Geographical features of Banna

Banna (Espiritu) is a 4th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The town is formerly known as Espiritu, Ilocos Norte. The name changed under Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Resolution No. 120-95 on March 20, 1995; ratified on March 10, 1996.

Location and Boundaries. One of the town of Ilocos Norte that lies on top of a plateau is Banna (Espiritu), located 37 kilometers southeast of Laoag City. It is bounded on the east by Nueva Era, on the south by Pinili, on the west by Batac, and on the north by Marcos.

Land Area and Topography. A total of 20,000 hectares of arable lands are suitable for agriculture. Plains and grazing lands, traversed by the Malamin River, are fertile and rich in natural resources. Hills and mountain ranges also around in the eastern zone.

Climate. The town has two seasons, the wet season from May to October and dry season from November to April. The average annual rainfall is 100.58 inches. The temperature is varied. Weather disturbances also hit the town, however, it is shielded by the mountain ranges of the Cordilleras.

River. The Malamin River, the lone river that cut across the eastern zone of the town, runs from Nueva Era and traverses the eastern barangays of Banna (Espiritu). Root crops like gabi and peanut, vegetables like squash and corn are planted along its banks.

Poblacion. The poblacion is composed of four barangays, namely: Valenciano, Hilario, Lorenzo, and Marcos. These barangays are divided into different blocks with wide cemented roads.

Barangays. The town is made up of 20 barangays, four of which are within the poblacion. These are barangays Valenciano, Hilario, Lorenzo, and Marcos. The rural barangays are the following: Nagpatayan, Bangsar, Bomitog, Imelda, Binacag, Macayepyep, Catagtaguen, Balioeg, Caestebanan, Sinamar, Valdez, Bugasi, Tabtabagan, Caribquib, Barbarangay, and Crispina.

Population. According to the statistical reports in 2007, Banna has a population of 18,161 people in 3,390 households.

Norman Santos: Feet is all I have

"Feet is all I have, but as if I have everything," exclaimed the boy with a genuine smile.

Everyday we see him roam around within the four corners of our school. The first time I took a glance at the boy, I pitied him. Only to realize it should not be, for he is more than anybody else.

Truly, Norman G. Santos, 18 years old and a resident of Barangay 2 Hilario, Banna, Ilocos Norte is a wonder boy. His humble parents are Mr. Mario Santos and Mrs. Nora Gaba. He has three siblings namely: Marvin, Lenard and EJ.

According to his relatives, they consider Norman as their lucky charm. They say he's an epitome of courage. But to some, they see him unfortunate. Is it just and right to call a child with disability unfortunate? The answer is all yours.

Norman doesn't have arms. But he acts like has two or more. There are lots of amazing things about him, reiterated by her adviser, Miss Armida V. Bergonia. Despite his disability and age, he humbles himself as he freely mingles with the rest of the Grade I-B.

At 18, the time he thinks he had already enough courage to face the consequences that may arise as he deals with children thrice younger than his age, Norman entered the school with pride, no hesitation nor shame of what he is. He realized that despite of his disability he needs to go to school. He believes that education is the key to reach his dream in life-to be an architect.

To reach his dream is very much possible to Norman. With his feet, he can do many things like a normal person does. He writes on his paper and on the blackboard. He can do household chores like sweeping the floor, washing the dishes and even washing his clothes. He eats his foods using spoon and fork, he opens a bottle of softdrinks and drinks by himself. He earns money by helping his Uncle Butching wash his passenger jeepney, he helps in the bakery to carry sacks of flour and he even cuts and gathers firewoods in the hills near their house. He works in the farm too,uproots palay seedlings and carries them to where they are to be planted. During harvest seasons, he helps in reaping palay sickle and in threshing.

What amazed me most is, he can climb a tree, he showed me the tree house which he made. I let him demonstrated how he cut bamboos, tied ropes and how he managed to put the bamboos on the tree! With that demonstration, I felt ashamed, I myself with hands to grip cannot climb a tree. Another shocking truth is that, Norman can also do biking, FYI he joined in the two popular TV stations GMA7 and ABS-CBN. To this effect, INEC Director Jhon Que gave him a bike as a gift.

According to him his source of courage and strength are his parents. I also came to know that his family is in Manila. "My parents need to work there for a living. Though I miss them, I do understand, we need to sacrifice," he answered with determined voice.

Fly high and soar high Norman......

Banna district shines in division English Read-A-Thon tilt

"We are the champion."

With a total of eight points, Banna district team romped off with the crown besting 20 other contenders, making the overall champion in the 2009 Division English Read-A-Thon contest held at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School, Pinili, Ilocos Norte, September 4.

The members of the team who contributed to the victory were the tandem of Althea Ester Albano, Armin Janielle Valera and Rey Benedict Villacillo, grade V pupils of Banna Central Elementary School (BCES) second placed in Best Team Readers category; Gwynette Louise Aurelio, grade V of BCES landed third place in Best in Oral Reading Interpretation category and Mae Jen Bautista, grade V of Quiaoit Memorial Elementary School (QMES) ended up fifth in Best in Story Retelling. They were trained and coached by Mrs. Mina Faye G. Valera and Mrs. Filame A. Villacillo of BCES and Mrs. Melvi U. Gaddao of QMES.

The other winners in the said contest were Vintar I of Vintar, Ilocos Norte landed first runner up and Dingras I of Dingras, Ilocos Norte garnered second runner up.

The participants in the said contest were the first placers in the different districts in the division of Ilocos Norte.