Friday, March 28, 2008 Wenceslao: Fire in Oslob town By Bong O. Wenceslao Candid Thoughts
I UNDERSTAND Msgr. Achilles Dakay's point in criticizing Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia relative to the fire that hit the church in Oslob town. As they say, for the lack of a fire truck clutch, an old structure was lost. The un-repaired, clutch-less fire truck needed to be pushed to the fire scene so water in its tank could be used to douse the flame.
The church was constructed in the 1800s, making it an important property not only of the Cebu archdiocese but also of the community for its heritage value. The feeling of loss must have therefore been overwhelming for Dakay. And for the archdiocese, there's the cost of the rehabilitation of the structures to consider---another whammy.
In fairness to Dakay, the theme of his comment summed up the resentment many people are harboring about government neglect. It was difficult for even independent observers to believe that the failure to procure a spare part for a fire truck would cause bigger damage. Reports of people pushing the fire truck were thus both comic and tragic.
But two things struck me while I listened to Dakay's interview on dyLA after the incident. One, the lack of objectivity. Two, the underhandedness of the critique. But knowing Dakay, the manner he delivered his reaction was par for the course. He is no Ricardo Cardinal Vidal. He speaks his mind out and his words often drip with sarcasm.
For every instance of government neglect, however, is a story. Besides, throwing blame should not be automatic, if one would be fair to the people concerned. In instances like that Oslob fire, the more objective approach is to allow additional data to filter in, especially because three units are involved: the town, Capitol and the fire bureau.
I also agree with Provincial Government officials that Dakay alluding to the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo was misplaced and showed lack of understanding of what the project is about. Its purpose is to promote tourism, not for the governor to inspect the condition of fire trucks. Dakay must have mixed up Suroy-Suroy Sugbo with Gwen's suroy-suroy.
Also, to see only in the Suroy-Suroy the effort to make the trip pleasurable is to be narrow-minded. Tourists pay to join the Suroy-Suroy precisely because of the pleasure they derive from it. But in the process, the areas they get to visit are promoted. One example: my home place Camotes partly benefited from Suroy-Suroy promoting it as tourist destination.
I just hope Dakay's comments won't strain Capitol's relation with the archdiocese considering the task of rehabilitating the Oslob church. The burden of promoting and protecting historic sites is heavy and it can be lightened if everybody works together. This point is more compelling if one notes the neglected condition of some heritage sites in the country.
TEXTREAX. Engr. Tibo Serato of Poro town in Camotes texted to inform me about the first Camotes Visayan Institute (CVI) Batch '60 reunion last January. CVI, I think, is the oldest high school in Camotes. He also noted that the town is cleaner and, as usual, quiet. I used to pass by CVI going to Hambabawod where my Tiyo Pedro lived before he and his family migrated to the US.
