Sakada worker’s statue unveiled in Ilocos

CABUGAO, Ilocos Sur — Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle along with Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson unveiled here on Saturday a four-foot concrete statue of a man depicting a sakada worker who worked the sugarcane and pineapple plantations in Hawaii a hundred years ago.

The sakada statue was erected at Port Salomague here where five batches of Ilocano sakada migrants boarded the ship SS Maunawili bound for various islands in Hawaii in 1946.

Cabugao Mayor Diocaesar Suero said in his welcome speech that the last five batches of Filipino sakadas to go to Hawaii totaled 6,000.

They left in January, February, April, May and June l946.

Previous waves of migrations, but of much lesser number, transpired from l906 to 1919 but they left through the Manila port.

Lingle paid tribute to the sacrifices of the thousands of Ilocano farmhands who left family and home to work thousands of miles away in Hawaii.

"They had to make the sacrifice for the sake of their children and grandchildren," she said.

She noticed the bent figure of the sakada in the statue holding a bolo on one hand and a cut sugarcane plant on the left hand.

"The artist was right in his depiction. This is the kind of life they had in the beginning," she said.

Singson, who spoke after Lingle, said that the sakadas showed everyone that there is dignity in labor.

"They also showed us the blessings of frugality, honesty, and love," he said. "They survived the harshness of life in Hawaii in their early years and later prospered because of their "Ilocano-ness."

The governor was referring to the traditional Ilocano traits of being industrious and thrifty.

Singson also paid tribute to their values of being loyal, dependable and faithful.

The Ilocos Sur governor later brought the visitors, numbering about 200, to the Vigan capital where officials and residents led by Vigan Mayor Ferdinand Medina and Vice Mayor Francisco Ranches gave them a warm welcome and a calesa tour of the city.

The UNESCO had declared Vigan as a world heritage site for its centuries-old houses and monuments that still stand today.

Lingle called on Vigan Archbishop Ernesto Salgado after laying a wreath on the monument of the late President Elpidio Quirino.

On Sunday evening, a Hawaiian performing group brought by Lingle, including "American Idol" finalist Jasmine Trias, performed at Vigan’s Plaza Burgos.

The signing of a memorandum of agreement between Lingle and University of Northern Philippines (UNP) officials led by Dr. Lauro Tacbas capped Lingle’s tour in the province yesterday.

The agreement involves a cooperative undertaking between the UNP and Kapiolani Community College in Hawaii.