USUAL SIX TRIBES TO COMPETE IN SALAKAYAN TRIBES’ CONTEST 2012

Tribu Buklod springs biggest surprise After two organizational meetings on December 01 and 07, respectively, six tribes have finally enlisted to re-join Salakayan Tribes’ Contest 2012 on February 11, 2012: Tribu Kabugwason, Tribu Buklod, Tribu Bantalaan, Tribu Salagyawan, Tribu Tabun-ak, and Tribu Kirayanon. The energy was high in the second meeting as the Tribes’ Contest Executive Committee awaited word from Tribu Buklod tribe manager, Bacolod National High School (BNHS) Head Teacher III Mrs. Ma. Sylvia D. Napatang, and St. Louise de Marillac School of Miagao representative Mrs. Evelyn Nufable on whether or not these two secondary schools will field in their respective tribes in 2012. In late September, Mrs. Napatang conveyed to the LGU that Buklod will no longer join the Tribes’ Contest since BNHS was beset by a serious landslide in late August which prompted the school to re-locate to safer ground and that it will take time for it and its catchment barangays to recover from the disaster. SLMSM, on the other hand, joined the Tribes’ Contest for the last time in 2007, under the name Tribu Hugpong, and never re-joined since then. The second meeting was quite interesting. Tribu Kirayanon and Tribu Tabun-ak appeared to be in fighting form as their tribe managers, Kirayan National High School (KNHS) Principal I Mr. Reynor C. Cervantes (former tribe manager of San Rafael National High School’s [SRNHS] Tribu Bantalaan) and Palaca-Damilisan National High School Principal II Mr. Wilson F. Tosino, respectively, showed mettle through their usual words of managerial savvy. Tribu Kirayanon, under new OIC-Principal II Mrs. Merlita G. Montenid (former tribe manager of KNHS’s Tribu Kirayanon), renewed its confidence in being the Tribes’ Contest 2011 grand-slam champion. Tribu Salagyawan likewise implied that it could not be underestimated since it has a new OIC-Principal I, Mr. Fidel G. Gellangarin, who has managed a champion tribe in the Municipality of San Joaquin. Tribu Bantalaan new Head Teacher III Mr. Juel C. Fantillo was silent but everybody knew theirs was a tribe to reckon. Mrs. Napatang, however, sprang the biggest surprise which drove the Executive Committee to applause: Tribu Buklod will definitely join Tribes’ Contest 2012. Mrs. Napatang added that they reached this decision after having met with the BNHS teachers and PTA and with the school’s catchment barangays. SLMSM’s Mrs. Nufable sadly informed that the school “might re-join the Tribes’ Contest in the next years”. She said that SLMSM Principal Ms. Felicidad G. Erasmo obtained this decision from the school’s higher-ups in the Integrated Administration of the Vicentian Schools in Iloilo. The Executive Committee, composed of Municipal Tourism Officer Mr. Edison N. Molanida as the chairperson and the tribe managers (heads of lead secondary schools) as members, has already adopted an official contest script and the rules and guidelines (including criteria) of the Contest. Mayor Julieta N. Flores, on the other hand, committed to the tribes that she will personally work it out with the barangays and the Sangguniang Kabataan to expedite the collection and release of the tribes’ traditional financial assistance, hoping that she could pull some strings to increase the tribes’ total subsidy this year.