La Trinidad Celebrates Filipino Elderly Week

La Trinidad’s Municipal Social Welfare and Development(MSWD) together with the Federation of the Senior Citizens led the celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week slated from October 9-14.

            The celebration this year bears the theme: Kilalanin at Parangalan: tagasulong ng karapatan ng nakatatanda tungkol sa lipunang makapagkalinga.

            Sir Irinio B. Alfaro Jr., a social welfare assistant of the La Trinidad MSWDO mentioned that, no matter how weak the elders are, you can still see and feel their eagerness, diligence and kindness ever since the day the event started. He also added that he really appreciate the elders for their promptness of time. A trait which the generation nowadays commonly, doesn’t have.

Participants came from the 16 barangays of La Trinidad. Since Tuesday-October 9 up to this day-October 11, they were around 1, 900 led by barangay Tawang.

            This year’s activity includes cultural presentations, singing competitions, sports activities, Senior Citizen Officer For A Day(SCOFAD), and others.

There were a total of 104 elders who received monetary cash prizes and benefits.68 participants who won in the different competitions, and 5 centenarians were awarded monetary cash prizes. While 31 elders also received canes and wheelchairs.  

Benguet exceptional elders 2018

Though we were only given half of the day to join our lolo and lola’s celebrating the Filipino Elderly week at the municipal gym, we were amazed because their softened bones and weakened eyes did not degrade their happiness. They actively came, watch and join the different activities.

     Mingling with them was such a privilege. We’ve meet exceptional elders who have treasured things according to their life’s perception. Also, jaw-dropping elders who showcased their hidden talents.

 TATTOO

Captured memory

Encapsulated with ink

Lifetime remembered

                                           

HAIR

Firmly knotted strands

Symbolizing life’s journey

Beauty deep within

YUDELEE

Inspired by the western cowboy outfit

Elders in their cultural attire

Dancing gracefully

With the sounds of yudelee.

CULTURAL ATTIRE

of the horizontal stripes
red, black and white
A cultural attire of us-i-Benguet
Locally known as "eten" and "bahag"
A hallmark of our identity.

The Much Awaited Adivay Festival

           "Adivay! oooh oh ay! oh! oh! kakadwa kalajo!"
   
          Adivay festival is an annual agri-tourism festivity held in Benguet. Adivay is an Ibaloi term which means "coming together". This festival focuses on rediscovering the rich history, culture, traditions, trades and industries of the people of Benguet.
 
    ACTIVITIES AND WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE ADIVAY FESTIVAL.

Behind A Song

            Despite our age, culture, tradition, and sexuality, I can say that we all love music in different ways. Calling ourselves a “music lover” doesn’t always mean that because we are a singer or we can play musical instruments. We are uniquely created and some (like me) is only blessed to be just a listener and sometimes a critic.

            Music is not only the ones that have a countable lyrics that refer or talks about something specific. Music is something that is pleasurable for our ears. It is all around us and we can define it in different ways. The morning tweets of a bird, the whistle of the wind, the splashing of river water or the falling of our favorite stuff toy step by step on the stairs nor a kids laugh could also be a music to our ears. Music is simply our life.

            Last October 22-27, 2018 was the tourism week celebration of the valley of colors. Most of their activities are held at La Trinidad municipal gym, wherein one of which is the solidarity concert that I have also attended.

            For a music lover like me, coming to this concert was of a great privilege. Like what the old saying says, “it’s like hitting two birds with one stone". As part of my internship, I was there to help in assessing especially in the registration area. Listening to their songs brought me back to my life when I was still in high school. Also, Those songs were the ones our circle usually plays when we were together having our bonding. The memories behind that music are one of my treasured memories ……

Tourism Week 2018 in La Trinidad

     La Trinidad’s tourism week was celebrated last October 22-27, 2018 at the La Trinidad municipal gym with its theme “Tourism and the digital transformation”.

     A week event that aims to promote the town’s local products and tourism sites through exhibitions, photo contest, immersion tour and a race to some of the valley’s tourism sites. A tourism conference and a partnership activity with the local PESO and coop office will also be conducted.

     List and order of the tourism week activity is posted below.

#RiseUpBenguet! :A Solidarity Concert

Typhoon Ompong's ferocious winds and battering rain killed a lot of lives and cause landslide, floods and power outages especially in the province of Benguet.        

The tourism officers of La Trinidad-LGU came up with a benefit event for the individuals who are most hard-hit by the typhoon Ompong.  This event is a solidarity concert with the theme # Rise Up Benguet! As a part of the tourism week, the concert will be held at La Trinidad municipal gym on October 25, 2018, at around 4:00-9:00 pm. The ticket cost only a 100.00 peso.

An evening for the # Rise up Benguet: solidarity concert featuring the outraging local music bands of Baguio & Benguet,Jon Sawac, The Cordillera Connection, Music for change, Los Gwapitos, Oldwest, Ego Roots, Break free, Ryn Eisen, Nightsky, Kaduntugan, Piatos w/ love, Botlingen, Ang kay Juana ay kay Popo and Isko.

By the power of music, together, let us rise up Benguet!

A glimpse of La Trinidad

   
 La Trinidad was originally called “vale de Benguet”. In which, Benguet was a native term that refers to a lake that does not drain.

         
         At a certain time in history, due to its relatively more advanced development, La Trinidad served as the capital administrative territory of Benguet during the Spanish era. Recorded history about La Trinidad started with Don Quirante who traveled into the mountain region in search for gold. He found a large and vigorous community around a muddy lake. The lake is in the middle of what is now La Trinidad and on account on the people inhabiting its surroundings called the place "Benguet". 
         During this time the principal vegetables of the people are camote, gabi, beans, tomatoes, and rice but rice is only intended in making "tapey" (rice wine) for canaos.

          In April 1846, Don Guillermo Galvez pacified the Ibalois (original settlers of La Trinidad) in La Trinidad by giving gifts. In this year, Don Galvez renamed “Benguet” into “La Trinidad” in honor of his wife Dona Trinidad Galvez.

          By the implementation of Republic Act No. 531, La Trinidad was converted into a regular municipality instead of being a sub-province of Benguet. On June 18, 1966, in pursuant to Republic Act no. 4695, La Trinidad became the capital town of the province of Benguet.

          During the 1980’s La Trinidad became a vegetable production. As time went by La Trinidad became the leading strawberry-producing municipality in the entire Philippines. This is where it garnered its name “Strawberry capital of the Philippines”.

          Nowadays, La Trinidad has also a lot more to offer other than luscious mouthwatering strawberries.  This valley was also endowed with fascinating tourist attractions and other places of interest which makes it profound and interesting. It offers a lot of exciting treks and adventures on its beautiful natural and man-made attractions that were truly convenient and affordable.

          It was truly beyond than what we have expected!