A century and 10 years after Graciano Lopez Jaena died a lonely man in Barcelona, Spain, we still confront the same problems of social justice, poverty, political division, and the role of government as well as that of the individual in society.

They are the challenges to our generation and a test of our conviction and resolve, pointed out Dr. Augusto de Viana, the National Historical Institute official representative to the 110th death anniversary commemoration of Lopez Jaena's death.

The rites were held yesterday at the Graciano Lopez Jaena Elementary School in Bacolod City with key officials and education department officers present.

Dr. De Viana stressed the message from the great plebian Andres Bonifacio: "Be afraid of the judgment of history; its verdict is merciless and there will be no appeal."

Later, Bacolod Vice Mayor Renecito Novero took up the same challenge and urged the audience to pursue vigorously the fight against both foreign and domestic domination. He cited the oppressive grip of poverty, lack of education and other ills that beset the country until today.

Josefa Puentevela, wife of Rep. Monico Puentevella, stressed that we can all be "small heroes", the proper approach to the country's multifarious problems.

Dr. De Viana said Graciano Lopez was born of the "pious couple", Placido Lopez and Maria Jacove Jaena. Even as a young man, Graciano had already seen the inequalities imposed on the Filipinos by the Spanish overlords, especially the friars.

It was after he saw frailocracy as a negative factor in the political and social progress of the Filipinos that Graciano came out with his famous work - Fray Buto (the big beloved friar), which exposed their extreme greed, laziness and lusts.

He was forced to flee to Silay City, Negros Occidental where he stayed in the hacienda of his brother, Pedro, and continued his polemics against the Spaniards.

Graciano decided to go to Spain where he continued with his campaign against the Spaniards, always demanding reforms. He was later joined by Jose Rizal and Marcelo H. del Pilar.

This writer, a grand nephew of the Ilonggo national hero, said that maybe the reason for Lopez Jaena's penchant for drinks led him to pawn his brand new coat and return to his rags. He was also a confused person.

The most important thing, pointed out Dr. De Viana, is that we need to look into the works and lives of our great men like Lopez Jaena so we can see parallelisms during their time and ours.*

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NPC election set tomorrow

The Negros Press Club will hold its annual election of officers tomorrow afternoon at the NPC Building in Bacolod City, a press release from club president Primo Esleyer said yesterday.

To be contested are the positions of president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, auditor and five directors.

Ninety-three members have already paid their dues on the deadline set Dec. 15, 2005. Those who have not paid cannot vote, an NPC board resolution states, according to Esleyer.

The board also wiped out all past accounts of members and started anew, but those who paid after December 15 can still become members, the press release said.

Meanwhile, Esleyer in the press release deplored reports that some media people are soliciting funds to pay for the membership dues of members which have been settled before Dec. 15.

Esleyer appealed to NPC members to maintain the integrity and credibility of the club, by holding elections without vote-buying, the press release added.*

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Marañon lauds PACE members

Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon yesterday lauded the officers and members of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees at their 5th General Assembly on the theme "Ipadayon ang Pag-uswag Paagi sa Pag-isa" held at the Social Hall of the Capitol Building, in Bacolod City.

Marañon, who was the keynote speaker, said the employees are partners of his administration because the failure and success of government would depend on them, a Capitol press release said yesterday.

Public officials, Marañon said, should understand the goal of the government toward public service and providing for the need of the family members, the press release added.*

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