By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
FIRST thing first: kudos to Bacolod City’s Mayor Bing Leonardia and Negros Occidental’s Gov. Bong Lacson! The now harmonized travel protocol(s) in Bacolod and Negros for inbound travellers is proof that there’s goodness in oneness.
Bing “humbled” himself in asking Bong to meet via Zoom last week to discuss his proposal to relax and synchronize travel restrictions both in the city and province. He wanted to lift the negative (real-time) reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. Instead, inbound travelers, including tourists who want to visit Bacolod and Negros, shall only present negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT); provided RAT should be taken and certified only by an accredited Department of Health (DOH) clinic or laboratory within 48 hours prior to their flight schedule.
At first, many believed Bing’s proposal was only good for the garbage bin. This, as Bong is a known political ally of Albee Benitez. Bing and Albee are up for an intense duel for the mayoral post in Bacolod on May 9. But everybody was “shocked” when news came out on the night of Jan. 29 that the governor, including all Negros mayors, agreed with Bing’s proposal.
Remarked by some: Unbelievable!
Since the start of the pandemic due to COVID-19 two years ago, Bacolod and Negros seem to have a “silent war”. Split decisions and contrasting policies of the city and province on border controls and coordination permits under the Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage (S-PaSS) travel management system “worsened” the animosity. Many then thought such enmity would be “endless”.
But nope! What happened last week was one-of-a-kind best to be titled: “Humility begets humility”. As if Mayor Bing really strode the “sea of doubts”. Simply armed with humility, he conquered his own fear to be rejected by the governor.
Lo and be behold, Bong, at that moment, was also humble and receptive.
La Carlota City Mayor Rex Jalandoon, a medical doctor by profession, was also instrumental in achieving such harmony.
Perhaps, they were all “spiritually guided” in subscribing to the “wisdom of mobility” to make Bacolod and Negros be part of the historic act in saving our “bleeding” economy.
The climax: It is well to be in harmony in our fight against the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Negros’ and Bacolod’s businessmen, therefore, hailed both Mayor Bing and Gov. Bong for such harmonious decision. Setting aside political differences for the sake of economic recovery is one “great act” worthy of praise.
Also, Mayor Bing’s candid thought on COVID-19 that “we must learn how to live with the virus and adjust to it accordingly and cautiously” is quite realistic than if we continue to live in fear and hiatus.
Bong’s decision to convert the School of Nursing building at the Northern Negros College of Science and Technology (NONESCOST) in Cadiz City into an isolation facility for COVID-19 patients in the province is also one “bright idea”.
The P32-million, 100-bed capacity isolation facility was inaugurated on Jan. 29.
“Daku gid nga bagay indi lang para sa mga Cadiznon kundi para gid sa tanan nga Negrosanon ining isolation facility amid COVID-19 cases continued surge,” stressed Cadiz City councilor Vincent Patrick Escalante.
The governor said once COVID -19 is over, such facility will (also) be converted to other noteworthy use. Hence, the province, with Bong, is always one step ahead in its anti-COVID-19 responses.
Admirable and commendable, indeed!
***
BBM’s ‘ingrown’
Late last year, everybody thought presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos (BBM) is already a “runaway winner” in the May 9 elections. Known political pundits in the country credited BBM’s nice showing in various surveys to his PR (public relations) team and political think tanks.
BBM also survived public hate when he skipped the most-talked Jessica Soho “Presidential Interviews” of GMA Network first week of January.
But two weeks after, it is as if BMM has developed an “ingrown” in his toenail with Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Rowena Guanzon in a ranting hype.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines ingrown (of a toenail) as grown in, specifically having the free tip or edge embedded in the flesh.
Left untreated, says www.mayoclinic.org, an ingrown can infect the underlying bone and lead to a serious infection.
This best describes the current BBM-Guanzon’s scrimmage. Perhaps, the fast, feisty and furious Guanzon is among the “miscalculated risks” on BBM’s candidacy. Every word she utters now against BMM is relatable and hitting the bone.
“Sagad sa boto,” commented my lawyer-friend.
People from all walks in life can really understand what Guanzon is saying. Her day-to-day pronouncements really dissected the issue not just against BBM’s tax evasion case, but also against the entire Marcoses back then during the Martial law era. As if Guanzon awakened the country’s dark history just with BBM’s disqualification (DQ) case.
Ordinary folks “like” her the way she delivers her piece against BBM. Her quotable quotes are really superb, thus, worthy of media attention. With her bombastic revelations, as if people now are watching Lino Brocka’s 1989 famous film “Babanongon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita”.
Or when you’re watching a (live) play, you can say that Guanzon really knows her “stage blocking”. The rise and fall of her voice (in TV interviews) can also catch audience’s attention. Really, she’s an effective PR material (free of charge) for other presidential aspirants.
The more she talks, the more she harms BBM’s candidacy. If left unaddressed, no doubt she’ll be BBM’s ingrown that will continue to cause pain in his entire political campaign.
Nonetheless, Negrenses are so proud of her. A Cadiz City native, she’s likened to the late Comelec Commissioner Haydee Yorac, also a Negrense from EB Magalona town. Both are dubbed as “fighters” for truth or “wala sang may gina-atrasan!”
Question: Will Atty. Guanzon stop against BBM upon her retirement today (Feb. 2)?
Of course, not!
Knowing her, she’ll never rest fighting against what she termed as “injustice” for the Filipino people.
So, abangan ang susunod na kabanata!
***
‘DISTASTEFUL REALITY’
While everybody’s attention is focused on COVID-19 and BBM-Guanzon’s tussle, one day I woke up to this “distasteful reality” – the price of talong (eggplant) is P200 per kilo.
“Purya gaba!” I exclaimed.
Where’s the Department of Agriculture (DA) now? Does DA Regional Office VI director Remelyn Recoter know this?
Can DA-Region VI give us the exact reason(s) why talong is so pricy right now?
Ordinary people, especially in the slum areas can no longer afford to buy talong. Gosh! This is too much!
Moreover, okra, too, sells at P2.50 each. While amplaya’s price ranges from P250 to P350 per kilo.
Prices of lamas (spices) are quite suffocating, too.
Oh, my God! The public deserves to hear “kindest words” from Director Recoter.
What are DA’s possible intervention(s) to address this “strange phenomenon” involving talong, etcetera? Do they have current price monitoring?
Hoping for Director Recoter immediate action, hence!
Talong is so rich in nutrients – good for the health – like calories, carbs, fiber, protein, manganese, folate, potassium, and Vitamin K. But at P200/kilo, for sure, it’ll gonna cause “hypertension” to everyone. Talong is now worse than Omicron.
Really, this matter needs DA’s utmost attention. Western Visayas is an agricultural region, thus, having this talong at P200/kilo is beyond imagination.
But I refuse to be judgmental yet. Rather, I want Director Recoter to come up with an official statement, specifying the cause-and-effect behind this nasty talong phenomenon.
Because whether Recoter likes it or not, talong still symbolizes simplicity in everyone’s kitchen. But if this simplicity turns pricey, it means there’s crisis in the offing. Hope DA won’t ignore this reality. Because the truth is, everyone (young and old) still loves talong, especially if it’s very big and long./PN
