DESPITE the usual challenges of local governance and community development, the local government of La Trinidad will be ending this year with humbling awards and recognitions – definitely inspiring the program implementers, the whole officialdom of the town, and the supportive workers and community members of the municipality.
This year, La Trinidad won the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council’s “Kalasag” Championship among close to a thousand municipalities in the country.
Just recently, La Trinidad also won as the grand winner during the Gawad Parangal for the best Cooperative Development Services Office in the national level; Red Orchid Awardee for implementing anti-smoking programs; a special citation as one of the Best Tourism event in the country; and the top Municipal Police Station recognition by the Department of Interioir and Local Government (DILG). Of course, the town also won a number of regional and provincial awards which may potentially reach the national level in the upcoming months or years – Solid waste and Environmental Management award, tourism-oriented LGU recognition, and many more.
Despite the accolades, the humble town surely exhibits the typical Benguet identity of being low-key and humble, but wealthy in deeds and performances.
Sure, just like many towns, the awards and recognitions are not merely prizes and decorations, but are evaluation tools for performances, and as positive reinforcements for better public services. Despite the dazzling trophies and plaques, the local government workers assured that they will not be resting in their laurels. After all, the same commitment and sacrifices are what brought the town to these greater heights.
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My eyes widened when a potential employer offered me a huge-paying work away from my nest – more than double my current pay grade and with perks that included international travels and allowances. As a former-aspiring Diplomat, the thrill of the adventure visited me yet again. I sat in my swivel chair until 7 p.m., pondering on what I should do – “finally! A break, an opportunity to reach my maximum potential, to see the world, to improve my skills and make a greater impact!”
For a long time, I stared at my modest work space and saw the Tourism Center plan pinned in my corner’s cork board – in the next three years the controversial and most lobbied structure will rise, the tourism, culture, and arts’ affairs team will be housed therein, a mini-children’s playground will be placed on its side, and ultimately, the town will see the many better changes that it deserves.
Then, the detailed vision zoomed to the entrance door, as if to search for the happy characters in the office – I saw my son, Vash, already a grade two student, finding his way from BSU elementary school (only a stone throw away from the town hall) to my humble desk and gave me a hug. What a blissful sight. Then, the vision blurred, showing a dejected man in the streets of Yereven, half a world from the family that has already forgotten him. The romantic backdrop of the iced-capped mountains in the yellow city, cannot conceal the misery of the character in his own colorful adventure. I woke up, opened my damped eyes and let out a sigh.