A COVID History

I was confined at the COVID Fastlane section of the San Jose District Hospital (SJDH) when weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz got her medal for the country’s first-ever gold in the Olympics. I experienced difficulty in breathing with other severe symptoms of the disease.

They admitted me to the hospital on July 21, 2021, and for exactly one week, I was alone in that tomblike and white-painted square chamber. Either an oxygen mask or a nasal cannula is stuck in my nares to deliver supplemental oxygen and allows sufficient airflow to my lungs. I was in dire need of respiratory help. I have immediately undergone various tests and chest x-ray and other emergency procedures that I failed to ask the ill-equipped (compared to those in private hospitals in Manila) overworked, understaffed medical frontliners at SJDH.

I was lying helplessly in my hospital bed when hundreds of families have evacuated from four villages in three municipalities in Occidental Mindoro because of flooding caused by the effects of the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm Fabian. I took a handful of different capsules and tablets until my breathing gradually becomes easy each day as the floods slowly subdued in the affected areas, and the evacuees came back to their dwelling places the next few days.

I also battled sleepless nights. It was Saturday morning, July 24, and while I was saying my morning prayer, a tremor followed. My fear doubled, for I am in a situation between the devil and deep blue sea: Earthquake and COVID. But as expected, the latter subsided, but it did not shake the COVID virus out of the breathing system of each Filipino in affected areas.

Global pandemics and disasters like earthquakes and floods or events like the Olympics, for that matter, are not only part of history. They are history themselves. We are victims of history, witnesses to history, and socialized by history and such reality made the human spirit always triumphant!

In my hospital bed, bored and isolated, I composed this short poem:

“You do not have regal bearing over my breathing,

Your crown has no dignity over me.

My breathing is a kingship where you are nothing but a slave

I am royal, no matter how I breathe.

As I inhale and exhale, my spirit behests my lungs and my mouth:

“Iustum inssufla.”

(Just breath.)”

The next day, a hospital apprentice appeared from my door in full PPE, pushing a wheelchair telling me that I will be moving to the recovery ward called “Italy.”

 “Ano naman ang pangalan nung room na inalisan ko?” I asked him while we are heading to the next building.

“Wuhan po.”

Me to self: “Not a bad name.”

(I later found out that the names were just coined by Dr. Anna Monica Bracamonte, the former hospital head, and my cousin Barbie, her nurse, during the height of the pandemic.)

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I am patient number 638 logged in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. I was already on my second day in the recovery ward when Nesthy Petecio settled for a silver medal for the women’s featherweight boxing final bout. She lost to Japan’s Sena Irie. That was the same day when they took out the oxygen tube from my nostrils, as my oxygen level had already been stable for days. All in all, I consumed five tanks of medical oxygen.

My hospitalization, other than realizing the importance of friends, family, and relatives in supporting both in terms of financial, moral, and other material supports. That includes medical guidance from my cousins in the medical field, which made me do something I could not do for decades: cry. 

I cried once again for my wife, the love of my life, showed me how much she cares for me.

I will not mention the names of my friends and relatives here for they will not indeed like it. Perhaps, such love and kindness they have shown to me are part of why I cried.

I repeatedly played through my Vivo Camera and Music phone Willie Nelson’s rendition of Yesterday When I Was Young. It just popped from my cellphone’s screen on the third day of my confinement while I was browsing for a piece of country music that I love to listen to. I hadn’t heard the song since the Nora Aunor version was released when I was ten.

At 88, Willie Nelson is still alive, and part of the collaborated Asleep at the Wheel 50th-anniversary album, due this coming October 1 in the US. The song made me reminiscence on my childhood and practically the significant memories of my life with places and people that are both gone and still alive.

I am 59 now, and next year I will be considered a senior citizen. 

Well, thanks for the tears. Crying made me feel great.

Those tears have curative value to me.

****

I took five doses of remdesivir. While clinical trials suggest the drug is not very effective in treating COVID, recent studies have shown that it does block Coronavirus activity. Remdesivir is an experimental drug developed by biotech company Gilead Sciences in collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control and Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.

Maybe my system responded positively to the drug. That is why I defeated COVID in this bout.

Finally, on July 29, 2021, I was discharged from the hospital, and since then, I have subjected myself to further home quarantine. I have comorbidities, so I have to stay on the safest part of the road.

I was vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine on August 7 at the San Jose Public Health and Diagnostic Center.

It took 97 years for the Philippines to get its first gold in the Olympics. It took me 50 years or so to hear again the song Yesterday When I Was Young and I cannot remember when I last cried before this hospitalization and solitary confinement. One thing is sure. I will be a different man after this. I will cry a lot.

Remdesivir may have done its job well, but I am not counting out all your prayers and well-wishes, and my all-time favorite is the macaroni salad, which I devoured for the first time after many years.

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(Photo: Deccan Herald)

Donaire-Casimero: A Classless Social Media Clash

A classless clash over social media has exploded between the camps of Filipino world bantamweight champions Nonito Donaire and John Riel Casimero. Instead of seeing the fight happen on top of the ring, we saw them on YouTube, Twitter, or Facebook.

In the past, John Riel Casimero said Naoya Inoue must change his moniker from “Monster” to “Turtle,” and recently, he called Nonito Donaire a “Stinky Fish.” Casimero calls Inoue “Turtle” because, according to him, the undefeated “Monster” is eluding him like a turtle and afraid to face him. 

Why “Stinky Fish?” Well, this is an allusion to Jose Rizal’s famous line, "Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika, daig pa ang hayop at malansang isda."  (My translation: He who does not love his language is worse than an animal and a stinky fish.) A line from the poem Sa Aking Mga Kababata taught in schools in the Philippines is a piece written by our national hero when he was just eight years old. Casimero is trying to impress the public that he is more nationalistic than Donaire to get the attention of many. At first, the Angas ng Pilipinas sounded like merely selling or hyping the fight. There is nothing wrong with that, but it became wayward only when the Casimero camp insinuated that Donaire, an expat who speaks fluent English, is not a true Filipino.

Casimero is so used to taunting. He is not new to such theatrics. In November 2020, he provoked Jerwin Ancajas, the Filipino IBF junior-bantamweight champ, by referring to Ancajas as a “child.” Gentleman as he is, Ancajas just shrugged it off by way of a respectful and calm response.

It was all Casimero show until Rachel Marcial, the Filipino Flash’s wife and manager who was a former national collegiate and military Taekwondo champion in the US herself mentioned the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA). I will not repeat what transpired here, for you probably followed them in social media as they unfold. I will not expose and expound those nasty posts of blatant ad hominem and gender-biased statements. Why are such dirty exchanges when the fight itself, being the first-ever Filipino champ versus Filipino champ, is in itself would already make a lot of money?

The great Filipino boxers from Pancho Villa to Gabriel “Flash” Elorde to Manny Pacquiao never been into trash talking and arrogance. Even the so-called “Bad Boy from Dadiangas,” Rolando Navarrete, never trash-talked his opponent ever. He never called them names.

Moreover, the World Boxing Council (WBC) Code of Ethics has this to say: “All boxers, especially those who are champions, are role models and must behave with exemplary actions.” It further states that “All boxers must understand that there is an expectation that their behavior, inside and outside the ring will be held to high standards in accordance with the honor and privilege associated with representing the World Boxing Council as a champion.” I believe it rings true in other boxing bodies. Boxers say the nastiest words in the dictionary to sell his fight, but it should also be within the boundaries of ethics. Even in boxing’s business side, hitting below the belt is not allowed. All businesses follow ethical standards. Boxing as an enterprise and as a sport is not as savage as that.

To maintain our cherished Filipino values and respect our heritage in a foreign land, forego the Donaire-Casimero fight and move on with their next non-Filipino opponents.

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 (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc. via Getty Images)

 

 

 

 

Will Donaire Wear Yellow Again?

 

When Nonito Donaire, Jr defeated Panama’s Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion on August 15, 2009, the now WBC bantamweight champion nicknamed “The Filipino Flash” dedicated the fight to former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino. During the battle with Concepcion, Donaire even donned a yellow robe, and yellow trunks with “Aquino” printed on its back waistband.

The Donaire-Concepcion fight was for the interim WBA belt, and it happened in Las Vegas, where the pride of Tagbilaran, Bohol, won via unanimous decision.

By the way, before the Filipino Flash faced El Torito, there are announcements that Occidental Mindoro’s very own Drian Francisco would face the latter. Still, it did not happen for one reason or another. Concepcion then was ranked No. 4 by the WBA, No. 6 by the WBO, and No. 8 by the WBC, while Drian (Jong) Francisco was ranked No. 10, both by the WBA and WBO for the WBA International super flyweight title. As I have said, it did not materialize. 

In his column, which appeared in Philstar.com dated August 22, 2009, Mr. Joaquin M. Henson, the so-called Dean of Philippine Sports, wrote that according to Cory and Ninoy’s daughter Pinky Aquino-Abellada, Donaire’s belt, robe, and trunks would be on display at the Aquino Center in the Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac. The family recreated Ninoy’s Fort Bonifacio detention cell and exhibited the clothes he wore during his assassination.

According to Henson, Nonito and his wife-manager Rachel presented the boxing apparels to the Aquino family in a mass to commemorate Ninoy’s assassination at the Roozen Hall of the Don Bosco complex in Makati. The scribe further wrote, “After the turnover, former President Cory’s daughter Ballsy Aquino-Cruz sprang a surprise when she announced the family is “adopting” Donaire as a “bunso” brother.” Of course, the Flash and his wife were overwhelmed and considered the gesture as a great honor. Rebecca or Kaye, Rachel’s mother, is from Tarlac.

Understandably, the Donaire’s supported Benigno Aquino III in his presidential bid in 2010.

In the fight against Hernan “Tyson” Marquez, Donaire again donned yellow trunks with “Aquino” stitched onto the waistband. He presented the trunks to President PNoy after his win. Donaire KO’d Marquez in the 8^th round in a duel at the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on November 14, 2010.  

Former President Noynoy died just days after the official announcement of the Nonito Donaire-John Riel Casimero, the first-ever Filipino versus Filipino all champion encounter will happen in the States this coming August 14, 2021. Let us hope that unlike the Francisco-Concepcion bout, the Donaire-Casimero will not be aborted.

Yesterday, June 24, 2021, Nonito Donaire tweeted, “Ang pinaka malalim na pakikiramay at dasal sa Aquino family na nawalan ng pinakamamahal na kapatid na si Benigno Aquino III. Galing sa familia Donaire. Salamat po.”

Will Donaire wear yellow again in his fight against Casimero? That we do not know.

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 Photo: Pound4Pound.com

References:

https://www.philstar.com/sports/2009/08/22/497966/donaire-honored-aquino-family-too

https://www.wbaboxing.com/boxing-news/nonito-donaire-blasts-out-hernan-marquez-in-eight#.YNWKfOgzZPY

https://www.philstar.com/sports/2010/08/11/601352/donaire-and-road-ahead

 

Madam Girlie’s Gone

My good friend Chona C. Ordenes is now grieving because of her former principal and mentor, Deputy Speaker Ma. Amelita Calimbas Villarosa of the lone district of Occidental Mindoro’s representative to Congress died on her 78^th natal day on May 30, 2021.

The former solon passed away at the Intensive Care Unit around 4:34 p.m. that day. Villarosa died of an aneurysm while receiving treatment at a hospital in Metro Manila, according to her husband, former congressman, and governor Jose T. Villarosa.

A very religious woman, Chona’s Madam Girlie rested in the hands of her Creator on Trinity Sunday. Cong. Villarosa first held the electoral post as her district’s representative to the House of Representatives from June 30, 1998, to August 29, 2000, to the 11^th Congress as a Lakas-CMD stalwart. Still, the election was declared annulled after an electoral protest lobbed by her rival Ricardo “Ding” Quintos. But Villarosa bounced back, defeating her competitors in the polls in 2001, 2004, 2007, and 2010. She took office from June 30, 2004, to June 30, 2013. She exhibited gentle prowess in the tough realm of politics.

Ma’am Chona told me via Messenger that the former lady solon collapsed after coming from office and rushed to Makati Medical Center on May 27 and was in a coma for three days.

Mrs. Villarosa made history in 2007 when she was elected by her colleagues at the House of Representatives its first woman deputy speaker. That year, she took her oath before then Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. Villarosa represented her 53 other female colleagues in the lower chamber. In a way, Villarosa’s appointment recognized her capability as a lawmaker and the vital role of female House members. She was a close ally of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. She escorted President GMA in many of the latter’s official functions here and abroad.

The former deputy speaker from Occidental Mindoro was born May 30, 1943, in Balanga, Bataan. According to Ate Chona, her Madam Girlie was a hard-working and giving woman. Not only was she committed to her daily tasks, but she was also committed to giving back to the community. She always encouraged the people closest to her to be involved in life as she brought out the best in them. She kept on reminding them to make the best of everything

Ma’am Chona remembered her saying that she was her second mother, very kind, supportive, and helpful to everyone, especially to her family. Her supporters widely considered Girlie Villarosa as the Mother of the Province.

Aside from JTV and Mayor Bambi, Madam Girlie is survived by her children Bunny Villarosa-Kalaw, Nanny Villarosa- Drilon, Sookie Villarosa- Chiongbian, and Mikho, the youngest son.

“She is very motherly and very caring, especially when we are out of town during the campaign sorties,” says Ma’am Chona. Ms. Ordenes worked as her close-in aide while officially functioning as chief of staff then of Mamburao Mayor Voltaire “Bambi” Villarosa, Mrs. Villarosa’s eldest son. “Madam Girlie was also very loving and generous,” she adds.

Isabelle Allende once said that people only die when we forget them. Our dear departed is best remembered by all as once served her province as their representative to Congress. 

Even Death cannot take that truth away from her.

The Aborted Municipality of San Miguel in Occidental Mindoro

On December 8, 1965, President Diosdado P. Macapagal, Sr. approved Executive Order No. 222 creating the Municipality of San Miguel in Occidental Mindoro. You can find a copy of this nearly 60- year old document in the Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, 62 (9), 1329.

The EO is under the provisions of Section 68 of the then Revised Administrative Code. The supposed new municipality that time will consist of the territory, “from Busuañgan River to the boundary between the Municipalities of Sablayan and San Jose, and the barrios of Calintaan, New Dagupan, Tanyag, Iriron and Concepcion, all of the municipality of Sablayan, with the seat of government at the barrio of Calintaan.” Macapagal’s Order further states, “The municipality of Sablayan shall have its present territory minus the portions thereof which are included; in the territory of the municipality of San Miguel.” The document has it that the creation of the new municipality was an offshoot of House Bill No. 7983 and approved that time by Congress. I cannot find over the net the details of this bill as of yet.

Please take note that in 1965, Calintaan was still a barrio of Sablayan. Then a time came when Congressman Pedro Medalla, Sr. was elected as representative of Occidental Mindoro to the Philippine Congress. Medalla filed a bill to create the Municipality of Calintaan, and on June 18, 1966, under Republic Act No. 4732, Calintaan was separated from Sablayan and made as another municipality. Placed under its jurisdiction were the barrios of Concepcion, Iriron, New Dagupan and Tanyag.  The total land area of the proposed new town is thirty-eight thousand two hundred fifty (38,250) hectares.

Through Cong. Medalla’s effort, Republic Act No. 5460, was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos. Rizal became a municipality on April 3, 1969. According to Wikipedia, ten barrios composed the new town, specifically Adela, Rumbang, Salvacion, Magui, Magsikap, San Pedro, Santo Nino, Pitogo, Aguas, and Limlim (now Rizal, Rizal). Rizal in 1965 is still part of San Jose, and during that time, Medalla was a neophyte congressman starting his first year in politics. I am wondering if there is a barangay in Rizal named Magui. Probably it is the old name of Manoot. Was it?

Medalla, by the way, then owns a large parcel of land inside the supposed territorial jurisdiction of the aborted Municipality of San Miguel in Occidental Mindoro.

From its looks, the creation of the Municipality of San Miguel failed before it could take off. If somebody materialized it, the projected new municipality would have covered a portion of the present territories of Calintaan and Rizal. The truth is, the patron saint of Calintaan is Saint Michael, the Archangel or plainly "San Miguel" to Filipinos.

 

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Photo: Eco Exploration

References:

 https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1965/12/08/executive-order-no-222-s-1965/

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rizal,_Occidental_Mindoro

 https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/1965/12dec/19651208-EO-0222-DM.pdf

 https://sites.google.com/site/occidentalmindorohistory/historycalintaan

 

 

 

 

 

Tulfoed!

Now I am convinced that as far as the people of Occidental Mindoro is concerned, like the rest of the Filipinos, Raffy Tulfo is greatly considered as the fix all problem solver, the messiah, if not the mediatrix from above. This is based on the reaction I got from his viewers yesterday featuring the incessant power interruptions that we experienced lately. Incidentally, this part of Tamarawlandia was once labelled as the “Blackout Capital of the Philippines” owing to power outages happening in all of its mainland towns for more than 3 decades now.

Last Tuesday, a netizen from Rizal town called the attention of the anchor of the public affairs program “Wanted sa Radyo”, a popular radio-television show and YouTube channel. Angel Mendoza, a member of the LGBTQ community bravely faced the camera and discussed the currently-prevailing rotational brownout schedule in the province and brought it to the attention of one of the famous Tulfo Brothers, Raffy Tulfo or “Idol Raffy” to his millions of diehard followers. Me, not included.

I salute Angel Mendoza for his/her bravery and courage, first and foremost. Mendoza’s sentiment is shared by the people of Occidental Mindoro that the power shortage problem has not only affected the daily lives of the electric consumers, but has also curbed our economic activity and thereby impairing our economic growth. 

The following day, and that was Wednesday (May 5), the same complaint from Mendoza was again given airtime by their Idol Raffy. I will not mention who are his guests that day for what they have told Tulfo is the same thing that they were telling us time and again. But admittedly, I was entertained by the show and I am 110% sure that after all what they have discussed in that episodes, we, the consumers, citizens and netizens, still groping inside a dark tunnel and at the mercy of our electricity providers who think nothing but their own businesses and capital. Including the electric cooperative which had been kowtowing to business interests of influential people from politics and business both from our locality and elsewhere, then and now. Methinks.

OMECO from the start, since it entered into an onerous, one-sided contract with Island Power Corporation (IPC) up to the legality and technically confusing predicament how the much trumpeted Emerging Power, Inc. (EPI), the developer of the Montelago geothermal project, suddenly "transformed" as Occidental Mindoro Consolidated Power Corporation (OMCPC) and its plants are like those of IPC powered by bunker fuel. 

Instead of EPI, how did OMCPC came into the picture? At the start, there was an existing Power Supply Agreement (PSA) between OMECO and EPI. The former was apparently hoodwinked by the latter as OMECO’s Meliton Pasol, as its Board President and Rodolfo Plopinio as its Director, signed the PSA with EPI. Lo and behold, later EPI, the supposed geothermal power company, assigned its PSA to OMCPC through Deed of Assignment on September 9, 2015. Some incumbent politicians then sit with EPI top honchos in various forum and occasions in the past. When the PSA between OMECO and EPI was signed last February 28, 2014 at Sikatuna Beach Hotel in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, the lawmaker who was in interviewed by Raffy Tulfo last Wednesday was also there vouching for the worth of the EPI. Many attendees said that with EPI, our brownout days will finally be over. Just like how another local politician operated the IPC with its 25-year exclusive contract which was also signed by OMECO for more or less 3 decades now, without thinking its atrocious consequence in the coming years. 

It was such a blunder on the side of OMECO when it informed the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in writing that it had no objection to the assigned PSA from EPI to OMCPC. Ergo, the PSA is now between OMCPC and OMECO. I just do not know if there is an on-going legal or judicial determination on the issue but that is now the very meat of contention. The then overhyped EPI geothermal project which was trumpeted in 2014 as the sole supplier of geothermal energy in the whole island of Mindoro went pfft like the bubbles in their nostrils.  

We live in the same ambiguous tunnel. We are still riding on the same banana (boat) in the same sea of uncertainty, so to speak.

Is the Raffy Tulfo show really an alternative mechanism for seeking justice? I doubt it. We still have the courts of law and pertinent quasi-judicial bodies to do that. For me, there are entertainment shows camouflaged as public service.  Truly, there is a very thin line between public service and rating, and in case of social media, likes, followings or views and subscribers. The more subscribes, the more bucks one can rake out of the anguish of the people.

Do we really need only Raffy Tulfo to get out of this hellish energy crisis for decades and the current brownouts? Again, my answer is in the negative.  The magnitude and extent of this decades-long debacle of power crises could not be capsulized in an entire episode, if not season of a public service program or YouTube podcast or streaming. Brace for more rotational brownouts every summer season of the year specially now in the midst of the increasing COVID-19 cases in the province. 

The struggle we must wage against this unjust act of those in the local power industry cannot be a proxy struggle. Hopefully, our action and protest against brownouts and power crises in the province should not end at Tulfo’s show. Letting our quest for justice only remain in the show, we are all Tulfooled just the same. We should do more than than (social) media projection. There are thousand ways of battling this.

Citizens and netizens must rally beyond that. How? That is the question we should address in unison. Certainly it could be through the courts or elsewhere but must surely be within the bounds of law by way of active and non-violent means. I have been calling for this since 2008 if my memory serves me right. 

Be like Angel Mendoza, Occidental Mindoro’s version of Greta Thunberg. Shout bravely about our sorry state in whichever venue.

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 (Photo: YouTube)

Remembering the Street Brothers

Reminiscing about the San Jose Summer Basketball League would not be complete without mentioning or thinking of the Street Brothers Basketball Team. The father and son tandem of Edward “Jee” Bagatsolon and Domy “ParDoms” Bagatsolon worked together a piece of basketball history in this part of Occidental Mindoro titled “The Street Brothers Basketball Team” and I am publishing here part of said collaborative work.

To open their literary piece, Jee and ParDoms has this to say: “While “import” players were making waves in the Senior Division of the San Jose Summer Basketball League in the mid-eighties, the entry of the Street Brothers team in the Junior Division of the San Jose Summer Basketball League (SJSBL) made an impact and created another huge fan base which was unprecedented at that time. This is a capsule story of the team when they played in the Junior Division.” The photo above shows the first batch of the Street Brothers team in 87-88 with their muse, the petite Marie Joy Casao.

In the 80s, the Bagatsolon family used to reside in Magsaysay Street in San Jose across the house of former Occidental Mindoro governor Arsenio “Senying” Villaroza, father of Ms. Victoria “Vki” Villaroza. Looking back, Edward wrote, “We put up a post with a board and basketball ring in front and across our rented house.  Every afternoon we would play a three-and-three game with a bet of a couple of ice, which will be used as cooler of the Tanduay Rhum and Coke mix that we imbibed after the game. The barkada and amateur players were all young – 18 to 20 year olds.” The logo that the team employed for years on their jersey is the logo the rhum that made the Philippine famous and also to give reverence to the boys’ favorite drink.

Jee remembered how they named the team: “When we decided to form a basketball team, we did not have any idea what to call our team.  There were several names suggested.  Someone suggested “M Street” as a pun to the movie Nightmare on Elm Street and also to signify the name of our street, which is Magsaysay St.  Another suggested “Gil’s Bros.” as a play of words on the Hills Bros basketball team in the PBA then and as a possible funding from Kuya Gil Manuel.  Finally, we settled on Street Brothers to jokingly refer to our friend (a Born Again quitter) “brother” and also to signify that we started as mere street players.” The Street Brothers later was managed by Vki Villaroza and followed by Congresswoman Josephine “Nene” Sato.  Both managers spent much for the team’s uniform and balls and other equipment.

As he remember the original players, Edward explains, “The initial players were composed of members of the Order of the DeMolay. Papa Doms or Pardoms saw the potential of the players when the DeMolay held a basketball tournament of their own.  Among the DeMolay members are Dominic “Nik” Bagatsolon, Manolo “Macaw” Macawile, Ronald “Nald” Novio, Rogelio “Jojie” Sarmiento, Jr. and brothers Danilo “Danny” and Armando “Ding” Santos.  Romeo “Ardee” Dula and Noel “Wewe” Sano were included because they are both close friends of Nik.  Joe Marie “Jomar” Villar was brought in by his cousin Jojie.  Eduardo “Jun” Mazo, Jr. was brought in by Pardoms to play center while I (Edward “Jee” Bagatsolon) was included because I’m the son of the coach. (He, he, he-NAN) I brought in my friend and classmate Rey “Boyet” Alcones also to play the center position. The Order of the DeMolay is part of the "family" of Masons and associated organizations. DeMolay is the youth group for young men.

The Street Brothers is indeed a lasting and most decorated team in the SJBL and again, as per Edward’s account, this is how they go down in San Jose’s basketball history: “We started and became champion in the Junior C division.  The following year we climbed to Junior B and became champion again.  On the third year we joined the Junior A division and emerged only First Runner Up.  Luckily, Epoy Langcauon, Egay Salvacion, June Palmares and Gary Calitang joined the team when some members relocated to other places and continued their college studies in Manila. With Epoy, Ardee and Wewe (Noel Sano) on the floor it was very frustrating for our opponents to guard them because they were all good shooters, ball handlers and inside penetrators.  In June Palmares and Egay Salvacion, we had legitimate centers who could defend the lane and get the necessary defensive and offensive rebounds.  Gary Calitang was a marksman from the wings and poured in points when needed.  With this refurbished line-up we joined the Junior A Division once again and romped off with the championship crown.  The team went on to play at the Senior Division and, if memory serves me right, Street Brothers won at least five more championships.”

By way of conclusion, Edward stressed further, “After these events the SJSBL was never the same.  When SJSBL resumed only a handful of patrons would watch the tournament.  Ticket sales went down and organizers of the summer league are hard-pressed to pay the salaries of the referees and staff.  This went on for a couple more summers until the popularity of SJSBL waned and died.  Millennial’s nowadays don’t even remember the yearly summer basketball league anymore.”

Indeed, San Jose basketball’s glory days were gone.

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(Photo: From the album of Edward Bagatsolon. Left to Right : Danny Santos, Jojie Sarmiento, Ding Santos, Nick Bagatsolon, Manolo Macawile, Jomari Villar, Boyet Alcones, Edward Bagatsolon, Ronald Novio, Ardee Dula. Not in the picture Noel Sano. Muse Joy Casao.)

 

 

Ang Lolo ni Bokal

 

Ngayon, ika-9 ng Abril, ay ginugunita sa buong bansa ang Araw ng Kagitingan o Day of Valor at alam nyo ba na si Senior Board Member Aniceta Diana Apigo-Tayag ay may lolo na beterano ng Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig?

Ang kanyang lolo ay tubong San Fernando, La Union ngunit napabilang sa 124th Philippine Constabulary (PC) Company na na-deploy dito sa Occidental Mindoro sa Mindoro Sugar Central ng Philipine Milling Company noon pang Peace Time (Pre-War) na kasamang lumaban sa mga tropang Hapones noong giyera. Sa tinatawag na Lubang Camp sa Central ang kampo ng 124th PC Company sa ilalim ni Lt. Filemon Reodica na isang graduate sa Philippine Military Academy (PMA) noong 1938 at ng Executive Officer nila sa Central na si 2nd Lt. Pablo Carino.

Kahit noong matapos na ang digmaan, ang lolo ni Bokal Diana ay nagsilbi pa rin at nagpatuloy na maging konstableng kawal. Kasama ang mga dating sundalo noong digmaan na sina Federico Saulong at Crisologo Pineda, naging tagapagtanggol lalo laban sa mga lokal na bandido at kilabot na tulisan ang matandang Apigo. Ang isang tinaguriang si “Kilabot”ay napigilan nilang patuloy na maghasik ng lagim sa mga mamamayan noon ng Central at Pandurucan (lumang tawag sa bayan ng San Jose). 

Ayon sa aklat na Mindoro sa Panahon ng Digmaan 1941-1945 (pp. 221)  na isinulat ni Rodolfo Meim Acebes noong taong 2008, mga ilang taon din daw matapos ito ay nadestino si Apigo sa Siniloan, Laguna kung saan naging aide-de-camp siya ni PC Major Eliodoro Camandang na siyang patriyarka ng mga kilalang Camandang sa bayan ng San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

Hindi lang iyon, noong pumutok ang digmaan sa Korea noong 1950, nagboluntaryong sumabak sa digmaan doon si Apigo sa ilalim ng 14^th Battalion Combat Team ng  Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea o PEFTOK ngunit noong sumahin ay sagad na pala ang taon niya sa serbisyo kaya force to good na siya ay nag-retire na.

Sa Calintaan na dating baryo lang noon ng Sablayan ay gumampan bilang Teniente Del Barrio si Apigo dahil siya ay nanirahan at nagsaka doon. Nang lumaon, ganap na itong tumira at namalagi sa San Jose at ang magiting na matandang sundalo ay namatay noong taong 1968 at naulila niya ang aming Lola Conching (Consolacion Gracelia) at anak na si Eduardo o Ed na nang lumaon ay napangasawa si Neneth Credo na naging mga magulang nga ni Bokal Aniceta Diana Apigo-Tayag. Si Lola Conching ay sumakabilang buhay noong Abril (13) 1994.

Ang pangalan ng beteranong sundalo ng Ikalawang Digmaan na lolo ni Bokal ay si Sgt. Aniceto Fontanilla Apigo (Alam nyo na siguro ngayon kung bakit may  "Aniceta" sa buong pangalan ni Bokal Diana).

Gunitain natin nang may pagmamalaki ang kabayanihan ng mga war veteran na hindi ko kayang isa-isahin sa lalawigang duyan din ng magigiting!

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(Photo: Philippine Information Agency)

Mila Cipriano: Kauna-unahang Babaeng Alkalde ng Sablayan

 Pagkatapos ng EDSA

Sa panahon ng EDSA People Power Revolution noong 1986, itinalaga ni dating Pangulong Corazon C. Aquino si Godofredo Mintu na isang negosyante bilang pansamantalang alkalde ng Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro sa gitna ng deklarasyon ng revolutionary government ni Gng. Aquino. Ang pagpili kay Mayor Mintu ang bunga ng kanyang pagiging kasapi ng United Democratic Opposition o UNIDO na opisyal na partido pulitikal noon ni Aquino. Rekomendado si Mintu ni Peter O. Medalla Jr na mataas ang katungkulan noon sa UNIDO dahil malapit ito sa naging ka-tandem ng kapuwa niya Batangenyong si Vice-President Salvador “Doy” Laurel.

Nang humupa na ang pampulitikang tensyon sa buong bansa at nakapagbalangkas na ng bagong Saligang Batas, kailangan nang magdaos ng regular na eleksyon sa bawat lokalidad at sinuspinde na ng Malakanyang ang lahat ng mga itinalaga nitong OIC sa iba’t-ibang antas ng pamahalaang lokal.

Matapos na magpasya si OIC Mayor Godofredo B. Mintu na tumakbo sa regular na halalan bilang alkalde ng Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro sa gaganaping eleksyon noong ika-19 ng Enero 1988, itinalaga ni Kalihim Luis T. Santos ng Department of Local Government bilang OIC Mayor si Lorenzo “Lory” Ordenes na noon ay administrative officer ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) na nakatalaga sa Sablayan. Bago kasi pumasok si Ordenes sa DENR ay nasubukan na rin niyang maging appointed councilor ng Sablayan nang ideklara ni Pangulong Ferdinand E. Marcos ang Martial Law noong 1972.

Maliban dito, si Lory Ordenes ay naging municipal administrator din sa panahon ni Mayor Pedro Gonzales at dahil sa karanasang iyon kaya siya marahil ay napiling maging alkalde ng bayan that time. Pero hindi niya iyong tinanggap dahil kung tatanggapin niya ang pagiging OIC Mayor, kailangan niyang mag-resign sa DENR na ayon sa kanya ay hindi niya ginawa.

Lumabas ang kautusan ng Department of Local Government noong ika-1 ng Disyembre 1987 at ang lokal na halalan naman ay sa ika-18 ng Enero 1988 na mahigit na dalawang buwan lang ang pagitan. Dahil sa praktikal na kadahilanan at sariling pagpapasya, hindi naging alkalde ng Sablayan si Lorenzo “Lory” Ordenes, anak ng yumaong Mayor Leoncio Ordenes na nagsilbi simula 1960 hanggang 1963.

Itinalaga din noon ni Kalihim Luis T. Santos bilang OIC Vice-Mayor Mr. Nicolas “Nick” Alfaro na tumanggap naman sa nabanggit na pansamantalang posisyon na kanyang makakasama sa paggampan ng gawain ang kauna-unahang babaeng pansamantalang alkalde ng bayan.

Unang Babae

Dito nagsimula ang pag-assume ni Gng. Milagros Legaspi Gonzales-Cipriano na maging kauna-unahang babae at ika-16 ng alkalde ng Sablayan. Sa bisa ng Republic Act No. 6636 na nag-a-amend sa EO 270 ni Gng. Aquino. Sabi sa Section 1 ng RA 6636 in part, “All local officials, whether elected, acting or officer-in-charge who file or have filed their certificates of candidacy shall be deemed automatically resigned from their positions effective December 1, 1987, any provision of the law to the contrary notwithstanding. If the governor or the city or municipal mayor or the officer-in-charge of that office is a candidate and unless the Secretary of Local Government designates another person, the following local officials shall act as officer-in-charge of the position vacated in a concurrent capacity in the order herein below provided:

“a) Chief, Senior and Local Government Officers for provinces, cities and municipalities, respectively;

“b) Provincial/City/Municipality Administrator;

“c) Provincial/City/Municipal Health Officer. “

At sa kaso ng Sablayan noon, ang umaktong maging OIC mayor ay si Gng. Milagros Cipriano nga na siya noong Acting Local Government Officer (LGO)-III ng Sablayan. Sa matuling salita, alisunod dito, ang lahat ng mga lokal na opisyal noon, maging, halal, pansamantala o itinalagang manunumpang pinuno ay automatic resign sa kanilang katungkulan sa panahon ng kanilang paghahain ng Certificate of Candidacy para sa whatever local position in the government noon na hindi lalampas sa 45 days bago ang January 18, 1988 elections.

Nakasalig sa RA 6636, kaagad na lumusong sa katungkulan si Gng. Cipriano na may basbas ng kanyang mga opisyal sa pang-rehiyon nilang tanggapan at kaagad siyang nagpalabas ng liham sirkular sa mga department heads ng munisipyo, mga nakatagalang pulis at sundalo sa bayan, sa COMELEC at practically sa lahat ng mga government offices doon. Sa paglagda sa circular letter ng mga opisyal, pormal na kinilala si Cipriano na siyang OIC Mayor at agad na nga itong gumampan sa tungkulin upang magpatuloy ang daloy ng serbisyo ng pamahalaang lokal at sa ugnayan nito sa pamahalaang pambansa at hindi maipit ang bayan at mga residente sa bangayan ng mga nagbabangaang mga kakandidato at mga pulitiko noon at sa gitna ng umiigting na digmaan sa pagitan ng mga alagad ng batas, mga rebeldeng NPA at mga criminal element.

Sa Resolusyon Blg. 2012-GGM077 na iniakda noon ni Kgg. Roberto G. Dimayacyac noong ika-10 ng Setyembre 2012 na pinangalawahan ni SB Manuel P. Tadeo, binigyang diin sa kalatas na “Ang pagkakaroon ng itinalagang manunuparang pinuno sa Tanggapan ng Punong Bayan sa katauhan ni Gng. Milagros Cipriano ng (sic) panahong iyon ay pinalagay na sadyang mahalaga para maiwasan ang pagkakaantala ng mahahalagang gawain at tungkulin ng nasabing tanggapan.”  Sa pamamagitan ng isang liham sirkular, inihayag ni OIC Mayor Cipriano na sinimulan na niya ang paggampan sa tungkulin noong ika-17 ng Nobyembre 1987.

Panahon ng Krimen at Dahas

Ano naman ang mga signposts ng panunungkulan ni OIC Mayor Cipriano sa loob ng maikling panahon?

Tiniyak ni OIC Mayor Cipriano na magiging tahimik at hindi magulo ang darating na halalan sa pamamagitan ng tahasan at lubusang pagsunod sa noon ay mga umiiral na pambansang batas at mga kautusan. Inaatasan niya si P/SGT Beato T. Punzalan na noon ay Station Commander ng Integrated National Police Command dito sa Sablayan at nakipag-ugnayan nang maigting kay Election Registrar Norma V. Ordenes ng COMELEC-Sablayan, lalong-lalo na sa mga atas tungkol sa Firearms Ban at Use of Body Guards ng mga politiko. Inatasan niya si Station Commander Beato Punzalan na maigting na makipag-ugnayan noon sa Philippine Constabulary. 

Mariin din ang naging atas ni OIC Mayor Cipriano sa INP na ipatigil ang mga illegal na sugal na naglipana noon sa Municipal Plaza lalo na ang larong roleta na talamak noon dito. Upang hindi maipit sa crossfire ang mga dayuhang manininda noon sa plaza dahil sa kinakabahang muling pagsalakay ng NPA, pinakiusapan niya ang mga dayuhang negosyanteng ito na kaagad na umalis sa tulong ni PFC Alfonso Paz at binigyan niya ang mga ito ng kaukulang halaga na mula sa kanyang sariling bulsa para hindi na madamay ang mga ito sa engkwentro kung saka-sakali. Hindi nga nagkabula ang hula ni Cipriano dahil ilang araw lang ay nilusob na nga ng mga NPA ang detachment ng Philippine Constabulary sa downtown Sablayan (na ngayon ay ang lugar na malapit sa kinaroroonan ng Land Bank of the Philippines).  

Nagpakita siya ng kakaibang tapang sa gitna ng mga karahasan at kaguluhan na noon ay namamayani sa bayang ito. Ipinakita niya na kahit siya ay babae, kaya niyang manindigan laban sa mga masasamang elemento na gumagawa ng mga labag sa batas.

Bago pa man naitalagang OIC mayor si Cipriano ay nagkaroon ng isang labanan sa pagitan ng mga rebeldeng New People’s Army (NPA) at mga kapulisan ng Sablayan. Noong ika-16 ng Setyembre, 1987 bandang alas dos ng hapon ng pinagtangkaang pasukin ng humigit-kumulang sa 30 mga NPA ang istasyon ng pulisya at gusaling pambayan na pinamumunuan ng isang “Ka Dexter”.

Tumagal ng halos trenta minutos ang palitan ng putok ngunit hindi nagawang pasukin ng mga rebelde ang gusali dahil sa kabayanihang ipinakita ng tatlong magigiting na mga pulis na hanggang sa huling sandali ay ipinagtanggol ang kanilang hanay. Sila ay sina PFC Bienvenido Pacifico, Patrolman Revadilo Dapito at Patrolman Avelino Tendido. Tarantang umatras ang mga armadong komunista na hindi natuloy ang balak na pasukin ang istasyon at ang munisipyo.

Noong ika-24 ng Disyembre 1987, sumulat si OIC Mayor Mila Cipriano kay Col. Evaristo G. Cariño, Regional Commander ng Regional Command ng Philippine Constabulary (PC) na naka-base sa Camp Guillermo Nakar sa Lucena City upang irekomenda ang promosyon ng tatlong mga magigiting na alagad ng batas para ma-promote. Sabi ni Cipriano sa kanyang liham, “It is my deep honor and great pride therefore, to strongly recommend PFC Beinvenido D. Pacifico, Patrolmen Revadilo P. Dapito and Avelino G. Tendido for a spot and/or meritorious promotions to the next higher grade for a job well done.” 

Sa panahon ng panunungkulan ni Cipriano bilang alkalde dinukot ang ingat-yaman ng Sablayan na si Lito Atienza na noon ay tatakbong mayor at lima pa niyang mga kasama. Ginimbal din ng marahas na pagsalakay ng mga pinaghihinalaang mga NPA ang Philippine Constabulary detachment kasabay ang patuloy na mga insidente ng patayan sa mga barangay, may kinalaman man o wala sa lumalakas na pagkilos noon ng mga rebelde o ng mga masasamang-loob.

Bago pa man ma-assign sa Sablayan si Cipriano ay magulo na noon ang bayan. Noon ay pinatay ang barangay captain ng Burgos na si Eusebio Lampa ng mga kalalakihang de-baril. Kuwento pa ni Cipriano, may mga panahong sa harapan ng munisipyo ay nakalatag ang mga taong nasawi sa enkuwentro sa pagitan ng mga armadong grupo at mga sundalo ng pamahalaan.

Upang maging handa ang mga pamayanan sa anumang krisis, gawa man ng tao o ng kalikasan, na tatama noon sa bayan ng Sablayan na madalas maranasan noon, naisipan OIC Mayor Capistrano na itatag noong ika-11 ng Enero 1988 ang isang Crisis Consultative Committee na binubuo nina Judge Gaspar T. Bercasio, OIC Vice-Mayor Mr. Nicolas Alfaro, Mrs. Florazel Frogoso, Mrs. Mila Villena, Mrs. Norma V. Ordenes, Father Luis Halasz, SVD, Mr. Jose Abeleda Jr., Rev. Daniel Bandong, Capt. Teodoro Azucena, Sgt. Beato Punzalan at Mr. Delfin Tria Jr. Si RTC Judge Gaspar Bercasio ang itinalaga niyang chairman ng Crisis Consultative Committee na tutugon sa mga panahon ng, ayon sa kanyang atas, “emergency or unforeseen event that may lead in a crisis of serious enough proportions to require group deliberation and decision.”  Hindi naman kaila sa atin na noon, ang Sablayan ang sentro ng mga patayan at iba pang madudugong kaganapan sa lalawigan kaya nilikha ni Mayor Cipriano ang komiteng ito na talaga namang tumulong sa kanya para tugunan ang lumalalang problemang ito sa peace and order. Hindi pa kasama dito ang mga kalamidad tulad ng bagyo at mga pagbaha na madalas ding maganap doon.

Hindi natinag si Mila Cipriano sa sitwasyong ito at noong ngang ika-7 ng Pebrero ng sumunod na taon, isinalin ni Cipriano kay Mayor Mintu bilang bagong halal na alkade ang kapangyarihan at simula noon ay ganap nang pumailanlang sa kanyang bagong karera si Mayor Mintu at matapos ang ilang buwan ay umalis na rin si Cipriano sa Sablayan.

Limitado man ang kapangyarihang iginagawad ng batas sa mga lokal na opisyal na officers in-charge o OIC, hindi maitatatwa na dapat ay mapahalagahan at maisama rin sa kasaysayan ng bayang ito at makilala ang mga ginawa nito sa bayan at sa mga mamamayan noon. Ngunit may mga talaan na hindi siya isinama sa listahan ng mga nagdaang alkalde sa hindi malamang mga kadahilanan. Hindi naman dahil marahil sa kanilang pagiging OIC "lang" o pagiging babae "lang".

Maging sa Sablayan Museum ay walang larawang makikitang kumikilala sa dalawang babaeng naging OIC mayor ng bayan na si Gng. Milagros Cipriano at Dr. Susana Mangahas Diaz na number one councilor na naitalaga ring OIC mayor ng Sablayan noong 1998 dahil nag-file din noon ang kanyang certificate of candidacy si Mayor Mintu para sa posisyong vice-governor ng lalawigan kaya nabakante ang mayoralty position noon. Nanalo at naging vice-governor si Mayor Mintu noong taong iyon.

Noon at Ngayon

Bago naging kawani ng Department of Local Government and Community Development o DLGCD na nang lumaon ay naging Department of Local Government (DLG) na ngayon ay Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), taong 1970 nang siya ay nagturo sa San Jose National High School (SJNHS) na ngayon ay Occidental Mindoro State College na o OMSC. Nagsimula siyang magtrabaho sa DLGCD noong Oktubre 1974 at nagretiro sa edad ng 65 noong ika-28 ng Pebrero, 2014, na kanyang kaarawan. Naging Barangay Development Coordinator siya ng DLGCD sa San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, na-assign sa iba’t-ibang bayan ng Kanlurang Mindoro hanggang siya ay maging MLGOO ng bayan ng Magsaysay nailipat siya sa panlalawigang tanggapan sa Mamburao hanggang siya ay magretiro noong ngang 2014.

Tatlumpu’t-siyam na taong siyang nagtrabaho sa nasabing kagawaran.

Si Mila Cipriano na 72 anyos na ngayon ay ipinanganak sa Tibiao, Antique at nagtapos ng Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Major in English sa Central Philippine University (CPU) College of Social Science sa Iloilo City with 21 units in Education. Nabalo siya sa edad na 25 ngunit naitaguyod niya nang maayos ang dalawa niyang anak na lalake na ngayon ay may sari-sarili ng pamilya.

Sa kasalukuyan, siya ang dating pangulo ng Senior Citizens Association of Bagong Sikat (San Jose, Occidental Mindoro) at Federation Treasurer ng Senior Citizens Association. Aktibo din siyang Rotary Club- San Jose Tamaraw at siyang immediate past president nito sa panahon ni District Governor Liza Vicencio- Elorde.

Ngayon, bahagi ng kanyang adbokasiya ay ang pagpapalaganap ng mga katuruan ni John Calub na awtor ng aklat na The Abundance Factor at founder ng John Calub Training International (isang training and executive coaching company) and Success Mall (isang blockchain-powered e-commerce website para sa personal development).

Mataas na Pagkilala

Ika-22 ng Marso, 2021 kasabay ng pagdiriwang ng Pambansang Buwan ng Kababaihan ay ginawaran ng Sablayan si Gng. Milagros Cipriano ng Highest Legislative Leadership Award na iniakda ni Vice-Mayor Walter “Bong” B. Marquez ng Bayan ng Sablayan na inisponsor ng mga konsehal na sina Salve U. de Vera, Mark Anthony O. Legaspi at Roberto C. Lim. Ang parangal ay pumaloob sa ika-84 na regular na sesyon ng Sangguniang Bayan. Ginanap ito sa Batasang Pambayan (Legislative Building) sa Barangay Buenavista, Sablayan.

Sa kanyang paunang salita, ibinahagi ni VM Bong ang mga mahahalagang pangyayari sa Sablayan noong termino ni Mayor Cipriano. Sa kanyang acceptance message, pinasalamatan niya ang buong Sanggunian at sinabing matatalino ang mga taga-Sablayan at maraming mga mamamayan ang tumulong sa kanya noon kaya niya naitawid nang maayos at matahimik ang kanyang pansamantalalang tungkulin bilang pansamantala ring alkalde sa bayang kanyang minahal at pinaglingkuran bilang meyor at bilang local government officer.

Maliban sa plake, tumanggap din ng bouquet at token of appreciation si Milagros Legaspi Gonzales-Cipriano, ang kauna-unahang babae at ika-16 na alkalde ng bayan ng Sablayan.

Naniniwala ang awtor at mga isponsor nito at ang buong Sangguniang Bayan na kahit pansamantala lang at sa limitadong kapasidad lang gumampan ng pagiging officers in charge ang mga babaeng alkalde na nabanggit, dapat na isama rin sila at kilalanin at matampok sa lokal na kasaysayan ng bayan na kahit papaano ay kanila rin namang napagsilbihan.

When Trees are Endangered by Road Widening

 

The growing interest and clamor from different sectors in protecting the row of wonderful and grandiose acacia tree in Barangay San Agustin, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro in lieu of the on-going road widening project traversing the whole Mindoro West Coast National Road is very much commendable. But is it really necessary? Maybe, in some aspect, yes.  Being an environmentalist myself, I am delighted of such a move by my fellow citizens. For reason that I am at present “detoxifying” or under hiatus from social media, my friend Philip Saligumba informed me of this which is according to him, already a trending issue in some FB pages and groups.

Why are those trees important not to cut? Aside from its aesthetic value, these trees are foremost important in terms of protecting, conserving and preserving our environment as what the protesters believe why they are against the felling of those trees in the pleasing woody portion in that area. This and other equally important and scientific, legal and moral reasons are included.

On the other hand, why are those trees needed to be cut? Well, logic requires that trees near a road could cause great harm and accidents to commuters specially during inclement weather. When uprooted or fall to the ground, they will surely cause accidents or delays in travel and other hazards. Generally speaking, trees belong to the forests or woods and not within the vicinity of a thorough fare or a highway due to said reasons. Is there an existing law now prohibiting the planting of trees along the highway?  

But it would be very unfair for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Occidental Mindoro District Engineering Office and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR) Occidental Mindoro if we assume outright that there was already a permit issued by the latter to the former. If the trees are really destined to be wantonly chopped. As per environmental laws, even the cutting of trees by DPWH needs a permit from the DENR. Did the protesters tried to inquire the two concerned government agencies on such a status as part of the campaigners’ homework? Do the campaigners have a doable alternative plan to present before the DENR and the DPWH? Did those who rant or comment about this cared to ask for the whole road widening project blueprint in our province? If we are serious about this concern, these important things shouldn’t be overlooked.

Talking of DENR and DPWH, why is it that in the past, when the former initiated tree planting projects along the sides of national road, why did the DPWH allow them to do such a thing then? I remember a similar project in San Jose in the 90s where trees are planted along the national road from Bagong Sikat to Central. Unluckily (or was it luckily?) no single tree seedling survived because of reasons only known to those entities and personalities involved in the project. 

Even in this small-scale struggle such as this, coherence and lucidity is important like what the officials of Visayan State University (VSU) in Tacloban sometime in July 2020 did. In that particular case, upon unrelenting protest of the university officials and students, the DPWH district office was moved by the opposition and did not push through with the cutting of the trees inside the campus. Instead of widening the road and cutting several trees, the DPWH agreed to construct another lane on its west side which will be used for traffic going southbound while the existing road is going to be used by northbound vehicles. I believe that this scheme can also be applied in that span in Barangay San Agustin if the concerned officials or bodies just present an alternative proposal to remedy the problem.

For those who are all-out to save the trees from road widening projects must remember that this struggle should not be confined only to social media. If it remained there, this effort will just burst like a delicate bubble. They have to show the world, both online and offline, that the concerned agencies must not sacrifice the trees for the sake of the government’s ambitious Build, Build, Build program. Indeed, there are innovative ways we can push for development while we also take care of our natural resources and that should be our way forward.

Let us take a look in another case. In Camarines Sur, since the DENR couldn’t stop the cutting of trees due to the road widening project at the Maharlika Highway in Pili, the DENR assured that in every tree cut, 100 new ones will be planted within the vicinity. On the other hand in Pototan, Iloilo, since the DPWH was given permit by the DENR to cut over 5,000 trees to give way to the project that covers 13 barangays also requiring DPWH to replace each tree with at least 100 seedlings. I do not buy this one. There had been left and right tree planting projects and Arbor Days now and in the past from down and above and there is also the National Greening Program but what now? Many planted trees but nobody lifted a finger to grow and take care of them. Just like the project in San Jose that I mentioned above.

Deforestation in Occidental Mindoro is threating then and now in a very alarming scale. According to Global Forest Watch, from 2001 to 2019, Occidental Mindoro lost 20.2kha of tree cover since 2000 and 7.39Mt of CO2 emissions. From 2001 to 2019, Occidental Mindoro lost 556has of humid primary forest, making up 2.9% of its total tree cover in the same time period. Total area of humid primary forest in the province decreased by 1.4% in this time period according to said global environmental group.

Of the two proposal and consequent solutions, I prefer the former. That one implemented in Tacloban. In whatever instance, it is imperative to know and to influence the stand of the local government unit, both the executive and legislative branches on the issue. In December, 2019 in Cebu City, the DPWH in Central Visayas proceeded with the rode widening at N. Bacalso National Highway after two months of break following the refusal of the city government to cut the trees in the area. The city council sought for the suspension of the DPWH project and requested for the reassessment of their project permit, especially the tree-cutting permit. 

The Cebu City august body assured that the DPWH should follow the guidelines of the DENR when it would come to the cutting or earth balling of the trees, which would depend on the width of the tree by making a legislation on that one. 

If those trees cannot be really saved, at least there should be a massive, well-funded, well-oiled and serious forest park or reforestation projects in areas far from the highways. Remember, there are still on-going road projects in the island traversing our forests and woods where thousands of trees are imperative to be chopped or cut down.

A dialogue towards this effort, or similar to this is imperative. Indeed, this issue can be elevated to respective LGUs specifically the local legislative board, - be it municipal or provincial. We need able-bodied "green" legislators for this one. 

Not just netizens, not just in social media.

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 (Photo: John Wenfred Mercene)

 

 

 

Yoyoy’s “Magellan”

 

My first happiest encounter with Magellan and Philippine history was through a popular musical genius named Yoyoy Villame.

If we are going to believe Yoyoy and many of distinguished historians, today is exactly the 500^th anniversary of “discovering” the Philippines. The iconic Pinoy crooner has this line in his song “Magellan”: “On March 16, 1521/When Philippines was discovered by Magellan/They were sailing day and night, across the big ocean/Until they saw a small Limasawa island.” Well, the song is about the Portuguese explorer who is sailing for Spain, who named the islands after King Philip. They were then called Las Felipinas. It starts with the arrival of soldier Ferdinand Magellan on 16 March 1521, and then moves on to his meeting with local leader Humabon in Cebu, to the baptism, to the battle between the soldier and Mactan leader Lapulapu, and it concludes with Magellan’s death. As we all know it, the song is about the attempt to conquer the islands, at least from our forebears’ perspective.  

Well, Yoyoy’s true name is Roman Villame and the song became his main vehicle to stardom. He first recorded Magellan in 1972 and the rest is history (no pun intended!), so to speak. Remember, in 1972, songs in English are the most popular in the country. Yoyoy defied that.

Villame was born in a fishing community of Calape, Bohol, Villame was the youngest of ten siblings. He was once a soldier-trainee of the Philippine Army and a jeepney driver. He joined many amateur singing competitions in Manila but always to no avail, reportedly due to his strong Visayan accent. But Yoyoy did not lose hope and finally hit the mainstream music industry in 1977 and became a national figure 5 years after his recording of “Magellan”. Later, he became a movie actor, a standup comedian, and a councilor in Las Piñas City.

Yoyoy’s first on-screen appearance was in Isla Limasawa, where "Magellan" was used as theme song. The movie was top billed by then ace comedian Chiquito and Pilar Pilapil, the Binibining Pilipinas Universe 1967-turned actress.

Since the time of Yoyoy’s “Magellan” what happened to the Philippines? Well, our geographical and historical attributes remain after his singing of “Philippine Geography” while Filipinos in general never give a damn if this administration wants to give the West Philippine Sea to China. Filipinos still live in the pages of Orwellian piece of literature where “animals” take the main stage like in Yoyoy’s “Hayop na Kombo”. The Philippines of today is eager to find a new language to everything we are experiencing. Like in Yoyoy’s “Butchikik”, we intend to invent languages that we do not even understand.

There are many inconsistencies in the late Yoyoy Villame’s “Magellan” compared to Antonio Pigafetta’s writings. The latter is the Italian scholar and explorer who actually witnessed the Battle of Mactan. In Yoyoy’s song, Magellan was hit on the neck but in Pigafetta’s account, Magellan was hit in the leg. And lastly, Magellan neither cried nor stumbled down during the actual combat. It was actually a poison-tipped arrow that killed Magellan. Was Yoyoy a historical revisionist?

According to Jocelyn Pinzon in “Remembering Philippine History: Satire in Popular Songs (2015), “Like other colonized countries, the Philippines has a history that makes the remembering uncomfortable, even obnoxious. …. The rhetorical devices such as burlesque, parody, irony and code-switching facilitate an amusing and humorous remembering.”

Maybe that is why I remember Yoyoy today, March 16, 2021.

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References:

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.5367/sear.2015.0273

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoyoy_Villame

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJIUZapWUvs

Photo: Pocketmags