Continue reading »]]> By Joel T. Fagsao

Mountain View Cafe, a new addition to the family business.

In the early 70’s John Tarnate of Maba-ay Bauko, Mountain Province had it in his mind that he needed to help out in his wife’s general store business.  He then made the rounds of the nearby municipalities of Tadian, Sabangan and Bauko in a beat up vehicle to sell goods.  As a rolling store merchant most of his days were spent on the road-selling basic needs to the communities that his truck could reach.  An industrious, driven and having the qualities of an entrepreneur, John made good in the business and was able to secure a franchise from Caltex for a small town gas station in 1982.  The gas station grew from a small operation to a full service station in a new location, a kilometer away from Maba-ay proper. Lakay John was the prime mover of the family business but not without the erstwhile support of his wife, the former Ms. Marciana Ngoddo of Alab, Bontoc and Sabangan.  Lakay John was committed to the needs of his customers so that eventually the business earned the admiration even of the government agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry for his good business and compliance to fair trade laws. One of the issues that a family business has to contend with is giving the reigns of management to the children or any other family members.  Often more than not, it can be a source of family feud.  On the other hand, the patriarch of a family business could face a problem if not one of the siblings is taking interest in taking over the reigns of continuing with the business.  Children of family run businesses might look into taking on other careers and eventually the business started by the parents would die a natural death-for lack of interest among the children. Lakay John is lucky to have his youngest daughter, Juran to take over the reigns of the business.  Our groups, Bontoc Cliklato Photography Club, Inc., were guests of the Tarnate family in the opening of their new business, the Mountain View Café-one to complement the spanking Caltex Gas Station.  Inputs from a young entrepreneurial mindset came into the fore as Juran and husband Bobby laid the groundwork for the cafe.  Juran said that setting up the café was the answer to the needs of motorists stopping by for gas.  While the store at the gas station served coffee, a more comfortable setting complete with a view of the mountains beyond crystallized into what is now the Mountain View Café.    Earlier on, Juran did not have an inkling that she would go home after her completing her law studies in Baguio City.  A stroke suffered by her old man in 2002 prompted the loving daughter to spend time with her parents.  The short time became four years of managing the family business and eventually Juran made a commitment to continue running the business started by his father.  In an interview with Juran, the unassuming, humble young woman said that at first, she was hesitant to help out in the business but soon she grew to love and face the challenges and develop an appreciation for the hardships her parents had to go through-starting the business from scratch.  It helped that Juran’s husband, Bobby Bernardez of Sabangan, had full support for the opening of the gas station café.  Bobby is an experienced canteen operator, having one in San Fernando La Union. Earlier on, Juran was also able to set up a Caltex gas station in Samoki, Bontoc.  She smiled when I asked how she was able to secure a space in Bontoc.  “Well, I am of Bontoc blood too, revealing that she is related to the Ngoddo, and Chumawar clan. “  Juran is on to trail blaze the family business.  I saw how supportive her siblings and parents were in the grand opening of Mountain View Café.  Lakay John was dotting on his grand children, mingling with the guests, Baket Marciana was ever attentive to the needs of the guests.  Juran’s brother, James came all the way from Baguio with a bunch of flowers to be there for his sister and husband’s new project.  The rest of the Tarnate siblings are living in the San Diego, California, Jacelyn Tarnate-Aliping, an optometrist and  Engr. John Tarnate, Jr.   The eldest sister Imma lives in Baguio City. Lakay John and Baket Marciana wear a smile and contentment on their faces.  Contentment and joy in the fact that the youngest of the siblings, Juran is there for them and the business.

Continue reading »]]> By Charlyn June Fadchal Lidua

The Local Government Unit of Bauko now has online presence after the successful launch of the municipality’s official website. Information and related services of the municipality can be accessed on the World Wide Web at www.lgubauko.gov.ph.

This is the result of the plan of Bauko officials last June 2011 to come up with a website and promote the municipality’s tourism potentials, information on culture and industry and the municipal services. A website team was then organized and assigned to Hon. Ricky Samidan. Charlyn June F. Lidua was tasked to put into fruition a comprehensive website. In July 2011, the Sanguguniang Bayan passed a resolution adopting www.lgubauko.gov.ph as the official domain name of Bauko municipality’s website. On August 2011, a soft launching was done after final negotiations with the webhost provider, Bauko, finally went online.

Before the adoption of the official domain name, the website was first uploaded at a free-hosted Content Management System and went online in the later part of June 2011. During the trial period, comments and suggestions from several visitors were received by the website team and served as their basis for the development and enhancement of the website. At present, the team is still upgrading the website and feeding necessary data to satisfy the needs of their visitors.

The LGU believes that through this website, they could reach their client’s important needs and serve them better. From the website, visitors can now download forms for business permit, get information on places of interest (for tourists), know about Bauko’s rich culture and relevant data.

Continue reading »]]> By Joel T. Fagsao

Saliok, Natonin

After fifteen long years, I was back in Natonin.  The last time I visited the place, I was in my prime and enjoyed the day long walk to Poblacion after an overnight stay in Kadaclan, Barlig.  There was already a road at that time but you would need a front drive vehicle with winch to get you through.  If you talk with the locals, they would tell of the hardships when roads were not yet in place and you had to literally walk in the forest and hopefully avoid the leeches.

Things have changed.  You can now hop on a mini bus or a charged up Ford Fiera for a five hour ride (64 kilometers) from Bontoc to Poblacion, Natonin.  The ride is an adventure in itself.  The view is just awesome.  Everything is green!

I was in Natonin as part of my commitment to share what I had learned on entrepreneurial development in India.  In Poblacion, the few establishments that we have seen before have increased and the town center now has its own public market.  Funny, I recall during our trek, a bottle of soda (never mind the price) was a godsend and seemingly our only connection to the outside world.  Now, the products of the world have come to the town.  Mobile phones and accessories courtesy of our Muslim brother merchants, DVD you have it!  Visit a general store and a sign is posted- longaniza, hotdog and bangus (milk fish)-part of a changing diet for the locals.  The presence of tricycles also has contributed to a changing landscape. A bakery, several karaoke cum general store joints are there, mobile phone load anyone?

Development comes with a price?

We stopped by the market to look for local products; alas this is an area that needs improvement.  I asked the local vendor where vegetables come from and she said “Bontoc, Isabela.”  The only local produce we could find is the large variety cucumbers and some squash.

Our final destination was Saliok, the barrio nearest to Paracelis so we have to stay for the night in Poblacion.  You can have a comfortable stay at a quaint lodging house managed by the local Arang Cooperative and I liked it that Bertha was there to take care of the cooking.

The next day, we took a Mitsubishi (front drive) van that covers the Natonin to Paracelis route.  A mere twelve kilometers from Poblacion to Saliok sets you off by seventy pesos. The 45 minutes trip to Saliok provides a showcase of what cemented roads could do to community development.  There still are some road-portions that make your heart skip faster but generally, the rest of the road portions are A-Ok.  We reached Saliok, a hilly barrio with large swathes of flat land.  Things have changed too in this place.  A “jumbo” bridge has replaced the rickety wooden bridge of old.  The muddy road was no more and the atmosphere and look of barrio Saliok has similarities of a community in the Ilocos region.

Saliok is warm and humid but the water and forest resources provide an abundance of natural food at its best.  The ‘paco’ (fern) salad served us is just perfect.  This is a big change from the usual over-processed food fare that we have in the growing urban areas that we come from.

The three day stay in Saliok made me realize the impact of development in a community.  But there is more than meets the eye.  Yes we want development in our communities but there could also be a price to pay.  Influences from a foreign culture could have an impact on the values of the locals.  A karaoke joint in a barrio may be a good place for a visitor to relax but who gets to stay in this places when the visitor leaves?  Roads could also make it easier now to transport illegally cut Nara and other forest products.  This is quite a challenge to the DENR and the community leaders who are tasked to protect the forests.  Natonin will need a master plan on sustainable development.  By sustainable development, it will need to work on economic programs that will meet the needs of its residents today and also be able to provide for the succeeding generations.

The rich natural forest resources that the municipality has are its crown jewel.  The municipality needs to work on a conservation program on its resources.  Natonin and Barlig are the only remaining truly ‘green’ municipalities of the province of Mountain Province.