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Click on the image to view it in full size.Thursday, September 25, 2008
A Critique On The Consultative Commission's Faulty Protocol *
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Wednesday, September 17, 2008
How the Patria de Cebu was Built
Circa 1954
“What man can imagine, man can do.” – John F. Mee
The site of the Patria used to be a squatter settlement not even the Archbishop of Cebu, the Knights of Columbus, and the Daughters of Isabela were able to persuade the squatters to move out of the Church ground. The squatters were backed up by the local political officials which made them a formidable force to contend with. The squatter site became a crime den.
Prohibition Against YMCA Patronage by Archbishop Rosales
Around this time the Cebu Catholic Hierarchy was strict in its mandate that no Catholic youth should patronize the YMCA Recreation Center in Jones Avenue. The Catholic youth were at a lost on where to play bowling, play billiards and learn swimming. This representation had already graduated from U.P. Diliman with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and was strengthened in his faith by the U.P. Chaplain, the late Father John Delaney, SJ. and was pursuing a Master’s Degree in English at the University of San Carlos. With the help of Reverend Father Bernard Wrocklege, SVD (Society of Divine Word). of the University of San Carlos they motivated the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action of Cebu to undertake the construction of a Catholic Recreation Center in Cebu City.
The Offered Site
When Archbishop Julio R. Rosales learned of their plan he offered to provide a lot where the Catholic Recreation Center would be built. But the site the Archbishop had in mind was the squatter settlement in front of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. He challenged the Student Catholic Action to moved out the squatters from the church grounds. Catholic Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell informed the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action of Cebu about the Archbishop’s offer and the challenge. Archbishop Julio Rosales wrote to the Vatican for permission to allow the Student Catholic Action to use the area as the site of the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action recreation and service center to be called the Patria de Cebu. The Vatican gave its permission.
The Quest for Relocation Venue for Patria Squatters
With Cebu Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action President Bartolome de Castro, SCA’s leaders Francis Zosa, Anastacio Fabiania, Jr., Felix Matugina, Fe Mendoza, Azucena Derecho, Hermenia Florido, Jess Solon, Jess Hernandez, Leon Gonzaga, Jr., Augusto Go and Lindy C. Morrell, and Rev. Fr. Wrocklege, the team scoured Cebu City to look for a relocation site for the squatters. They spotted the empty sprawling grounds of the Cebu City Hippodrome or racetrack where racehorses used to engage in Sunday racing. At once they lost no time in trying to persuade some of the squatters to relocate to the new site. Unfortunately one of the leaders of the squatters refused to move. USC Law student Augusto Go offered his flatbed truck to haul the squatters’ houses to the relocation site providing that the SCA would furnish the driver.
The Death Threat by Squatters
This representation being a professional driver offered to do the driving chore. Just as the SCA students were about to move the first house for relocation, the hostile leader of the squatters named Tasio from Leyte drew his bolo to hack this representation. Reverend Father Wrocklege stepped into the picture and told Tasio “If you are going to kill this young man, kill me first!” Tasio’s hand shook in anger but he could not strike the priest. Lindy C. Morrell and Anastacio Fabiaña, Jr. bargained with Tasio to go with the team to inspect the site so that he would have the first pick of the relocation site. Tasio cooled down and agreed to go with the team to the site to see for himself where he could relocate his house. Upon seeing a spot that he liked he agreed to have his house to be moved to the site ahead of the others. Thus the intended site for the Patria was cleared of squatters.
Drawing the Patria Blueprint
Two young architects of Cebu City, Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado (the younger brother of journalist Johnny Mercado) drew the blueprint for the Patria de Cebu making it one of the strongest structure in Cebu City at that point in time because of the special features that they have incorporated into the building plan – installing tie beams in the foundations of the building. This design is capable of taking the seismic shocks of earthquakes giving the Patria the distinction of being the first structure in Cebu City to enjoy this feature. Teddy Trinidad and Pepe Mercado crafted the blueprints for free. Patria construction boss was Dionisio Licaron.
Hand-Made Ave Maria Hollow Blocks
Each Student Catholic Action volunteer would make a hollow block with his own hands using the iron mold provided by Rev. Fr. Ernest Hoerdeman, SVD of the University of San Carlos. When the hollow block took shape and was removed from its mold the SCA volunteer would pray one Hail Mary over the hollow block. Lindy C. Morrell named the hollow blocks made by the SCA volunteers as the “Ave Maria Hollow Blocks”. The entire Patria Building is made up of Ave Maria hollow blocks. This is possibly the only structure in the Philippines made by students and prayed for with ‘Hail Mary’s. The SCA volunteers who made the hollow blocks were fed by meals cooked by female USC SCA volunteers in the field headed by USC student Luz Adolfo who later became Mrs. Luz Morrell. Rev. Fr. Veronico Salvador, brother of Archbishop Manuel Salvador, was one Diocesan priest who helped support the SCA project by regularly donating bags of cement for the hollow block-making project of the SCA volunteers.
Operation Red Hat
To help generate funds for the Patria project the SCA leaders wrote an appeal to cardinals and bishops all over the world appealing to them to donate funds to finance the Patria construction. Each time a solicitation letter was mailed to a cardinal or bishop one “Hail Mary” was prayed over each letter before dropping it to the mailbox. Contributions from local, national, and international sources were being received by Archbishop Julio Rosales as a result of SCA’s Operation Red Hat.
A Special Appeal
This representation humbly appeals to His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, the Archbishop of Cebu to name a room in the Patria de Cebu Building after the late Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD who was the spiritual leader of the SCA Patria builders. Also this Lay Leader recommends that another room be named after the two young architects Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado for crafting the blueprints and supervising the construction of the Patria de Cebu Building for free.
Unforeseen Problem
When the Patria de Cebu Building was finished the builders awaited the shipment of the bowling alleys, billiard tables and other equipment by a supplier from Manila. Unfortunately the Puyat Manufacturing Facility caught fire. The suppliers refused to honor their contract to ship the entire sports equipment to the Patria (which was supposed to be paid in several installments over a three-year period) but insisted that the entire shipment be paid in cash. The Student Catholic Action of the Archdiocese of Cebu were preparing to file a legal suit against the Puyat Company to compel the firm to honor their contract with SCA. The advisers of Archbishop Rosales counseled the prelate to incorporate the Patria de Cebu and secure a bank loan to pay for the sports equipment.
Planned Student Protest
The SCA students objected to the plan to incorporate the Patria and to secure a loan to pay for the sports equipment because they felt that once the equipment were installed the patrons of the Patria de Cebu movement who were very generous in giving contributions to finance the Patria project would no longer feel obliged to continue giving their contributions. The students were overruled. The Patria was incorporated. Archbishop Rosales told Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell that he follow the counsel of his advisers because they were older and more knowledgeable in life. But Lindy Morrell replied: “Your advisers say I am young and know no better. Your Excellency I am glad that I am young for But Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD and Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell were not included among the list of incorporators. The students were aggrieved and were planning to demonstrate before the Archbishop’s Palace. Rev. Fr. Wrocklege and Lay Leader Lindy Morrell were able to pacify the disgruntled students telling them that in building the Patria they were also building themselves as responsible citizens and that although they were not named among the list of incorporators their named were listed in each hollow block that they made which would be honored by Jesus Christ Himself. After all the two leaders reminded the SCA volunteers that their noble work was aimed to restore all things to Christ. These words calmed the students.
Rev. Fr. Wrocklege Assigned Back to the U.S.
But Archbishop Rosales did not know of this act of pacifying the students and had Rev. Fr. Wrocklege transferred back to the United States in Techny, Illinois without the knowledge of the students who were not able to say goodbye to their beloved spiritual adviser. This is why naming a room in the Patria of Cebu in honor of Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD would help sooth the hurt that the SCA volunteers felt.
The After-Years
The career paths of the SCA leaders who built the Patria de Cebu proved to be colorful and impressive. Bartolome de Castro, Archdiocesan SCA President became an executive with the United Nations in New York. Law student Augusto Go is now the President of the University of Cebu. Francis Zosa became a congressman and is now a successful practicing lawyer in Cebu City. Felix Matugina is a successful businessman in Mandaue City. Leon Gonzaga, Jr. became a labor judge in Cagayan de Oro City. Anastacio Fabiaña, Jr. became a marketing supervisor. Jess Hernandez became a marketing executive for a pharmaceutical company. Azucena Derecho joined the Pink Sisters and later became the head of a Mother House of the Pink Sisters in India. Fe Mendoza became a high-ranking nun of the Good Shepherd Order. The last news heard is that she was in Rome studying Islam and Arabic for possible assignment to the Middle East. Jess Solon became a Provincial Development Officer of PACD now known as DILG. Lindy C. Morrell went on to become a Regional Executive Director of the National Economic and Development Authority and later earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Management from Stratford International University in Wyoming State, U.S.A., and a Doctor of Letters Degree in Journalism from St. Clements University of the British West Indies Islands of Turks and Caicos near the Bahammas; and the former Ms. Luz Adolfo earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics from USC and married her childhood sweetheart Lindy C. Morrell.
It is suggested that if ever Cardinal Vidal will follow the recommendation that Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege , SVD and architects Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado be honored by having rooms in the Patria de Cebu Building named after them that appropriate ceremonies be held in such an undertaking.
Inter-Generational Heritage
This story of the Patria should be told and retold to inspire other young people of future generations that the youth have their own building prowess.
-LCM
“What man can imagine, man can do.” – John F. Mee
The site of the Patria used to be a squatter settlement not even the Archbishop of Cebu, the Knights of Columbus, and the Daughters of Isabela were able to persuade the squatters to move out of the Church ground. The squatters were backed up by the local political officials which made them a formidable force to contend with. The squatter site became a crime den.
Prohibition Against YMCA Patronage by Archbishop Rosales
Around this time the Cebu Catholic Hierarchy was strict in its mandate that no Catholic youth should patronize the YMCA Recreation Center in Jones Avenue. The Catholic youth were at a lost on where to play bowling, play billiards and learn swimming. This representation had already graduated from U.P. Diliman with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and was strengthened in his faith by the U.P. Chaplain, the late Father John Delaney, SJ. and was pursuing a Master’s Degree in English at the University of San Carlos. With the help of Reverend Father Bernard Wrocklege, SVD (Society of Divine Word). of the University of San Carlos they motivated the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action of Cebu to undertake the construction of a Catholic Recreation Center in Cebu City.
The Offered Site
When Archbishop Julio R. Rosales learned of their plan he offered to provide a lot where the Catholic Recreation Center would be built. But the site the Archbishop had in mind was the squatter settlement in front of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. He challenged the Student Catholic Action to moved out the squatters from the church grounds. Catholic Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell informed the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action of Cebu about the Archbishop’s offer and the challenge. Archbishop Julio Rosales wrote to the Vatican for permission to allow the Student Catholic Action to use the area as the site of the Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action recreation and service center to be called the Patria de Cebu. The Vatican gave its permission.
The Quest for Relocation Venue for Patria Squatters
With Cebu Archdiocesan Student Catholic Action President Bartolome de Castro, SCA’s leaders Francis Zosa, Anastacio Fabiania, Jr., Felix Matugina, Fe Mendoza, Azucena Derecho, Hermenia Florido, Jess Solon, Jess Hernandez, Leon Gonzaga, Jr., Augusto Go and Lindy C. Morrell, and Rev. Fr. Wrocklege, the team scoured Cebu City to look for a relocation site for the squatters. They spotted the empty sprawling grounds of the Cebu City Hippodrome or racetrack where racehorses used to engage in Sunday racing. At once they lost no time in trying to persuade some of the squatters to relocate to the new site. Unfortunately one of the leaders of the squatters refused to move. USC Law student Augusto Go offered his flatbed truck to haul the squatters’ houses to the relocation site providing that the SCA would furnish the driver.
The Death Threat by Squatters
This representation being a professional driver offered to do the driving chore. Just as the SCA students were about to move the first house for relocation, the hostile leader of the squatters named Tasio from Leyte drew his bolo to hack this representation. Reverend Father Wrocklege stepped into the picture and told Tasio “If you are going to kill this young man, kill me first!” Tasio’s hand shook in anger but he could not strike the priest. Lindy C. Morrell and Anastacio Fabiaña, Jr. bargained with Tasio to go with the team to inspect the site so that he would have the first pick of the relocation site. Tasio cooled down and agreed to go with the team to the site to see for himself where he could relocate his house. Upon seeing a spot that he liked he agreed to have his house to be moved to the site ahead of the others. Thus the intended site for the Patria was cleared of squatters.
Drawing the Patria Blueprint
Two young architects of Cebu City, Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado (the younger brother of journalist Johnny Mercado) drew the blueprint for the Patria de Cebu making it one of the strongest structure in Cebu City at that point in time because of the special features that they have incorporated into the building plan – installing tie beams in the foundations of the building. This design is capable of taking the seismic shocks of earthquakes giving the Patria the distinction of being the first structure in Cebu City to enjoy this feature. Teddy Trinidad and Pepe Mercado crafted the blueprints for free. Patria construction boss was Dionisio Licaron.
Hand-Made Ave Maria Hollow Blocks
Each Student Catholic Action volunteer would make a hollow block with his own hands using the iron mold provided by Rev. Fr. Ernest Hoerdeman, SVD of the University of San Carlos. When the hollow block took shape and was removed from its mold the SCA volunteer would pray one Hail Mary over the hollow block. Lindy C. Morrell named the hollow blocks made by the SCA volunteers as the “Ave Maria Hollow Blocks”. The entire Patria Building is made up of Ave Maria hollow blocks. This is possibly the only structure in the Philippines made by students and prayed for with ‘Hail Mary’s. The SCA volunteers who made the hollow blocks were fed by meals cooked by female USC SCA volunteers in the field headed by USC student Luz Adolfo who later became Mrs. Luz Morrell. Rev. Fr. Veronico Salvador, brother of Archbishop Manuel Salvador, was one Diocesan priest who helped support the SCA project by regularly donating bags of cement for the hollow block-making project of the SCA volunteers.
Operation Red Hat
To help generate funds for the Patria project the SCA leaders wrote an appeal to cardinals and bishops all over the world appealing to them to donate funds to finance the Patria construction. Each time a solicitation letter was mailed to a cardinal or bishop one “Hail Mary” was prayed over each letter before dropping it to the mailbox. Contributions from local, national, and international sources were being received by Archbishop Julio Rosales as a result of SCA’s Operation Red Hat.
A Special Appeal
This representation humbly appeals to His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, the Archbishop of Cebu to name a room in the Patria de Cebu Building after the late Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD who was the spiritual leader of the SCA Patria builders. Also this Lay Leader recommends that another room be named after the two young architects Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado for crafting the blueprints and supervising the construction of the Patria de Cebu Building for free.
Unforeseen Problem
When the Patria de Cebu Building was finished the builders awaited the shipment of the bowling alleys, billiard tables and other equipment by a supplier from Manila. Unfortunately the Puyat Manufacturing Facility caught fire. The suppliers refused to honor their contract to ship the entire sports equipment to the Patria (which was supposed to be paid in several installments over a three-year period) but insisted that the entire shipment be paid in cash. The Student Catholic Action of the Archdiocese of Cebu were preparing to file a legal suit against the Puyat Company to compel the firm to honor their contract with SCA. The advisers of Archbishop Rosales counseled the prelate to incorporate the Patria de Cebu and secure a bank loan to pay for the sports equipment.
Planned Student Protest
The SCA students objected to the plan to incorporate the Patria and to secure a loan to pay for the sports equipment because they felt that once the equipment were installed the patrons of the Patria de Cebu movement who were very generous in giving contributions to finance the Patria project would no longer feel obliged to continue giving their contributions. The students were overruled. The Patria was incorporated. Archbishop Rosales told Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell that he follow the counsel of his advisers because they were older and more knowledgeable in life. But Lindy Morrell replied: “Your advisers say I am young and know no better. Your Excellency I am glad that I am young for But Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD and Lay Leader Lindy C. Morrell were not included among the list of incorporators. The students were aggrieved and were planning to demonstrate before the Archbishop’s Palace. Rev. Fr. Wrocklege and Lay Leader Lindy Morrell were able to pacify the disgruntled students telling them that in building the Patria they were also building themselves as responsible citizens and that although they were not named among the list of incorporators their named were listed in each hollow block that they made which would be honored by Jesus Christ Himself. After all the two leaders reminded the SCA volunteers that their noble work was aimed to restore all things to Christ. These words calmed the students.
Rev. Fr. Wrocklege Assigned Back to the U.S.
But Archbishop Rosales did not know of this act of pacifying the students and had Rev. Fr. Wrocklege transferred back to the United States in Techny, Illinois without the knowledge of the students who were not able to say goodbye to their beloved spiritual adviser. This is why naming a room in the Patria of Cebu in honor of Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege, SVD would help sooth the hurt that the SCA volunteers felt.
The After-Years
The career paths of the SCA leaders who built the Patria de Cebu proved to be colorful and impressive. Bartolome de Castro, Archdiocesan SCA President became an executive with the United Nations in New York. Law student Augusto Go is now the President of the University of Cebu. Francis Zosa became a congressman and is now a successful practicing lawyer in Cebu City. Felix Matugina is a successful businessman in Mandaue City. Leon Gonzaga, Jr. became a labor judge in Cagayan de Oro City. Anastacio Fabiaña, Jr. became a marketing supervisor. Jess Hernandez became a marketing executive for a pharmaceutical company. Azucena Derecho joined the Pink Sisters and later became the head of a Mother House of the Pink Sisters in India. Fe Mendoza became a high-ranking nun of the Good Shepherd Order. The last news heard is that she was in Rome studying Islam and Arabic for possible assignment to the Middle East. Jess Solon became a Provincial Development Officer of PACD now known as DILG. Lindy C. Morrell went on to become a Regional Executive Director of the National Economic and Development Authority and later earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Management from Stratford International University in Wyoming State, U.S.A., and a Doctor of Letters Degree in Journalism from St. Clements University of the British West Indies Islands of Turks and Caicos near the Bahammas; and the former Ms. Luz Adolfo earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics from USC and married her childhood sweetheart Lindy C. Morrell.
It is suggested that if ever Cardinal Vidal will follow the recommendation that Rev. Fr. Bernard Wrocklege , SVD and architects Teodoro Trinidad and Jose Mercado be honored by having rooms in the Patria de Cebu Building named after them that appropriate ceremonies be held in such an undertaking.
Inter-Generational Heritage
This story of the Patria should be told and retold to inspire other young people of future generations that the youth have their own building prowess.
“Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.” - Benjamin Disraeli
-LCM
T.I.C. - Cebu City's Unique Answer to Unmitigated Street Diggings
The official seal of the Technical Infrastructure Committeeof the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Cebu City
Solving an Age-old Urban Problem
Rationalizing street diggings have always been a headache for local government units. Well-paved city streets are dug open to accommodate the laying of main service lines of private utility companies and to provide space for utility posts upon which electrical connections and service utility lines of telecommunication companies are strung in long lines of overhead cables which mar the City’s skyline. More often than not, these overhead wires tend to dangle loosely to pose traffic hazards to both motorists and pedestrians. Fire trucks of the City’s fire department cannot enter streets of fire-stricken areas because of these dangling service wires which impede their entry into the scene of fire.
To solve such hazardous dangling overhead wires and to prevent untimely and repeated destruction of well-paved city thoroughfares the City of Cebu ventured to put up a service committee to regulate street diggings and the laying down of utility posts. This gave birth to the foundation of the Technical Infrastructure Committee (TIC) of the City of Cebu.
Unique Development Partnership
Of the more than 117 cities in the Philippines, only the City of Cebu has the capability to view infrastructure and social development problems holistically, with a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach in urban issues solutions where the local government unit of Cebu City act as a catalyst and integrator of community development efforts interfaced with social and economic dimensions, having the development components of – Industry, Business, National Government Line Agencies and Civil Society – acting as partners in nation-building on the local level.
TIC Has Presidential Mandate
Once upon a time in the past the other component cities and some municipalities in Metro Cebu, were part of a cohesive urban problem-solving group known as Metro Cebu Coordinating Council funded by an RDC-driven scheme – the Metro Cebu Development Project with foreign funding assistance and made possible with the Administrative Order of then President Aquino issued by Executive Secretary Franklin M. Drilon on April 2, 1990.
What is TIC?
The Technical Infrastructure Committee (TIC) is a task force organized by the MCCC (Metro Cebu Coordinating Council) as an implementing arm to pursue its program of action in Metro Cebu.
TIC is a unique management mechanism of rationalizing and coordinating steps in the solution of infrastructure concerns affecting Metro Cebu.
TIC is covered by the Cebu City Ordinance No. 2135 and has its own implementing rules and regulations for its enforcement. Thus a highly-urbanized city – City of Cebu – has finally grabbed the horns of a pesky dilemma and came up with a sustaining relevant solution.
TIC Rationale
The rules and guidelines on projects especially for road diggings and excavation permits are as follows:
a. Application for excavation permits should be submitted to the TIC;
b. Endorsement from TIC must be signed by the TIC Chairman to the agencies concerned;
c. Approval from the City Engineer’s Office;
d. Upon approval of excavation permit or before starting the permit it is required that barricades, warning signs, evening lights and especially billboards should be placed on the site.
Metro Cebu TIC’s Impressive Success
MCCC’s rationalization of infrastructure activities scored impressive successes which was the envy of Metro Manila Development Authority which frequently suffers from divisiveness because many mayors of Metro Manila have the propensity to agree to disagree with the Metro Manila Governor as well as among themselves on prioritization of infrastructure concerns.
TIC’s History
TIC was born on April 20, 1992 when former President Corazon C. Aquino through her Executive Secretary Franklin Drilon issued an Administrative Order No. 172 “pursuant to Section 3 (1) of Administrative Order no. 172, Series of 1990, creating Metro Cebu Coordinating Council for road excavations, restorations and other related infrastructure activities.”
To his credit, the City of Cebu under Mayor Tomas Osmeña responded by motivating the Sangguniang Panlungsod to enact Cebu City’s counterpart ordinances and resolutions. Thus was born the country’s only effective coordinative body that is actively pursuing a rational and logical approach in the management of controversial road construction, street diggings, excavations, road widening and regulation of private utility companies’ primary and secondary service lines, service drops and other line hardwares, and other infrastructure-related concerns thereby promoting general public welfare.
Metro-wide Spread
Before the creation of TIC and during the 2nd term of Mayor Tomas Osmeña there were rampant diggings and excavations made by the utility companies. Hon. Tomas Osmeña decided to organize a committee called MCCC “Metro Cebu Technical Infrastructure Committee” that will regulate road diggings, excavations, aerial cable lines, underground water service lines and other infrastructure problems, including those infrastructure facilities belonging to the respective barangays of Cebu City. Mayor Tomas Osmeña organized MCCC, but when the MCDP reached its terminal phase only Cebu City opted to continue the integrated development problem-solving approach. The other MCDP members were unwilling to shoulder the cost of the holistic scheme of urban development problem-solving concept characterized by a management system style rather than the traditional parochial way of piece-meal, fragmented and not cost-effective development endeavors. Mayor Tomas plays the role of big brother despite the highly individualistic style of public management by the other LGUs who are now inactive members of the Metro Cebu Coordinating Council nevertheless continue to enjoy the generous technical services of the Cebu City TIC inspectorate teams which continue to monitor and evaluate street diggings and excavations of private utility companies in their respective areas’ territorial jurisdictions even without their request. This shows the brotherly concern of Mayor Osmeña towards his fellow mayors underscoring the subnational development leadership of Cebu City.
Whenever international conferences are situated in the Cebu Island, the Cebu City Technical Infrastructure Committee goes into action to support such noble national endeavors, including even the yearly observance of the Sinulog of Cebu and other major sports activities by imposing moto propio the holding of moratoria on street diggings and excavations along the usual ceremonial routes.
Cebu City TIC silently serves the good people of Cebu without fanfare and expectations of recognition and reward. We stand ready to serve.
TIC Activities
1. Providing assistance for bundling truck to the utility group for their bundling activities of dangling spaghetti wires of utility companies;
2. Intervention of the TIC as the coordinating body for the implementation of the color coding of the utility group;
3. The TIC has its own Inspectorate Team which is composed of utility companies and agencies’ technical representatives concerned to closely monitors its street diggings, excavations, aerial communication lines, and other infrastructure projects, schedules every Thursday of the week. They also evaluate the quality of restoration efforts of street diggings by the utility companies. If the TIC Inspectorate Team is not satisfied with the quality of work in the restoration endeavors, they will submit their report to the TIC body which will now direct the erring utility company or government agency to redo the restoration work or else the City of Cebu will undertake the restoration work and charge the concerned company with the cost of restoration.
City Ordinances of the TIC
1. City Ordinance 1647 – Approved October 7, 1996
Amending Sections (3), 4, 5, 11(b), of Ordinance 1918 (known as ordinance “regulating street diggings and providing penalties for violations thereof”).
2. City Ordinance 2410 – Approved March 11, 1996
Approving the City Ordinance 1618 – an ordinance regulating street diggings and providing penalties for violators thereof.
3. City Ordinance 1894 – Approved April 4, 2001
Ordinance creating the Utility Lines Installations Coordinating Committee as sub-committee of the existing Technical Infrastructure Committee provided in City Ordinance 1618.
4. City Ordinance 2092 – Approved September 13, 2006
Ordinance requiring utility companies to make their own service/contractor crews to wear uniforms and IDs while servicing utility posts service lines to prevent undue pilfering or tampering of competitor lines.
TIC Board Resolutions, Series of 2007
1. Resolution No. 1 – Naming PLDT as the team leader for bundling activities by the utility companies.
2. Resolution No. 2 – Interservice cooperation between LGUs and private utility companies.
3. Resolution No. 3 – Information gathering on stolen goods.
4. Resolution No. 4 – Integrated Planning Efforts – Need for consultative and coordinative planning of road projects between DPWH and private utility companies.
Resolutions Sponsored by Councilor Archival for TIC
1. Resolution No. 07-209 – Approved July 25, 2007
Directing all utility companies to continue in bundling of their respective utility wires and to start the color coding of the bundling for a better and cleaner Cebu and name PLDT as the lead composite agency for the bundling of the telecommunications utility wires.
2. Resolution No. 07-457 – Approved August 22, 2007
Requesting DPWH to expedite the concreting of sidewalk along Escario Street to avoid inconvenience to the residents of the City of Cebu through the Technical Infrastructure Committee before commencing any of its infrastructure projects.
3. Resolution No. 07-719 – Approved September 19, 2007
Requesting all utility companies to make an inventory of their respective utility posts by putting tags on the post bearing the company’s name and post serial number and submit the same to the TIC.
-LCM
TIC’s Presiding Officer for Administration is Dr. Lindy Crisolo Morrell who holds a Doctoral Degree in Environmental Management Communication from the School of Engineering of Stratford International University based in the U.S. State of Wyoming; and a Doctor of Letters in Journalism from St. Clements University in the British West Indies Islands of Turks and Caicos near Bermuda. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines and is a Fellow of the Design, Technology and Management Society International (DTMSI) based in Ladismith Cape, South Africa. He is a retired Regional Executive Director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and is an awardee of the UP Alumni Association in Dilliman, Quezon City on April 16, 1977 for rendering outstanding services in Muslim Mindanao.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Shifting Governance Reforms Into High Gear
This article was published in the June 10, 2007 Issue of the Bag-ong Lungsoranon*, page 2.
Focus on Public Accountability
Now that the winning candidates have passed the tough hurdle of winning the elections comes even the more demanding litmus test of public accountability of public performance.
The days when political candidates’ election promises are taken with a grain of salt are over. Promises are not just made to be spoken but complied with.
Barug Pilipino and Dilaab can now grade the elected officials’ performance by measuring the distance between intention and implementation. The elected public officials’ mettle will now be tested in the crucible of performance. Voters expect no excuses or alibis for mediocre service delivery outputs. The pleasure of winning is replaced by the pressure of doing.
Implement Public Score Cards in Each Parish Community
We suggest to Barug Pilipino and Dilaab to prepare and distribute performance score cards to make public before each parish community the performance grades of the winning candidates who come from their respective parishes. All elections are local. The behavior and service delivery of each winning candidate in the various electoral districts must be publicized by billboards posted in each district preferably in each barangay hall. There is no substitute for public transparency.
We further suggest that each parish pastoral council formally communicate in writing to their parochial candidate the sentiments of the parishioners about their elected officials’ accomplishments vis-à-vis their election promises. This should put these officials on their toes in case they are thinking of being reelected. They can run again or run away from future elections.
Public Consultations Before Public Implementation
Our elected public officials have the bad habit of undertaking public projects without prior consultations of the target beneficiaries. This ignoring the people is tantamount to public insultation. The public officials must realize that public opinion “consists of the aggregate of opinions on specific issues.” Mere consultation of the barangay council officials cannot be equated with having consulted the barangay constituencies. It cannot be denied that there are instances when some duly elected public officials divert project funds for personal gain thereby becoming “REPRESENTA-THIEVES”! Close monitoring of public project implementation ensures public accountability. Barug Pilipino and Dilaab can play pivotal roles in this aspect.
Activate Public Accountability
At the end of each calendar year, each mayor or governor must report to the people the status of implementation of the development plan of each Local Government Unit (LGU). Mere recitation of public projects successfully completed should not suffice. An LGU can put up scores of projects without triggering development of the territory under its jurisdiction. There has to be presented to the constituencies of each LGU the officials’ development vision and mission as embodied in their development plan after public consultation.
Development Planning is Essential
This means defining a development direction for the LGU to pursue. If there is no development plan then the LGU is like a boat sailing without an intended port of destination but is merely running around in circles. The development plan must be translated into a development budget. If the LGU has no such plan then such LGU does not really have a development budget but has only a statement of revenues and expenditures without planned direction. Such unwise public spending document can be called a “BADYET”! How can we measure progress in development if there is no defined direction? A budget is a financial translation of a well-thought out development plan. Public officials who do not prepare a development plan and a development budget should be ousted by public recall. Kick the nonperformers out! They are squanderers of hard-earned taxpayers’ money. In God we trust, in politicians naught. Politicians can be naughty.
-LCM
*Bag-ong Lungsoranon is the Diocesan Publication of the Archdiocese of Cebu (Philippines).
Focus on Public Accountability
Now that the winning candidates have passed the tough hurdle of winning the elections comes even the more demanding litmus test of public accountability of public performance.
The days when political candidates’ election promises are taken with a grain of salt are over. Promises are not just made to be spoken but complied with.
Barug Pilipino and Dilaab can now grade the elected officials’ performance by measuring the distance between intention and implementation. The elected public officials’ mettle will now be tested in the crucible of performance. Voters expect no excuses or alibis for mediocre service delivery outputs. The pleasure of winning is replaced by the pressure of doing.
Implement Public Score Cards in Each Parish Community
We suggest to Barug Pilipino and Dilaab to prepare and distribute performance score cards to make public before each parish community the performance grades of the winning candidates who come from their respective parishes. All elections are local. The behavior and service delivery of each winning candidate in the various electoral districts must be publicized by billboards posted in each district preferably in each barangay hall. There is no substitute for public transparency.
We further suggest that each parish pastoral council formally communicate in writing to their parochial candidate the sentiments of the parishioners about their elected officials’ accomplishments vis-à-vis their election promises. This should put these officials on their toes in case they are thinking of being reelected. They can run again or run away from future elections.
Public Consultations Before Public Implementation
Our elected public officials have the bad habit of undertaking public projects without prior consultations of the target beneficiaries. This ignoring the people is tantamount to public insultation. The public officials must realize that public opinion “consists of the aggregate of opinions on specific issues.” Mere consultation of the barangay council officials cannot be equated with having consulted the barangay constituencies. It cannot be denied that there are instances when some duly elected public officials divert project funds for personal gain thereby becoming “REPRESENTA-THIEVES”! Close monitoring of public project implementation ensures public accountability. Barug Pilipino and Dilaab can play pivotal roles in this aspect.
Activate Public Accountability
At the end of each calendar year, each mayor or governor must report to the people the status of implementation of the development plan of each Local Government Unit (LGU). Mere recitation of public projects successfully completed should not suffice. An LGU can put up scores of projects without triggering development of the territory under its jurisdiction. There has to be presented to the constituencies of each LGU the officials’ development vision and mission as embodied in their development plan after public consultation.
Development Planning is Essential
This means defining a development direction for the LGU to pursue. If there is no development plan then the LGU is like a boat sailing without an intended port of destination but is merely running around in circles. The development plan must be translated into a development budget. If the LGU has no such plan then such LGU does not really have a development budget but has only a statement of revenues and expenditures without planned direction. Such unwise public spending document can be called a “BADYET”! How can we measure progress in development if there is no defined direction? A budget is a financial translation of a well-thought out development plan. Public officials who do not prepare a development plan and a development budget should be ousted by public recall. Kick the nonperformers out! They are squanderers of hard-earned taxpayers’ money. In God we trust, in politicians naught. Politicians can be naughty.
-LCM
*Bag-ong Lungsoranon is the Diocesan Publication of the Archdiocese of Cebu (Philippines).
An Untold Story: The Drama of Upgrading Barrio (Village) Governance
This article was published in the November 4, 2007 Issue of the Bag-ong Lungsoranon**, page 7.
The Public Office Nobody Wants to Head
There was a time in our country’s history when nobody wanted to become a Teniente del Barrio. This was an office created by the Americans when they first occupied this country as the colony they bought from Spain for $20 million concluded in the Treaty of Paris last December 10, 1898 after America defeated Spain in the Spanish-American War. The U.S.S. Maine, an American Warship was blown up by the Spaniards in the port of Havana, Cuba resulting in the outbreak of war between America and Spain on February 15, 1898. At that time the Philippine population was eight million Filipinos.
Spain’s Mode of Governance of the Colony
Originally the Philippine villages were called barrios by the Spaniards. The village head was called “Cabeza del Barangay” whose unwelcomed task was to collect taxes from the barrio folks and to recruit them for forced labor for public projects rendered for free.
The locus of power rested with a petty governor called “Gobernadorcillo” who was appointed by the Spaniards from among the cluster of Cabezas del Barangay. This occupation was called the “Principalia” or the chosen elite of the various villages.
The Gobernadorcillo had limited authority which consisted of settling petty disputes in the community and to enforce the law with the help of the “Guardia Civil”. The Cabeza del Barangay was a social figurehead to run errands for the petty governor.
Filtered Democracy
When the Americans occupied the Philippines US President William McKinley took steps to prepare the Filipinos for eventual democracy. They began teaching the Filipinos the difficult art of self-governance. Unfortunately such process did not filter down to grassroots governance. While the Americans revised the title of Cabeza del Barangay into the Teniente del Barrio or Barrio Lieutenant they did not grant governance powers to the Barrio Lieutenant. It is ironic that the more things changed the more things remained the same.
Making the Position Elective Made No Difference
Since the appointive character of the Teniente del Barrio suffered frequent refusal of candidates from being appointed to the unwanted position making it an elective post made no difference. Members of the inteligensia of the barrio community offered strong resistance to run for the position of Teniente del Barrio even when the rural communities were granted a Barrio Charter through Republic Act No. 2370 as sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Pelaez of Mindanao and Cebuano Congressman Antonio de Pio. This writer was deeply involved in the crafting of this Charter.
Adapting A Role Model Strategy
PACD boss, Ramon Patalinghug Binamira, a Cebuano lawyer and his key staff made up of fellow Cebuanos decided to formulate a role model strategy which called for the election of a well-known public figure who was not a politician nor belonging to any political party. They crafted a set of selection criteria which consisted as follows.
The Model Barrio Lieutenant Must Have the Following Qualifications:
1. The model must not be a professional politician nor belong to a political party and must not be a politician’s protegee.
2. He must be a person with a sound economic base of his own and not be dependent on government as his revenue base… must be financially independent.
3. He must be a popular figure on the local and national election level and have an unblemished private and public reputation.
4. He must be college educated, with a successful managerial background and with good communication skills in English and Tagalog.
5. He must be a barrio resident.
6. He must be young but mature in judgment.
7. He must be committed to serve the country.
8. He must be a natural born Filipino.
9. He must be socially acceptable in the business and political community.
10. He must be a person of good moral character and a highly respected head of a family.
With these criteria the challenge was to look for a candidate who was willing to run as the model Teniente del Barrio.
The Search
In the late decade of the 50’s the world was agog with the selection of a stunning beauty from Finland – blond with blue eyes – Miss Armi Kuusela as the first Miss Universe. As one of her prizes as Miss Universe she was to tour key cities of the world. The Philippines happened to be on Miss Universe’s international itinerary.
All the World Loves a Lover
While visiting Baguio City, Miss Armi Kuusela met in a social gathering dashing, very handsome real estate magnate Virgilio Hilario of Metro Manila. Losing no time Virgilio Hilario wooed Armi Kuusela in a whirlwind courtship and married her before she could leave the Philippines. The world was taken aback that a Filipino suitor captured the heart of Miss Universe during her brief stay in the Philippines. It was an amazing romantic feat.
A Daring Idea
This writer thought that Virgilio Hilario would be the dream candidate for the national role model of a Barrio Lieutenant. Gil Hilario was a resident of the richest barrio in the Philippines – Barrio Forbes Park where the country’s multimillionaires dwelt.
When this writer mentioned the name of Virgilio Hilario as the ideal Barrio Lieutenant the PACD Management Staff regarded that this writer was reaching for the moon.
- “You must be nuts to think Virgilio would settle to run as a mere Teniente del Barrio of Forbes Park. He maybe regarded as a laughing stock of Forbes Park where the country’s multimillionaires live,” chided a Cebuano lawyer who was a member of the PACD Management Staff.
“If you want a model – choose the best man for the job!” I retorted.
“I like the daring idea. We could set it up so Virgilio Hilario could be elected also as the first President of the Barrio Lieutenants Association of the Philippines – the BLAP which we can swiftly organize, “ responded PACD boss Binamira.
“That’s the way to go bay (the contracted Cebuano term for Sagabay – meaning dear buddy) Lindy. Your idea is terrific. It is only logical that since you are the head of the local government unit of PACD and that fathered the idea yours is the job of approaching Virgilio Hilario and selling him the idea of running as the Teniente del Barrio of Forbes Park. I have every confidence in your selling ability and your gift of tongue,” remarked Ramon Binamira.
Laying the Groundworks
The PACD Staff swiftly moved into action. The BLAP – Barrio Lieutenants Association of the Philippines – was formed after organizing a series of Federation of Barrio Lieutenants all over the country to act as the base of the BLAP.
Formulating a Selling Strategy
Having sound corporate marketing experience this writer thought out a selling strategy to overcome whatever potential objections the Hilarios may raise.
Selling Features
This writer came out with the following selling points:
1. Being elected as Barrio Lieutenant of Barrio Forbes Park would be the trigger to have Virgilio Hilario elected as the first President of the 20, 000 barrios of the Philippines – a historic acheivement.
2. Armi Kuusela would now become a First Lady of the barrio folks of the Philippines thereby giving honor and distinction to the lowly Philippine barrio. This would capture not only national but even global attention – giving substance to a popular U.S. drama entitled “She stoops to conquer!”
3. Gil Hilario would have the distinctive honor of being the pivotal person responsible for imparting to a publicly demeaning position of Barrio Lieutenant a new level of social standing – a touch of class, dignity and social acceptance.
The Selling Encounter
Armed with those selling points this writer called on the Hilario residence in Forbes Park on December 31, 1959 at 10 AM. Barrio elections was less than a month away. The pressure weighed heavily on this writer.
Virgilio Hilario and Armi Kuusela-Hilario greeted this writer at the door.
“What can we do for you, Mr. Morrell of PACD?” inquired Virgilio Hilario.
“Would you like some coffee?” offered Armi Kuusela-Hilario. I nodded with gusto. Imagine have Miss Universe serving you coffee. I thought. Wait till the guys in the PACD office hears about this.
“Mr. Hilario,” I began.
“Call me Gil, Lindy if you don’t mind,” Virgilio Hilario commented.
“The country needs your help Gil,” I appealed.
“My help? Why? How can I help? I am not a public official. I am not a politician. I am just a plain businessman,” reasoned Gil Hilario. I could see the frown appear on Armi Kuusela-Hilario’s face – the welcoming spirit vanished into thin air.
“We would like you to run for Barrio Lieutenant of Forbes Park so you can become a role model for all Barrio Lieutenants all over the country,” I began selling pitch.
“Ha! Me? A mere Barrio Lieutenant? Why, I can run for mayor – or governor or congressman or even a senator if I want to. But politics I shun!” retorted Virgilio Hilario.
The Sale Begins When the Customer Says No!
“True Gil,” I agreed. “Running for Barrio Lieutenant sounds demeaning. That is precisely why we want you to run – to bestow upon this socially unacceptable position the dignity, the prestige, the social acceptance it needs so badly for so long. Anybody can run for mayor, governor, congressman or senator. But not anybody can run for Barrio Lieutenant and give the position the honor it so rightfully deserves,” I recounted.
“That would be a great sacrifice on my family, Lindy,” admitted Gil Hilario. “Find somebody else,” he decided.
“But it’s not going to be forever, Gil. All we need is to give it an initial push. Do you know what tradeoffs you will reap in exchange for the so-called sacrifice you will make?” I raised the ante.
“Just the honor of being a Barrio Lieutenant of Forbes Park for which my fellow residents might get them to say: ‘True he has won Miss Universe. But he lost his mind by running for the most degraded position in the Philippine Government hierarchy,” laughed Gil Hilario sarcastically.
The Hidden Perks Revealed
“Being a Teniente del Barrio of Forbes Park is only a small iota of benefit,” I began to point out.
“The juicy benefits are as follows,” I continued.
“You get to be the first National President of the 20,000 barrios in the country. That beats the constituency of any mayor, governor or even a congressman. You will be the envy of any senator,” I revealed.
“Armi, here gets to be, historically, the First Lady of all the barrio folks all over the country. Can you imagine how the foreign Press will lap it up for the World Audience? Miss Universe wins the hearts of Asian villagers for such honor,” I stressed.
“Villagers of all countries the world over will regard Armi as their village patroness,” I underscored.
“The sacrifice you cited is actually an investment in the bank of goodwill. The business community will laud you for your Social Conscience in helping the downtrodden Barrio Lieutenants attain their rightful place in the sun,” I recited.
“I cannot personally campaign as a candidate here in Barrio Forbes Park. My neighbors will laugh in my face,” reasoned Virgilio Hilario.
“Don’t worry. We will do the campaigning for you. We can assure you, you will win unopposed,” I uttered in confidence.
We campaigned door-to-door asking housemaids, drivers, gardeners, plumbers, electricians, garbage collectors of Forbes Park residences to vote for Virgilio Hilario as their guapo Teniente del Barrio. Virgilio Hilario won in the January 10, 1960 Barrio Elections. He also won as the first National President of the Barrio Lieutenants Association of the Philippines. Filipinos were awed by Gil Hilario’s impressive victory considering that he was not a seasoned politician. Suddenly the position of Barrio Lieutenant gained a new aura of social appeal and community standing. Virgilio Hilario won the hearts of his countrymen for paving the way to a new perception of a Barrio Lieutenant. He was invited in many important official gatherings in the country. Eventually even his wife Armi Kuusela-Hilario also ran for a position in the Barrio Council.
Food for Thought
I had accomplished my mission. The lesson of this story is: “HE WHO DARES --- WINS.”
It took a Cebuano to give the Barrio the precious focus it deserves. The Teniente del Barrio has now been promoted to the rank of Capitan del Barangay. Now, many people would like to run for the position of Barangay Captain with all its accompanying perks, rewards and compensation and the prestige of being a Barangay official.
Barangay Officials Must Have a Free Hand
to Manage Their Own Local Affairs
Today we have 41,969 barangays all over the country in which the mayors of 117 cities and 1,501 municipalities have oversight powers but not dictatorial clouts over the barangay officials who are vested by the Local Government Code their own share of powers, duties and responsibilities.
Mayors should refrain from unduly imposing their will on the barangay officials who are directly answerable to their voting constituents for their actions, behavior and track record of performance.
The time to obey “ang utos ni mayor” (the order of the mayor) are over. The people might boot out such mayor if he ignores the barangay constituencies’ aspirations for development which the barangay officials are duty bound to honor and execute. Mayors should act and behave as responsible public executives and not as tormentors and political overlords of barangay officials who are their political opponents or those who would dare oppose their dictation.
-LCM
*Bag-ong Lungsoranon is the Diocesan Publication of the Archdiocese of Cebu (Philippines).
The Public Office Nobody Wants to Head
There was a time in our country’s history when nobody wanted to become a Teniente del Barrio. This was an office created by the Americans when they first occupied this country as the colony they bought from Spain for $20 million concluded in the Treaty of Paris last December 10, 1898 after America defeated Spain in the Spanish-American War. The U.S.S. Maine, an American Warship was blown up by the Spaniards in the port of Havana, Cuba resulting in the outbreak of war between America and Spain on February 15, 1898. At that time the Philippine population was eight million Filipinos.
Spain’s Mode of Governance of the Colony
Originally the Philippine villages were called barrios by the Spaniards. The village head was called “Cabeza del Barangay” whose unwelcomed task was to collect taxes from the barrio folks and to recruit them for forced labor for public projects rendered for free.
The locus of power rested with a petty governor called “Gobernadorcillo” who was appointed by the Spaniards from among the cluster of Cabezas del Barangay. This occupation was called the “Principalia” or the chosen elite of the various villages.
The Gobernadorcillo had limited authority which consisted of settling petty disputes in the community and to enforce the law with the help of the “Guardia Civil”. The Cabeza del Barangay was a social figurehead to run errands for the petty governor.
Filtered Democracy
When the Americans occupied the Philippines US President William McKinley took steps to prepare the Filipinos for eventual democracy. They began teaching the Filipinos the difficult art of self-governance. Unfortunately such process did not filter down to grassroots governance. While the Americans revised the title of Cabeza del Barangay into the Teniente del Barrio or Barrio Lieutenant they did not grant governance powers to the Barrio Lieutenant. It is ironic that the more things changed the more things remained the same.
Making the Position Elective Made No Difference
Since the appointive character of the Teniente del Barrio suffered frequent refusal of candidates from being appointed to the unwanted position making it an elective post made no difference. Members of the inteligensia of the barrio community offered strong resistance to run for the position of Teniente del Barrio even when the rural communities were granted a Barrio Charter through Republic Act No. 2370 as sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Pelaez of Mindanao and Cebuano Congressman Antonio de Pio. This writer was deeply involved in the crafting of this Charter.
Adapting A Role Model Strategy
PACD boss, Ramon Patalinghug Binamira, a Cebuano lawyer and his key staff made up of fellow Cebuanos decided to formulate a role model strategy which called for the election of a well-known public figure who was not a politician nor belonging to any political party. They crafted a set of selection criteria which consisted as follows.
The Model Barrio Lieutenant Must Have the Following Qualifications:
1. The model must not be a professional politician nor belong to a political party and must not be a politician’s protegee.
2. He must be a person with a sound economic base of his own and not be dependent on government as his revenue base… must be financially independent.
3. He must be a popular figure on the local and national election level and have an unblemished private and public reputation.
4. He must be college educated, with a successful managerial background and with good communication skills in English and Tagalog.
5. He must be a barrio resident.
6. He must be young but mature in judgment.
7. He must be committed to serve the country.
8. He must be a natural born Filipino.
9. He must be socially acceptable in the business and political community.
10. He must be a person of good moral character and a highly respected head of a family.
With these criteria the challenge was to look for a candidate who was willing to run as the model Teniente del Barrio.
The Search
In the late decade of the 50’s the world was agog with the selection of a stunning beauty from Finland – blond with blue eyes – Miss Armi Kuusela as the first Miss Universe. As one of her prizes as Miss Universe she was to tour key cities of the world. The Philippines happened to be on Miss Universe’s international itinerary.
All the World Loves a Lover
While visiting Baguio City, Miss Armi Kuusela met in a social gathering dashing, very handsome real estate magnate Virgilio Hilario of Metro Manila. Losing no time Virgilio Hilario wooed Armi Kuusela in a whirlwind courtship and married her before she could leave the Philippines. The world was taken aback that a Filipino suitor captured the heart of Miss Universe during her brief stay in the Philippines. It was an amazing romantic feat.
A Daring Idea
This writer thought that Virgilio Hilario would be the dream candidate for the national role model of a Barrio Lieutenant. Gil Hilario was a resident of the richest barrio in the Philippines – Barrio Forbes Park where the country’s multimillionaires dwelt.
When this writer mentioned the name of Virgilio Hilario as the ideal Barrio Lieutenant the PACD Management Staff regarded that this writer was reaching for the moon.
- “You must be nuts to think Virgilio would settle to run as a mere Teniente del Barrio of Forbes Park. He maybe regarded as a laughing stock of Forbes Park where the country’s multimillionaires live,” chided a Cebuano lawyer who was a member of the PACD Management Staff.
“If you want a model – choose the best man for the job!” I retorted.
“I like the daring idea. We could set it up so Virgilio Hilario could be elected also as the first President of the Barrio Lieutenants Association of the Philippines – the BLAP which we can swiftly organize, “ responded PACD boss Binamira.
“That’s the way to go bay (the contracted Cebuano term for Sagabay – meaning dear buddy) Lindy. Your idea is terrific. It is only logical that since you are the head of the local government unit of PACD and that fathered the idea yours is the job of approaching Virgilio Hilario and selling him the idea of running as the Teniente del Barrio of Forbes Park. I have every confidence in your selling ability and your gift of tongue,” remarked Ramon Binamira.
Laying the Groundworks
The PACD Staff swiftly moved into action. The BLAP – Barrio Lieutenants Association of the Philippines – was formed after organizing a series of Federation of Barrio Lieutenants all over the country to act as the base of the BLAP.
Formulating a Selling Strategy
Having sound corporate marketing experience this writer thought out a selling strategy to overcome whatever potential objections the Hilarios may raise.
Selling Features
This writer came out with the following selling points:
1. Being elected as Barrio Lieutenant of Barrio Forbes Park would be the trigger to have Virgilio Hilario elected as the first President of the 20, 000 barrios of the Philippines – a historic acheivement.
2. Armi Kuusela would now become a First Lady of the barrio folks of the Philippines thereby giving honor and distinction to the lowly Philippine barrio. This would capture not only national but even global attention – giving substance to a popular U.S. drama entitled “She stoops to conquer!”
3. Gil Hilario would have the distinctive honor of being the pivotal person responsible for imparting to a publicly demeaning position of Barrio Lieutenant a new level of social standing – a touch of class, dignity and social acceptance.
The Selling Encounter
Armed with those selling points this writer called on the Hilario residence in Forbes Park on December 31, 1959 at 10 AM. Barrio elections was less than a month away. The pressure weighed heavily on this writer.
Virgilio Hilario and Armi Kuusela-Hilario greeted this writer at the door.
“What can we do for you, Mr. Morrell of PACD?” inquired Virgilio Hilario.
“Would you like some coffee?” offered Armi Kuusela-Hilario. I nodded with gusto. Imagine have Miss Universe serving you coffee. I thought. Wait till the guys in the PACD office hears about this.
“Mr. Hilario,” I began.
“Call me Gil, Lindy if you don’t mind,” Virgilio Hilario commented.
“The country needs your help Gil,” I appealed.
“My help? Why? How can I help? I am not a public official. I am not a politician. I am just a plain businessman,” reasoned Gil Hilario. I could see the frown appear on Armi Kuusela-Hilario’s face – the welcoming spirit vanished into thin air.
“We would like you to run for Barrio Lieutenant of Forbes Park so you can become a role model for all Barrio Lieutenants all over the country,” I began selling pitch.
“Ha! Me? A mere Barrio Lieutenant? Why, I can run for mayor – or governor or congressman or even a senator if I want to. But politics I shun!” retorted Virgilio Hilario.
The Sale Begins When the Customer Says No!
“True Gil,” I agreed. “Running for Barrio Lieutenant sounds demeaning. That is precisely why we want you to run – to bestow upon this socially unacceptable position the dignity, the prestige, the social acceptance it needs so badly for so long. Anybody can run for mayor, governor, congressman or senator. But not anybody can run for Barrio Lieutenant and give the position the honor it so rightfully deserves,” I recounted.
“That would be a great sacrifice on my family, Lindy,” admitted Gil Hilario. “Find somebody else,” he decided.
“But it’s not going to be forever, Gil. All we need is to give it an initial push. Do you know what tradeoffs you will reap in exchange for the so-called sacrifice you will make?” I raised the ante.
“Just the honor of being a Barrio Lieutenant of Forbes Park for which my fellow residents might get them to say: ‘True he has won Miss Universe. But he lost his mind by running for the most degraded position in the Philippine Government hierarchy,” laughed Gil Hilario sarcastically.
The Hidden Perks Revealed
“Being a Teniente del Barrio of Forbes Park is only a small iota of benefit,” I began to point out.
“The juicy benefits are as follows,” I continued.
“You get to be the first National President of the 20,000 barrios in the country. That beats the constituency of any mayor, governor or even a congressman. You will be the envy of any senator,” I revealed.
“Armi, here gets to be, historically, the First Lady of all the barrio folks all over the country. Can you imagine how the foreign Press will lap it up for the World Audience? Miss Universe wins the hearts of Asian villagers for such honor,” I stressed.
“Villagers of all countries the world over will regard Armi as their village patroness,” I underscored.
“The sacrifice you cited is actually an investment in the bank of goodwill. The business community will laud you for your Social Conscience in helping the downtrodden Barrio Lieutenants attain their rightful place in the sun,” I recited.
“I cannot personally campaign as a candidate here in Barrio Forbes Park. My neighbors will laugh in my face,” reasoned Virgilio Hilario.
“Don’t worry. We will do the campaigning for you. We can assure you, you will win unopposed,” I uttered in confidence.
We campaigned door-to-door asking housemaids, drivers, gardeners, plumbers, electricians, garbage collectors of Forbes Park residences to vote for Virgilio Hilario as their guapo Teniente del Barrio. Virgilio Hilario won in the January 10, 1960 Barrio Elections. He also won as the first National President of the Barrio Lieutenants Association of the Philippines. Filipinos were awed by Gil Hilario’s impressive victory considering that he was not a seasoned politician. Suddenly the position of Barrio Lieutenant gained a new aura of social appeal and community standing. Virgilio Hilario won the hearts of his countrymen for paving the way to a new perception of a Barrio Lieutenant. He was invited in many important official gatherings in the country. Eventually even his wife Armi Kuusela-Hilario also ran for a position in the Barrio Council.
Food for Thought
I had accomplished my mission. The lesson of this story is: “HE WHO DARES --- WINS.”
It took a Cebuano to give the Barrio the precious focus it deserves. The Teniente del Barrio has now been promoted to the rank of Capitan del Barangay. Now, many people would like to run for the position of Barangay Captain with all its accompanying perks, rewards and compensation and the prestige of being a Barangay official.
Barangay Officials Must Have a Free Hand
to Manage Their Own Local Affairs
Today we have 41,969 barangays all over the country in which the mayors of 117 cities and 1,501 municipalities have oversight powers but not dictatorial clouts over the barangay officials who are vested by the Local Government Code their own share of powers, duties and responsibilities.
Mayors should refrain from unduly imposing their will on the barangay officials who are directly answerable to their voting constituents for their actions, behavior and track record of performance.
The time to obey “ang utos ni mayor” (the order of the mayor) are over. The people might boot out such mayor if he ignores the barangay constituencies’ aspirations for development which the barangay officials are duty bound to honor and execute. Mayors should act and behave as responsible public executives and not as tormentors and political overlords of barangay officials who are their political opponents or those who would dare oppose their dictation.
-LCM
*Bag-ong Lungsoranon is the Diocesan Publication of the Archdiocese of Cebu (Philippines).
Let Us Purge the Politics of Corruption
This article was published in the April 8, 2007 Issue of the Bag-ong Lungsoranon*, page 5.
The Growing Lust for Power
Many candidates run for public office claiming they want to serve the people. But once elected they reveal the real motive for their candidacy. They do not really want to govern. They want to just rule. Powerplaying is the name of the game.
With political power comes the collateral benefits: Revenue Generation. The capability to fill vacant positions in the government with their own choice protegees. Strengthening their power bases and demolition of those of their political rivals. They can firm up their links with big business establishments so they can tap contributions to enrich their political coffers. As the term limits for their political tenure approaches they can contrive that a close blood kin will take their political seats thereby ensuring the longevity of their dynasties.
These are the unfortunate hallmarks of Philippine Public Governance today: The Politics of Corruption.
Tapping the Unused Clout of the Laity
While the clergy in the Church are doing their bit in christianizing the political culture in the country the majority of the laity in the Church are suffering from political apathy. Although they are up and about doing their daily chores yet they remain totally indifferent to what is happening to the political culture in the country. Perhaps they are unaware of the political reality that the authority of the government emanates from the people --- not from sitting politicians.
Wrong Grievance Mechanisms
Too often the citizenry express their discontent on governance inadequacy and failings by having the military stage “kudetas” or to resort to risky exercise of radical people power ala EDSA.
Accountability Parish Level Dialogues
People Power ala EDSA is too confrontational and too narrow in focus. What is needed is the exercise of a kind of people power that offers no opportunity for display of public agitation supported by acts of vandalism and violence and even bloodshed.
The missing link is the activation of the citizenry gathered in parish assemblies to serve as the venue for political candidates to undergo face-to-face scrutiny, answer the concerns of the parish community on issues which the parishioners of the parishes involved in accountability dialogues.
In such public forum the citizenry can ask the candidates to inform the parishioners of their qualifications and credentials for which they are running for. The parishioners can also request the candidates to present their platforms, plans and programs of governance as well as their discernment of priority concerns which the candidates hopes to focus on and to ask for the community’s support. Possibly one dialogue won’t suffice so a series of public parish pastoral accountability assemblies will have to be undertaken. Such interchange of ideas on pressing concerns on national and local issues should be the model for grassroots democracy in action. The desirability or unfitness of the candidates for the positions they are aiming for will be exposed. The parish accountability level dialogue serves as a screening filter for public officials.
Sacramentalize the Public Compact
Such parish pastoral accountability assemblies must always be preceded by a parish reflection the night before the dialogue and further preceded by the celebration of the Holy Eucharist of the Mass to instill a sacramental aura to the public event. This paves the way to the exercise of a Catholic Conscience by the candidates and the parishioners.
In effect a public commitment to political reforms will arise from such accountability dialogue in the character of a sacred compact between the candidates and the people to purge the politics of corruption in our governance system. This is a down-to-earth feeling of the people’s pulse. Even national politics can be influenced on the parish level. Let us drive the devil out of politics. Let the Cebuanos show the way to professionalized politics.
-LCM
*Bag-ong Lungsoranon is the Diocesan Publication of the Archdiocese of Cebu (Philippines).
The Growing Lust for Power
Many candidates run for public office claiming they want to serve the people. But once elected they reveal the real motive for their candidacy. They do not really want to govern. They want to just rule. Powerplaying is the name of the game.
With political power comes the collateral benefits: Revenue Generation. The capability to fill vacant positions in the government with their own choice protegees. Strengthening their power bases and demolition of those of their political rivals. They can firm up their links with big business establishments so they can tap contributions to enrich their political coffers. As the term limits for their political tenure approaches they can contrive that a close blood kin will take their political seats thereby ensuring the longevity of their dynasties.
These are the unfortunate hallmarks of Philippine Public Governance today: The Politics of Corruption.
Tapping the Unused Clout of the Laity
While the clergy in the Church are doing their bit in christianizing the political culture in the country the majority of the laity in the Church are suffering from political apathy. Although they are up and about doing their daily chores yet they remain totally indifferent to what is happening to the political culture in the country. Perhaps they are unaware of the political reality that the authority of the government emanates from the people --- not from sitting politicians.
Wrong Grievance Mechanisms
Too often the citizenry express their discontent on governance inadequacy and failings by having the military stage “kudetas” or to resort to risky exercise of radical people power ala EDSA.
Accountability Parish Level Dialogues
People Power ala EDSA is too confrontational and too narrow in focus. What is needed is the exercise of a kind of people power that offers no opportunity for display of public agitation supported by acts of vandalism and violence and even bloodshed.
The missing link is the activation of the citizenry gathered in parish assemblies to serve as the venue for political candidates to undergo face-to-face scrutiny, answer the concerns of the parish community on issues which the parishioners of the parishes involved in accountability dialogues.
In such public forum the citizenry can ask the candidates to inform the parishioners of their qualifications and credentials for which they are running for. The parishioners can also request the candidates to present their platforms, plans and programs of governance as well as their discernment of priority concerns which the candidates hopes to focus on and to ask for the community’s support. Possibly one dialogue won’t suffice so a series of public parish pastoral accountability assemblies will have to be undertaken. Such interchange of ideas on pressing concerns on national and local issues should be the model for grassroots democracy in action. The desirability or unfitness of the candidates for the positions they are aiming for will be exposed. The parish accountability level dialogue serves as a screening filter for public officials.
Sacramentalize the Public Compact
Such parish pastoral accountability assemblies must always be preceded by a parish reflection the night before the dialogue and further preceded by the celebration of the Holy Eucharist of the Mass to instill a sacramental aura to the public event. This paves the way to the exercise of a Catholic Conscience by the candidates and the parishioners.
In effect a public commitment to political reforms will arise from such accountability dialogue in the character of a sacred compact between the candidates and the people to purge the politics of corruption in our governance system. This is a down-to-earth feeling of the people’s pulse. Even national politics can be influenced on the parish level. Let us drive the devil out of politics. Let the Cebuanos show the way to professionalized politics.
-LCM
*Bag-ong Lungsoranon is the Diocesan Publication of the Archdiocese of Cebu (Philippines).
Thursday, September 4, 2008
The Tale of a Toppled Cross
A feature story that reveals how a small community inhabited by people with small-time dreams of their own better their lives by setting aside those dreams to respond to a greater call of service to God and the community and transform what begun as a small family chapel for worship, degraded by a ruthless war-time foe to become a lowly stable for cavalry war horses, and transform it to a lofty parish church in response to a heavenly challenge.
A Tiny Chapel
Way back in 1938 a tiny chapel was built in Lahug, Cebu City by Dr. Virgilio Gonzales and his wife to fulfill a solemn promise. The chapel’s Patron Saint was St. Therese of the Little Flower of Jesus from Lisieux, France. The chapel was catered to a select cluster of families and close friends of the Gonzales clan.
When the Second World War broke out the Japanese Imperial Forces invaded Cebu in April 1942 and began more than three years of Japanese occupation.
Chapel Becomes a Stable
Japanese armed forces found the chapel to be a convenient site for storing military supplies. Later, when a troop of Japanese horse-mounted cavalry arrived in Lahug the chapel became merely a stable. Once again Jesus Christ found himself in a stable. Only this time there were no adoring shepherds nor visiting magis to honor Jesus. Just snorting horses and grunting grooms were there to pay no attention to Christ Jesus. Lahug became just like uncaring Bethlehem during the infant days of the savior.
As the days of American liberation became imminent in 1945, the occupying Japanese troops pursued a scorched earth policy by razing civilian houses to the ground. As a consequence the homeless civilians had to hunt for housing materials they could lay their hands on. The deserted chapel which was damaged by war action proved to be a tempting target. They pounced upon the chapel ripping apart whatever wooden materials they could grab. The G.I. roofing vanished. Walls shattered. Only a few columns were left standing together with a desolate belfry with a cross on top. The chapel’s desecration was complete. Years passed by. The chapel ruins was left exposed to the elements.
One stormy evening in the 50’s the registrar of Southern College (now University of Southern Philippines Foundation), Juan Alburo, who lives near the wrecked chapel was watching the skies. The electrical thunderstorm was getting worse.
Suddenly a flash of lightning struck the cross on top of the belfry. The cross toppled to the ground. A wave of uneasiness gripped Juan Alburo. He made the sign of the cross. What could this mean? He asked himself. An odd insight dawned on him. “Rebuild my Church!” Christ spoke to Alburo.
Initial Rejection
Ridiculous! Alburo told himself. Why me? I’m just a worn-out, tired war veteran. I simply don’t have the resources nor talent to do any major project. What more of the gigantic task of rebuilding a devastated chapel? Besides I don’t even own the property.
The Second Call
A few days after the incident a close friend of Juan Alburo, a priest by the name of Rev. Father Veronico Salvador, paid Alburo a visit. After Juan Alburo narrated the vision of the falling cross Rev. Father Veronico Salvador gently told Alburo: “You must heed Christ’s appeal to you. You must rebuild the chapel. That fallen cross is a signal for you to take up Christ’s cross.”
“But how do I begin? Where do I start?” bewailed Alburo.
“Begin by praying to the Holy Spirit for guidance,” intoned the priest. Alburo could only nod in acceptance.
In one of his reflections Alburo recalled the lines of Lord Alfred Tennyson which went: “More things are wrought in prayer than this world dreams of.” This insight flared up a burning zeal of enthusiasm in him. “Why not?” he challenged himself. Thus began the arduous task of reconstruction. Alburo mobilized his friends and as many people as he could involve in the project. They caught the fire of his enthusiasm.
A Mish-Mash Chapel
Shortage of building materials was no obstacle to Juan Alburo. He became a master scrounger. Nipa thatchings for roofing materials. Sawali sheets for walling. Even a discarded altar from the Redemptorist Church became the chapel’s main altar.
The First Mass
On March 19, 1959, Rev. Fr. Pedrito Dean celebrated the first mass in the rehabilitated chapel. Fr. Dean would soon become the Archbishop of Palo, Leyte.
What was startling significant about the day was the fact that March 19 is the feast day of St. Joseph, the Master Carpenter who was Jesus Christ’s guardian here on earth. So what if the chapel was of mixed materials? The toppled cross was restored!
Growth of the Lahug Community
From a small cluster of few families the base of worshippers of the chapel grew by leaps and bounds. Unexpectedly, the Archbishop of Cebu, Julio Cardinal Rosales, bestowed on the chapel a distinctive honor of becoming a full-fledge parish church on February 11, 1964. A small cross had fallen only to be replaced by a much bigger one. From a humble chapel to a full grown parish church. All it took was faith. The faith of one man, Juan Alburo.
On March 11, 2000, the relics of St. Therese, the patron saint of the once tiny chapel would visit the Lahug Parish Church. A fitting honor for the Lahug Community.
Rev. Fr. Raul Gallego, the parish priest will celebrate a thanksgiving mass while Rev. Fr. Vic Labao, S.J. will deliver the homily. A brief biography of St. Therese will be read by a lay leader, Evit Trocino after which a three hour vigil after the 9 pm mass will be observed by the faithful. The relics will be transferred to San Carlos seminaries in a solemn procession with the devotees bearing lighted candles, torches and roses in honor of the patron saint. Before the end of March the parishioners of St. Therese Parish will return the compliment of the relic’s visit by having a delegation of 60 parishioners headed by the parish pastoral council member Linda Laborte, flying all the way of the town of St. Therese in Lisieux, France. One good turn deserves another.
Timely Reminder
The visit of the relics of St. Therese and the unfolding of the story of the toppled cross is a timely reminder in this age of secular materialism and sophisticated information technology that stone structures do not make a church. It takes people to make a living Church. When the people of the Lahug Community were busy rebuilding the wrecked chapel they were actually building themselves into a dynamic Community of the Faithful. That Christ’s cross can remain fallen only if the faithful allows it.
-LCM
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