The new Badoc

In the not-so-distant past, Badoc was infamous for a lot of things—all of them violent.

Recently, however, the province’s southernmost town has undergone a complete makeover: it is now the newest tourist “hot spot”.

From being an election “hot spot” to the upstart and upcoming tourism attraction in the province; Badoc’s transformation can be attributed to the municipality’s new mayor, Maximo D. Cajigal.

From a crime volume of 117 in 2015—the year before Mr. Cajigal took the reins of power—it went down to 107 in 2016. The steep drop in the 2017 crime volume to 60 signaled that the town is ready for change. And as Badoc became a new tourist destination, the crime volume last year further dropped to 56.

Badoc’s new leadership proved that their campaign battle cry of “Baro a Badoc” [A New Badoc] in 2016 was not just rhetoric; it was a vision which they strove hard to realize in the last three years.

And realized it they did.

Badoc’s tourist arrivals, which was in mere few thousands in 2015, suddenly jumped to 100,000 last year. Badoc was not just in the tourism map; it was instantly the hippest place to be in Ilocos Norte.

This was a development that not only seemed far-fetched before but really next to impossible. Ilocos Norte residents avoided Badoc like a plague. It was that bad. But the town began transforming three years ago.

It was slow at first, and then sped up. Badoc’s image turned from being the most violent place in the province to one of the most visited town.

Of course, it was thanks mostly to the La Virgen Milagrosa Chapel, which encouraged “faith tourism”; and the picturesque beach near the chapel with the same name that features floating cottages. The Gen. Antonio and Juan Luna shrines are also a must-see for history buffs, especially after the movie of the Ilocano general became popular not only in the country but also in the rest of the world.

Today, Badoc is primed for further progress in all facets: agriculture, health care, education and social services. And as it continues to grow, so will its people. This is a lesson that we all must learn, too.

That no matter how bleak the present looks, someday, somehow, people with good intentions and common goal will come. And together they will work in unison to change the place, the life and its people. And give them what they all need: hope. The hope to look forward to a better future; not only for themselves, but more so for their children.

If Badoc can transform into what it is now from its sordid past, there should be no reason why other towns cannot do it, too. They only need the political will to do so. And as it is in Badoc, it should start with the people—they need to choose their leaders wisely. Then those chosen leaders will take it from there and lead their town towards unity, peace and progress.

Just like what Mr. Cajigal and the people of Badoc did.