Bicol Peryodiko and Radyo Peryodiko would like to pay tribute to Ms. Candy Vollinger, the most talented Binibini in the Philippines, who represented the province of Catanduanes at Binibining Pilipinas 2023 this May.
It took five months of planning and a laborious process before the big day. Despite the long journey, our Binibini thoroughly enjoyed the prestigious competition among the Philippines’ most beautiful and brilliant ladies.
Being recognized as the most talented lady among 40 contestants in the Philippines is an accomplishment in and of itself. Despite her size, gorgeous skin, and angelic beauty, I can’t imagine her doing pool dancing and soaring with the textile material during the talent presentation. It’s very amazing and deserves to be recognized. Congratulations Ms. Candy!
Ms. Candy’s family, handlers, chaperones, and quiet movers behind your voyage, we commend you for your bravery and for promoting our province to the best of your abilities on a national and international level.
Nonetheless, the moment is not currently on our radar, but it may be in the not-too-distant future. We’ll find out who the lucky lady will bring home the crown in the national and international pageant from the happy island.
Certainly, like any other province in the Philippines, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
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We can certainly accomplish the most desired moment of our abacaleros in the province how our abaca industry pushed to develop via the united effort of our line agencies in the province of Catanduanes.
The Abaca Festival and other similar activities will not be a waste of time or money, but rather the preliminary or “laying cards” towards the ultimate objective.
The provincial government, led by Governor Joseph Cua, the Festival Committee PBM Edwin Tanael, the Provincial Tourism Officer Ms. Carmel Garcia, and other behind-the-scenes individuals deserve recognition for their extra effort in pushing through some of the festival’s more interesting events this year, as we celebrate the festival’s seventh staging.
Nonetheless, the event would not be a success without the participating contingents and individuals who spent their time and effort to be a part of the annual event.
The effort to continuously find solutions to problems encountered by our abacaleros should not end with the festival, but should be prioritized until these challenges and concerns are properly resolved.
We expect that the efforts of the appropriate government agencies, particularly the DOST through Engr. Grace Molina, some of our abacaleros’ pertinent concerns will be addressed.
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Congressman Leo Rodriguez introduced House Resolution No. 1060, which encourages line agencies to prioritize the use of Abaca byproducts in their workplaces.
“House Resolution No. 1060 na naglalayon na gawing prayoridad ng mga departamento at ahensiya ng pamahalaan ang paggamit ng abaca o produktong may abaca sa kanilang mga ginagamit na supplies. Sa ganitong paraan ay tiyak na lalawak ang pangangailangan sa produkto ng abaca, mas magiging estabilisado ang presyo ng abaca at uunlad ang kabuhayan ng mga abacaleros”.
This could be a fine resolution, but it is only an appeal and lacks the teeth to impose it on the aforementioned agencies.
But, we hope the good legislator will push through the House Bill 3892 establishing the Catanduanes Abaca Research and Development Office that would focus on abaca product studies and thus maximize the potentials of the abaca industry.’
The proposed measure would also monitor the prices of abaca fiber, to protect the interest of the abaca farmers and ensure assistance would be provided to abacaleros during calamities.
This could be a good measure, but, what is now the status of this measure in congress? (WEEKLYNEWSPAPER/BICOLPERYODIKO/COLUMN/FBEYE/FERDIE M. BRIZO)
