Cebuanos: Real losers in the ongoing strife

The City and Province of Cebu are offering, in the guise of service, another form of entertainment, a reality show. True enough, Cebuanos no longer feel the need to watch reality shows like Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) as the Garcias and the Cebu City officials have offered and shown enough and are just as entertaining. Unlike the PBB, however, theirs is an unending edition as we see no end in sight as far as the possible resolution of their heightened animosities is concerned. In fact, as the election approaches, these squabbles will certainly take another turn, well, for the worst.

It can be recalled that these skirmishes are just the dire consequences of that monumental “Dawat Limpyo” remark. Since then, things have turned ugly. Worst, instead of squarely dealing with the issue, the Garcias are apparently positioning and are seemingly trying to resolve the impasse by taking over City Hall.

Late last year, we hear some brags here and a couple of boasts there. They are castigating each other no end in print, TV and radio. Watching from the sidelines as passive bystanders, we were all amused by their wits and on their abilities to coin monikers for each other’s standard bearers. In the bitter exchange of barbs, bragging statements like helping the embattled City free itself from its allegedly precarious “debt-to-the-neck” situation had been made. 

Just recently, this “reality show” is taking another turn. The Garcias is spearheading a move to bring the Filinvest-Cebu City deal to Congress. The more sensible Cebuanos are taking it with caution. Knowing fully well that the venue will just be used for grandstanding, Cebuanos should have preferred to have it resolved in court. Curiously, however, probably that’s what they (the Garcias) wanted because once it is filed in court they could no longer discuss it in public. 

In all these skirmishes, however, the Garcias’ concern for the City made the other inhabitants in the island of Cebu feel they were left out. Most “probinsyanos” feel that the provincial government is more than willing to pour in billions of money to the City than in the province where development projects are just as badly needed. 

Late last year, in fact, one of those concerned “probinsyanos” who felt so neglected was a seemingly aggrieved citizen from Sulangan, Bantayan, Cebu, Mr. Lorenzo P. Capili. Apparently disgusted, he outpoured his frustrations as follows:

“I have a comment that I would like to share with you or a question or two. We keep hearing how good is Governor Gwen on helping the people of Cebu but all we see and read on the newspapers were about Cebu City itself. What about US in the suburb or in one of the islands of Cebu? I reside in SULANGAN, BANTAYAN, CEBU.

We have been asking the Mayor of Bantayan, Cebu what she can do about the road of Sulangan, Bantayan Cebu. She keeps on saying it will be done and the project is now in the hands of Governor Gwen. But how could we get in touch with Governor Gwen, when we cannot afford the boat and bus fare for leaving the island? 

Mr. Abalos, is there anyway you could help us get the message to Governor Gwen?We the people of SULANGAN, BANTAYAN, CEBU would appreciate it very much, if you could share some of your precious time regarding our ROAD TO RECOGNITION.

Here, we have a Cebuano who felt too little about himself and too helpless to be able to accomplish something for others’ good. For him, he is a little voice in the wilderness frustratingly feeling too small to be noticed and too quiet to be heard.

 Looking deeper into Mr. Capili’s email, however, the circumstances surrounding his raised issues are not difficult to decipher. The truth is, it is just a question of priorities. Sparked off by the Provincial Capitol’s widely regarded debt-free status, strong balance sheet and the urges to challenge City’s deal with Filinvest, Mr. Capili is simply questioning if they ever exist in the minds of the provincial planners. 

Apparently impatient, Mr. Capili brought up the same problem to a forum on Human Rights by Cong. Lorenzo Tañada Jr. (Quezon Province) held on February 5, 2009 at the University of San Carlos. Seemingly confused on whom to thank, Mr. Capili wrote to me last week and asked that his piece be given space in this column today. His letter follows:

“I would like to inform you that the road from Sulangan and Sungko to the intersection of the main road to Bantayan has been done and asphalted. I really don't know who to thank regarding this matter. Reason: Last February 5, 2009, Cong. Lorenzo Tañada Jr. (Quezon Province) had a talk with the students of the University of San Carlos (I was a Freshman-67-years old) about Human Rights. After his talk, he asked if there were any more matters that bother us. So, I raised my hand and asked him if he could help the residents of Sulangan, Bantayan (the one that I have asked you before in The Freeman Newspaper). And all of a sudden, the road was started sometime around March 15, 2009 and was completed about the first week of April 2009. Now, my question is who deserved to be congratulated and applauded for this generosity? We, the people of Sulangan, Bantayan would like to send and express our warmest and sincere gratitude to the deserving individuals. Can you help once again?”

Mr. Capili is simply asking, who did it? Is it the Province of Cebu or the lawmaker from Quezon Province? If done by the province, well, at least, despite their preoccupation in a fight against the City of Cebu, they never neglected their constituents. If Cong. Tañada did it, then, apparently the Cebuanos are neglected and have become the biggest losers in this worsening strife.

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