Bileg Kailian Prexy Bats for Culture Advocacy

by Charisma Love "Chandra devii" Gado

"The call of reforms will never be realized unless it will come from non-political side," stressed Shermon "Shiva" Cruz, the newly elected Bileg-Kailian Samaj chairman, during the founding of said organization on Nov.28-30 at Shalom Beach House, Puyupuyan, Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte.

Other elected officers were: Richard "Rupesh" Ortega, vice-chairman and political affairs chairman; Alaric Magno "Ananta" Yanos, secretary general; Joey "Jayapal" Salvador, treasurer; and Teddy "Trilokesh" Manto; auditor. Meanwhile, the committee chairpersons were: Ver "Satish" Alviento, membership; Noli "Narendra" Sta. Maria, financial resources; Charisma Love "Chandra Devii" Gado, press relations and mass media; Hilario "Hari Deva" Espiritu, project development; and Gladys "Garima" Bugarin, cultural and education.

According to Cruz, also a political science instructor at North Western University, our society needs society leaders rather than political leaders. "Today's society does not need political leaders. They (political leaders) have lost their moral ascendancy and the confidence of public trust as evidenced by political deceptions. Hence, we need society leaders," he said. Cruz said that "society leaders have the deeper desire to advance holistic development by focusing on the society's culture."

"If we are to observe other nations like Taiwan, China, Vietnam, and India, these countries have relied on their culture as the baseline for reformation, which our country failed to uphold because of too much politicking," he said.
Cruz assumed that the possibility of a genuine social progress is elusive if our cultural backbone remains broken.
"If we were to surpass the crises that impede our progress, we must remember that culture is our strength," Cruz said.
Cruz added that culture could be strengthened by advancing awareness on the importance of culture in social progress, ensuring the needs of people who practice the culture, and promoting the use of local language as a means of communication.
The founding of Bileg-Kailian has the theme "Reviving and Uniting the Ilocano Spirit for Social and Cultural Progress."
Their incoming projects, meanwhile, involve the adoption of a depressed barangay in Ilocos Norte.
Dada Chitos “Citosananda” Catolico served as the facilitator and lecturer on Samaj and Spirituality while Dada Deo “Deva” Palma and Rashmi Sianchongco were the election moderators.