In the mountains of Labrador, Pangasinan, there’s a community of Kankanaey.
To reach it, one must endure a six-hour journey.
The journey is made challenging by landslides, fallen rocks, and trees blocking the road.
The path is not only slippery but also steep, making it dangerous when it rains.
After several hours, you’ll reach Barangay Uyong.
Here, the homes of the indigenous people are far apart, and there is no electricity.
To get home, some still have to cross a river.
“Because our path is not fixed, we don’t have a bulldozer, and we can’t improve our path. Second, the light and our path need improvement,” said Castor Awinsen, a resident.
Some rely solely on solar chargers, like Tatay Valentino.
He doesn’t have a television or phone, so he depends on the radio for news and information.
But when the weather is cloudy, it stops working.
Tatay Valentino lives alone after his wife passed away.
His six children each have families of their own.
It’s been a long time since he’s been able to go down the mountain due to his leg ailment and poor eyesight.
Rowenalyn and Danica have witnessed the daily hardships their parents and relatives face going up and down the mountain.
Their wish is for better roads and electricity.
“This Christmas, I hope my wish comes true for improved roads in the mountains and lighting so it’s easier for them on any path,” said Rowenalyn Dacdac, a resident.
“To have a good road and lights,” Danica Dacdac, also a resident, added.
So, with Christmas approaching, their wish is to be fulfilled through the “Christmas Lighting with a Purpose” project of the First Spouses League of Pangasinan, led by First Lady Maan Tuazon-Guico and the provincial government.
**VALERIE ANN DISMAYA
