All roads lead to Antique’s Binirayan

Domestic tourism is fast growing. The Binirayan festival of Antique is one of the fastest-drawers here of visitors, especially balikbayans and Metro Manila residents drawn by the cultural revival of the Kinaray-a.

But there are other events which compete with Binirayan such as the Scriptimist International Philippine (SIP), whose 500 members were in Boracay last weekend to attend the national convention.

Boracay remains the top tourist lure in the Western Visayas, although Bohol’s Panglao and other tourist attractions have gradually risen to the top of local attractions. As a member of fact, based on statistics from the Bohol provincial government, it is now the fastest growing tourism destination in the country.

Boracay’s pristine white beach is being contested by Panglao and once in Bohol, a visitor usually doesn’t just stay put in Panglao. There are other places to go to in Bohol such as the Chocolate Hills, an enchanting sight which remains unprecedented. Then there are the historic churches of the island-province. Loboc, for one, is such a treasure. And visitors can experience a thrilling ride along the Loboc River. And most importantly, one gets to see the tarsier, a diminutive and cuddly monkey which has won the hearts of thousands of visitors.

Last weekend, thousands of Negrenses, including many from abroad, converged at the Negros Occidental High School (NOHS) for the 45th general homecoming. It was a memorable reunion.

Dr. Julian Rizaldy Raca, the Class ’55 president, rightly accepted the award from the grateful president Cirilo Sarcepuedes, of the NOHS Alumni Association Inc.

Binirayan sked

Antique Gov. Salvacion "Sally" Zaldivar Perez went out of her way to invite Antiqueños and outsiders to "Kinitaay ta sa Binirayan 2005."

The affair actually started April 18 with the Tukib Talento (Talent search) at the Emilio B. Javier Freedom Park. This was followed last April 21 with Karsadyahan Nights Opening and band concert at the old capitol grounds.

Last Saturday afternoon, there was the Lin-ay Press presentation at the Binirayan Swimming Pool, followed by the battle of the bands.

What may be considered as the official kickoff of Binirayan was the High Mass at the St. Joseph Cathedral Sunday morning. This was followed by the Malay Ati Dry Run. Later in the evening there was the Lin-ay Talent Night.

Yesterday, Gov. Perez led the Sin-ay Coastal Cleanup at the PC beach up to Dalipe. This was followed by the press conference at Danilo’s Beach Resort.

The day’s activities were highlighted by the opening of the Antique museum at the Old Capitol building followed later by the Paranublium Antique Concert and the disco derby.

But the highlight of the celebration will be the Binirayan Triathlon 2005 at Malandog Beach on Thursday, which will be followed by the opening of the "Ati Village" at the EBJ Freedom Park.

Natives will later converge at Malandog Beach where the reenactment of the landing and settlement in Malandog will be shown.

This tells the landing and settlement of the Bornean datus in Malandog Beach highlighted by the "biray" or festive fluvial parade and the theatrical presentation of the welcome of the Ati inhabitants of the island.

The theme of this year’s Binirayan is "Jultura kag Karingban: Pagpalayag sa Kaaraydan kant Antique" (Culture and Society: Sailing towards a better quality of life in Antique.

Hope to see you at the Binirayan festival!

Bacolod braces for Rotary confab

Shortly after visitors vacated their hotel rooms, Bacolod’s hotels are getting ready again for about a thousand visitors from various parts of Western Visayas and Mindanao who will attend the Rotary District 3850 convention.

District governor Nanette Garcia will preside the conference. Rotarians will come from Western Mindanao’s provinces of Zamboanga, Sulu and Basilan as well as from other provinces in Western Visayas. Mambukal Summer Resort is bracing again for the influx of visitors.

Saturday and Sunday, a throng of NOHS alumni trooped to the rehabilitated mountain resort. Hundreds of visitors, many of them entranced by the siren call of memories of Mabukal’s past, found themselves astonished by the sight that greeted them.

The provincial government, under Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Maranon, had transformed a disheveled sight into a modern center complete with the amenities of a modern tourism center.

The fading generation

There was an unforgettable event – the reunion of Class ’52 of the NOHS headed by outgoing president Luz Dano. Instead of the usual re-telling of their campus days and youthful adventures, the luncheon reunion at the Providence Inn dining room ended up as a thought-provoking acceptance of the inevitable.

Class ’52 was the class of my late wife, Dr. Lourdes L. Espina, who was their valedictorian. Mrs. Dano started the whole thing by reciting a long list of classmates who died last year, headed by lawyer Francis Banzon.

Later, Mrs. Ruth Jaladoon-Nicolas recounted how her husband, Engineer Simon Nicolas, narrowly cheated death when he developed this month a "walking pneumonia" or "community-acquired pneumonia." She gave the aging classmates pointers on how to avoid getting caught unawares by the deadly ailment.

Later on, Dr. Nellie Arao-Antigua, gave a medical lecture on how to cope with the inevitable and how to prepare gracefully for that event. There was the advice on discarding what one considers as treasurers but which may actually have no meaning to the younger generation. This is to avoid getting hurt when they are disposed off by the children or grandchildren.

And since most are already grandparents, Dr. Antigua pointed out that it’s not advisable to babysit the grandchildren. Let them be, she said. Leave your children to take care of them and don’t try to shape them into what you believe they should be.

Those serious morbid thoughts, however, did not dampen the enthusiasm of the dwindling ranks of my wife’s class. They later unanimously elected Visitacion Vasquez as president for a three-year term with lawyer Eking Petero as vice president. Secretary is Salvacion Agudolo with Elit Lacson as treasurer and Ernesto Hibiones as business manager.

There were a lot of others elected by the group. But one thing is unforgettable. That was the only reunion where the discussion was focused on the decreasing number of the classmates.

ADDENDUM. The biggest story is that administrative complaint filed by three assistant prosecutors against Bacolod City Prosecutor Augustus Rallo and Assistant Prosecutor Jesus Ocdinaria with the Department of Justice. The three complainants are Prosecutors Eduardo Sayson, Abraham Bayona and Rosanna Saril-Toledano. The trio charged their two superiors with serious irregularities and abusive exercise of authority and quasi-judicial discretion. Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said yesterday that he had already ordered an investigation of the complaint. Bacolod sizzled with "rumors" of explosive revelations and there was a clamor among local residents for a transparent probe. That remains to be seen though, although Gonzalez is the one who will most likely opt to remain open in tackling the case.