from my emailbox;
Akong Pangagho, Gone is the Innocence of my Bohol
From the point of view of an authentic tiguwangon nga Tawong Bol-anon, the above is
my ultimate Philippine map because it leaves my turtle shaped birthplace
unnamed. Perfecto. Hinaut pa unta . Truly, my beloved Bohol does not need any crass
recognition, market, tourist or public relations campaign.
Fuera buyag! Ecological and or cultural tourism, kono? Basta ya!! Husto na!!
Bohol need not need melt and disappear into the global market's apathetic cauldron of
'interesting islands.' to visit by thrill seeking bored people.
Bohol must stop and examine itself before it follows the path of Boracay or Seychelles.
Bohol must convene a summit to examine progress versus spiritual deterioration.
Utubes and vimeos keep chronicling the frightening rapid globalization of Bohol.
The truth is, in less than twenty years my Bohol has morphed into almost like any
other tourist destination island in the tropics or sub tropics, Pacific or Atlantic,
where everything is commodified, where everything is for sale, where Time is equated
to money! Where relatives and friends have less or no time to visit.
Where daily mass parishioners are dwindling except for the old.
Where the exquisite summer daily afternoon Flores de Mayo for women
is being phased out in favor of manicure, pedicure time, TV time or texting time.
Pastilan! This is progress? Prosperity?
Please, Creator, Lord, Blessed Mother, Wakan Tanka protect and deter my Bohol from
more Progress. Make the Bol-anong Tawo conscience resist the building of a
totally idiotic international airport in Panglao, which will without doubt, destroy the Spirit
and natural beauty of that gorgeous island forever!!!
Keep away, please, the hordes of pleasure seeking indifferent tourists.
Command, the ever corruptible Philippine Govt & Tourism Dept, national and local,
to stop exploiting my Bohol. Each morning and dusk, I pray that Bohol will
not become another Boracay where one of its many serious problems is the ecoli
count of its seemingly clean ice blue seawater, in reality is... toxic. Where its small
hospital does not receive sufficient govt aid for equipment and personnel. Where
the library has no books, yet five star hotels charge $300 a night. Where most of
the five star hotels are foreign corporate owned, thus none of the huge profits stays in
Boracay. Where moneyed older exploiting alien males marry local women in order
to buy real estate.
Each latest video of my Bohol, I dread to see the telltale signs
of an ecologically, culturally, spiritually deteriorating place.
The truth is, I have. Several in fact. Like the net ad of young scantily
dressed, posing like whores Boholana dalagas , seeking husbands in Germany.
Four years ago, one of them, even had my last name!! To this day, I still do not know
her genealogy and mercifully she did not indicate where she was born,
because I want my fingers around her neck!
GONE IS THE INNOCENCE OF MY BOHOL.
Believe it or not when I was living in Bohol from 1945 to 1967, I only knew one
Boholana prostitute who plied her ancient trade in Manila. No beggars, young
or old, roamed the streets. Nowadays, bedraggled children beggars
is not uncommon anymore in the city. I know documented stories of Tagbilaran City
"virgin" college girls enrolled in Catholic schools, moonlighting as prostitutes.
They are euphemistically called "scholars." Naunsa naman ta?
Pastilan.
By the way, the title of this essay is: My heartrending sigh.
An ancient Bol-anon song.
KAGAHAPON (awit sa kaniadto)
Ang atong ka-gahapon
Puno sa han-dumanan
Ka-lipay ang ba-tion,
Kanunay nining dughan
Ang atong ka-gahapon
Walay kagul-anan
Katawag hudyaka
Maoy makadasig
Sa dughan tang subo
Apan ang ka-gahapon
Ang kabatan-on
Molabay lamang,
Sama sa gabon
Gilupad-lupad
Sa kahanginan
Maoray ibilin
Ang handumanan
Ug handurawan
Sa kalit mahanawwwww
Mahanaw ang tanan,
English
YESTERYEARS
Our yesteryears
Is full of memories
Joy and laughter
Always in our hearts
Our yesteryears
No sorrows lingered
Joy & merriment
Made us brave
To mend our sad hearts
Alas, our yesteryears
Our youthful days
Shall pass away
As morning dew
Disappear s with the breeze
All that remains
Memories & remembrances,
Then suddenly, suddenly
Eveyrthing is gone
Translation by Lilia
Firefly (Lilia Adecer Cajilog)
Truth or Consequences, NM 87901
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