The welcome marker turning surreal
By Telly Gonzaga-Ocampo
“I do not know revenge. It just doesn’t exist in my life.”
Here is the background of my first statement.
Last Monday, a Maundy Monday for me. I made a comment on facebook from the account marked barangay Poblacion. There was a picture of a lapida or tombstone. Senior as I am, I had to look for my reading glass. My other two corrective pairs of glasses would not fit anymore and a trip to the optometrist is still not possible because of the present Covid 19 situation. I hope I could have one pair soon. But this is not the meat of the story anyway.
The barangay captain of the Poblacion belongs to Padayon Baclayon. And I truly share their vision. I thought she should be sensitive to reactions of people. But then, there were those who reacted and shared my view.
Before I got my pair of glasses, I thought I saw a marker of welcome to define the place. The year 2021 is the celebration of the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. What was foremost then in my mind was a marker depicting the two Jesuit priests who set foot on our shores spreading Christianity in Bohol. That’s why Baclayon is: Cuna Del Kristianismo in Baclayon. Isn’t that beautiful to be placed on a welcome marker in the place where it actually happened almost 500 years ago?
That’s why I’m really sad that upon closed scrutiny, the names of the barangay officials are the names engraved on the market. Names are the words etched on tombstones, since the owners of these names are gone forever. There is a state of permanency, so to say.
Come to think of this. The officials will be changed every three (3) years. For a welcome marker with names of the officials engraved on it will be impractical because there is a possibility that their names will not anymore be there especially if they will not win in the elections. Yes, the officials will be changed every 3 years. As of now, the present officials are on their 2nd year of incumbency with one more year to go. Unja ug mapulihan na pud sila inig human sa ilang termino, pulihan na pud ang marker? I find this absurd.
“Welcome to barangay Poblacion” is enough to be carved on the marker. It’s some form of pride for the people in a place to have the name of the place etched on the marker. This also means the people are the ones welcoming visitors to the place.
My comment on facebook resulted to comments by persons who shared my view. Since that comment is of public interest for us residents of the barangay, I thought the barangay captain found merit to our reaction. Instead, I gathered comments like, “I don’t know revenge. You just do no exist.” I cannot say the words verbatim but something to this effect. My reaction is this: I could not go knocking on someone’s door because I don’t have any intention of running in an election. I am already in the sunset years of my life and I pretty know how to spend those remaining years. I want to smell the roses. If the powers that be don’t appreciate what I say and do, I know it’s their loss not mine.
Based on that memo circular you shared with us on facebook, you have not violated any law. Reason: the law is not yet approved. And you have consulted the higher ups in the corridors of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). And the comment was what you did is ok.
I think it was a certain Erma Naron Lumactud who said: “Nahinumdum ko sa panahon ni Mayor Alvi Uy didto sa SB bldg. Diha puy lapida, gipatangtang.”
With or without the law it is the sense of decency that is wanting. But if you read that memo circular and would read further into the fine prints, putting of names of govt projects, buildings, and spaces is discouraged. That’s the spirit of the memo circular.
You are saying that all the members of the barangay council, except one, concurred to the idea. May I know who that one is? And you have consulted the higher ups in the corridors of the DILG. I don’t care even if you have consulted the Queen of England. My stand on the lapida still stands as it stands now in my heart and in the hearts of the people.
For my final statement: Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Certainly you have a beautiful face and I agree because I always see the changing of profile on facebook. But this is not about beauty of the owner of the face. This is about the sense of propriety and decency.
You have shown on facebook a verse from Deuteronomy. I am sending you a material about the eight (8) beatitudes. Please read this material to the council. One of the 8 is: “Blessed are those who humble themselves for they shall be exalted!” The whole thing is surreal.
Thanks to those who dared to express their views: Belen Ganelo, Eul Fernandez, Erma Naron Lumactud, Caballo sisters (Nora and Chona), Gerald Arcamo Salazar, Maby Suarez. For after all, this is a free country. The issue is lapida. Thanks again!