The Fashion Show, The Calendar, And The Youth's Talent

Tentative layout for the month of July for
Ibaan 2012 Calendar.

By Taga Ibaan Ako

Ibaan is one of the bustling municipalities in the Province of Batangas. Despite the visible presence of modernization, the municipality still maintains sceneries of great simplicity that reflects our community’s culture and tradition.

For a long time, south bound and north bound travelers have been moving back and forth crossing Ibaan. And now that major roads, like the STAR Toll Way, are cruising Ibaan, tourists and voyagers alike get greater access to discover Ibaan’s hidden natural wonders and live through the people’s kind and brand of hospitality.

There are so many things to find in Ibaan. And for everyone to experience Ibaan, the Municipality of Ibaan is launching a calendar for the year 2012 featuring Ibaan’s scenic places, establishments, landmarks, events and activities, and a bit more of its culture and tradition. Most of the pages of the calendar also features Mutya Ng Ibaan 2012 Candidates with photos shot in different places in the municipality.

December layout.

Aside from the abundance of some agricultural products, our town, Municipality of Ibaan, is also proud of its elegant beauties. Through the passing of time, Ibaenas capture everyone’s heart with their enchanting looks, intelligence and gallantry. Recognizing them as the epitome of beauty and elegance, Municipality of Ibaan, primarily through the Office of the Mayor, has set October 29, 2011, Saturday, at 7:00pm to be the day, as we once again get to witness Ibaenas’ grace, classiness and sophistication.

With twenty (20) candidates vying for the most coveted Mutya Ng Ibaan honors and crown, a fashion show is slated on the said historical day. They’ll be wearing three sets of creations by fashion designer Jojo Driz. The highlight of which will be the wearing of stylish semi-formal dress made primarily of Ibaan’s world known product “kulambo” (mosquito net). One way or another, with this, Mayor Danny Toreja hopes to bring back kulambo’s old glory that brought Ibaan to its own greatness in the 50’s.

The KALIBAYAN spearheading the talent presentation.

And since one of the pet projects of Mayor Toreja is to give more attention and recognition for the development of Ibaan youth talents, different schools were also given the chance to showcase their talents after the fashion show proper. KALIBAYAN, headed by Mr. Cholon Madlangbayan and Mr. Jojo De Castro, with its two groups Tabak Ni Santiago Band and Kalibayan Dance Troupe will spearhead the talent presentation, along with representatives from St. Jude Science and Technological School, DJAPMNHS, ACTS Christian Academy and Maximo Hernandez Memorial High School. Four power belters will also be singing their hearts out on the said event.

"This is for Ibaan", says
Mayor Danny Toreja.

According to Mayor Toreja, the event is still part of the preparation for next year’s February 11 Ibaan 180^th Founding Anniversary.

“This is in honor of our fellow Ibaenos who keep on working hard for the betterment of our town, no matter how big or small. This is for Ibaan. And of course, to show how beautiful Ibaenas and Ibaan itself is”, he said.

Preparations

Since the countdown for Ibaan 180^th Founding Anniversary kicked off last February 2011, drawing boards remained crowded with creative minds discussing, spilling ideas on the floor and arguing over almost about everything with the hope of identifying activities that will make an impact and worth remembering. And after the official presentation of Mutya Ng Ibaan 2012 Candidates to the public, everyone involved in planning and execution felt like being in the war zone as they try ditching contradicting schemes and proposals for a more agreeable one. Short of manpower, it was never easy filling the gaps to make things happen.

Mahogany plantation pictorial at Brgy. Dayapan.

Coming up with a concept for the calendar took a lot of gruesome days of screening and validating designs and suggestions. The present administration, as much as possible, wants the calendar to represent Ibaan as a whole in more than twelve (12) pages. Choosing the location for the pictorial turned out to become the most difficult and critical factor. Mutya ng Ibaan candidates were then divided into groups to set the mood and add more glamour on the photos.

Finally, locations were identified: sugarcane plantation in Brgy. Pangao, rice field in Brgy. Quilo, STAR Toll Exit at Brgy. Lapu-lapu and Brgy. Malainin, mahogany plantation in Brgy. Dayapan, and Ibaan Cockpit Arena in Brgy. Bago. And more importantly, kulambo stood tall as the highlight. All of which represents a big part of Ibaan social life, traditions and economy. However, from original layout of the magazine, some of the pages were discarded or replaced with other design.

Sugarcane plantation pictorial at Brgy. Pangao.

Sugarcane plantation was chosen since the latter served as the founding stone and driving force of Ibaan’s economy. Although Ibaenos, above all, started it out as “maglalako”, sugarcane provided a steady flow of investment and capital which triggered a chain of economic activities and employment to the people.

Taking steps back in time, the rice field in Brgy. Quilo embodies Ibaan roots starting it out with hard labor in the field to earn a meager for the family. For the same reason, Brgy. Quilo was chosen since it’s one of those remaining places in Ibaan that still maintains a scenic and picturesque rice field.

STAR Toll Exit pictorial at Brgy. Lapu-Malainin.

Being at the crossroad, the presence of STAR Toll Exit between Brgy. Lapu-lapu and Brgy. Malainin just made Ibaan a gate way for both ends of the Province of Batangas. In the long run, Ibaan will soon enjoy its economic value and will eventually make Ibaan an investment hub for light industries. Thus, a pictorial was made at the said location.

Not necessarily to brand Ibaan as a gambling haven, but the pictorial at Ibaan Cockpit Arena signifies the diversity of people coming to and visiting our town. Ibaan somehow, with breath-taking events culminating at certain days, is a melting pot at the cross road for various personality. Mahogany plantation on the other hand stands for a new agricultural venture that provides an alternative for source of income in the long run.

Rice field pictorial at Brgy. Quilo.

Finally, kulambo, of course, is the totality of Ibaan’s personality. Each string characterizes the moral fiber of each Ibaeno who has the tendency to keep on walk through the circle of life, and determine one’s destiny, no matter how hard or difficult it may be.  Thus, candidates were taken photos with kulambo crafted to the likeness of a dress and wrapped around them. This triggered the staging of a Fashion Show with dress tailored with kulambo as the primary material.

And to put more spectacles to the fashion show, talents are to be showcased in celebration of the youth’s role in the community as they represent Ibaan’s next generation.

Make it a date then everyone. See you on October 29, 2011. Let’s see things will be.

Some individual photos during pictorials.