Neither the heat of the sun nor the long hours of traversing the road from the outskirts of town can outshine the hope that the highest leader of the country has brought on his first visit to the province.

Mary Joy Faigani, of Barangay Gibon, Nabas, Aklan maintained a happy face despite the prevailing heat inside the Tangalan Sports and Cultural Center in Tangalan, Aklan early afternoon of October 6.

She was waiting for the arrival of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in Tangalan, the second venue of his first-ever visit to Aklan after becoming the highest official of the land.

Faigani said she and her 84 other barrio mates from Gibon proceeded to Tangalan to receive their pay from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) under the Tulong Pangkabuhayan Para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Worker or TUPAD program, and the President had been said to hand the check ceremonially during the program.

After his first engagement at the Augusto B. Legaspi (ABL) Sports and Cultural Center to distribute 1,000 sacks of rice to recipients and other assistance from agencies like the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and others, President Marcos, Jr. indeed arrived, and all those waiting recipients were all smiles.

They clapped heartily when the president, in his speech, told them that his administration would further improve agriculture and fishing, including tending livestock.

To improve their catch or enhance the fishing industry in Aklan, 16 fishermen from Makato and Ibajay, Aklan will be taking on the challenge, as each of them, during the President’s visit, received Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) fishing boats complete with engines and accessories from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

The boats were formally turned over to them by the President himself before entering the venue, as the 30-footer boats were positioned outside.

One recipient, Carlito Pelayo, was ecstatic upon receiving his boat.

“Mabahoe gid nga bulig kamon ra ay nasamad gid it Bagyong Ursula ro amon nga baroto. Mapag-on rayang fiber glass boat – indi a ra masamad-samad, ag pati ro among mga apo hay makagamit pa kara (This fishing boat will be a big help to us because our fishing banca was totally destroyed by Typhoon Ursula. This fiberglass boat is durable and this will never be destroyed, even our grandchildren will be able to use this),” Pelayo said.

His gratitude was echoed by Leomar Pelayo, another recipient from Makato, Aklan.

A senior citizen already, he was very excited to use the fishing boat that was personally turned over to him by the President.

Amid the different kinds of stories they carry, the people were more than willing to bear the heat, inside and outside the Tangalan Sports and Cultural Center as the burst of hope transpired among the Aklanons with the abounding government support they received from the President. (AGP/VGV/PIA Aklan)