Wonderfully Knitted: Tacurong City: A Place to Admire

Wonderfully Knitted: Tacurong City: A Place to Admire: I started living in Tacurong City in the year 2005. It is in every September that this city's celebrate their Talakudong Festival. But ...

Tacurong City: A Place to Admire

I started living in Tacurong City in the year 2005. It is in every September that this city's celebrate their Talakudong Festival. But only this year's festival that I got interested to attend to. I gave myself a chance and had a peek on what kept the city busy in their preparations.

As a start, I would like to quote the short history of Tacurong City from one of the articles I've read.

Tacurong was once a barangay of the Municipality of Buluan of the empire province of Cotabato. It was separated from its mother town Buluan and was created a municipality by Executive Order Number 462 signed by the late President Elpidio Quirino on August 3, 1951.  Tacurong then has an estimated area of 40,000 hectares comprising of 14 barangays. When Tantangan, a barangay of Tacurong was created into a municipality in 1961, the Southern portion of Tacurong was separated. The area was further reduced when President Quirino was created into a municipality in 1973 taking with it some of the eastern portions. Tacurong now stands at a total area of 15,340 hectares, the smallest in the Province of Sultan Kudarat.

After 49 years of existence as a municipality, Tacurong became the first component city of the Province of Sultan Kudarat through the efforts of Hon. Angelo O. Montilla, the Congressman of the Lone District of Sultan Kudarat by virtue of House Bill No. 6497 duly approved and signed by his Excellency President Joseph E. Estrada through Republic Act 8805 “An Act Converting the Municipality of Tacurong into a Component City of the Province of Sultan Kudarat to be known as the City of Tacurong” on August 16, 2000 and duly confirmed by the “Tacurongnons” on a plebiscite held on September 18, 2000. ~Source: Tacurong City History~

Photo credit from Tacurong Online www.tacurongcity.net

I considered this city as my home already since I have worked in one of the big hospitals, casted votes during the National and Local elections and been supporting and participating in the programs and advocacies. As they said, sometimes life just seems like chapters. Some good, some bad, but all come together to create the story of our lives. Tacurong City was often in the headlines of bombings and conflicts especially during elections, but the city stayed strong and vigilant to maintain peace and harmony among the Tacurongnons.

In this years Festival, I started participating in the Marathon Run initiated by the government. It's good to know that city officials encourage a healthy life in the campaign of doing a daily habit of doing exercise.

On September 18, under the heat of the sun, me and my family went out to see the Field Demonstration participated by different schools in the city.  I was really amazed of how people appreciated the event.

The salakot is a common symbol for Filipino identity. It is often portrayed as the hat worn by Juan de la Cruz, the symbol of the collective Filipino psyche equivalent to Uncle Sam of the Americans. The custom of embellishing this Filipino headgear developed as a practice during the Spanish Regime. Though normally worn by farmers, the wealthy and landed Christian Filipinos and mestizos (especially the members of the Principalía), would also use the salakot, emboss this hat with silver, and sometimes hang silver coins and pendants around the headgear's brim. Many depictions of gobernadorcillos and cabezas de barangay would portray these public functionaries during the colonial period wearing ornate salakots. It was not uncommon for this class to wear salakot made of more precious materials (like tortoise shell and precious metals). ~Wikipilipinas~

In this competition, salakot is the primary material used by participants. These salakots were designed uniquely that definitely attracted the attention of everybody. They were waved and handled very beautifully by participants that caught spectator's eyes immediately.

Participants danced gracefully despite the heat of the sun. They showed spectaculiar performances that showcased different tribes. Their colorful costumes added to the celebration of this festivity.

I felt that I'm really at home.

With this, I believe that Tacurong has a long way to go. And in this journey, each one of us has a part to help improve the City of Goodwill. Until next Talakudong Festival. Mabuhay ka Tacurong!

Jellian as Belle in Beauty and the Beast Musical

Beauty and the Beast is a musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and a book by Linda Woolverton. Based on the 1991 film of the same name, which was in turn adapted from the French fairy tale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, Beauty and the Beast tells the story of a prince who is transformed into a hideous beast as punishment for his cruel and selfish ways, and an adventurous young woman named Belle whom he imprisons in his castle. In order to become human again, the Beast must earn Belle's love before it's too late.

This year, at Montessori Learning Center, Jellian played as Belle on their musical play as part of their celebration on the 26th Foundation Anniversary of the School. I was the trying hard make-up artist and showed utmost support to my daughter. I continually thank the Lord everyday for giving me strength to encourage in bringing out the best in her. To you my girl, I love you from the bottom of my heart.

Their play. Enjoy!

"Si Wako" ~ Jellian's Performance during the Linggo ng Wika

In August, the Philippines celebrates Filipino as its national language. During this National Language Month, school activities focus on speaking Filipino and on Philippine culture.
While people in different parts of the Philippines speak an estimated 171 native languages or dialects, all schoolchildren learn Filipino, which was designated as the national language by the constitution of the Philippines in 1987. Speaking a common national language allows those in the Philippines to express themselves as a people of one nation.
Based on Tagalog, but incorporating words from other Philippine native languages as well as foreign words (especially from Spanish and English), the ultimate designation of Filipino as the national language has an interesting history. ~Remit Home Newsletter~

This year's celebration in Montessori Learning Center was a blast!

"Wika Natin ang Daang Matuwid"

Jellian compete in the short story as Kinder 1 Representative. She delivered an inspiring story of an OWL. (A Naughty Owl)

As she started her lines, I was nervous, because I think she stopped for a couple of minutes. A normal stage fright I guess. But eventually, she caught everybody's attention. I am very proud of my little girl, she won, the Champion. Way to go Jel!

Friends, enjoy her story telling.

Her talent is exceptional. We love you Baby Girl! 

Happy Father's Day to my All-time Bestfriend

It's more than a decade that I know this man. Though I believe there are still more that I need and will know about him. He is the man of my life, my best friend, my best enemy and best buddy. We sometimes quarrel especially things about each of our families where we have grown up and spend our childhood days. We were molded from different families and we are really different in most ways. But God allowed us to meet each other in different time and ways and that is for a great purpose.

Today is the world's celebration of Father's Day, but for us, everyday is a Father's Day. It's because we thank the Lord everyday for giving us a Papa like you. I thank you for giving me a very smart little kid, our Jellian. I pray that God will continue to give you good health as you work hard for us. I may not be a perfect wife, I can't cook :-) but I can help you provide what to cook. We love you always Papa.

Happy Father's Day Papa!

My Tatay

Today is a celebration of a special day for all the fathers in the world. As I created my blog today, I have thought of writing notes for my Tatay. I have not grown up with Tatay for reasons that I may have not understood in my younger years. But as I grew up and mature, I have learned to realize the why's of not growing up with him.

Nevertheless, though we haven't lived in one roof, I can still recall that every time I celebrate my birthday, I always receive birthday cards from him. Oh! My birthday is coming few days more. These cards were written of his own penmanship. And they always say, "I love you" at the bottom of the page.

He may not be a perfect father that provides everything for his children, but he is a cool tatay that expresses love to us in different ways. As the world celebrates special day for fathers like him, I wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude to our Tatay that brings us in this beautiful world. We may sometimes fail you or either way, our love never changes. You are always in our hearts and pray for you. Keep on going because we are here for you. I LOVE YOU MY TATAY.