Despite floods and rains

Former Congresswoman Emily Relucio-Lopez went ahead with her prepared birthday bash with hundreds of pre-schoolers of the Second District of Iloilo City despite the rains poured into the city by typhoons Inday and Juan.

Her spouse, former Congressman Albertito Lopez, had phoned me earlier discouraging me from getting the ferry to Iloilo City because of the bad weather.

Later, retired Director Luis Molavin asked me what time I was expected in Iloilo. And I told him that Albertito was already aware that I could not go.

Instead, he informed me that the affair was going through at the Jaro gymnasium in Iloilo City. That was the one that touched me. Despite the inconvenience, Emily did not want to disappoint the hundreds of pre-schoolers and their parents she wanted to spend her birthday with.

Happy birthday, Emily. God will compensate you for your generosity and continued concern for His children.

***

Meanwhile, Negrenses should ready themselves to provide help to many distressed persons from the floods that ravaged several towns and cities of the province, particularly in southern Negros. So far, the hardest hit were the towns of Pulupandan, San Enrique and Valladolid.

We are still lucky in the sense that the rains were heavy but the winds had not reached hurricane levels. Unlike in China's South coast where the floods proved more damaging because of the fury of the winds that lashed seashore communities.

These floods are nothing new. Many of these could have been averted if the local governments had just continued with the dredging and clearing of waterways.

But for the rice fields of San Enrique, Pulupandan, and Valladolid, there just was no help. Vast tracts of ripening palay were leveled. So with the alternative crops such as vegetables, etc. It will take time to recover from the losses. And the farmers must make do with what they have saved from their damaged homes and farms.

Although no word yet has been heard from low areas of Sipalay City and those of Hinoba-an, I can anticipate that there must have been more damage wrought by Juaning and Inday there.

These two places are close to my heart. I had always insisted since Martial Law that these southern Negros areas are potential tourist spots. I spent more time then, as executive assistant of former Governor Alfredo Montelibano, Jr., visiting these areas because I fell in love with them.

Even then, I already saw their potentials as growth centers. And Japanese nationals, at the time, confirmed my appreciation when they went in droves to the place. At one time, the famed Col. Jimbo (a Japanese officer) gobbled up bananas I presented him with. And he predicted the possible influx of Japanese investors into the area.

Insurgency, however, put a stop to the early development of the two communities. Apparently, that was God's grand design. Insurgency stopped the over-development of the area.

But I just would like to remind Negrenses that it was not only me that had spotted their potentials. The US Navy and the Philippine Navy first brought these places to international attention when they staged there the anniversary of the Planet Party's landing by the group headed by the late Col. Jesus Villamor. It was a historic bash that bared the beauty of Catmon Point and introduced me to the Ubong Cave of Hinoba-an.

Later, there was also the festival led by former PC chief Fidel Ramos who paradropped in Bayawan, with a group of paratroopers of the AFP including then Maj. Mariano Filart.

But those celebrations were soon cut short and their development stymied. But the insurgency helped assure that we now re-discover the hidden beauty of Sipalay, Hinoba-an, and Cauayan.

And it may come as a surprise to many Negrenses that these areas now play host to hundreds of Caucasian tourists who make a beeline for the resorts and beaches of Hinoba-an and Sipalay, often bypassing Bacolod and nearby scenic spots.

***

The latest report is the Sigaw ng Bayan reportedly had gathered enough signatures in Makati City and San Juan for validation by the Commission on Elections. That may pave the way for the People's Initiative in changing the Constitution.

That was the main topic of talks among members of the Save Our Language Through Federalism Thursday night.*

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