Baroy is a small town of 20,000 people in the heart of Lanao del Norte province in Central Mindanao, Philippines. Located about 69 kilometres southwest of Iligan City, Baroy is close to the cities of Ozamiz and Tangub in Misamis Occidental province. This town has been known for rich seafood, a great deposit of clay, and home to the now famous Lechon Festival, an annual festival recognized by the Department of Tourism. (Read more >>>)
|
|
Maayong laki sa baroy
The concept of "Maayong Laki sa Baroy" came all the way back from the late 1960s and 1970s (and probably early to mid '80s) when the small town of Baroy became the center of attention for achievements made by its people in the Visayas and Mindanao regions and as far as Metro Manila in the north. Without the Internet and social media at the time, news about good deeds of people easily flourished. Back then, Baroy had an unbeatable basketball team that would make their way to regional championships. In the entertainment world, Baroy made history when native Helen Baliog was crowned Lakambining Filipina in 1978. In the same year, another native, Teddy Alfarero, sailed to Manila where he began his career as a basketball star and played in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) until 1987. Baroy was known for great seafood, bright scholars, intelligent leaders, beautiful girls, and outstanding athletes.
In the years that passed, the concept of 'maayong laki' made a drastic change that impacted the people of Baroy. Linked to the 'greatness' of the name and image of local townsfolk, a few individuals became the center of infamous acts that range from petty theft to organized crimes in the region. The concept of 'maayong laki sa Baroy' had been linked to these acts and the good image of its people now tarnished. Since then, all other acts of crime in nearby towns and cities were linked to the phrase 'maayong laki' and it became easy for many people to presume that a pickpocket in nearby Tubod, a burglar in nearby Ozamiz, and a drug addict in nearby Iligan, was a "maayong laki sa Baroy."
Through the years, the people's greatness remained a powerful strength among Baroy's offsprings. Modern young achievers made their way to success and became achievers in education, sports, politics, law, among other things. The spirit of the original 'maayong laki' concept remain rooted among people's lives. While many of Baroy's people had migrated to faraway places in search of greener pastures, their love for their hometown remain. This is a time of giving back -- for the people of Baroy to cherish the greatness that there was. The successes of the past and the successes of the future have to conspire and bring back solidarity and peace among its people. Altogether, the new breed of 'maayong laki sa Baroy' come together for a bigger purpose -- to give back and care for their homeland and digitally spread the true meaning of Maayong Laki sa Baroy.
In the years that passed, the concept of 'maayong laki' made a drastic change that impacted the people of Baroy. Linked to the 'greatness' of the name and image of local townsfolk, a few individuals became the center of infamous acts that range from petty theft to organized crimes in the region. The concept of 'maayong laki sa Baroy' had been linked to these acts and the good image of its people now tarnished. Since then, all other acts of crime in nearby towns and cities were linked to the phrase 'maayong laki' and it became easy for many people to presume that a pickpocket in nearby Tubod, a burglar in nearby Ozamiz, and a drug addict in nearby Iligan, was a "maayong laki sa Baroy."
Through the years, the people's greatness remained a powerful strength among Baroy's offsprings. Modern young achievers made their way to success and became achievers in education, sports, politics, law, among other things. The spirit of the original 'maayong laki' concept remain rooted among people's lives. While many of Baroy's people had migrated to faraway places in search of greener pastures, their love for their hometown remain. This is a time of giving back -- for the people of Baroy to cherish the greatness that there was. The successes of the past and the successes of the future have to conspire and bring back solidarity and peace among its people. Altogether, the new breed of 'maayong laki sa Baroy' come together for a bigger purpose -- to give back and care for their homeland and digitally spread the true meaning of Maayong Laki sa Baroy.