Ilonggos at their best

 

"It's not what you look at that matters. It's what you see."

 —Henry David Thoreau

By Alex P. Vidal

 

ILONGGOS have just shown the world they live in a great city with a great festival and a great hospitality.

The successful staging of the Dinagyang Festival 2023 said it all. Ilonggos were able to solidly exorcise the stigma of the pandemic that pulled the festival away from the streets for a while, and handled the spectacle with a reinvigorated energy, confidence and pride.  

And it is expected to translate into triple whammies—a boom in investment opportunities, a Renaissance in local tourism, and a bright prospect for peace and order.

Vatican, as well as the Roman Catholic hierarchy, would be fascinated by how the Ilonggos venerated the child Jesus, Senor Santo Niño: wholistic and unalloyed.

Hospitality is what the Ilonggos are known for; and it was manifested in the way they welcomed, hosted, and entertained guests from other parts of the country and outside the Philippines.

Visitors witnessed the amazing display of indigenous talents and materials in the two-day Kasadyahan and ati tribe competitions and in the awesome exhibition of cultural and religious presentations days earlier, including the iconic and the much-revered fluvial and foot processions that featured the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) fiber boats, dragon boats, jet skis, yachts, barges, and bancas, with the PCG’s 3503 MV Romblon leading from Fort San Pedro and passing through the Guimaras strait towards the Iloilo River on January 20.

Kudos to the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), Iloilo City Government, the Iloilo Provincial Government, the regional, provincial and city tourism offices, Philippine National Police Police led by Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) director, Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco.         

 

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We are not alone. There are billions of galaxies, according to Carl Sagan. 

Thanks to Albert Einstein who broadened the Law of Mechanics initiated by Galileo and Isaac Newton with his Theory of Relativity. 

Truly, scientific achievement in the 20th century has become the major yardstick with which to measure a nation's cultural advancement.

It is estimated that the Earth is 98 billion years old. 

Dinosaurs lived on earth for about 100 million years before they were annihilated by a cometary impact, among other theories. 

We humans starting from homo sapiens have not even inhabited the Earth for one million years but many of us already think we are already the most knowledgeable creatures in the universe.

 

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One manifestation of possible life in a certain planet is the presence of micro organisms. 

Scientists have reportedly found a micro organism in planet Mars. 

Was Mars inhabited by living creatures millions if not billions of years ago? 

How about in Jupiter, Saturn, among other planets in and outside the Solar System not yet explored by human beings from planet Earth?

Those who condemn the person who rejects an organized religion should study Plato's "Allegory of the cave"

The evolution of human thought is among homo sapien's best contributions to civilization.

 

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Ayn Rand, author of "Atlas Shrugged", was reportedly a cougar like Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of Europe's most powerful women, Elizabeth I, Catherine II, and Mae West.

"Who are you?" was the first question Sophie Amundsen got from an anonymous letter sender in the New York Times bestseller "Sophies's World", a novel about the history of philosophy, written by Jostein Gaarder, author of "The Solitaire Mystery"

 

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Sex education is a broad term used to describe education about human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, contraception, and other aspects of human sexual behavior. Common avenues for sex education are parents or caregivers, school programs, and public health campaigns.

 

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George Washington was only 18 when he was appointed general of the Continental Army, and was the only U.S. president who didn't live in the White House… The FBI seized at least six more classified documents from President Biden’s Delaware home on Saturday, the president’s personal lawyer said. FBI agents searched the home for almost 13 hours and walked out with “six items consisting of documents with classification markings and surrounding materials,” attorney Bob Bauer told reporters.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

The Dinagyang’s real ‘soul’

“For me, religious festivals and celebrations have become an important way to teach my children about how we can transform living with diversity from the superficial 'I eat ethnic food', to something dignified, mutually respectful and worthwhile.”

— Randa Abdel-Fattah

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WHEN we were kids in the 70s in Iloilo City, we were told that the ati tribe dance competition normally was the pinnacle of the week-long Dinagyang Festival held on the third Sunday of January after the festive parade sponsor mardi gras on Saturday (later developed into outstanding and illuminating cultural tribe jousts by competing public schools and municipalities).

The presentations were dignified, mutually respectful and worthwhile.

We were excited to participate in the street dance and could easily find the best area to stay—without going through the proverbial eye of the needle—and watch the mesmerizing and tantalizing ati dances at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand on corner Iznart and Mapa Streets, its original site, which wasn’t so colorful and sophisticated like what we have in the new location today. 

No ticket was sold in the main performance area and other judging stages; no rough and arrogant cops were deployed to restrict our movements and tag us as “eyesores” (college cadets were later dispatched to help control the growing crowd in the succeeding years). 

No scalpers, only pickpockets and molesters in the crowd.  

 

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There was no “live” international media coverage and social media to chronicle the event in the Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Twitter but the state-controlled IBC TV-12 television station, radio stations dyRP, dyRI, and Yuhum magazine, were among those that spearheaded the publicity and promotion of the event, which was so simple and no “official accreditation.” Media technology was primitive. 

It was the salad years for commercial photographers who were responsible for the evocative and eye-catching postcards that circulated around the world in the 70s and early 80s. The years when black and white photography was preponent. 

But the religious and cultural festival’s real “soul” was the fluvial parade or fluvial procession, according to then Mayor Renerio Ticao, who, in 1968, led a group of Ilonggo leaders and then parish priest of San Jose Church, Fr. Ambrosio Galindez, OSA, and the devotees of Sr. Santo Niño in welcoming the model of the child Jesus’ image from Cebu City to the San Jose Parish Church in the Dinagyang’s infant stage. 

Fr. Suplicio Ebderes, OSA led the Cebu delegation.

Until today, the original venerated image that arrived in 1968 is still preserved there and a Novena in its honor is regularly held there.

“In the early morning light of dawn, the respected Santo Niño image is borne on a decorative banca in a fluvial procession, starting from the mouth of the Iloilo River at Fort San Pedro, winding all the way to the Iloilo Provincial Capitol which stands on the bank of the Iloilo River,” Dr. Vic Pido recalled in I-TRAVEL.

Happy Dinagyang and Viva Sr. Santo Niño!

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Iloilo flyover and Dinagyang: never the twain shall meet

“There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding and that which is lost by not trying.”

— Francis Bacon

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

LET’S make this clear: the Dinagyang Festival has nothing to do with the construction of the Iloilo flyover in Ungka, Pavia. 

Dinagyang Festival is a cultural and religious event in honor of Senor Sto. Nino. The Iloilo flyover is a public works project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) built to help solve the monstrous traffic snarl in that highway.

It was not constructed to the tune of P680 million purposely for the Dinagyang Festival. Even without the flyover project, Dinagyang Festival is scheduled to be held annually in the third week of January. 

With or without the Dinagyang Festival, construction of the flyover was necessary because of the growing traffic congestion in the roads or highways that connect Iloilo City to the Municipality of Pavia.   

The timeline set by DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan for the structurally “defective” flyover to be reopened for public use was “before Dinagyang 2024.”

“Maligayang pagdiriwang ng ating Dinagyang. Unfortunately, hindi nakaabot itong Ungka Flyover pero sisiguraduhin namin na sa susunod na Dinagyang magagamit po ito,” Bonoan was quoted as saying in a Daily Guardian report during his visit in Iloilo City on Friday the 13^th.

We have a question for you, Secretary Boanan: Can the “sinking” Iloilo flyover be opened to the motorists before the Paraw Regatta 2023 in March; before the Victory Day in Panay and Romblon 2023 in March; before the Iloilo City Charter Anniversary 2023 in August; before the All Soul’s Day 2023 in November; or before Christmas Day 2023 in December?

If we ask the Ilonggos, most of them actually aren’t interested which event and date set by the DPWH should be considered as the timeline for the flyover’s reopening.

They don’t care if it’s a Valentine’s Day or a Halloween. All they want is to travel safely and smoothly and they won’t be late in their appointments and transactions when they pass by in the highway where the ill-fated flyover is now standing.

And, it may interest and give satisfaction to all and sundry if those responsible for bungling the multi-million project are held accountable and be prosecuted before the court of law, if needed.

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I received an email from New York Governor Kathy Hochul, which she also sent to our fellow New Yorkers: 

Alex—I hope you’re having a fantastic start to the New Year. As we embark on 2023, I was proud to outline a path forward for our state in my State of the State address this week. I’m proud to say that the State of our State today is strong — but we still have work to do. 

Since I took office, we’ve made historic investments to strengthen and upgrade our infrastructure, build a world-class public transit system, create a strong public education system, confront climate change, fortify our health care system, help our small businesses, and create jobs across the state. 

It is on this foundation that we will make New York more affordable, more livable, and safer.  

In my State of the State Address, I outlined 147 key policies so that we can make the New York Dream a reality for individuals and families across the state now and for generations to come. 

I can’t wait to share more updates about the work we’re doing to support communities across our state. Visit governor.ny.gov to learn more, and if you aren’t already, follow along with our work on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Ever Upward, Gov. Kathy Hochul

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I STARTED searching for my “American Dream” in California some 15 years go, thus the state of 40 million residents holds a special place in my heart until today.

Our hearts go out to our friends and relatives in Northern California  affected by the recent series of atmospheric river storms which continued January 14 (Saturday), reportedly leading to a levee breach along the San Joaquin River in Merced County, impassable roads in the Sierra Nevada and an evacuation warning southeast of Elk Grove. 

The Sacramento Bee has reported that California Gov. Gavin Newsom visited flooded areas and an evacuation center in Merced; a search on the Central Coast for a missing 5-year-old caught up in floodwaters from an earlier storm was suspended again by the latest rough weather; and requests for help with downed trees and other damage continued to pile up with county agencies.  

Sacramento County’s evacuation warning near Elk Grove, ahead of expected flooding, applied to Wilton, Rancho Murieta, Herald, Dillard Road and surrounding areas, it was reported.

The areas are reportedly near the Cosumnes River, which had severe levee breaks earlier this month, closing Highway 99, trapping dozens in their cars and killing two. County officials urged Wilton-area residents to evacuate Saturday afternoon, including livestock. 

It was reported further that the Cosumnes River levee is not the only vulnerable levee in the Central Valley. One along the San Joaquin River in Merced County broke Saturday morning, trapping eight horses and a dog. They reportedly required a water rescue.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)