An awakening

By Nora Soriño

ILIGAN City—Days before the Sangguniang Panlungsod decided on the sounds emanating from the business community here, they were divided. That is, the members of the SP were divided on the matter. Of curfew, that is. In the end, though, only Councilor Ian Uy, chair of the City Council’s Committee on Police Matters and Public Safety, voted “no,” while the rest–11 of them at the Sangguniang Panlungsod–voted “yes,” to get rid of the curfew. Some kind of awakening this, on their part.

To recall, the business sector here had made all the necessary noise regarding the matter. Many had gone out of business. Partly, they say, “because of the curfew.”

Why should city officials led by Mayor Celso Regencia and the rest of the gang sacrifice “peace” for business? They had won on the matter of “peace and order,” their main “project.” And so, let it be. They were comfortable with it. Never mind business. They should make their strategies sans the matter of curfew.

And the sound and fury from the business sector became louder and louder. And nastier and nastier. Maybe, these sounds impacted on the heads of the city officials.

This reminds me of a class then whose reporter had to articulate the meaning of the word “impact.” And a certain Mr. Malaluan said, “The meaning of the word, ‘impact’? Hmmm, just say the word with strong feelings, as in ‘impact!’ and you will know the meaning.”

The whole class in Economics 101 burst into laughter! And somebody said within earshot of everybody, “As in ‘impakto!” The more the class burst into laughter.

“Mababaw ang kaligayan,” so they say in Tagalog. But…

 Well, some words have impact. “Like why are they afraid of doing away with curfew? Are they afraid of some things like pails, basins, ‘kaldero’ being stolen by thieves during the night? I know of the real ‘kawatans.’ They are in city hall!” I am sure though that this “kaldero” this one businessman is talking about is not the one that gets a “starring role” in the SEA Games.

Anyway, the businesses then made their strategies. Like the Robinsons at Tubod offering free their venue for some activities. Like having the lolos and lolas receive their social pensions there. Or some groups holding some contests there. Some schools held graduation exercises there too. Thus, crowding said mall with people, and filling the spaces which otherwise would have been filled with flies only.

And these people, though there for another purpose would soon crowd into the stores there. Like the “gimmick” too of the Alemanias. The “Kabolig” which is an organization of those from Bohol or those whose roots come from the said “republic.” They held their activities there, their meetings. So their “eatings” were also there. A boost to the hotel and diner there.

Or take Mindanao Gold Star Daily. Ernesto “Toto” Chu, the genius of this paper, had thought of having it “Mindanaowide” with bureaus all over the island. Contributing therefore to business in the process to this city and elsewhere in Mindanao. Relative to this, other outfits which call themselves “newspapers,” too, followed the strategy. Establishing “bureaus,” making only, copycats of them. (“You’re nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat.”) Remember those words uttered by some character in a movie, circa, ah… nevermind.

Everybody, every business outfit to his gimmick then. Yet this wasn’t enough. The “peace” factor, the Regencia way just wasn’t enough. As evidenced by the closing of many shops here. Hence the good decision of getting rid of curfew. Even if the men in uniform were afraid. So very afraid, that late last week, they had that “bomb drill.” The citizens here have to be ready. That somebody would disturb the “peace” maybe, because of such a decision regarding the curfew? It did not help that the market at Palao was transferred at the site of the bus and jeepney terminal at Tambo.

Which reminds me of the peace that the late congressman Mariano Badelles said: “What kind of ‘peace’ do we want, do we want the ‘peace of the cemetery?’”

 With that, I rest my case, your honors.