La Limar

A couple of years ago, visitors to Negros Oriental had never heard of the town La Libertad. “Where’s that?” was the usual reply. Today, the town is drawing local tourists and even foreigners who happen to click on the Internet in their search for a place to go in southern Philippines (away from armed skirmishes). And the reason is La Limar, a three-hectare seaside resort in La Libertad.

The resort has less than a dozen cottages at this time, made of local stones, wood, bamboo and cogon roofing, each tastefully designed. The social and dining halls have no air-conditioning by design, and have very high ceilings to let the air flow freely. One walks to the cottages and around the grounds on walkways of rock and stones hewed by local masons, and to the two uniquely shaped swimming pools and island gardens.

The resort designer, an American with rich experience in design and a great love for nature and the natural, told us more cottages are being built, but already, the locals alone are holding weddings, baptisms and dancing parties in the place. The food served at the buffet table and ala carte consists of seafood dishes — crabs, shrimps, you-can-tell-fresh-fish from the sea; the halo-halo or ice cream is served in coconut shells; a big hit is the salad made of puso ng saging. Yes, this is the place to go in the province — and not even Dumaguete can boast of a seaside resort as lovely as La Limar — the apt name for La Libertad by the sea.

*      *      *

What’s even more remarkable about the resort is that it is owned and operated by the town government. The resort is managed by a cooperative whose members are employed by the council. All the employees — from the carpenters to the gardeners and janitors, electricians and kitchen aides are on salary from the government.

Construction cost for the resort by far has been P5 million — which came from the town coffers. But all the earnings go back to the government.

‘The resort has been successful — beyond our expectation,” says the mayor, Lawrence Limkaichong, who had served as mayor of La Libertad for two terms — from 1998 to 2004, and is now serving his third — beginning last year. From 2004 to 2007, the mayor was his wife, Josy Sy Limkaichong.

She was a “simple housewife” to the town mayor, says Josy, who has a bachelor of commerce degree, major in accounting, from Dela Salle University, Manila, but she actively helped her husband organize livelihood projects. Among these are the La Libertad Weavers, who grow pandan plantations and, with technical assistance from the Departments of Science and Technology and Trade and Industry, Citem and NGOs, make beautiful handicraft out of the leaves — from ladies’ handbags to floor carpets. These are sold at the resort as well as in trade fairs, including the SM mall trade fairs in Manila.

When she became mayor, she added more projects — a multi-purpose bakery producing nutria-pan, and a feeding program.

Last year, she was elected to the House of Congress, representing the First District of Negros Oriental. She flies to Negros every weekend, and tries the best she could to make her presence felt in the district’s seven towns (including La Libertad) and two cities (Guihulngan and Kanlaon). The district has a population of 220,000.

This month she launches her program called HEART (which stands for Health, Education, Agriculture, Roads and Trade and Tourism). The program is aimed at improving the district’s sanitation, health, potable water, medical missions, nutrition, and giving of scholarships (including providing schools with computers), improving farmers and fisherfolks’ sources of livelihood.

Having known her and her family for many years, I am convinced that Josy, an honest, sincere and hard-working person, will make her constituents proud; indeed, her constituents deserve a civil servant who cares for them.

*      *      *

Us of the older generation are the ones who hum the bewitching songs of Petula Clark, who will come to Manila for the first time and perform at the Manila Hotel Tent City on Sept 12.

Petula Clark is a major stage, television and recording star. In 2003, she received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award for the timeless recording of the 1960s hit Downtown. She is known for such big hits as I Know a Place, I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love, This Is My Song, My Love and Don’t sleep in the Subway. She has sold more than 70 million records worldwide, and she is cited by the Guinness Book of World Records for her success as a British female solo artist.

Her September 12 concert, dubbed “Petula Clark . . . Downtown!,” will have the special participation of the original Salute! 3 tenors composed of Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, former Sen. Joey Lina, and MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando, who will be the front act and who will sing a special number with Petula Clark. Also joining them are the rising classical-pop quartet Angelos, who just came from a series of performances in the Untied States, Europe and Asia.

The Petula Clark show is produced by Beth Sison-Tagle of Newsmakers. It is being staged for the benefit of Bayanihan Pilipino, Inc. For inquiries on advertising space and tickets, call Newsmakers at 9115615/4387200 or e-mail [email protected].

My e-mail: [email protected]