‘BACK TO WHERE WE BELONG, REALLY?

’ – PURAW A NUWANG
By: Brent Martinez and Edward Gacuya

Tabuk City, Kalinga – “Ibaba dak diay puraw a nuwang.” In the past, no travellers would get lost in
reaching Tabuk when they uttered this, a statement given as a piece of advice to first time visitors or as
an uncomplicated instruction used by frequent tourists. People knew they were already in Tabuk when
they set sight at a White Carabao and its man. The historical monument, now already around 60 years
old, predating other land marks in the City was transferred to the roadside from its original location at
the middle of the intersection marking the boundary of Barangays Bulanao Norte and Bulanao Centro in
2013 to give way to ongoing widening of the national road at that time.

Recently, it has been publicised that the monument shall be put back to where it was.

According to records, it was during a town fiesta in 1958 that a fund raising activity was done through a
popularity contest won by Miss Rowena Bagtang that the idea of erecting a symbol or a cultural icon
mirroring the image of the province and the then Municipality of Tabuk was conceived thus the
monument was realized. Before 1958, there was only a signage welcoming people to Tabuk whose posts
were used by cattlemen to peg their buffalos.

Based on a written report of Mr. Estanislao Albano, former Assistant City Information Officer, the
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) sparked a controversy in 2013 when it plucked out
the monument. Many protesters felt that the action of moving the White Carabao violated their
historical heritage and laws protecting such. The controversy was then referred to the courts and had
been pending with the Supreme Court. In 2014, an ordinance returning the monument to the middle of
the road was passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. It is not until this year (April 2019) that the
yearning of the people who fought for the return of the monument has been granted.

Circulating information on social media said the White Carabao and its man will be transferred in front
of the Saint William's Cathedral and it is hoped that “this will be the final place of the said statue.”