26 APRIL 2007
WHEN I FIRST SAW THE TV COMMERCIAL OF BIOLINK VCO (VIRGIN COCONUT OIL) SHAMPOO OF SPLASH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, I THOUGHT IT WAS A SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE MOVIE "SIQUIJOR" STARRING ASSUNTA DE ROSSI WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SHOWN LAST YEAR YET IN PHILIPPINE THEATERS.
WHAT REALLY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION WAS THE LABEL OR CAPTION AT THE LOWER LEFT PORTION OF THE SCREEN WHICH SAYS 'TIGBAOAN, SIQUIJOR.' IT IS AN ERRONEOUS INFORMATION BECAUSE THERE IS NO TOWN (MUNICIPALITY) IN SIQUIJOR PROVINCE NAMED 'TIGBAOAN.' I SHOULD KNOW BECAUSE SINCE (MAY) 1977 UP TO (MAY) 1987, I'D SPENT MY SUMMERS THERE AT PAPA TONY (MY MAMA WINCIE'S BROTHER) AND AUNTIE FLOR (FLORES) ESPEJO'S HOUSE IN TIGBAWAN, LAZI, SIQUIJOR. OCCASIONALLY, IN THE PRESENT TIME, THAT I AM AN ADOPTED SIQUIJODNON - BEING MARRIED TO ENGR. JEROME JOHN JUMAWAN GABIN FROM SIQUIJOR, SIQUIJOR - WE - JEROME, CIELO (OUR DAUGHTER) AND I, WOULD GO THERE, ESPECIALLY DURING THE MAY 14 FEAST IN HONOR OF SAINT ISIDORE (SAN ISIDRO LABRADOR).
I WISH THE PRODUCERS OF THAT COMMERCIAL COULD HAVE BEEN SENSITIVE ABOUT THE FEELINGS OF THE SIQUIJODNONS OR COULD HAVE DONE RESEARCH AS TO THE EXACT NAME OF THE PLACE, IF THEY INTENDED TO USE THAT FOR INFOMERCIAL, BUT IT WAS IN BAD TASTE THAT SPLASH COMPANY IS GIVING UNFAIR TREATMENT AND/OR MISLEADING EXPOSURE TO THE SIQUIJODNONS BY INDIRECTLY LABELLING THEM AS 'MAMAMARANG' OR 'MAMALAKTOL' AS SHOWN IN THE PRESENTATION OF THE WOMAN IN TRANCE HELD BY 'SEEMINGLY' MEMBERS OF THE CULT.
IN FAIRNESS, THE SIQUIJODNONS ARE VERY LOVING, CARING, KIND, HOSPITABLE, HELPFUL, RESPECTFUL PEOPLE, AND MOST OF ALL, RELIGIOUS. THEY HAVE THE SAME TRAITS AS THE BOHOLANOS, PROBABLY BECAUSE, AS RECORDED IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY, SIQUIJOR WAS A PART OF BOHOL: "Historically, Siquijor was part of Bohol politically from 1854 to 1891, which probably explains the similarities between the Siquijodnons and Boholanos, particularly, Panglaoanons, where characteristics or attitudes, cultural practices, religiosity and even belief in superstitions are concerned. In 1901, Siquijor became a sub-province of Negros Oriental (now Oriental Negros). On September 17, 1971, by virtue of Republic Act No. 6398, Siquijor became an independent province and in the year that followed, the provincial capital was transferred from Larena to Siquijor, pursuant to Proclamation No. 1075."
HERE ARE JUST SOME OF THE BOHOLANO CONNECTIONS IN SIQUIJOR: FORMER GOV. PEDY ARCAMO (LAZI, SIQUIJOR) AND LAUREEN BONGOYAN MALOLOT (LARENA), PRESIDENT OF THE PROVINCE OF SIQUIJOR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE (PROSIELCO), TRACE THEIR ROOTS IN PANGLAO, WHILE THE ESTALLO (DAUIS) AND BONILLA (LOON) FAMILIES WHO EXCEL IN BUSINESS IN THE AREA, HAVE BOHOLANO BLOOD.
I WISH THAT THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OF SIQUIJOR, PARTICULARLY THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OF LAZI, SIQUIJOR, WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE NEGATIVE PUBLICITY.
... In spite of the tales of "lumay," "barang," "paktol," and other forms of witchcraft, I WOULD SAY THAT SIQUIJOR IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
FIEL ANGELI ESPEJO ARAOARAO - GABIN
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