Maayad ordinance moves forward, awaits legal office recommendation

After having been temporarily shelved for two months, the proposed ordinance institutionalizing the Higaonon word ‘Maayad’ as the official greeting of service-oriented establishments in the city is seeing brighter days.

This, after the committee on tourism, chaired by Councilor Girlie Balaba, in a recent meeting recommended to refer the said measure to the City Legal Office to check its legal soundness.

It may be recalled that last September 23, this year, Balaba’s committee deferred the proposal after some indigenous people’s chieftains and concerned IP members expressed differing views.

They pointed out that the heritage language ‘Maayad’ may lose its semantic meaning und cultural fidelity without an accompanying phrase affixed after it to limit its scope of usage and definition.

However, Councilor Robert ‘Datu Makilala’ Cabaring, the City Council indigenous peoples mandatory representative, said that the majority of the IP chieftains have already signed to support the legislation.

This includes the provision to gradually introduce the expression as a welcome greeting to guests, customers, and clients in hotels, restaurants, airports, seaports, and bus terminals.

Once enacted by the legislature, Maayad will be bannered in commercial establishments, historical landmarks and tourism sites  as welcome sign. (FDC/SP)