I have always believed that a native Visayan (Bisayang Dako or Bisdak, in our colloquial terminology) is, as a general statement, something. Without pretending to be arrogant that I, by this postulation, already sound like one, by something, I mean, better than the average human being. The Bisaya, whether as a warrior or a leader, or whether as an orator or writer, is better than many. Lapu-lapu and Natalio “Talyux†Bacalso spanning four centuries between them, should be hand-down choices as examples.
My selection of Lapu-Lapu and Talyux is meant to avoid serious contradiction. I do not want to be mired by academic discussions on the validity of this claim, lest I get distracted. For sure, there will be time for that.
In any case, don't we consider Lapu-Lapu as the first Filipino to repulse foreign domination? I have not read the full text of Pigafetta's Castilian account of the event we now celebrate as the Battle of Maktan, but from the lips of our ancestors, we know that he was not cowed by Magellan's booming cannon, for in fact, he taught the foreigner a neat lesson in combat.
And Talyux, my other fine example, was the doyen of Cebuano speakers. Most, if not all of his peers, and the pretenders that dared to follow his steps, acknowledged his mastery of the language, his voice vibrancy, and his wit with which he entertained his listeners. He was indeed, something!
Even if we speak in terms of contemporaneous events, we will not miss the ascendancy of the Bisaya. His accomplishments make him really something! Look at the results of regular professional examinations, such as those given for doctors, engineers, accountants and teachers, among the many, and you will not fail to see, perched as the top placers, the names of the Bisdak. I use these achievements in unmistakable mental calibrations as a gauge because there is just no better standard.
But, in the art of governance in the national level, the Bisaya is missing. He is not even a factor. In the triumvirate called LuzViMinda, the Vi is not represented. I am speaking about the recently concluded national elections where no Visayan made impression.
For sure, there was a Bisdak candidate for senator whom I voted for. His name is Baldomero “Bal†Falcone. The academic credentials he showed, together with a studious array of his vast experience, impressive as they were, demonstrated his being “somethingâ€. We could not be ashamed of him. The pronouncements he made, on television interviews, while obviously in Visayan twang, were profound in substance as profound can be.
I mention his name here to highlight our inability to discern who should help steer our government. In contrast to the high placing we gave to a woman candidate, who probably was more ashamed of her husband's family name as to give it up in favor of her very popular dad's surname, we insulted Bal by making him last in the field. We found the credentials of Bal useless in comparison to someone who could not show us anything than being a son of a former president, whose conviction by a graft court, should have given us a caveat of some form.
So, there is no one among the newly elected senators of the land who understands the real character of the Bisdak or comprehends our regional necessities. Oh yes, some may claim a kind of affiliation with us, as in fact, others may pick up some of our cherished words of endearment, to tickle our funny bones, but behind the mimicked verbiage, none of them could truly divine our longings nor represent our aspirations.
Do not take me wrongly. Our countrymen do not consider it a serious republican aberration to make the senate a sole enclave of the Tagalogs as shown by electing two Ejercito brothers, two Cayetano siblings, a namesake of the president, a daughter of the vice president, and other residents of Metro Manila. If we, the Visayans, cannot expect any form of legislation to benefit us, it is because the Bisdak has ceased to be “somethingâ€. How sad!
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