"This is how it is for most Ilocanos."
"This is how it is for most Ilocanos."
The coming birthday of the late strongman and President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos has unfortunately become a national issue—and all for the wrong reasons!
A local bill designating September 11 as a non-working holiday in Ilocos Norte has been passed on third reading at the House of Representatives and is now at the Senate. Senate President Tito Sotto, in an interview, was quoted to have said: “Since it’s a local bill affecting only the province of Ilocos Norte, I'm sure the Senate will also pass it.”
A local bill, like changing a street name, or changing the name of a school by tradition is passed by Congress without any debate unlike a bill which affects national interest which is subjected to debate. A local bill affects only a local place, my gulay!
To most Ilocanos, especially in the province of Ilocos Norte, it is “Marcos forever.” Marcos haters can never erase the fact he did Ilocanos a lot of favors when he was president—cemented roads, a national highway all the way from Manila to Ilocos Norte, the Marcos Highway from Rosario, La Union to Baguio City. These have helped businesses in the region.
The great playwright William Shakespeare, in an epigrammatic tone when Marc Antony made his speech at the funeral of Julius Caesar, left us with these words: “The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.”
Thus, it is typical of some people to have short memories of the others’ perceived wrongdoing. Such is the case with Marcos.
His perceived illegal acts have been incessantly repeated, marginalizing his landmark contributions, particularly in the political and legal system.
I would like to quote Justice Manuel “Lolong” Lazaro in an introduction of a book on “The Legacy of Marcos.” Lazaro recalled the words of the great surrealist painter Salvador Dali: “The difference between false memories and true ones is the same as for jewels: it is always the false one that looks almost real, the most brilliant.”
The Ilocanos owe Marcos so much.
Is Marcos a hero or a heel? It really depends since it’s a matter of perspective. Marcos is a hero to those who are aware and appreciative of his performance and achievements. He is a heel to those who envy his ingenuity and foresight, and to those who seek revenge and hatred.
Santa Banana, in my many decades as a journalist, I have covered 10 presidents from President Elpidio Quirino. I have walked the corridors of power. I can say that no other President had/ has Marcos’ vision and foresight. Specifically, many of the laws he issued and proclaimed during his time are still being used today.
There never has been any Philippine president like him. I am saying this not because I am an Ilocano (I trace my roots to Ilocos Sur and I grew up in Abra). That’s the reason why in Ilocos Norte, the Ilocanos there always vote for governor, a mayor, representatives of Marcos. They know how to repay their debts.
* * *
There’s a bit of good news about the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan province, now being constructed in a 2,400-hectare property in Bulakan, Bulacan.
It’s the largest infrastructure ever in the history of the Philippines, costing P745 billion with four runways. There is a provision for two more runways in the plan. That will truly be a game-changer that will allow the San Miguel conglomerate to employ about a million people.
The congressional bill being passed by both chambers of Congress will grant San Miguel a franchise to build and run the new gateway. The Philippine Economic Zone Authority has given the franchise its all-out support.
If the franchise is enacted, the proposed measure would cover the air hub, the proposed city and land surrounding the airport.
What is truly remarkable about this project of San Miguel is that Ramon Ang intends to hire returning OFWs. The enterprises operating within the San Miguel Aerocity will also be granted tax incentives and other benefits.
The New Manila International Airport in Bulacan will be something which all Filipinos can truly be proud of. Thanks to the vision of businessmen like Ang, president and COO of San Miguel.
* * *
It seems that controversies never end. After graft and corruption at the PhilHealth, now comes the controversy over the crushed white rocks from Cebu called dolomite, intended to cover a 500-meter stretch of rocks along the beach of Manila Bay.
While the Department of Environment and Natural Resources claims that white sand coming from those white rocks from Cebu is harmless, there are those who claim that the dolomite could cause skin and eye irritation, a well as cancer, and damage to the lungs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
If these claims are true, then the DENR should do something about it!
