The lights of CICC

The CICC was formally lighted up last Wednesday night signaling its readiness for the big event next week. It was not the usual ribbon-cutting affair. Rather it was a light switching one, which to me was highly dramatic as it was symbolic. First, the whole edifice appeared as a faintly visible reality rising out of an open space bathed in darkness. Then suddenly when the lights were switched on the structure proclaimed itself in full grandeur, a phenomenon almost magical in size and splendor. Within and outside the lights blazed revealing an oasis of beauty with its manicured lawns and flowered footpaths accented by dancing waters and colored bulbs.

What a sight! Where once stood a wasteland hostile and foreboding in its loneliness now asserts this wonderful presence signifying order and safety and humanity. How can one keep his eyes away as he passes by? How can one stop wondering how it came to be and whose handiwork it is?

In the eye of the moment when this happened whose heart was so callous as to be untouched? Unless his roots are not in Cebu, he could not help but feel lifted up in pride that such a phenomenon as the CICC is now a reality. Dramatic, the event certainly was.

It was symbolic too. Light makes one aware of his milieu. In Cebu this milieu is one of rising economic activity spawned by the dynamism of its people. At the same time it is one of desperation as thousands remain under-served in their basic needs. Prosperity and penury - these are the reality the CICC lights reveal. Like a typical Philippine landscape, Cebu's economic initiatives seem to bypass the "bakya masa", but actually these are lifting up gradually the quality of life of these people as more jobs are created and more small business opportunities are open. The cause oriented groups of course don't believe this, nor do they want the plight of the poor to get better because if this happens, who will march with them?

But the lights of CICC is bound to penetrate every nook and cranny in depressed areas. Initially, many will find the glare too much for their eyes, hence their cry against the project's costly presence. But the forum with our ASEAN neighbors will place Cebu in the investment blueprints of these people. And an upswing in socio-economic development is therefore a likely consequence.

CICC's lights too signify the sense of openness of Cebuano leaderships - openness towards each other despite cross-currents of viewpoints and openness toward the nay-sayers and whistle blowers. In the last several months this frame of mind has been repeatedly tested as lampoons were hurled at project proponents. Negative voices were heard on various aspects of the project. Acid remarks were made, some even implying pecuniary interests. But the leadership persevered. Wounded they certainly were on many occasions but their one-mindedness never wavered. On the days of the Summit, more pressures will be exerted on such openness as militant cohorts are poised to disturb the gathering. How the leaderships will react to this phenomenon will show how far the lights of CICC have illumined their conscience.

Perhaps the most awe-inspiring symbolism of the CICC lights is the one suggestive of the light of Christ whose birthday we will celebrate a few days after the Summit. The light of Christ is the light of righteousness. It is a "lamp unto our feet", as the song goes, the one that brightens our way so that we will not stumble. It is the light of love, the one that makes us forget ourselves and inspires us to work for others' good. It is the light that makes us gaze beyond this "darkling plain" toward the realm of stars. These lines from Cardinal Newman explore further the nature of this light: "Lead kindly, Light /Amidst the encircling gloom, /Lead thou me on, /The night is dark, /And I am far from home".

In this Summit hopes are high that the light of Christ will shine in the heart and mind of every participant. With it there is no way this forum will fail.

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