Monday, December 22, 2008 Dacawi: Apology and acceptance By Ramon Dacawi Benchwarmer
SHOEMART officials invited us to their recent dialogue with our ethnic culture-inclined boys and girls from the Pines City National High School.
The meeting sought to piece together what happened and almost didn't happen to our youngsters last month at the annual Northern Luzon Expo at SM Clark.
Our young cultural performers under Teatro Pino reportedly were almost prevented from doing what the expo organizers invited them for -- perform and share our Cordillera dances.
I found comfort in the company of fellow media practitioners: regional director Helen Tibaldo of the Philippine Information Agency, her artist husband Art and fellow aging newsman Eliral Refuerzo, editor-publisher of The Baguio Reporter weekly.
We found relief in the presence of Representative Mauricio Domogan and regional tourism director Pura Molintas.
The issue was on the propriety of our boys wearing their authentic g-strings that made their cultural performance authentic. It arose from a concern attributed to a SM Clark executive that the troupe members "wore skimpy attire and therefore are bound to scandalize the children watching the show".
SM Clark apologized. "It was not our intention to prevent the group from performing in their costume as we are aware that this is a cultural show," it clarified in a statement prior to the written apology.
Indeed, Teatro Pino was there for a cultural performance. It would have been grossly inappropriate, disastrous and scandalous if the troupe performed to the rhythm of ethnic gongs in "barong", or tuxedo or denims. It would have been dishonest and unfair to the audience, especially the children.
Rep. Domogan pointed out that Cordillerans are sensitive to cultural insensitivity and unawareness. He stressed that the one most competent to determine whether it's the right ethnic regalia, and whether it's being worn properly, is us, Cordillerans.
(Fact is, some of our fast-fading tribal elders question the propriety of performing dances and rituals outside the reason and season for which our ancestors developed and handed them down to us. To them, bringing out and striking the gong for no cultural and community purpose is taboo, contrived and stripped of cultural meaning and authenticity.)
As pieced out from the dialogue, the hitch, in part, had something to do with a communication snafu between SM Clark management and the outfit tapped to prepare the Expo. It led to the mall guards giving the troupe members the run-round on which entrance they could pass into the mall.
The teens recalled that when they trooped to a restroom to change into their costumes, a maintenance worker limited them to only one cubicle for their dressing room.
Engr. Bien Mateo, SM assistant vice-president for operations, was humbled by the youth's revelations. He assured that the guards and restroom workers would be in for a much-needed, honest-to-goodness training in public relations.
Culturally aware as they are, the young troupe members accepted the apology. Such sensitivity and sensibility also became clear when Rep. Domogan asked each youth to identify their places of origin. Predictably, we heard some mention the Cordillera provinces. Others said they came from the Ilocos and Pangasinan.
I felt admiration and pride for a girl who said she was from Tarlac. And for the two teachers who serve as troupe coordinators. I felt Teatro Pino's reason for being -- to help address and fulfill a common yearning of our youth to learn and be able to identify with and belong to Baguio and the Cordillera, the cultural melting pot they are growing up in.
All's well that ends well. The dialogue came to an end with apology offered and apology accepted.
When Rep, Domogan asked other adults present for any word, I took the cue from Mr. Mateo who assured SM is always open to suggestions.
Aside from its helping promote cultural awareness and sensitivity, I suggested SM may want to consider: 1) setting up a dressing room; 2) building more rest or comfort rooms; and 3) providing a breast-feeding room for lactating mothers.
A lady SM executive later approached and told me suggestions 2 and 3 were already being addressed. As it was time for supper with the young boys and girls, I reserved a couple of other suggestions for this weekend space.
Perhaps SM may want to clear its busy entrance towards Session Rd. of stalls for the ease and comfort of the daily hordes of customers coming in and out. The mall branch need not compete with our ambulant peanut, yellow corn, watermelon and turnip vendors who are trying to earn.
(Same suggestion is addressed to Centermall, the construction of which obliterated Lapu-Lapu St., the short but notoriously popular road that should have potential tourism come-on for its true "Westside Story" ambience at one point in Baguio's history. The mall management recently rented out much of its hallway for stalls, to the inconvenience of its shoppers.)
Perhaps SM may want to reassure it will no longer, and will never obliterate that patch of pine beside the Baguio Convention Center for a hotel project.
A mall representative told me the ball -- on whether to cut or spare the trees balled years ago -- is with the City Council. She said SM will abide with the Council's decision
The City Council is keen on preserving the tree patch, but the legislature's future composition may find the mini-forest view no longer refreshing and congruent with the urban sprawl. (e-mail: rdacawi@yahoo.com for comments).
