In conjunction with both Labour Day and the 2023 Sakayan Festival, spearheaded by the City Government of Isabela under the vibrant leadership of Mayor Sitti Djalia 'Dada' Turabin-Hataman through collaboration with the City Tourism & Agriculture Offices, and community leaders, the people planted thousands of 'narra and lawaan' seedings. The activity is in keeping with pro-people agenda of Mayor Dada emphasising being "clean & environment-friendly" as a platform to realise a happy and dignified life for all.
Isabela City is a coastal component city in the province of Basilan, Zamboanga Peninsula Region, Philippines. It serves as the provincial capital with 45 barangays (villages) and a population of almost 150,000 people. The Yakan (natives) of Basilan have a rich cultural heritage embodied in their customs, traditions, music and dance. Yakan have developed a particular sense of personal adornment with their elaborate and colourful costumes are astonishing for a people in an agriculture, fishing and coastal setting.
Mayor Dada is committed to do her best to advocate sustainable development and highlighted its importance in building an ideal and dignified life for her municipality. She also expressed utmost pride and gratitude to the Isabela City Council for their initiative and efforts that has set a sustainable model for local governments in the country. She added "Every local government in the Philippines should follow the steps of Isabela City in providing protection for human rights and environment. As duty-bearers at the local level, this is a concrete way for municipal leaders to show they value the welfare of the people especially the dignity of the marginalised and the disadvantaged ones."
Yakan women are believed to produce the finest woven cloth in the entire country, probably in the whole of Southeast Asia. In the past, if a Yakan woman possessed the 3 great skills of warping, designing and weaving, and was able to produce eye-catching fabric and sew it, she would be regarded as an honourable woman in the community.
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