Hindsight is 20/20

“YOU’VE never been to see Lolong?” a friend asked as we headed to his cage the day after he died.

I never wanted to see him knowing he’s there, caged in a facility that does not even allow him to swim. Fifty years of life in the marshlands ended in less than two years of a jail sentence.

My numerous body hairs stood on end as the town mayor claimed he cradled Lolong’s head after he died. Really, now, Mr. Mayor. Remorse maybe?

I doubt it. Because in the next breath he claims Lolong is their palangga. Errrmmm, mayor, one rule in the wild, there is no such thing as inter-species affection. Symbiotic relatiomship, maybe, but definitely not making a palangga of another species. Reserve your love for the domesticated one, not the crocodiles.

We were in the middle of Agusan Marsh, Sunday evening, when news broke out that the Bunawan town mayor confirmed Lolong’s death.

It was my first time to enter the marsh, and I was awed by its vastness. Thus, when the news broke out, all I could exclaim was, “Of course, he’ll die. They made him live in a cement cage with a cement dipping pool.”

On hindsight, however, I regret not having written about my misgivings earlier after coming to realize there were several others who felt the same.

The night before Lolong died, we were having Chinese New Year dinner with some writers among whom was Amy who was railing about how the cage looked like. We could only nod in agreement.

Evening after, Lolong was confirmed dead.

They’re pinalangga is gone, both mayor and governors were quoted as saying. I hope they do not intend to replace their pinalangga with another one just as they would replace their pet dog when it’s gone. This time, you will get it from all of us. saestremera@yahoo.com