22/09/2026
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ด๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒโ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐น ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐น๐ ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ค๐๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐. ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ณ๐๐น๐น๐ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฝ ๐๐ผ ๐ง๐ฎ๐๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐.
However, as often happens in life, plans changed. With Malacaรฑang declaring September 10 a special non-working day in Quezon City and Pampanga due to inclement weather, our original schedule could not push through. Yet, what could have been a disappointment turned into an equally meaningful and memorable journey for our 35 pax delegation.
We began with a visit to the Minor Basilica and Parish of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in Angeles City. From there, we proceeded to S & R for shopping then we enjoyed a delightful lunch at Celyโs Carinderia, where we feasted on authentic Kapampangan cuisine, tortang alimango, pinasingawang gulay with buro, camaro (ararawan) sautรฉed in tomatoes, onions, and garlic, fried hito, bulalo, and many other local specialties.
The rest of the afternoon was spent at SM Clark. In the evening, we shared stories, laughter, and fellowship during our bonding activities, made even more special by the birthday of Architect Ludivina Lozano and by the presence of my son Carlo and granddaughter Yuna.
The following day, we were warmly welcomed at the Beautรฉderm Headquarters, where we had a productive exchange of ideas with civil society leader Dr. Frankie Villianueva, Ms. Mina Pantig Joson from the Planning and Development office of Angeles LGU and and Vincent Catacutan of the Department of the Interior and Local Government. The discussions provided valuable insights on strengthening partnerships between local governments and civil society organizations. We are likewise deeply grateful to Ms. Rei Anicoche Tan for her generosity in hosting our lunch.
Many of our delegates, especially the ladies, delighted in browsing the bags, clothing, and other products available at the Beautรฉderm Headquarters before we began our journey back home to Vigan.
To everyone who joined this benchmarking activity, thank you for your enthusiasm, flexibility, and camaraderie.
This activity more importantly,
strengthened the unity that bind us together as members of the Vigan Peopleโs Council. Sometimes, the most meaningful journeys are not defined by the destinations we reach, but by the people we travel with and the memories we create along the way.
May the lessons we learned, the partnerships we strengthened, and the friendships we deepened inspire us to continue working hand in hand for the growth of our civil society organizations, the Vigan Peopleโs Council, and our beloved City of Vigan. Together, we can make a difference, and together, we can build a stronger and more compassionate community.