Vice Gov. Bulut Cunan: "Apayao is our home, our heritage, and our shared future”

Vice Governor Kyle Mariah Chelsea S. Bulut Cunan reminded yApayaos of what the celebration stands for as she opened the 31st Apayao Day, saying, “Apayao is not just a place on the map but it is our home, our heritage, and our shared future.”

In her message, she said Apayao Day carries weight beyond the festivities, pointing to this year’s theme, “Biosphere Reserve of the yApayaos: yApayaos Harmony with Nature, Apayao a Hub of Treasures,” as a clear statement of who the province is and what it upholds.

She spoke of a province where mountains, rivers, and forests are part of daily life, and where communities grow alongside the land. According to her, Apayao’s wealth is seen not only in its natural resources but in its people, its farmers, youth, culture bearers, and the values that bind them.

The Vice Governor also revisited the province’s beginnings under Republic Act No. 7878, citing the work of Provincial Hero Elias K. Bulut in securing Apayao’s recognition as a separate province and laying the foundation for self-governance and opportunity.

She acknowledged the presence of Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III, noting that development in the province remains rooted in its farming communities and in those who work the land.

As activities for the 31st celebration unfold, she urged yApayaos to treat the occasion as a time to remember where the province started, to value its harmony with nature, and to carry forward the responsibility of shaping its future.