Ebony and IRONY

June 6, 2006

Ayala Center Cebu time 12:10 GMT+8

Sa pagpasok ko sa call center, ayun…Ingles na ang unang sumalubong sa akin. Masaya ang orientation pero ito lang ang napansin ko…nung nasa UP ako, tinuruan ako na batikusin ang Amerika…dito, dapat mahalin mo ang mga Kano dahil sila ang makakaharap mo sa araw-araw.

Tanong ng isa kong kasamahan sa training namin: "Bakit kailangan nating kabisaduhin ang 50 estado samantalang yun ngang 71 probinsya sa Pilipinas hindi sa atin pinilit eh."

Sagot: Kasama yan sa trabaho. Dapat alam mo ang lugar ng mga customers mo. Pero napa-deep pa ako, napatanong…Ganito na nga ba ang kabataang Pilipino ngayon? Mas binibugyang puri na ang Kanluran kaysa sa sariling atin?

Ang Dilemma ng Nasyonalismo at Globalisasyon

Naaalala ko tuloy ang klase ko sa History116 na nag-didiskusyon tungkol sa kasaysayan ng diwang nasyonalismong Pilipino. Parang ganito ang sitwasyon: Tatanungin ka kung anong mas matimbang sa’yo: Modernisasyon kasama ng Globalisasyon o Nasyonalismo na parang pakiramdam mo ay para na lang sa mga bayani?

Karamihan sa ating Pilipino ngayon, ang gusto umunlad di ba? Maka-ahon na sa kahirapan. Maging in sa crowd…makabago. Na may cellphone para mag-text o di kaya kompyuter o bumili ng mga branded o kahit imitation sa ukay-ukay. Marahil dala na rin to ng kolonyal na pag-iisip. Pero dala ng kolonisasyon ay modernisasyon.

Kung iisipin mo naman na manatili at mahalin mo ang sarili mong bayan sa mga panahong ngayon, mamamatay ka ng dilat! Para ano pa? Paulit-ulit ang mga pangyayari ngayon. Kapwa-Pilipino nag-babangayan! Pulitika doon, mangagantso dito…sakit sa ulo. Akala mo impyerno na ang Pilipinas!

Modernisasyon…ang sagot sa kahirapan. Sana nga. Kasi ayoko rin naman na pati ang kahirapan ay maging moderno rin…Gets nyo?

Mahirap bang mahalin ang Pilipinas?

Nabasa ko ang libro ni Bob Ong na "Bakit Baliktad Magbasa ang Pilipino"…Talagang masakit ang katotohanan na may ikinahihiya na ang pagiging Pilipino dahil pangit ang pag-tingin ng ibang dayuhan sa atin. (Hello Claire Danes! Buhay ka pa matapos ang Judgement Day?).

Kung ako…may mga pagkakataong naiinis ako sa kultura natin na para yatang hahatak din sa Pilipinas pababa…Pero mas mabuti kung maging mulat ang mata ng kabataan Pilipino tungkol sa mga pangyayari sa kapaligiran at dapat makialam. (Pag makikialam ka sa mga pangayayari, hindi ibig sabihin nun mag-rarally ka lang. Maraming paraan para makialam).

Iyang tanong na iyan, iiwan ko na lang sa lahat…Open-ended question kasi yan. Mahirap talagang mahalin ang sarili mong bayan sa mga panahong ngayon pero sa kahit anong paraan, dapat man lamang may ibigay tayo sa sariling bayan. Pwede mong mapag-sabay ang kaunlaran, modernisasyon, pagiging progresibo …At di makalimutan kung sino tayo…kahit mangibang-bansa ka pa…Pinoy ka pa rin…

The Silent Sentinel: The Old Belfry of Jaro Cathedral

November 18, 2005

Standing on the edge of a busy urban plaza in one Philippine city lies one of the tallest stand-alone belfries or campanarios in the country, the Jaro Belfry at the City of Iloilo.

The structure was made not only as a bell tower for the Church, which lies across the road, but also as a watchtower for marauding Moros which were frequent during the Spanish times until the mid-19th Century.

The belfry stands alone from the church for one reason might be is that of earthquakes in which belfries are the first ones to collapse during the tremor. Yet its distinct architecture which can be found nowhere else in the Visayas makes it stand out and thus a landmark of what once the "Forbes Park" of Iloilo.

The belfry has 3 segments made of coral stones and red bricks. On corner of the top of the first story/segment were once stands the statues of saints. On the second and third segement were the bells which was a symbol of the Catholic authority in Spanish Philippines.
Yet in 1948, one of the strongest tremors ever recorded in Philippine history struck the island of Panay. Devastating magnificent structures such as the once magnificent Oton Church and other churches in the island. The belfry was no exception. The second and third segments collapsed to the ground, destroying the campanille.

For years only the first story was left of the original belfry. Until in the early 1990’s when the local government restored its former glory.

Yet the question is: Does it only serve only for aesthetic purposes? As the Ilonggos know that the Jaro Cathedral built its own belfry in the Cathedral itself. The old yet restored belfry stands silently across the road. Using the people’s money (and presumably some private institutions as well/this is not confirmed yet) to reconstruct Jaro’s landmark, the question is what is the purpose of the restored belfry? Its not yet even open for the public, why? You can’t get even inside to get the glimpse of the structure.

Some say it will be used as a Tourist Information Center, I don’t know. Maybe another question raised that: Is it expensive to maintain such heritage that the Ilonggos are proud of? Some say it was a waste of money, some say its good to restore one of Iloilo’s distinct landmark. Yet it can’t serve its original purpose, to house the church bells. So what is it for?

Its not that I’m saying I’m against its reconstruction, I’m even proud of the belfry standing again. I just hope that the belfry will see its purpose being resurrected from the ruins. Other than being the Salognon or rather Ilonggo’s heritage, since reconstructed, hopefully the local government will utilize it before another tremblor might strike again. Reconstructing it again would take years and maybe highly debatable. 

 

How to Write Destiny?

November 12, 2005