President Aquino lauds provincial government of
Tarlac, Tarlac Heritage Foundation, Commission for Cultural Heritage of the
Church for collective efforts in making the province globally recognized as
'Belen Capital of the Philippines'
CAMILING,
Tarlac: President Benigno S. Aquino III lauded the provincial government of
Tarlac, the Tarlac Heritage Foundation, the Commission for the Cultural
Heritage of the Church, the Tarlaqueños and other stakeholders for their
collective efforts in making the province globally recognized as the
"Belen Capital of the Philippines."
"Sa
nakalipas na limang taon ng pagdaraos ng patimpalak na ito, naging maugong ang
husay at talento ng mga kalahok sa Belenismo. Hinangaan ito hindi lamang,
balita ko, sa Pilipinas, kundi pati na rin sa ibang bansa. Kinikilala na ang
Tarlac bilang “Belen Capital of the Philippines,” the President said in his
speech during the 2012 Belenismo sa Tarlac Grand Awards Night held at the
Tarlac College of Agriculture Gymnasium, Barangay Malacampa, Camiling, Tarlac
on Saturday.
The
President said that more tourists are visiting the province of Tarlac since the
"Belenismo sa Tarlac," an annual tradition promoting the art of
Belen-making, was launched in 2007.
"Balita ko pa po, dumadagsa ang mga
turista rito upang masilayan ang katangi-tanging sining ng mga Tarlaqueño. Sa
pamamahala po ni Isa (Tarlac Heritage Foundation Co-Founding Chairperson Dra.
Isabel Cojuangco Suntay), at sa pakikibalikat ng mga katuwang na ahensya, hindi
na po nakakapagtaka ang lawak at tayog ng tagumpay na nakamit ng Belenismo sa
Tarlac," he said.
Belenismo
sa Tarlac is a festival showcasing the creativity, bayanihan spirit and
spirituality of Tarlaqueños, the President said.
“Bukod po
sa makukulay na Belen, tampok din dito ang pagkamalikhain at bayanihan ng ating
mga Tarlaqueños. Mayroon pong mga Belen na yari sa mga bagay na dating
itinatapon lang, pero ngayon ay nagagamit na sa makabuluhang paraan,” he noted.
"Iba
po talaga ang galing at tatak ng Pinoy: Kung ano ang mayroon tayo, dinidiligan
natin ng sipag at talento, upang magbunga ng pag-asenso. Wala naman pong
tututol: pinatutunayan nating saan mang panig ng mundo, kahit sa anumang
larangan, kayang mangibabaw at magpakitang-gilas ang mga Pilipino," he
said.
While the
government is doing its efforts in improving the country's economic
development, the President said his administration remains committed in
fighting corruption for the good of all.
"Hindi po tayo nagpatumpik-tumpik
sapaggawa ng tama na nagbubunga ng sunud-sunod na biyaya. Pinanagot natin ang
abusado, itinalaga ang mga tapat na pinuno, at ginamit ang pondo sa matuwid na
serbisyo," he said.
"Mula sa pagpapaunlad ng imprastraktura
hanggang sa pagpapalago ng agrikultura; mula sa pagpuno ng mga kakulangan sa
silid-aralan, hanggang sa paglikha ng mga tiyak na kabuhayan; mula sa
pagpapailaw ng mga sitio, hanggang sa pagpapaliwanag ng kinabukasan ng
nangangailangan, nakatutok ang inyong gobyerno sa kapakanan ng mas nakakaraming
Pilipino," he said.
President
Aquino also said that Christmas is a traditional time for families to gather in
commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
"Tandaan lang po natin, sa darating na
Pasko, may mga pamilyang hindi maiiwasang magkahiwalay. Idamay po natin sa
ating mga dasal, na sana naman po ay sa lalong madaling panahon ay
magkasama-sama sila," the President noted.
"At
tuwing sasapit po ang Pasko, lahat ho tayo ay kumikilala sa ginawa ni
Hesukristo sa atin; lahat tayo umaasa na hindi ho matitinag ng mas magandang
silayang araw na susunod," he said.
The
President led the awards rites for the first prize winners in the six
categories of ‘Belenismo’: high school diorama, personal diorama, church,
monumental, grand municipal (local government units) and grand non-municipal
(government agencies and business establishments).
The
provincial government of Tarlac, the Tarlac Heritage Foundation, and the
Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church organize ‘Belenismo’ every year
drawing entries from different individuals and institutions for the
belen-making contest.
A belen
is a tableau depicting the nativity scene which is a common adornment that can
be found in Filipino households every Yuletide season.
Since its
inception in 2007, ‘Belenismo’ has become not only an annual competition for
belen makers in Tarlac but also a gathering for tourists who wish to relive the
spirit of Christmas through various artistic interpretations of how Jesus
Christ was born. (js)
Government ready for typhoon 'Bopha,' Malacanang
says
As the
country braces for the arrival of typhoon “Pablo,” (international codename:
Bopha) this week, Malacañang said on Sunday that the government has prepared
all the necessary precautions including government resources and is ready to
provide assistance to "all those that may be affected."
In a
press briefing aired over government-run radio station dzRB Raydo ng Bayan,
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte also appealed to the members of
the media to help the government in disseminating information on the typhoon’s
track.
State weather
bureau PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration) said in its 11:00 a.m. weather bulletin that “Pablo” was
located at 1,110 km East Southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur with maximum
sustained winds of 185 kph (kilometers per hour) near the center and gustiness
of up to 220 kph. It is forecast to move West Northwest at 22 kph.
Valte
called on the local government units to continuously monitor the PAGASA
bulletins and updates in order to keep their constituents safe.
“Keep
updated on the bulletins from PAGASA. Always cooperate with the local
authorities as the National Government is all ready to provide all assistance
to those that may be affected,” Valte said. PND (rck)
