PAGURIGAN STADIUM GRANDSTAND:ONCE A SPLENDID LANDMARK, NOW ILAGAN'S MOST HAZARDOUS PLACE

ILAGAN, Isabela- Clarita 37 sends her two teenage sons for a summer training on sports undertaken at the oval of the once renowned Paguirigan Stadium at the gateway to the poblacion of this provincial capital. Her purpose was to make wise use of the summer vacation for the development of her offspring's sports enthusiasm and most of all- keep her sons away from imminent danger posed by various social elements.
Little did she know; she was courting disaster.

ONCE A CLASSIC VIEW OF THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL OF ILAGAN AS YOU ENTER THE POBLACION AREA IS NOW A PICTURE OF NEGLECT AND GOVERNMENT INDIFFERENCE

The ruins of the Pascual Paguirigan Stadium Grandstand inside the Isabela National High School (INHS) compound has been left the way it was- forsaken since its devastation a broad daylight fire in 2003.
Students were having their Physical Education classes in the grandstand shortly before noon on a hot summer day of April 14 when an overheating ceiling fan sparked and swiftly spread its flames in the structure's old dried up roof. Students and teachers helplessly watched the fire aggravated by the hot summer temperature ate the grandstand in less than an hour.

THE FILTHY RUINS OF THE GRANDSTAND POSES AND ADDITIONAL HAZARD TO STUDENTS' HEALTH BESIDES THE IMMINENT DANGER POSED BY LEANING WOODEN POSTS

The stadium was once a splendor of the town's historic past greets every visitor going in and out of the municipal proper.
Upon the assumption to office of newly elected Governor Grace Padaca the in May of the following year; School Principal Oscar Martinez has been requesting her office for the Provincial Engineering Office to undertake the demolition of the stadium remnants. Although the school was assured by the Padaca Administration of its favorable response; the assurance remained an empty promise.

OFFICIALS OF ILAGAN SHOULD ADOPT THE FORMER PAGURIGAN STADIUM FOR SANITATION THAN WASTING TIME DOING JUNKETS AT THE DESOLATED STA. VICTORIA NATIONAL PARK WHEREIN THE MUNICIPALITY DOESN'T DERIVE MUCH INCOME FROM DEVELOPING THE PLACE

By 2010, after losing her bid for a third term to incumbent Gov. Faustino Dy III; Padaca is gone but the Pagurigan Stadium ruins still remains. The ruins echoes the government's stance of neglect and indifference views Andriano Mata 39, who dries his palay harvest in the pavement of the stadium's once basketball and volleyball courts. Built during the early 50s Paguirigan stadium was site of the 1978 Palarong Pambansa.
Late October of the same year; Typhoon Juan lashed its peak signal number 4 winds followed by torrential cold front rains until December causing the ruin's huge wooden pillars to fall and some to leaned thus, posing imminent danger to the public, mostly students frequenting the area.

THE "PERYAHAN" CARAVAN IS CURRENTLY SETTING UP ITSELF AT THE STADIUM'S OVAL WHERE ITS TEMPORARY SETTLERS WANTONLY DSPOSE THEIR SHIT AROUND THE AREA. ALTHOUGH THE PLACE IS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE ISABELA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL; EDUCATION OFFICIALS DENY EXACTING PROCEEDS OF THE COLLECTIONS OF THE FIESTA CARAVAN WHICH COULD AT LEAST HELP THE SCHOOL REHABILITATE ITSELF FROM THE DAMAGES WROUGHT BY THE LAST TYPHOON. MAYOR JOSEMARIE DIAZ SHOULD AT LEAST MAKE PUBLIC HOW MUCH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT RAKES DURING THE OPERATION OF THIS "PERYAHAN" THROUGH PUBLIC ACCOUNTING AFTER THE MAY 30 PATRONAL TOWN FIESTA. THIS IS FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION WHERE ILAGUENOS TAXES GO. AT THE BACKGROUND IS THE BLUE TOWNHALL BUILDING; WHILE IT IS IMPOSINGLY STANDING AT ITS FRONT, LURKS THE FILTHY SITE OF NEGLECT IN THIS TOWN ASPIRING TO BE A CITY.

At present; the May festivities is at its center stage in the stadium. The Carnival has already setup its Bingos, rides and various gimmicks in the vicinity of Ilagan's most hazardous place.
People will come for good time and pleasure.

Little did they know... they are courting disaster.

PEACE!