LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, — Residents of barangay Balili in this capital town warmly welcomed the Rev-Bloom Project which aims to revive and revisit the old lively La Trinidad by beautifying and filling their houses with colors.
Inspired by the design of favelas in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, a community with similar feature with Km. 3 in La Trinidad, which feature brightly painted buildings that foster pride and attract tourism to the community, the Rev Bloom project involves the painting of more than 200 houses in three sitios here to become a large piece of art as designed by the Tam-awan Artists.
The project was launched Wednesday by Department of Tourism –Cordillera Regional Director Venus Tan, La Trinidad Mayor Edna Tabanda, Davies paint Philippines Vice President for Sales and Marketing Albert Lee, Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan, Chanum Foundation President Jordan Mang-osan and Balili residents.
Residents from the sitios of Botiwtiw, Sadjao and Stone Hill expressed support to the implementation of the beautification project.
According to Gloria Agasen, a women leader and resident of Botiwtiw, it was August last year when DOT Director Tan raised the idea of transforming the area like the favela in Brazil. Among the 200 households that were surveyed, most (172) households agreed and supported the said project. The number of the households who agreed increased as the survey continued, she added.
Agasen said this project could help promote La Trinidad as a tourist spot and its products such as strawberries, flowers, wines and other products that originated in La Trinidad.
Barangay Kagawad Saturnina Wanawan also expressed appreciation to the residents for accepting this project. “This project will help a lot in the beautification of our community and in businesses as well. There are a lot of houses for rent here and they are the number one who will benefit from this. This is a very big help to the residents of Balili and hoping that this will be completed.”
Km 3 head representative Franklin Cocoy meanwhile said the project revives the spirit of Bayanihan system as it calls for the cooperation of the residents through manpower. As the counter part of the residents, they were tasked to help in the painting.
Barangay Captain Ramon Tomin voiced his gratitude for the project. “This is really a good project and we are very happy. Thank you also to the residents because you are very supportive in the implementation of this project”, he said.
The painting activity starts on February 1, 2016, and targeted to be completed before the Strawberry festival in March.
The project is spearheaded by the DOT-CAR with the Chanum Foundation for the Tam-Awan artists group, the Municipality of La Trinidad and the Davies Paint Philippines./JDP/RMC- Abegail Clemente and JillieOminga-PIA/UC Interns
