HE IS a senior citizen but he doesn’t look like one in his ways, in his manner, and in his disposition. He is my friend... but, what makes him awe-inspiring? He is “hombre de calle.” He spends almost the whole morning in his favorite “kapehan” in Silay’s “calle real.”
Titot Jison was once the honorable mayor of Silay (1988-1992). His one-term as mayor started the plan of having an international airport in Silay. That dream became a reality when he was no longer mayor. I was given the opportunity to be a volunteer theater director under the Silay Cultural Outreach Program under the supervision of First Lady Maida Jison.
That cultural group started to gather the cultural workers of Silay... Taffy Acot, Jojo Legarde, Armin Paredes, Ireneo Reyes, Mike Golez, and yours truly, among others. First Lady Maida gathered the talented street children and out of school youth to hone them to become singers, dancers, and stage actors. The Cultural Outreach Program brought cultural shows to barangays, sitios, and haciendas. It provided excellent performances to visitors coming to Silay.
It’s amusing to see grown-ups (who were just small kids before) addressing the former mayor as “Uncle Titot.” Titot, although a scion of the Jison clan, is comfortable with his “maong pants” and T-shirt. It is his brand for friends who used to call him “Totoy Bato” (rugged handsomeness in his prime years). As mayor, he encouraged “Katilingban sang mga Silaynon” based in Manila to come home during fiestas and bring popular screen idols.
Former mayor Titot expanded the normal Charter Day-Independence Day parade with improved floats, mascots, and advocacy characters. It was first Lady Maida who started and popularized “Lin-ay sang Silay” pageant, “traje de Silay” (baro’t saya), and heritage dances on stage. The “Carnival Queen” for Silay was revived in the person of Queen Hestia Baldevia. She still holds the crown up to now.
Titot is also a colorful figure. He was once a mayor, later a vice-mayor, and much later a city councilor. He also ventured in a provincial level politics. He ran for vice governor with Tongtong Colmenares for governor. The people of Negros did not forget this catchphrase, “Pag-Tongtong, Titot dayon.” It was fun and funny.
When he was mayor, he and the First Lady accompanied my “Kansilay Zarzuela Group” to perform at Palarong Pambansa hosted by Iloilo. It was a big honor for Silay. Superintendent Rosario De Guzman of Decs-Silay was given commendation by Decs national office for coming up with authentic Silaynon zarzuela performed by teachers.
Titot is just there at the “kapehan” talking with his friends on Silay, Silay and Silay. One guy at the other table asked him, “Are you still interested in Silay politics?” Titot smiled. “I can always be of service to Silay with or without politics.”*