Back in the 1960s and early 1970s, it was quite common to see the mayor of Mandaue at the time, Demetrio “Boy” Cortes, pedal his way around the town (he oversaw its transition from sleepy municipality to bustling city) on a bicycle.
Several political lead changes later, his own son, Jonas, is at the helm at City Hall. But it is very doubtful if Jonas would dare move around without some bodyguards, or at the very least a few police security details.
More so in light of recent allegations that a plot to kill him was uncovered, regardless of whether or not the plot is real, since it is difficult to divine the truth from what all the interested parties are saying.
Real or not, the Mandaue City of today is no longer the same place that Boy Cortes used to bike around. Because almost everybody knew everybody else back then, parties to what rare conflicts there were would have to be sufficiently provoked to even think of hurting anyone.
In other words, there was a sense of decency that pervaded the place, a decency deeply rooted in the people’s peace-loving character, a decency that is so lost now despite all efforts to project the contrary.
The unsettling slide of Mandaue City to degeneracy has only one cause, and that is politics, the same politics that is largely responsible for the stagnation of the entire country and the ignominy of its status as the basket case of Asia.
Politics has driven wedges even among close-knit families in Mandaue. It would have been understandable if the political situation in Mandaue had been roiled by the infusion of outsiders and other strangers.
But no, a quick look at the names of the personalities involved in the political wars in Mandaue would show they all belong to the same long lines of families that once commanded the respect and admiration of true-blue Mandauehanons.
All that is gone now. And there is little remorse for what has happened. Many of the true-blue Mandauehanons have moved on to other places. Those who have stayed behind have either been caught up in the turmoil or are so overwhelmed by what happened they are helpless.