regional Executive Director Ricardo Oblena of the Department of Agriculture leading the guests.
Towards noon the Ribbon Cutting of the Congressional Library led by National Library Director Prudenciana Cruz and of the Two-Storey CVSCAFT building in Magsija, Balilihan led by SUC President Elpidio Magante will be done.
Hon. Congressman Edgar M. Chatto and Gov. Erico B. Aumentado will lead the ceremony together with the Municipal Mayors and Vice Mayors of District I.
Lunch will be served at the Municipal Presidencia. Starting at 2:00 p.m. three major activities will happen; the Launching of Programs, the Turn - over of Projects and the Street Dancing competition.
DAR Secretary Nasser C. Pangandaman will lead the guests from the national, regional, provincial and municipal offices in the Launching of the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Program (ARISP III) of the DAR with Gov. Erico B. Aumentado and the three Congressman of Bohol; Hon. Edgar M. Chatto, Hon. Roberto Cajes and Hon. Adam Relson Jala together with the Mayors and the four LGU beneficiaries of ARISP III, Mayor Victoria M. Chatto of Balilihan, Mayor Bert Salinas of Catigbian, Mayor Pedro Miasco of Alicia and Mayor Louis Thomas Gonzaga of Danao will be on hand to join the launching ceremony.
The LGU Green House and Demo Farm will be launched next. To do the honors are Regional Director Ricardo Oblena, Gov. Erico B. Aumentado, APC Project Manager Eugene Cahiles, Provl. Agriculturist Liza M. Quirog and the Municipal Officials led by the Mayor Victoria M. Chatto.
Finally, the launching of Congressman Edgar M. Chatto's program "A Tree For Life" will be launched with the first district Congressman and Gov. Erico B. Aumentado leading the rites. All District 1 Mayors & Vice Mayors and the Balilihan LGU officials who are the implementers of the Program will assist in the launching.
The Turn-over of the Congressional Library and the Two - Storey CVSCAFT Building - Balilihan Extension Classes will follow. National Library Director Prudenciana Cruz and SUC President Elpidio Magante of CVSCAFT system will receive the projects together with Cong. Edgar M. Chatto, Gov. Erico B. Aumentado and the 1st District Mayors and Vice Mayors and the LGU officials.
The Street Dancing competition which follows the Costume Parade will cap the afternoon's activities.
In the evening at 7:00 o'clock, the Search and Coronation of Miss Balilihan Sumad 2008 will be held at the municipal gym. The eight contenders for the title are the following candidates: District I - Mary Mae Horohoro; District 2 - Marifel Ongayo; District 3 - Mary Glenn Limocon; District 4 - Maria Edcel Sebandal; District 5 - Fiona Mara Geangan; District 6 - Maria Tifanny Tabigue; District 7 - Jo Ann Regudo; District 8 - Melody Joy Conol.
September 29, 2008, the Foundation Day of the municipality will open with the Misa Pasalamat at the municipal gym. Concelebrants of the mass will be Rev. Fr. Reuben Neron L. Angcla; Rev. Fr. Alex Nalitan and Rev. Fr. Crisolito R. Geangan. The Program and Awarding Ceremonies will follow the mass. Awards for the Best Puroks, the Best Booths, Pinaka Products, Winners of the Street Dancing and Filipiniana Costume will be awarded by Cong. Edgar M. Chatto and the Municipal Officials.
To cap the day's activities will be the PISTA SA SUMAD at the gym. The 31 barangays and 5 schools in the municipality will celebrate their fiesta in their respective tables with their invited guests. This day is a dual celebration of SUMAD, the 180th birthday of the municipality and the 7th death anniversary of the town's longest serving Mayor, Hon. Eladio Ibarra Chatto.