Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Review Aklan Hymn

After the Aklan provincial government approved the provincial ordinance directing all government offices to sing the "Aklan Hymn" in their respective civic programs like during an opening of a training program and radio stations in Aklan to play regularly the Aklan Hymn, several munici-palities has also adopted their respective municipal hymns.

To my mind, the adoption of a provincial hymn is aimed to inculcate love and loyalty to Aklan among the people.

However, the lyrics of the song seem unable to reflect and embody the general aspiration of the Aklanons. Limited comments on the hymn were received. They said, there was no discussion made among the cross section of the people, the Aklanons in particular before the approval of the Aklan Hymn by the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan. They were not consulted in the making of the hymn. As a result, municipal hymns had been evolving. The municipalities like New Washington, Madalag, and Buruanga had composed their respective hymns.

With this development, it is coming out that there is now a developing disunity among the towns regarding the Aklan Hymn.

A hymn is a song of praise and glorification. Perhaps these muni-cipalities believe they are neither praise nor glorified by the present Aklan Hymn. Hence, they are adopting their own town hymn.

A listener has pointed out to this column one thing. They disagree on "Ati". Why Ati? Ati does not exist in most parts of Aklan.

There is a need to review the present Aklan Hymn with the view to amend its lyrics to praise and glorify Aklan province wide. This can be done by submitting the Aklan Hymn for discussion to the wide spectrum of the Aklanons from Altavas to Buruanga to Libacao. There will be general and wider acceptance if the big majority of the people has participated in its process of decision making.
　

Thing of Beauty

John Keats said "A thing of beauty is a joy forever". Wow! Beauty is a joy forever! Who will disagree with John Keats? Only those callous people; those who cannot appreciate color, behavior, appearance; those who are senseless.

Beauty is a quality attributed to whatever pleases or satisfies the senses or mind, as by line, color, form, texture, proportion, rhythmic mind.

With this definition, is Kalibo a thing of beauty? They say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Who are the beholders? They are those who beautify Kalibo, or those that make Kalibo ugly and or those who do nothing.

Is Roxas Avenue pretty? Look straight, there are vulcanizing shops, cars parked for sale, motor repair shops, goods displayed for sale on the sidewalk and electric posts standing by the road, serving as road hazard. Look up to see the black spaghetti made of rubber and metal without sauce.

Hold a program in Magsaysay Park so that before your guest speaker delivers his message, one from the Kalibo Municipal Hall will check if you have the required permit to hold your program.
　

IRON DEFICIENCY

In Western Visayas which includes Aklan, six (6) of 10 pregnant women and four (4) out of 10 lactating. mothers are anemic and iron deficient. This is according to the findings in the latest survey of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute.

Moreover, the same survey found "four (4) of 10 pregnant women as well as three (3) out of 10 lactating mothers and two (2) in every 10 children under five years old are anemic.
Most Filpinos lack iodine, vitamin A, and minerals in their daily diet. These nutrition deficiencies are the results of the absence of vegetables and iron rich food, bad eating habits, and improper food preparation.

There is urgent need to improve the daily diet of the people in order to stop poor pregnancy outcomes, maternal child deaths, and impaired physical and cognitive development of children. /MP