Following the Grande Parade in Bangued, Municipal Mayors scheduled parades and programs in their respective towns.
North of Bangued is the town of Tayum, headed by Mayor Cariño, who recited a poem in Ilocano to honor Jojo during the program in the Provincial Building, where songs and speeches were made.
The school children of both public and Catholic schools lined the road up to the church, where the priest invited us to see Sister Nena “play on the new organ of the father.” Up the church tower we could see the Abra River and the whole town.
Our next stop was Lagangilang, where Mg. Trining was school teacher. Her relatives met us and we had a banquet in the Agricultural School where the parade ended. Then we proceeded to Dolores, with Jojo on a decorated float, where Jojo danced in town.
San Juan was our last stop, where the Mayor had a program with school teachers and students. Mayor Bolaoro was my 7th grade teacher who awarded me Christmas gifts from U.S.A. then.
The following day we went to Peñarubia, where Mrs. Bersola was born. I was asked to speak and I said: “This town is famous for its beautiful ladies like Josephine Tandiñgan (Mrs. B.), Josephine Padawil and Josefina Absong (my classmate). Jojo’s name is also Josefina.”
Our next stop was Bucay, where a program was held with songs and dances by school children. Bucay was the capital of Abra before Bangued.
From Bucay we went to San Jose, whose mayor was Maj. Caledonio Javier, PMA (Ret.). He met us at the Abra River with natives wearing G-strings who manned the bamboo raft we rode. There we had a very well-prepared banquet prepared by school teachers. I saw that the refrigerators from USAID were used as file cabinets. No electricity!
Our last stop was Pilar, where Pat had relatives and where Mg. Ibang, the mother of Jojo’s babysitter, Nena, lived. She heard Jojo’s name in the radio and she came to meet us. The following day was a program by the JAYCEES of Bangued, where Jojo had a speech broadcast and heard all over.
The Jaycees of Vigan met us at the Quirino Bridge with lots of fireworks and a band, then a motorcade around the town. In my speech I said: “Jojo is also a representative of Ilocos Sur because my father was born in Vigan, in Barrio KAPANGPAÑGAN. Surprised?”
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