https://www.sunstar.com.ph/ |
| Posted: 09 Jun 2021 05:43 AM PDT HERMAN Muan did not expect that he would be the leader of Sitio Kule in Barangay Salacafe, Tboli South Cotabato. In his mind, he only wanted to help his community to become independent and empowered. "Sitio Kule had no knowledge on local governance before. Most of the people were timid to the outside visitors. They did not know how to entertain guests. Some locals were stubborn. Sitio Kule before was also identified as an NPA-infested area and had marijuana plantation," said Herman. Kule is a Tboli term that means "center." It is surrounded by four sitios of Salacafe, namely -- Datal Bong, Blo, Syom Bulol, and Tahikong. It was also the hunting ground of their ancestors. They placed their animal traps on the trail going to the famous Lake Holon. In 2017, when he was 24, he was declared as the sitio leader of Kule, the youngest in the history of Kule. Herman has a vision for Kule which he is eager to make a reality. "I saw the unity of the people in Kule. They wanted change. They have many plans for the community. It's not good if I stop them for their plans or their dreams for Kule," said Herman. Over the past years, Sitio Kule experienced progress because of their unity and government intervention through provision of basic social services. Building Gunô Bong "At first, Gunô Bong was not intended for tourists. It was mainly used for community affairs like gatherings or meetings," Herman said. In 2014, Gunô Bong (big house) was built out of community effort and with the support of the DST program of Mayor Dibu Tuan. The Tboli house is a testament for their solidarity. That time, Herman was one of the volunteers who helped build Gunô Bong. They also created the Kule trail to Lake Holon because of their community initiative. Tboli Senior Tourism Officer Rodel Hilado, Tourism Supervisors David Suanzon, Joshua Tuan, and Marc Jhofaith Montero saw the potential of sitio Kule as a tourist destination. As a result, the Gunô Bong evolved into a multi-purpose house that caters to both community members and tourists. Sitio Kule practiced community-based tourism. It is one of the trail sites going to Lake Holon. DOT Region 12, under the leadership of former Regional Director Nelly Nita Dillera, supported this endeavor. The LGU Tboli through Municipal Tourism Development and Promotion Unit supported the community efforts of sitio Kule. With the help of DOT Region 12 office, they have conducted various trainings and seminars, as well as other tourism related assistance just to improve the tourism services of the community. They trained local guides, habal-habal drivers, and other tourism frontliners. "The locals before were very shy. They did not know how to entertain guests. Eventually they became empowered through tourism. We now know how to deal with people," Herman said. "The biggest impact of tourism in Kule is the mind shift of its people. They see the value of tourism in their lives." Because of tourism intervention in sitio Kule, the community became a model sitio based on their progress, community initiative and peace and order. In 2019, Sitio Kule got the first runner-up for the Best Practices on Community-based Responsible Tourism in the Pearl Awards organized by the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines and Department of Tourism (Atop-DOT). "We are also thankful for the leadership of Mayor Dibu Tuan. Without his support and community assistance, we cannot do most of our projects in Kule," he said. On May 27, 2021, Sitio Kule celebrated their seventh anniversary for the creation of their Gunô Bong. Its establishment led to many opportunities for sitio Kule. In recent years, Sitio Kule received major projects such as the Tboli Cultural Village project under the National Housing Authority (NHA), the community school and their water system project. "If you make a stand for the community, you would see its different sectors. If a problem arises, you can easily address it because you have a holistic view on it," Herman said. "Sometimes, it is difficult to lead people. You need to be fair in dealing with their attitude and concerns. Nevertheless, I encourage them to disregard their differences in order to push our community projects. I need to level down in order to understand their sentiments." "This work is not for me. This is for our sitio. I really appreciate the unity of my community," he added. Herman has an informal group called Mekef Bulol that conducts fieldwork and helps facilitate their community projects. They still have many plans for sitio Kule. For example, Herman and his team plan to put up Gunô Kemye, which serves as a "health house" to address health related concerns in the community. Although there are still problems and needs to be addressed, Herman is hopeful that they can overcome such trials because of their bayanihan system. As a leader, he still continues to learn and collaborates with the right people. He is also optimistic for the future leaders in his community. "Our leaders in the government should help its people to grow. They should uplift its people and help them to become self-reliant. I hope our future leaders in the community will have good knowledge and wisdom that are grounded in indigenous systems and sustainable development," Herman said. "Let us continue to unite and practice Kule Mimón (obedience) for our leaders. As one of the leaders in the community, my position is not forever. As leaders in the community, let us take advantage of this position to serve our people. Let us be a good example for the Tbolis."  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 09 Jun 2021 05:32 AM PDT EVERY wedding reception owes its energy to the emcee, bringing the shy bridesmaid to the dance floor or getting the groomsmen grooving. Today, in our second episode of the wedding special, we will talk with the event host to discover how they do it and what couples must know when looking for a wedding host. Talking to Stephanie Tujan and Don Gonzales, both seasoned voice actors and events hosts in Davao City, I learned how complicated it actually is to be a wedding host. It's not just about the energy. One must also master having grace under pressure, to make sure guests enjoy and feel included, and to know when and how to do adlibs. On the second episode of Twenty Something: The Wedding Special, we focus on the advantages of having a professional wedding host on your wedding. What's your first must-do to set the mood in a wedding reception? Steph: The couple must know what type of wedding reception program they want to find a host that will fit the program. The wedding coordinators here in Davao will also be able to help the couple once they have a specific program in mind. Others want spontaneous, others want classic. Others look for hosts who can crack a joke or can sing. It fosters a festive atmosphere. Different hosts have different skills in executing our craft. A professional host should be spontaneous, can do adlibs, and someone unfazed of unforeseen stressful situations. Don: The host must be very engaging. You have to be on top of all the guests. The moment they arrive at the reception, the bands, the caterers are there. Everything is set. You need someone to tie it all together -- the speeches, the toast, the traditions. You have to be in control of the program. There are a lot of times that mishaps that may cause stress to the couple or the guests so the emcee should know how to handle situations like that in such a way that the others won't notice. Do you talk to couples before the actual reception? If yes, what do you usually discuss? Steph: Yes we talk to them. We call that the wedding suppliers meeting. We meet them, we ask questions that we might use during the reception party. Most specifically, their love story, funny moments, and special song. From there, we can familiarize the dynamics of the couple's relationship. We also discuss the games we will incorporate in the program. The adlib of the host should fit the couple's preference. Don: I make it a point to meet the couple a few days before the wedding. You have to understand the host is the spokesperson of the couple. You only get to hear the couple during their thank you speech and that happens usually at the end. Throughout the wedding program, you are the one speaking on behalf of them. You speak of their sentiments, their joy. How were you affected by the pandemic? Don: Very drastic ang shift from the large number of guests attending the wedding, karon kay we're only given a 20-person limit. There's an impending guideline from the national government to totally ban public events. It's painful but they're still in the process of studying it. Before, we would do an average of three to four weddings a week. Now, we're blessed if we're given one or two weddings in a month. Imagine! We just accept what's given to us. Steph: I think the word is "terrible". These industries suffered a major blow with this pandemic. Bookings are limited. There are job losses, lots of cancellations. But like most of us, we need to think of other ways to earn money. We have to shift gears temporarily. If there's an opportunity for us to do hosting, we grab it -- making sure that we adhere to safety protocols. Pero yun na nga, hindi ganun kadami. With Davao City placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) anew, limitations for social gatherings and events as weddings have been stricter. Wedding hosts like Don and Steph can only hope for a silver lining and a better tomorrow for the event industry in the city once the pandemic is through. To view the full interview, visit SunStar Davao Facebook page and click on the "Videos" folder.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| You are subscribed to email updates from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States | |
No comments:
Post a Comment