Zone Officers: Vanguards of Change towards a Greater Manolo Fortich

Zone Officers of the 22 Barangays in Manolo Fortich gathered to celebrate the municipality's 101st founding anniversary.

To the center of activities here in the municipality of heritage and culture – Manolo Fortich. What the 24th day of March 2018 has in store was a bit different from the other activities in the calendar of events for this month. As Manolo Fortich celebrates its 101st founding anniversary, a convention of all zone officers happened at the municipality’s new gymnasium.

Galleries adorned by intricate indigenous materials displayed each barangay's annual report.

The day before the event, exhibits are already placed at the gym’s upper portion for public exposure. It displayed each barangay’s accomplishments with the theme: Zone Officers Convention at the Forefront of Achieving a United Manolo Fortich.

As the convention was officially opened, the gym was set into high gear as the people welcomed the guest speaker from Opol, Misamis Oriental. Expressing his happiness, adoration and a bit of envy, he dreams Opol would soar high like Manolo Fortich with a 100% satisfaction index.

Moreover, he spoke about the success of a municipality that starts from zone officers. He pointed out that the heart is the sole capital of a leader. Additionally, he sets out grabbing everyone’s attention about hunger. Saying that no should be left behind plus challenging the each barangay chairman.

Hyper. Zone Officers of Brgy. Damilag having their yell.

Cheers flooded the the atmosphere as each locality showcased their chants with brgy. Lunocan hailed as the winner. Also, the latter won Best Creative Nametag. Then, the early bird award was snipped by brgy. Dalirig.

Up above the chair stairs of the gym, in a corner lies the gallery of each barangay adorned by indigenous materials showcasing the achievements, progress and activities that have had happened during the year. Still a contest, garnering third place is brgy. Lingion, having the second place is brgy. Dahilayan and the first placer, brgy. Dalirig.

Zone 5 Mantibugao as Aktibong Zona for the midland category.

At the same moment, special awards were given to the three categories recognizing their efforts to make Manolo Fortich a better one. Starting from the hinterland category: best in fixed landmark is Zone-3 brgy. Kalugmanan. Best in indigenous landmark is brgy. Ticala. Best purok center was Zone 1 brgy. Ticala. Best in communal garden is awarded to Zone 1 brgy. Mampayag. And the most improved zone was Sitio Hugna of brgy. Minsuro. For the Aktibong Zona 2018 Award we have Sitio Kibulawan of brgy. Kalugmanan.

Sitio Palaopao of Maluko as Aktibong Zona for highway category.

For the midland category: best in fixed landmark is Zone-1 brgy. Sankanan. Best in indigenous landmark is Zone 2 brgy. Lingion. Best in purok center was Zone 5 brgy. Mantibugao. Best in communal garden is awarded to Zone 3 brgy. Dahilayan. And the most improved zone was Zone 6 of brgy. Mantibugao. For the Aktibong Zona 2018 Award is Zone 5 brgy. Mantibugao.

For the highway category: best in fixed landmark is Sitio Pag-asa brgy. Dalirig. Best in purok center was Zone 3 brgy. Diclum. Best in communal garden is awarded to Sitio Palaopao brgy. Maluko. And the most improved zone was Zone 5 San Isidro of brgy. Lunocan. For the Aktibong Zona 2018 highway category is Sitio Palaopao brgy. Maluko.

Zone officers proudly show their vigorous movements in the Hataw Contest.

In the afternoon portion of the convention was the Hataw contest participated by all zone officers all over Manolo Fortich. It was the highlight of the celebration that took the crowd’s eyes to glee. And as predicted the contest will go down to the magic three. Garnering the third place is barangay Sankanan. Snipping the second place is barangay Diclum. And nailing it to the first place was barangay Agusan Canyon. The vibe that was filling even a bystander is unimaginable.

Wildflower's Roxanne Barcelo having the crowd join her singing Starships.

What surprised the people inside the gym was the appearance of Roxanne Barcelo a.k.a Natalie in Wildflower. Cheers from both fanboys and fangirls flew uncontrollably. Roxanne sang a rendition towards the crowd. She discreetly threw her jewelries to be catched by those lucky ones. She even picked a lucky man to join her in the stage. Murmurs were oozing from the crowd of the boys who wishes they have the chance.

Concurrent to the hataw contest, was the Search for Zone Ambassador and Ambassadress 2018. Candidates both male and female set the stage into fire as they confidently showcased their segment of exposures from the jeans up to the evening gown and suits. Noting that their gowns and barongs are made of recycled materials. The judges were Mr. Gary Mag-away, Mr. Eastine Charles Taneo and Ma’am Florissa Adviento.

Color burst. Zone Officer candidates in their magnifique recycled gowns and barongs.

Jumping to the awards, starting from the best in barong garnered by brgy. Sto. Niño. Best in gown was the lady from brgy. Guilang-guilang. Best in Sports Attire female was brgy. Agusan Canyon with her male counterpart from brgy. Lunocan. Best in jeans female was awarded to brgy. Tankulan and best in jeans male was from brgy. Santo Niño. Ms. Photogenic was from brgy. Dahilayan and Mr. Photogenic was from brgy. Lunocan.

3rd runner up female was from brgy. Sankanan. 3rd runner up male was also from brgy. Sankanan. 2nd runner up female was from brgy. Mambatangan and 2nd runner up male was from brgy. Lunocan. 1st runner up female was from brgy. Dahilayan and 1st runner up male was from brgy. Agusan Canyon. Crowned as Mr. Zone Ambassador 2018 was from brgy. Sto. Niño and Zone Ambassadress 2018 was from brgy. Guilang-guilang.

Giving of the certificate of recognition to one of the three judges during the pageant.

All in all, the celebration commemorates the 101st founding anniversary of the Municipality of Manolo Fortich. A century of underlying stories of hardships, camaraderie, sacrifice and success engulfed by its lovely culture and heritage giving its own distinction. Truly remarkable as it is progressing in an exponential rate. Zone officers, strengthening strongholds, at the forefront as vanguards of achieving a greater Manolo Fortich.