Palidan Elementary School pupils make Bakun proud

Three pupils from Palidan Elementary School, Bakun District bagged the championship in the Balagtasan during the Pandibisyong Patimpalak Pagdiriwang ng Buwan 2017 Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa na may temang “Filipino: Wikang Mapagbago” held on August 25,2017 at Bulwagan ng Adivay, Benguet Division, La Trinidad.

Despite of the short time for practice, the three PES pupils namely Eljay Matias the Lakandiwa, Irish Modaoan Panig ng Sinusong Wika and Rhea Mae Tamolang Panig ng Tinutong Wika was able to deliver confidently their piece in front of the mighty board of judges. The judges unanimously favored Bakun District Participants as the best performer among the fifteen participants. This qualified them to participate in the Panrehiyong Patimpalak held on August 30 at Benguet State University (BSU), La Trinidad and they landed fourth place. The winners with their coach Mrs. Elia P. Matias received Certificates of Recog- nition and certificates of participation.

The Panrehiyonal Patimpalak was participated in by two cities, Baguio City and Tabuk City and six (6) provinces, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, and Mountain Province. Mountain Province bagged the first place in the Balagtasan. They will be the representative of the

social-connectivity through social-media does not connect us at all. On the contrary it divides us to binary codes; Dutertards or Dilawan, Liberals or Republicans, Like or Exit, black or white. Stressful indeed.

What we really need now is to get out more often. Be in the moment, away from the sucking whirlpool of this modern digital tradition. Maybe get a coffee, tea, or gin with a good crowd. It is likely that this is what we need this Tuesday. After all, coffee shops are now a thing in BaguioLa Trinidad.

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) in the National Competition.

This was the second time Eljay participated in the Pandibisyong Patimpalak and as Lakandiwa. They garnered second place last 2016 Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa held at Bulwagan ng Adivay, Benguet Division. His companions last year are in grade seven now. They are Jaden Mendoza and Izrafel Harmony Sano.

The PES participants enjoyed and became an eye opener to them their going to the division and region. They were very happy for the overall outcome of the contest. Indeed, they were able to bring honor to their school, district, and division.

wasteful or to take what is happening to our water sources for granted.

If it is rainwater, it still has to pass through the soil to be of any good use for drinking water, or irrigation, or water for industrial purposes.

The water, and the soil, in this regard, are critical to the cycle of making or sustaining the availability of fresh water.

That fresh water can only be fresh, clean, and safe depending on the soils we have these days.

Unfortunately, our soils now are continuously eroding as we have cleared so much of our mountains of their forest cover. With the disappearance of the forest, so also are our soils that hold water, disappearing. Without the soil, nothing will hold the rain water. It would only mean a shortage of water, after the rains.

Let us save the soil, keep it safe from pollutants of all kinds, a role Cordillerans must learn to perform for their own sake and those of their neighbors downstream.

That was what Mr. Estino and his group are asking from all of us to help them do their roles to keep our soils healthy, that makes us and the nation healthy in return.

Let us rehabilitate and keep our forest and watersheds intact where they are today. -30-