Bokal Sio seeks establishment of carabao image in Quezon’s parks

Quezon 2nd District board member Elizabeth Sio reads Sentinel Times at her office at Sangguniang Panglalawigan. (JOHN BELLO) by John A....

Quezon 2nd District board member Elizabeth Sio reads Sentinel Times
at her office at Sangguniang Panglalawigan. (JOHN BELLO)

by John A. Bello

LUCENA CITY – A provincial board member from the province’ 2nd district proposes forthe establishment of the carabao image in every town’s park in Quezon.

During the regular session of the Sangguniang Panglalawigan (SP) last Monday, Board memberElizabeth Sio hailed the country’s national animal as the symbol of positive traits of the Filipinoslike strength, kindness, obedience, patience and most of all dependability supporting farmer’slivelihood.

“Nais kong imungkahi sa Sangguniang Panglalawigan na maglagay o ibalik muli ang imahe ngkalabaw hindi lamang sa Perez Park bagkus sa lahat ng parke ng bawat bayan sa buongprobinsiya ng Quezon. Ang kalabaw bilang ating Pambansang Hayop ay siyang simbolo ng lakasat sipag ng ating lahi,” Sio, committee chairperson of SP on tourism, culture and the arts andhealth and sanitation, said in her privilege speech during the session led by Quezon Vice Gov.and SP Presiding Officer Samuel Nantes.

Sio recalled memories of children joyfully gathered at the concrete image of a carabao at PerezPark to get drinking water pouring from a faucet in the head of the animal.

Carabao is used mostly in farm activities like transporting logs, firewood, sacks of rice and othernatural resources.

“Nais po ng inyong lingkod na ating muling bigyan ng balik-pag-aaral ang mga itinatangingpinagkikilanlan ng ating lahi. Isa na rito ang ating pambansang hayop, ang kalabaw na minsannating tinagurian sa pangalang Islaw Carabao. It is the Philippines’ National Animal and one ofthe symbolic uniforms of Boy Scout of the Philippines,” said Sio in her speech adding that its useis justified as the animal is considered “prosperous and peaceable with exceptional characters”.

As the ‘farmers’ best friend’, Sio said many farmers have already been able to buy a house,tricycle, thresher, a car and sent children to school because of the carabao’s industry anddependability in assisting the farmer’s livelihood.

She hailed the carabao as God-given gift and all-around national resource of the Filipinos saying“Binigay ng Diyos ang ating pambansang hayop sa mga Pilipino para paglingkuran at pakaininang sanlahing Pilipino, kapamilya at kausap tuwina ng magsasaka sa pang-araw-araw napamumuhay, at siyang hingahan nito ng problema o kagalakan.”

Sio also moved to reinforce the Anti-Cattle Rustling Law of 1974 which states the need toprotect small and large cattle to be implemented province-wide.

“Kung ang pag-iingat sa mga aso’t pusa ay ating ipinatutupad, gayundin naman na mas higitnating dapat pahalagahan ang buhay ng isang kalabaw, hindi lamang dahil sa ito ang maaasahangkaibigan ng ating magsasaka, kundi sa dahilang ito ang ating Pambansang Hayop na siyangsimbolo ng ating bansa,” Sio stressed in her privilege speech.