"Happy Manchatchatong Festival"

      Manchatchatong Festival is the yearly feast that Balbalan Municipality is celebrating. "Manchatchatong" means meeting or coming together of the people in Balbalan as a reunion. This will strengthen our unity, cooperation and love for our municipality to gain progress. This occassion is observed every first week of March.

            This year, it was celebrated on March 1-3, 2013. On the first day, it started with the parade and next was the mass officiated by father Gil Dulay. During the mass, he spiced his “prayer over the gifts” with the kulilipan version. He was good and was proud to learn our native song. Then the formal program started. The masters of ceremony was Mr. Salvador Sagalon and company. It was followed by different types of  talents. Wow! Balbalan people has adopted and mastered the "gangnam style" dance. Our guest speaker was Hon. Manuel S. Agyao, our beloved congressman of Kalinga. He congratulated Balbalan for fast improvements and visible progress. In the afternoon, friendship game were played between the 14 barangays. Then at night time, the senior citizens contested on dancing the "gangnam style" and barangay Balantoy was the winner. Another was the "doble Karaoke" of the students that was garnered by the BAIS student.

                   The most awaited part of the festival was on the 2nd day. It started with the street dancing which was participated by the 14 barangays, 5 high schools, and from the pupils of different elementary schools. They were amazing with their colorful ethnic attires with designs courtesy of their handlers. Second was the ground demonstration  and then the battle of the band and lyre from the high students began. This was the most awaited part because the crowd flocked together and neared the court as it started. High school students performed before the elementary pupils. It was the St. Paul band who filled the groud first then followed by the BAIS band and then the STS high school. Then the pupils came next. It ended at around 4 o'clock in the afternoon and we were all starving to death. But still, it was worth it because we enjoyed watching.
               The winners of different activities and prizes were given on the last day but unfortunately I didn't attend. Accordingly, STS high school garnered most of the awards especially the "band and lyre" competition.

                 It was another success for Balbalan as the festival ended peacefully. We hope for more interesting show again next year. Congratulations to all of us and may God continue blessing our municipality. Congratulations also for all the participants and contestants especially the organizer of this affair. Thank you to our beloved mayor, Hon. Kenneth Dale C. Mangaoang.

"The viewers enduring the heat of the sun"

Apo an init na!

STS Street Dancers

Barangay Buaya's Street Dancers

Barangay Dao-angan's Street Dancers

Ground Demonstration...Balbalan Central School Pupils

The pupils dancing in their ground demo(Balbalan Central School)

                  

Baisian’s Whistle

       During the 105^th foundation day and manchachatong festival in Balbalan, one of the contested activities was the “band and lyre” competition. My beloved alma mater school (Balbalan Agricultural and Industrial high School or BAIS) was one of the contestants on the said activity. Everybody was looking forward to it so when the time came we, the audience, flocked together to watched.

            It was participated by three respective high schools namely, BAIS, Saint Theresitas School, and St. Paul School. They were all energetic and graceful as they marched with their colourful uniforms. Wow! This was everyone’s utterance as they look at the student’s performance. The St. Paul school showed their band containing most of the latest songs as their lyre spice. It was followed by the Baisians who gained the crowd’s applause until its end. Lastly, the STS band filled the ground with their presentation and was proclaimed as winners.

            Blessy De Sagun led the BAIS band with her stunning majorettes and soldier-like boys. I was so proud with their exhibition because they were really the best for me that time. This was evidenced by the crowd’s cheers as they watched them. They started a heart pounding formation which can be compared with the royal soldier’s formation during a royal march. It was really amazing and I was overwhelmed up to the last part. The crowd was surprised with their unbelievable performance.  It improved from what they had shown last year. The judges proclaimed them as second place after the festival.I hope they will not be disappointed with the result. They should still participate next year to show their support to the yearly feast of Balbalan municipality.

            Two thumbs up to all students from those different schools and to their trainers who sweats during their practices. Congratulations, you are all winners.

“Danger in Swerving”

              








           No classes! This was good news for us students of Saint Louis College of Bulanao for we will have a 4 days pause from school activities. Our teachers are having their short break or field trip; so of course, we will not go to school too.  This was also my time to go home to my town, Balbalan, to visit my family. I am so excited to go home!

            In going home, we need to ride a jeep for about 3 hours to reach our destination. We need to travel through rough roads in order to reach Balbalan. Sharp curves are present and slopes and ravines are visible. It’s a risky and dangerous journey if the drivers aren’t careful in driving. Ever since, first timers feel nervous with the kind of way we have although it’s improving now because of ongoing constructions and repairs.

            On the 28^th day of February, I went to “black tree” to find me a ride in going home. Alas! Almost every jeep was full of passengers. I then remember that our town fiesta was nearing so people are visiting too. Luckily, I was able to rode even we were compacted inside the jeep. I excitedly wait until the car headed home. On our way I felt uneasy as cars overtake each other wanting to go first. Whew! Drivers are showing how expert they are in manipulating their wheels. Until, ouch! My head hit something. “Aray” I shouted as I touched my painful head that bumped into somebody’s head when the car suddenly swerved. I look around and almost all of us passengers were irritated with what had happen. We were disgusted on the driver’s not considering our condition inside his car. It was us who suffered as he was competing with the other cars. We were not aware of his turning the wheel aside while we were calmly passing through a straight way.

            Swerving is sometimes dangerous especially when the road isn’t safe for that. Although there are times that drivers swerved in order to avoid some animals and people suddenly crossing the road, it is best to avoid it when other cars are involved. When drivers want to overtake, they swerve. Drivers should avoid it especially when his car is full of passengers. If in some circumstances accident may happen. God forbid, swerving can lead to collision with other cars or fall to steep cliff. It is dangerous if the timing isn’t right. Why would drivers swerve when it is best to travel and arrive home safely? Isn’t it better to stay safe?

            In relation to life, swerving also happens. Example, when students swerve from straight and God fearing life into committing themselves to vices. They tend to satisfy their curiosity by drinking and smoking that they didn’t do before. My dear students, like cars, if you swerve, you might fall to ravines or bump into problems and difficulties in life.

            Swerving is dangerous sometimes. We should avoid it if possible.

"A Car trying to swerve (at the back) in order to overtake the car in front"