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Lady’s Choice Christmasterpiece
Bayanihang Pasko 2005

Luna, is one of the seven municipalities of the Province of Apayao, established by virtue of Executive Order No. 20 s igned by Governor Dwight Davis on October 16, 1929. There are 22 barangays, 3 of which comprises the Marag Valley, which became famous because of insurgency problems in the 1980’s to 90’s. It was declared a ‘no man’s land’ and was subjected to bombings that resulted to human rights violations by the military. It was a Paradise Lost… a Paradise Regained in the 1990’s. The town was a 6th class municipality then it became 5th during the time of Ex-mayor Bienvenido G. Verzola, Jr., then reclassified to 4th class during the first term of Mayor Betty C. Verzola, it was again reclassified to its present category, a 3rd class municipality. Luna’s population is closed to 16,000 and has a land area of 65, 540. For the past 8 years, the municipality and the town’s lady executive received and won several prestigious awards and commendations (attached list).

• The Selection of the Site of the Landmark
Infront of the municipal hall is a small children’s park and a square hole dug deep supposedly by then Ex-Mayor George Bargas as planned to be a fountain but was never completed, until he was abducted by the NPAs in 1987. The succeeding Mayor Bienvenido G. Verzola, Jr. left it that way, uncovered because a monument used by surveyors and geodetic engineers was found inside and it served as the guide in the municipality. In the term of Mayor Betty C. Verzola (1998), the first lady mayor of the town, the front of the old municipal building was developed and a small park was established. The square hole was beautified with railings, with a small kiosk above it was put up, with same children’s playing apparatus like see saw, slides, climbing bars and swings. These eventually became old and rusty and hazardous to children.
 
So the team selected to put up the Christmas landmark in the park to build a place for the townspeople to gather and meet. The design is a brainchild of Mayor Verzola and was polished by the Municipal Engineer, Albert Martin and staff and the members of the team. It is a three-storey pagoda-like structure made of indigenous materials found in the locality. The anahaw leaf, our the national leaf (pambansang dahon), is used as roofings with bamboos, rattan, twigs & branches, stumps and dug roots of old trees, but to make the foundation strong, steel was used as posts but covered with bamboos.

• How was it done?
In October, 3 meetings were called upon by the chief executive. First, with the LGU department heads (kapamilya muna), to present the project, then, to the town officials and the 22 punong barangays, then extended to the heads of provincial offices and national agencies who are having offices in Luna, to the women sector, youth, senior citizens, religious groups and civil societies. Upon getting their approval and support, the project started in the same month, through the Bayanihan way. The barangays gave whatever abundant materials found in their place like anahaw leaves and also its trunks, rattan, bamboos, lumber, twigs, branches, roots, stumps of trees. Each barangay has a turn to work in the 2 kiosks infront of the landmark.
 
• The challenge
Where to get the Lady’s Choice bottles is the greatest problem. When we called Ms. Boots Dizon, the nearest provincial distributor is Tuguegarao City which is 2 hours travel from Luna. So, the LGU cooperative purchased the first 200 pieces of Lady’s Choice which the employees and municipal officials brought and the operation bottles started. At first, the students, pupils and parents were not submitting the right bottles. Hence, massive information and dissemination campaign was conducted. Cooking contest was done during the 76th Foundation Day called ‘Pangpangan Festival” (Eating Festival). The conduct of skills/livelihood training among women before All Saints Day and All Souls Day, candle making was conducted using the Lady’s Choice bottles as candle holder and souvenir items were made for weddings and other occasions. The 6 high schools taught in their THE classes how to make lamp shades, oil lams using coconut oil which is abundant in the place to conserve energy and is environment friendly so, the oil lamps used by our great grand parents came to life again. The creativity of the pupils, students and women are shown by their projects like paper weight, terrarium, lamp shades, chandeliers, musical instruments, food storage jars, preserving bottles are among the many uses of the bottles.
 
The weather was uncooperative. It has been raining heavily with typhoons passing over the place, the work couldn’t be done as scheduled.
 
Then, we are faced by the difficulty of bringing the materials from the barangays to the town, so, the dump trucks of the LGU hauled them from the farthest barangays to the town. The only vehicle that could reach Marag Valley is Farm Tractor awarded to the municipality by Secretary Montemayor.
 
Each barangay was challenged to bring the biggest star/lantern they made out of indigenous materials to be put in the park.
 
• The Success Story
The utmost cooperation of all sectors of the society, the municipal officials and the barangay captains and with the resources of the LGU, the Bayanihan Spirit proved to be the best way to achieve success – collective efforts once more is shown in the municipality where it was once not peaceful, now, the town was declared by the Regional Peace and Order Council as the Most Outstanding LGU in Public Safety.
 
Marag Valley, composed of three barangays, was know to be the haven of the NPAs during the 80s were the first to bring down their giant size stars made of used sacks, rattan and darumaka, a vine that grows locally.
 
During the construction of the masterpiece, utmost cooperation, open communication and strong leadership were evident.
 
The creativity, ingenuity and innovativeness of the barangays were shown in the giants size lanterns now hanged in the park, façade of the municipal hall and at the side of the gymnasium where the theme “Naragsak a P-A-S-K-U-A ditoy Luna” is painted.
 
So, on November 23, 2005, at 5:00 – 6:00 p.m., the people of Luna witnessed the most wonderful thing that ever happened in the history of the 76 year-old town. The Christmasterpiece Landmark was lighted with almost 1000 bulbs. The people of Luna and of the nearby towns have seen a well lighted park, comparable to cities, right in their hometown. The landmark not only enticed the people of the town but continue to attract visitors for nearby towns of Apayao and Cagayan.
 
• The Masterpiece
A labor of love and art of the people of Luna, the park is now turned into a luminous park with the 3 decked Pagoda-like Christmas Tree and the 2 anahaw huts made from the old posts and lumber of the old municipal hall where people could stay and watch the landmark. The huts could be a resting place of travelers while waiting for their rides. It could be used also as a venue of meetings for groups and reception areas for special occasions. With the 22 big indigenous lanterns representing the 22 barangays, some are hanged around the Gymnasium infront of the municipal hall and in the 2 anahaw huts and the Tree of Unity. The big sledge pulled by a carabao and reindeers are filled with agricultural products of the town. The Christmasterpiece houses all the products made in Luna, the baskets woven and which we had sold hundreds of pieces to Japan, the “bayong” for market basket and the woven G-string and clothe adorn the Pagoda-like structure. The bottles are encased in a “Sipa” ball for protection and the lights are wrapped in the thick cellophanes to protect them from rain. Two big hammocks are hanged under the alibangbang tree which took the place of the dilapidated swings. The bird nests fern (kappa-kappa) and bonsai plants add beauty to the masterpiece and the park. The security of the place is under the PNP Luna and its maintenance is under the LGU. Schedule of viewing is 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., to conserve energy and during the simbang-gabi on December 16 – 25, it will be lighted at 4:00 – 6:00 a.m.
 
The flowers are made from recycled newspapers and corn, fruits and weeds found in the locality. The Belen as the symbol of nativity was made by the Architecture Department of Apayao State College. The miniature Belen is made of Lady’s Choice bottles by the MSWD Office using our woven native clothes for the Holy Family and the 2 angels.
 
At the lowest deck are symbols of sacks of rice symbolizing the support of the farmers to the government’s program, Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA), to enhance agricultural productivity and food security.
 
Once more, the Bayanihan Spirit is alive in our hearts again and the Landmark will go through the years as a proof of the beautiful trait of the Filipinos. “Kapag may pagkakaisa, pagbibigayan, pagmamahalan at pananalig sa Diyos, lahat ay makakamtan.”
 
But above all these, we know that all we have labored would be in vain if not for the Divine Guidance of the Lord because though, many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is God’s purpose that prevails.. So, this Christmasterpiece is dedicated to men for the glory of God as we once again celebrate His Birth. The masterpiece bears the message of PEACE ON EARTH, GOODWILL TO MAN.
 
Here is a basic rule of winning success. Let's mark it in the mind and remember it. The rule is; Success depends on the support of other people, the only hurdle between you and what you want to be is the support of others. David Joseph, Schwartz
 
AWARDS, HONORS, CITATIONS & COMMENDATIONS RECEIVED:
 
•  First Runner Up : Centennial Décor Contest – Regional Revel (1998)
•  Champion : Centennial Celebration Contest – Provincial Level (1998)
•  National Awardee : Huwarang Pamilyang Pilipino (1998)
•  Outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa – Regional & National Awardee (1998)
•  First Runner Up : Clean & Green Contest (1998)
•  Regional Nominee : Most Child Friendly Municipality (1999)
•  President of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines – Provincial Chapter (1998 -2001)
•  Public Information Officer : Lady Mayors Association of the Philippines (1998 – 2001)
 1999 CAGELCO II Highest Collection Efficiency
•  National Awardee : 1999 Sentrong Sigla Municipality
•  First Runner Up : Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran – Regional Level (4th – 6th class category) (1999)
•  Winner : Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran – Provincial Level (4th – 6th class category) (1999)
•  National Awardee : Best Performing CIDSS Municipality (1999)
•  Regional Winner : Balaka Sectoral Award of Excellence in Agriculture (4th – 6th class category) (1999 - 2000)
•  Regional Winner : Balaka Sectoral Award of Excellence in Environmental Management & Protection (4th – 6th class category) (2001)
•  Cleanest & Greenest Municipality (4th – 6th class) – Regional Level (2001)
•  National Finalist : 2001 Gawad Pangulo sa Kapaligiran
•  Board of Director: 2002 – Association of Cities & Towns of Character, Philippines (ACT of Character) Inc.
•  Most Outstanding Lady Mayor of the Year – Gawad Media Research Evaluation Society (December 15, 2002)
•  President: Luna Academy (now Apayao Science High School) Alumni Association
•  One of the 33 “Show Case LGU 2003” in the Compendium of Business Friendly Municipality in “Streamlining Regulatory Practices”.
•  Outstanding Municipal Mayor : 2003 Local Government Leadership Awards
•  2003 Balaka Sectoral Award of Excellence on Environmental Management (3rd Class Municipality Category – Regional Level)
•  2003 Balaka Sectoral Award of Excellence on Public Safety (3rd Class Municipality Category – CAR)
•  President of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines – Provincial Chapter (2004 -2007)
•  2004 Balaka Sectoral Award of Excellence on Environmental Management (3rd Class Municipality Category – Regional Level)
• 2004 Balaka Sectoral Award of Excellence on Cooperatives Development (3rd Class Municipality Category – CAR)
•  Vice President for Luzon, Lady Municipal Mayors of the Philippines (LMMAP) (2004-2007)
•  Best Performing Municipality on the Implementation of the 8 Millenium Development Goals
• (League of Municipalities of the Philippines) November, 2005, Westin Philippine Plaza
 
Title of Entry : P – A – S – K – U – A ditoy Luna (Christmas in Luna)
 
P – panagkaykaysa (unity)
A – ayat (love)
S – saldet (industry)
K – kappia (peace)
U – urnos (orderliness)
A - agnanayon (forever)
ditoy Luna (in Luna).
 
Team Name : BALLIGI TEAM (Success Team)
 
MEMBERS:
 
1. Vice Mayor Jovencio Bullaoit
2. Mr. Samuel R. Calilan
3. Mr. Dominador C. Caluya
4. Engr. Albert D. Martin
5. Mr. Marcelino Balicat
6. Engr. Joseph Baria
7. Dr. Zacarias Baluscang
8. Mr. Bernie Gamiao
9. Mr. Rogelio Villanueva
10. Ms. Elena Bullaoit
11. Mr. Dominador Guiang
12. SB Remy N. Albano
13. Mr. Norman Castro
14. Mr. Agrifino Saguid
15. LnB Pres. Bienvenido G. Verzola, Jr.
16. Ms. Tessie U. dela Cruz
17. Mr. Paulino Agorilla
18. Mr. Mark Bautista
19. Engr. Wilfredo Enciso
20. P/Insp Ruben de Jesus
21. Mr. Frank Sapla
22. Mr. Rene Ramos
23. Ms. Ellarne Balicat
24. Mr. Sebastian Cayatien
25. Pastor Julie Acluba
26. Ms. Millet D. Agustin