By: Telly Gonzaga-Ocampo
Ang pagyatak sa katungod sa kinaiyahan
atol sa Semana Santa 2024
I started my Saturday (March 23) with the homily of Father Ciano Ubod. It just appeared as part of those we call as reels and it’s a good reflection to begin the Semana Santa. His homily started with the word Paligas. Fr. Ciano is famous for his hilarious homilies, something that my Lola Danday, Lola Upe and Oyang Tiva might have considered scandalous in their time. I’m now going running 78 and you can just imagine the time and age difference between their reign and mine. Theirs was an era of tingpugong to the highest degree. But personally, I like the homily of the priest. To Fr. Ciano, PALIGAS stands for Pride, Anger, Lust, Avarice, Gluttony and Sloth. What a good material to listen to during the Semana Santa.
In father Ciano’s PALIGAS, P stands for Pride. We are proud of our environment, our culture, and our heritage. Comparing Bohol to the other provinces, Bohol is still green but we’ve got to be vigilant in the protection of God’s gifts to us. Apan subo nga palandungon nga daghan ng mga punuan sa kahoy ang gipamutol. Daghan ng mga bukid nga gibungkag ug gipatag. Daghan ng mga kabasakan ang gihimong kaligu-anan pinaagi sa paghimo ug swimming pool.
And we are told that all of these have been done and are being done in the name of tourism development. What? Kinsa ug pipila man ang nabulahan ani? Naa kahay mga nakasapi agi ug bugti sa pagyatak sa katungod sa kinaiyahan?
Then, there’s that Bohol Motor Loop. At the start, there were many logos of the activity’s sponsoring groups. Towards the end, only one group bravely stood to own the sponsorship. When this Bohol Motor Loop was discussed over the radio, I was very tempted to react over dyTR. I’m an absolute NO to this kind of tourism promotion. Labi-labi na pud ug wala na gyu’y laing paagi aron atong ipasundayag ang atong turismo sa lalawigan.
There was a time when I was younger, stronger, and more active with the workshops of the BACH (Bohol Arts, Culture and Heritage) council. In the said group, we took pride in our vision that Bohol is into Economic, Cultural and Heritage tourism. That was our brand of tourism and we never wasted lives in our pursuit towards achieving our goals. We never flaunted on the streets, nor raced with any Dick, Tom, or Harry.
Kini bang Bohol Motor Loop, gahatag ba gayud ni ug kaayuhan sa atong katilingban? Nganong miapil man ana hasta ang atong mga kadagkuan sa pangagamhanan? Is this really good for our well being? The roar and screeching sound of heavy motorcycles jolted and disturbed the peace and quiet of our citizens living along the roadside. And what a way to start Semana Santa. Wala na ba gyud moy respeto sa mga senior citizens nga susama namo? Where is your sense of cultural heritage? I agree with the University of Bohol patroller that your activity was just a way of showing the different brands of motorcycles and accessories you have; including the vests and the shoes, and the gloves and the sunglasses, etc. etc. etc. And you tell us that all of these were done in the name of marketing products? Did you coordinate with the media so the latter could relay to the people some of your guidelines? Did you have press conferences? Why did you cancel press conferences? Was it because you were not ready with what to present and how to answer questions? And the end result? The loss if life and limbs. Unya moingon lang nang usa diha nga “Manakay gihapon ta. Chill chill lang gud!” What a disgrace to your position!
After 5 years from my hip surgery, I finally attended the Palm Sunday mass on March 24. I’m happy with the way the ritual was organized. Our parish priest, Msgr. Harold Anthony Parilla, had Palm Sundays celebrated in the Island of Pamilacan and the farflung inland barangay and Canggawa. Growing up, maibog ko motan aw bitaw sa mga lukay nga giwagayway nga kalainlain ug porma sama sa: langgam, pusi, bola, ug uban pa. Si Lola Danday kaniadto, yano ra ang disenyo sa iyang mga lukay. Added to my information was the homily of Father James, our Parish Vicar, who said that Palms, are symbols of victory and martyrdom. The homily brought me back to my senses about the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ.
But this dramatic scene in my mind immediately changed stage setting when I came out from church. Nakita man gud naho ang Tarsier 911 nga FIRE TRUCK, complete with all the men in uniform in full regalia. I asked somebody what was going on. The answer was: Security na sa mga riders ma’am sa Bohol Loop kay naa may GENERAL, SENADOR ug GOBERNADOR.
Sa akong nakita, mura ba ug nahimong WAR ZONE ang Bohol. Mura ba ug miabot ang mga JUDIYO aron dakpon si Jesukristo. How could you have chosen Palm Sunday as your entry activity for tourism promotion?
NGANONG MISUGOT MAN TA NGA HIMOON NI DINHI SA ATONG LALAWIGAN? Dili naba lang gyud ninyo konsultahon ang mga katawhan? NAUNSA NA MAN TA? Gahinambug ba mo because you have a collection of motorcycles you can show off to Juan De La Cruz who cannot afford to buy a kilo of fish for a family of 5? Mao na ba ni ang Bagong Pilipinas? Ang Bagong Bohol?
These events in Bohol are very good materials for the Semana Santa Reflection including the PALIGAS of Fr. Ciano. And also from the words of our Parish Vicar, Fr. James Aranas.
Dili gyud nato YATAKAN ang KATUNGOD sa KINAIYAHAN. Please lang. Chill lang!
NOTE: NAA NAY MGA PHOTOS ANI NGA GIPATABAN SA ARTICLE
Rev. Fr. Crescenciano “Ciano” Ubod
Rev. Fr. James Aranas
Msgr. Harold Anthony Parilla