Ako si LAYA

Our beloved Lolo Gorio ug Lola Sario were simple farmers. Bisan ordinaryo ra ang ilang kinabuhi ug limitado ang among kahimtang, wala gyud sila mapul-an sa pagdasig namo nga magtuon og maayo, maningkamot, ug mahimong maayong tawo. Kanunay nilang isulti, "Pag-eskwela gyud mo. Pangitaa ang propesyon nga makaalagad sa katawhan." Ila kaming gidasig nga mahimong teachers, doctors, o pari. Pinakadako gyud nila nga pangandoy nga adunay mahimong teacher sa ilang mga apo because they believed that teaching is the noblest profession. Gusto usab nila nga adunay mahimong doctor, apan tungod sa kakulang sa among resources, lisod kini maabot. Nangandoy usab sila nga adunay mosulod sa seminaryo, apan wala sa amo ang mitubag niining bokasyon. By God's grace, kaming tulo ka managsuon nakahuman sa kolehiyo isip Iskolar ng Bayan. Ako nagtapos og History, si Lyka og Political Science, ug kami duha mipadayon og graduate studies in Public Administration. Nakompleto usab nako ang academic requi...

May 31, 2026 One of my chickens fell ill, and despite efforts to save it, my mother had to make the difficult decision to put it down. It’s never easy to lose an animal you’ve cared for, especially one that has given us eggs and new chicks over time. I can’t help but feel it might be due to my lack of attention and care as a keeper. Still, there’s a quiet acceptance in knowing it’s part of farm life. Tomorrow, the chicken adobo will carry a mix of gratitude and sadness, honoring what it once gave us.

Blink of Life My mind often drifts back to that operating room. The ceiling lights above me felt like small suns too bright to stare at while the quiet movements of the doctors sounded like distant waves in a calm sea. I was lying there still and silent like a leaf floating on water letting the current decide where it would carry me. In that fragile moment a thought quietly slipped into my mind. Siguro kung moabot ang kamatayon murag usa ra ka iglap. A blink of an eye. One moment you are here breathing thinking making plans for tomorrow. Then in a single heartbeat everything can fall silent like a candle gently blown out by the wind. Didto ko naka-realize kung unsa ka mubo ang kinabuhi. The worries that once felt like mountains suddenly became grains of sand. Ang mga problema nga murag bug-at kaayo sauna karon mura nalang ug mga anino nga mawala kung mosubang na ang adlaw. Life I realized is like morning dew resting on a blade of grass beautiful and shining for a moment but gone when t...

Christian Jay Sope Laya: Historian, Cultural Advocate, and Public Servant of Alabel, Sarangani   Christian Jay Sope Laya is a distinguished local historian, cultural advocate, and researcher from Alabel, Sarangani Province. His dedication to the preservation and promotion of local history and culture has made him a respected figure in both academic and government circles.   He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from Mindanao State University – General Santos City in June 2018, graduating cum laude. During his undergraduate studies, he was recognized for his outstanding research work, receiving awards for Best Thesis Presenter and Best Thesis in Qualitative Research from the Department of History, College of Social Sciences and Humanities of MSU – Gensan.   Following his undergraduate achievements, Christian pursued further education in the field of teaching, completing education units at Brokenshire College SOCCSKSARGEN, Inc. (BCSI). In March 2019, he succ...

Alabel: A City by Heart, A Vision for Generations By Christian Jay S. Laya Alabel, the capital of Sarangani Province, has long carried the dream of cityhood. But beyond the aspiration for a formal title, the municipality has already proven itself worthy of recognition through its track record of excellence, resiliency, and integrity in governance. As a grandslam awardee of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG),  the highest distinction for a Local Government Unit, Alabel has demonstrated consistency in upholding transparency, accountability, and responsiveness. Its stature was further solidified when it ranked No. 1 in Economic Resiliency under the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index, standing tall as a model of strong local leadership. Over the years, Alabel has also received multiple national recognitions under both the Duterte and Marcos administrations, spanning healthcare, peace and order, anti-criminality and anti-illegal drugs campaign, agriculture, innova...

Municipal Information Officer Christian Jay Laya joins Sir Boy Cordua, Kuya Jesie, Kuya Armel, Mcrey, Mark Dane, and Sir Ferdinand during the kick-off activity of the National Fire Prevention Month on March 1, 2025, in Alabel, Sarangani Province. The event emphasizes the importance of fire safety awareness and reminds everyone that fire prevention starts with us.  #  

 Bionote: Lilibeth "Ybing" J. Salarda, MPA Lilibeth "Ybing" J. Salarda, MPA, is a distinguished public servant and community leader from Alabel, Sarangani Province. A proud graduate of Alabel’s public education system, she holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Bukidnon State University. Her extensive career in government service spans decades, during which she has made remarkable contributions to local governance, tourism, agriculture, and community development.   Ybing began her career as a staff member of the Municipal Accounting Office under the late Mayor Hernando L. Sibugan. She then took on key administrative roles, serving as Private Secretary to then Vice Mayor Vic Paul Salarda and later as Executive Assistant II under the Office of the Municipal Mayor.  In the early years of the Salarda administration, Lilibeth “Ybing” J. Salarda, MPA, was designated as the Municipal Nutrition Action Officer (MNAO) of Alabel, Sarangani Province. A dynamic le...