Mamasapano celebrates founding day by services

LOVE LIGHTS --- Mamasapano Mayor Datu Akmad A. Ampatuan, Jr. (wearing tubao) supervises the distribution of wheel chairs to persons with disability, among them young children, as gifts to the needy sector as part of the celebration of the town’s 21st Founding Anniversary. Also shown is Mayor Datu Sajid Islam Uy Ampatuan (2nd from right) of Datu Saydona Mustapha, one of the anniversary guests. (Anne Acosta)

MAMASAPANO, Maguindanao—The local government and constituency here were on high spirit in celebrating the municipality’s  21st  Founding  Anniversary last October 29 with the theme, “One Vision, One Identity, One Mamasapano towards Peace and Prosperity .“

        This year’s two-day celebration called for the rekindling of a united effort toward  achieving the three-point goal of the town’s progress, development, and  peace.

        The festive mood  featured the Kalilintad Festival and Dulang-dulang Parade.

Mayor Datu Akmad A. Ampatuan, Jr. said the opening program last October 29 held at the ground floor of the Municipal Hall building was intended for the senior citizens, the date being the celebration of the Senior Citizens’ Day under theme, “Healthy and Productive Aging Starts with Me.”

“So, the theme is suited of what we are doing right now. We have invited and gathered all senior citizens of this town just to celebrate with them our founding anniversary by giving health assistance through a an outreach mission  conducted by the medical teams from the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) - Maguindanao and the provincial government of Maguindanao,” the mayor said at the opening of the anniversary feast day.

The IPHO attended to more 100 senior citizen beneficiaries. Extended all free were medical check-up, medicines and vitamins, immunization for anti-flu  and pneumonia vaccines, eye check-up with eye glasses, supplemental feeding, and distribution of long-lasting insect-repellant mosquito nets.

IPHO nurse Mon Arvien C. Tungao told the senior citizens that flu vaccination is good for one year while the anti-pneumonia for five years.

On October 30, the program started with the Dulang-dulang Parade, the first time since the creation of the municipality. The stakeholders  from the 14 barangays joined the colorful parade as they brought with them the so-called  “Dulang.” 

“Dulang” is a Maguindanao term, which means “pasasalamat” or thankfulness  for  all the blessings and abundancy the locality has enjoyed or has been bestowed, Municipal Administrator Bai Rebecca A. Ampatuan said, who was also the program organizer.

        In a special mention, Mayor Datu Akmad A. Ampatuan thanked his mother, who is the municipal administrator, for the unfatigable, unconditional, and untiring  support as well as guidance extended to him and to his brother, Vice Mayor Tahirodin Benzar A. Ampatuan.

He also thanked all the people behind the success of their activity…  “Without them , maybe this festivity would not be realized. Gratitude were also extended to his staff, employees, and department heads; different line-agencies such as the IPHO - Maguindanao  headed by Dra. Elizabeth A. Samama, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Services, Ministry of Agriculture; the  barangay chairmen and officials headed by their Liga ng mga Barangay president; and  men in uniform --- the Philippine National Police led by Provincial Director  P.Col.  Atty. Arnold  Santiago, and Lt. Col.  Elmer M. Boongaling, the battalion commander of the  33rd IB.

The mayor also gave thanks to Provincial Governor Bai Mariam Sangki Mangudadatu for her administration’s support and assistance… “For almost 10 years, the constituents of this locality have deprived of endowments from the provincial government. But now, with your good leadership, we are so thankful because we feel there  is now a true government as well as a leader who is willing  to extend the resources to her fellow constituents of this province, regardless of who  you are and what you are in this community, as long as you are in dire need of assistance, particularly the basic social services in our locality.”

Aside from medical and dental mission,  wheel chairs were also distributed to persons with disability and armed chairs for the school. Other services include the commencement of the farm-to- market roads, not only in Mamasapano but in the entire province of Maguindanao.

The mayor said the governor also committed the construction of covered courts intended for five barangays in Mamasapano ---  Poblacion Mamasapano, Pidsandawan, Tukanalipao, Liyab, and Gabunayan --- and  a public market. 

Municipal Administrator Bai Rebecca A. Ampatuan said the anniversary festival has been called “Kalilintad” since the locality has been in the front-line of untoward incidents  happening in the nearby municipality…  “We are the host of evacuees who are victims of skirmishes in the adjacent municipality.”

        “And now, we are so thankful that we have survived those traumatic experiences, hence, our local government decided to have a “Kalilintad Festival”  in celebration of our 21st Founding Anniversary and to let the people know that we in this locality are united in pursuing development and to show our stance as a pro-peace community,” she said.  (Anne Acosta)