Saturday, February 02, 2008 Ledesma: Adarna By Jun Ledesma Sunbursts
IN THE book, Adarna is a mythical bird that turns men of evil deed into stone by its sheer opiating and melodious tune. The same enchanting song however is an elixir for an ailing king.
The bird itself is as lovely as the tune it sings. It's almost flightless. Still, the princes who attempted to snare it failed as they flunked the test of virtue, which is as simple as helping a beggar at the foothill where the mythical bird dwells.
As the story goes however, a kind-hearted prince passed the test and brought home the bird Adarna to sing to his father and thereafter survived and lived happily ever after.
This tale is in a book, Ibong Adarna, of my high school years. The Adarna, which is the object of debate by members of the Davao City Council, is something else. He owns the seaside motel in Times Beach.
Not too long ago Adarna was the object of tirade of the women councilors when he unveiled a statue of David. The nude Goliath killer was too much to the sensibilities of the prudish ladies. I saw that statue and it was a passable replica of the original. For us who haven't seen the genuine work of art of Michelangelo this David at Queensland would suffice. I don't see anything immoral in the statue. Anyway, David is still there and so is the motel.
Recently, Queensland's Adarna is again harangued by members of the City Council for the development he had undertaken along the beach line. I have never been to Times for decades now even as I am only less than 10 minutes away from it. But from what I heard from radio stations and newsmen's account, Adarna has invested millions of pesos for the aesthetics of his beachfront.
Even the hard-hitting anchorman Stephen Manangan has praises for the development in the area and that it has served as a favorite promenade for people, regardless of age, who go there to breath sea breeze. People are calling radio stations in defense of Adarna.
I have not met Adarna. I do not know him from Adam. My buddies in the Jurassic Coffee shop at Merco say that he is the only man driving a prized sports car in town. There is a sage in my neighborhood who remarked in adulterated Cebuano: "Kadtong mangga nga hitik og bunga maoy guinabato." I do not know whether he too is making inference to some members of the City Council. He observed that there are too many illegal and ugly structures in Times Beach, but why should they single out Adarna from the rest of them.
I agree with Mayor Duterte that in a way Adarna should just seek help from the city authority to legalize the multi-million investments he made. Adarna, I heard, said that the improvements he made adjacent to Queensland is his legacy to Dabawenyos. Well and good. The mayor's only request from Adarna is to stop serving intoxicating liquor. He said he should apply for the legalization of his development projects. In turn, the mayor said, that he will establish a police station in Times Beach.
If I were to add my two cents worth, maybe Adarna can apply for the amendment of the name of Queensland Motel to Queensland Hotel. That should please the prude in the council and you have the choice to increase your rates from short time to whatever.
So there you are. Let's move on. Here's more comment from reader Chito Prat:
"Hi Jun,
Seems you and Ram agree on the wonders of the People's Park but he suggests that donations would be a better mode of securing funds for the maintenance of the Park. We do not want a repeat of the airport stinking comfort rooms, do we? [Matter of management and latrinal practice. What can we expect from ATO management? -Jun].
Five pesos per person or donations or from the city's budget do not really matter to Juan. Juan wants a place to relax, a place to stroll, enjoy God's gift of nature.
We need more parks, as you aptly pointed out. Magsaysay Park is deteriorating.
In the meantime, Baywalk at Ecoland has been in the news with the mayor and the vice mayor taking what seem to be different tacks.
The place has become an alternative to malling, same as the People's Park. That being the situation, the city, as suggested by the mayor, should find ways and means to make this private initiative a legal, safe, and secure place for people who wish to enjoy the bounty of nature.
Killing the "goose that laid the golden egg" is not a wise move, if one is concerned of the benefit to a greater number.
Cheers!-Chito Prat"
(For feedback, email me at: scledesmajr@yahoo.com.)
