Retrofitting our mindset

“200 years lost.”

That about sums up the reaction of people who expressed their sense of loss for all the churches and historical sites that were leveled or ruined by the 7.2 earthquake in the Visayas yesterday. Strange and eerie as it was, people could not help bemoan how so many landmarks were suddenly lost to the natural realignments of the earth beneath, even before people began expressing concern and condolences to kababayans they didn’t know.

Unlike the nameless, faceless casualties that began to pile up as mere statistics, the shrines, churches and monuments that are now ruble were once familiar locations that we sought out. We knew them by name, we visited them and walked within their walls and upon their creaking floors. We posed for souvenirs in front of them, and many of us mused about how aged and how fragile they all were. And then, half an hour after eight in the morning, the monuments and shrines were either no more or worth nothing as a pile of rock upon rock.

Suddenly we come to realize that something’s should have been done about it. There was never any need for engineering studies to tell us that our monuments and shrines from centuries past are all creaking and structurally weary. Yesterday’s disaster is a rude awakening that tells us that shrines, monuments and historical sites are not mere tourist destinations or photo walls that we set up and then fold away when finished. They are significant structures that must be appropriately valued for their monetary worth, historical importance and architectural eminence.

Yesterday we were once again taught the lesson: Value your history, respect it or lose it.

When the dust settles and once the recovery has been completed, there is an urgent need for every province, town or city to create or mobilize their respective “Historical Societies” to audit and assess the places of history, monuments and structures within our communities. Even while promotion of such sites remain expensive and at a low, President Noynoy’s statement regarding “retrofitting” structures is equally appropriate in government and private sector spending relative to retrofitting our monuments of the past. We also need to retrofit our mentality regarding the matter.

*      *      *

During an impromptu press conference after the earthquake, President Noynoy Aquino must have been shocked to be asked about the correlation of the pork barrel scandal to the sudden decline of his popularity ratings. Even I found it disturbing that reporters would be asking such “political questions” at a time of great national injury and growing loss of lives. The old school and politically correct in me wondered how people could seem so unaffected and businesslike about “issues” in the midst of a natural disaster?

But then again, it is their job and apparently for quite a number of people, the decline in the President’s popularity is indeed news, significant enough to come in at second and overtake even the impact of a 7.2 earthquake that so far has killed 28 plus people and destroyed churches and monuments more than a hundred years old. To the credit of Malacañang operatives, they have been quick to accept the undeniable results of the survey. Truth be told, there was simply no denying it. What they of course won’t admit is how the entire team of cabinet members and spokespersons has lost this on-going crisis almost at every inning or quarter if it were a game. For something that started out as a great opportunity for change, for something that was suppose to be a plus and not a minus to the President, P-Noy’s team needs to account for their blunder and send a few people to walk the plank. To be frank about it, President Noynoy should now seriously consider a major overhaul of his cabinet.

At this stage, even members of his cabinet no longer defend the sloggers and blunderers in their team. Time was when they would defend each other and try to put in a good word for those being criticized, but lately the good performers simply roll their eyes, shake their heads or politely suggest: the non-performing cabinet person is a “good” person. Being good, being loyal, being trustworthy are admirable traits but when combined with incompetence, cluelessness, and endless wishing, such cabinet members are better suited to be in contemplative facilities to stare at their navels and wring their hands in prayer not in critical government positions accomplishing nothing but lip service to the President and the Filipinos.                

*      *      *

During a recent impromptu dinner, some guests caught my attention when they began to talk about a familiar individual: Pagcor Chairman Bong Naguiat, who at one time I defended for being accused of impropriety and using his position to enjoy amenities at a casino abroad. From the little that I knew of Pagcor Chairman Naguiat, I felt that he was not the type of guy to commit such brazen and petty abuse. So I wrote about it in this very column. Of course I would be the first to admit and confess that I hardly know the guy so my defense went only that far.

Unfortunately, some people who apparently know him far better than I do were busy comparing notes on their frustrations and disappointments as well as similar stories shared by other people. It seems that the common thread to all of them was that they were all individually associated with Chairman Naguiat even before he came into the Pagcor position. The common lament and deep “sama ng loob” they all shared was how Bong Naguiat reportedly made unsolicited verbal commitments for jobs or appointments to these people who qualified and were deserving of such posts but never delivered, never got back to them or never even had the courtesy of saying “sorry, but I can’t.”

I can understand how people like Bong Naguiat are usually swamped or overwhelmed by the demands of the job and even the demands of the President. But those in power such as him might want to step back from time to time to review one’s conduct, attitude, particularly one’s commitments especially to those who hold your word with honor and respect. Little people may never walk inside your carnival. But when the circus is over, you will be missing the laughter of the audience and not of your fellow clowns.