Off The Beaten Path

Campland

By Roy Gersalia

“With the situation in our town being hopeless brought by the present leadership – there are an army of jobseekers but there are no jobs to offer, there are enough resources but there is no food, prices of commodities soaring high and not much possibility in engaging in business because of politics – maybe it is now better to leave Bulan for good in order to survive,” an old acquaintance said against the backdrop of gray skies with an imminent storm coming in a dog-day hour, according to a report that day of the not-so reliable weather bureau. I just smiled, for I thought then that he was just trying to engage me in argument or he is saying it in jest. But when he uttered it, I noticed, there is an echo not only of hopelessness but of helplessness.

I recall a similar scenario in a book by Alexander Solzhenitsyn “The Gulag Archipelago” when the Nobel Prize laureate described the Soviet labor camps in his time. I do not now recall which of his characters said it, but it is like this: “Forget the outside world. Life has different laws in here. This is Campland, an invisible country. It’s not in the geography books, or the history books. This is the famous country where ninety-nine men weep while one laughs.”

That was what I thought when that kakilala of mine told me his opinion.

I also thought that his predicament was also the effect of the words the former mayor said in radio, answering his critics over the BIT issue that goes: “Kun diri kamo kuntento sa palakaw san administrasyon, magaharali na kamo didi sa Bulan,” (If you’re not contented with the policies of the administration, better leave this town.) or words to that effect. This, I guess, and rightly so, the thought that is also occupying my kakilala’s mind which he, evidently, is unable to say during the course of our brief conversation. Anyway, I asked him what drove him to say that, he said, “Because he’s not contented.” End of conversation.

Not really true to his words, that old acquaintance of mine left Bulan and is now working in a prestigious company in Makati (he refused to name the company) but vowed to go back to his hometown to “fight another day”. He promised he’ll fight against injustice, misery wrought by leaders and poverty. That was what occupied his mind until now, preparing to be ready when the time comes like Carlos Bulosan who scoured American libraries preparing to fight tyranny.

But to go back, that gesture of my old-acquaintance –when he said that he’s planning to leave Bulan for good – is an ominous sign of lack of hope in his beloved town, restlessness among the young and helplessness of the poor. He’s lucky he’s got job and is now living comfortably, but what about our other town mates who never made it or have not become lucky in their own exodus? Those people who carry pain in their hearts and vowed never to come back again? I can’t even imagine the answer.

In a Campland the skies are gray and the storm is imminent.

 Time to act

By Roy Gersalia

First, they took a protester, and you kept quiet. Then they took your neighbor, and you kept quiet. Then they took your friends, and you kept quiet. Now, they’re taking you, and you can only howl in the wind. – Lutheran Pastor Martin Niemoller

First off, an apology to my friends in the Bulan Police but this must be said. With the crime rate in this town soaring to incalculable numbers and the inability of the policemen and local authorities to curb and solve those crimes, this really must be said. This, too, I hope, will remind people – who easily succumb to the grand amnesia as my (few) friends observed, or a “let’s move on” way of thinking – of what happened in Bulan in the last few years, particularly in its crime rate.

Some observed that the prevailing atmosphere in Bulan with regards to crime is what critics say a “culture of impunity”. If you commit a crime, well-planned, well executed, you will never go to prison, you can still vote, lobby for the local government, and all the other rights a freeman would exercise. In short you can go scot-free. That was at least the observation of some of my friends who never got tired of assessing our beloved town, its past, its present and its future. Indeed, the assessment proves true as I see it which brings us to question the capability of the police in Bulan to solve crimes.

Let me take you to a tour to as far as 2003 when I was still new in the journalism vocation. I say vocation because as I see it, it is not the other way around. But that is another story. I ask for your indulgence if I wasn’t able to enumerate them all as I am writing from memory.

That year was the best of times and the worst of times as Dickens puts it. It was the best of times because it was when the media in Bulan starts to become active. It was the worst of times because one of its known residents was knifed to death in his own house by still “unidentified” suspect, at least according to the police. His name was Diokno Gonzalgo, a resident of Zone 2 and an LGU employee.

Rumors spread like wildfire that a suspect is being coddled and protected by a known “demigod” in this town, and when an investigator is close to finding the culprit and determined to put him in jail, the investigator -who was member of the town’s police force- was suddenly transferred to Sorsogon City. And the crime went unsolved.

In 2004, another murder took place. The victim again suffered multiple stab wounds in his body that resulted to his death. He was murdered in front of the Bulan Water District office in Zone 4, about less than a hundred meter from the town’s police station. His name is Rey Tabuena, not a Bulan town resident but works in the now-closed beauty parlor in Zone 6. Again, the police weren’t able to solve this crime.

I cannot remember the crimes committed in 2005 but I will look for my records on it for future reference. But in 2006 another crime which went unsolved up to this day, happened. The victim was shot while inside the bus by still unidentified suspect/s. His name was Reimon “Ambo” Guran, 21, a student of Aquinas University in Legaspi City and known member of the LFS, an activist’s organization. To date, Ambo’s parents hoped that justice soon be served for their lost son.

The lists went on: Junjun Apostol who was murdered in his own residence, Chris Lachica, a retired police officer himself who was murdered after playing tennis in Zone 1, Safiro Gojar, also a police officer who was murdered at Immaculate Conception Subdivision, a pedicab driver who was gunned down at Zone 8, the Indian national who was knifed at Hotel Maria Concepcion in Zone 4 and lately, Jamil Borras Jamolin who was murdered in front of his store in Zone 4.

“With these cases, the police as well as the local authorities seemed indifferent and regard those cases as mere numbers of crime collecting,” a friend of mine said. Not a single case cited above was solved. Which again, brings us to ask: Is the police in Bulan and the local authorities capable of solving crimes? Are they only there sitting in their kiosk, watching tv waiting for their shift’s to end? Or joining in a fray to deliver news to the public so that he can comply with the requirements for promotion as an act of public service? And worse, expecting to win the “best police station” award or an “outstanding policeman” for that matter?

But of course, the police alone and the authorities are not to be blamed for this, the people too. Some of us didn’t act when a crime does not involve our friends, neighbors or even our families. We just let it pass. Unless, we are not involved, we do not act. Just like what Martin Niemoller said, we always keep quiet when it doesn’t involve us. And if that really happens to us, God forbid, we can only howl in the wind.

We don’t want that to happen, didn’t we?  Now is the time to act.  Your choice.

Joker and laughter

By Roy Gersalia

As I have been watching the Senate hearing today, I broke out of laughter when ZTE star witness Jun Lozada answered Senator Jinggoy Estrada when the latter asked him if he still admires Senator Joker Arroyo – after all that has happened at the last hearing. Lozada gave him a mysterious smile reminiscent of the La Gioconda and answered “Oho, kasi ho ‘pag bad ka lagot ka,” (Yes, because if you’re bad, you’ll be snapped off.) wittily referring to the senator’s campaign slogan during the last elections.

As everybody knows, Senator Arroyo is a known maverick lawyer, also a Bicolano who, during his day fought vehemently for human rights and led the barricades during the height of the strongman rule of the late president Marcos. He became a national figure for his advocacy and until the Erap plunder investigation where he became famous for his remark, “we won’t let this country run by a thief.”

Now, would he remark the same for Ms. Arroyo? Would he be ready to cut off the bad people in Ms. Arroyo’s regime? Gare pigapapaulok nya man nanggad an mga Bikolano.

Recently, Senator Joker has been the subject of talks and rallies and has gone out of ratings in the popularity survey. Most Bicolano’s including Inquirer columnist Conrado de Quiros is no longer proud of him. As de Quiros pointed out in one of his columns, “If one would have to understand Lozada, it is no other than Senator Arroyo, being his fellow Bicolano,” or words to that effect. But Arroyo seemed not to understand and has gone protecting and or shielding the current palace occupant and her minions.

Ahh, Joker talaga. 

I now think that the Department of Justice is a misnomer. Perhaps it’s the other way around. With all the storms hounding the Arroyo regime, the “retirable” DOJ secretary, seemed a very old man who is not able to hear and see things as they are and seemed unable to recognize the call of the times.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez quipped the other day to my raucous laughter: “People who abandon their friends are traitors. You agree to be the President’s alter ego and then you will leave her?” He said quoted by the media trying to warn government officials who attended the Mass rally at La Salle Greenhills.

Aayy saro man.

* * * * * *

Joke for the day: This was relayed to me through a text message by a student leader in Bulan who styles himself as oppositionist.

GENIE: Dahil pinalaya mo ako mula sa lampara, bibigyan kita ng tatlong kahilingan.

LALAKE: Gawin mo akong…..

1. Super rich pero no tax.
2. Powerful pero wala akong pwesto.
3. Notorious pero walang sabit.

GENIE: Sige, mula ngayon, ikaw na si Guiming ang first gentleman ni mayora.

(Note: Ang magalit, mapikon ….)

Jante’s Law

By Roy Gersalia

Having reviewed the philosophy of Vilfredo Pareto and Gaetano Mosca confirmed that the theories I have drawn in the past of some of the attitudes and characteristics of the “Taga-Bulans” and the thoughts that I have come to arrive were justified. Anyway, this is just one of the prevalent attitudes that I will discuss.

Following Goethe’s saying that “he who cannot draw from three thousand years is living from hand to mouth,” I did some research fueled from what I had observed during the past years on one of the prevalent attitudes –consciously or unconsciously- of the people of Bulan that kept the people to its knees and haunting the present generation.

Some may not like this but this is true. As they say, the truth is often detested. Our town is like the (in) famous town of Jante. At least that is my theory. I invite you to come reflect on it.

During the course of my research, I stumbled upon the Norwegian author Aksel Sandemose who created in one of his novels the fictitious Danish town of Jante that lives in its own commandments, thus, the so-called Law of Jante. The Law of Jante explains Sandemose, is “each little souls struggle for coequality and recognition, never without consciousness that all the others are greater than he.” In other words, if a person strives harder to achieve his goal –especially in wealth, profession or career – his town mates will not like it.

In this line, envy, despite being a Christian sin, is a principle part of Jante’s Law, as the result of breaking this social code means that your neighbors will despise you for your individuality, uniqueness and or an excess show of wealth. By this, people stamp out each other’s chances in life (Moller, 1998 thesis on Law of Jante in Swedish society). And that is what I observed for the past years that shaped the lives of some people in Bulan.

Few of the examples are the following: When one is criticizing –with enough grounds- the personalities in the corridors of power, the “spokesperson” (whatever you call this person) will strike back and oftentimes, resorted to character-assassination of the person who criticizes, sways from the real issue at hand and depicting the picture that when one is crossing their line, it is deemed wrong. In other instance, if the “spokesperson” is unavailable, the subject of the criticism will rely to a hired person (usually a broadcaster) to discuss, answer and defend the issues hurled into the subject.

At times even our closest of friends, neighbors and former classmates succumb to the Law of Jante unconsciously. They often asked you where have you bought this or that, asked you where you work, what career are you planning, etc., and if you answer them even in all your honesty, they will despise you at the moment you turn your back. Well, in answer, I said “on that, you can put your mind at rest.” Does it ring a bell?

A fellow writer and friend complained to me once that when he tried to rewrite the history of Bulan and when he presented his drafts to the person who is said to be a historian, he said that the person he turns to said that what he wrote was wrong, but at the end of the day changed some and copied it.

I’m not knocking fun with my town mates. I just wrote what I have observed. Anyway, this is all a theory. Makulog?

A source of courage and inspiration

By Roy Gersalia

With intermittent sobs, a feeling of anguish and of indescribable pain, Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada Jr. took the courage to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth at the witness stand before the Senate, Friday and thereby tells his story of the stinking and anomalous transaction of the now-scrapped ZTE-NBN deal that involves a helluva $329 million taxpayers’ money.

The former PhilForest chair and a consultant of the ZTE-NBN deal who called himself “just a probinsyanong intsik” (a Chinese from the province) told the joint session of the blue-ribbon committee, communications and national security, what he knew of the anomalous transaction involving the former Comelec chair Ben Abalos whom he called as siga and the first gentleman Mike Arroyo. He told his tale not only before the Senate, but to the whole world. An act that demands courage for a simple telecommunications engineer.

Courage by the way, is not an absence of fear, rather, it is the presence of fear by which man even haunted by it, does the right thing. That is what Jun Lozada did, and I admire him for that.

Despite the grueling hours of question -and- answer and the grilling of some Senators who appeared to be shielding the truth, particularly Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Juan Ponce Enrile, Lozada gave his answers as candidly as he can and without notes, a proof that what he says is the truth. He promptly answered the questions raised by senators in an effort to bring to light the whole truth of the scandalous deal.

Even with a discrediting tactic disguised as questions by senators Santiago and Enrile, Lozada, a bicolano, gave an answer in one instance that lay flat to the two senator’s face that there are things that he (Lozada) won’t be proud of, but what he says and swore before the Bible in that session is the truth and nothing but the truth.

For his expose, all the president’s men that include Lito Atienza, Raul Gonzalez, Avelino Razon etc. ganged up on him and told the media that what Lozada did tell to the public were all lies. But they were unsuccessful.

I only remember a scene in “The Enemy of the People” by Ibsen that says of Dr. Thomas Stockmann. “The strongest man in the world is the one who stands most alone.” Lozada is alone but he is the strongest man in the world. He is alone (even if Lasallian brothers and nuns supported and protected him all the way) in the sense that Filipinos have a nasty habit of denouncing and even abandoning a person when doing the right thing. I reserve my doubts to the nuns and Lasallian clergy.

I also long for the day to meet a “Jun Lozada” in Bulan, Sorsogon where he/she can put to light the deals undertaken by the local government especially of the controversy-packed terminal which involves a hefty P40 million. But I bet it would not be Sitay Morata. No, on the contrary, I would be very happy if she would be. What she knows is another story.

To Mr. Jun lozada: Thank you for inspiring millions of Filipinos. Oragon ka, Mabuhay ka!

A tale of two reporters

By Roy  A. Gersalia

A broadcaster-friend told me recently that a supposed-to-be independent government agency here seemed being pressured by the current administration when it comes to the decision of the cases particularly SK and barangay election contests, which the said office has a quasi-judicial power and has the exclusive jurisdiction of cases filed before its office. My friend said, the office kept being mum when asked about the recent developments on the matter.

“It seems the chairperson doesn’t know what to do or say, or reports that he is being pressured are true,” said my friend. That office he said is the DILG – Bulan.

In reply, I told my friend I don’t believe that Mr. Rico Gaurino of the DILG is not a person to succumb to the pressure. Are You Mr. Gaurino?

He is a decent and a professional public servant, I added. Now what is the latest on the SK case and other cases filed before your office? Can you please tell us the recent developments of the cases your office is handling? Needless to say the public has the right to know.

If you remain quiet, then there’s also the quietude of dissent from the people who pays taxes for your salary.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Another broadcaster told me this story: When he is about to get the news of the police “raid” of the jueteng den, a kilometer from this town’s police station, and the arrest of some bet collectors (kubrador), the chief-of-police said to the reporter he should spare the story on jueteng and better look for other stories recorded in the blotter entry. That way, the chief said, the reporter can write and or broadcast better stories.

Was the “raid” only a ceremonial act to please the people who are very vocal against jueteng in this town? Was it only made to please the people who continue complaining about jueteng’s culture of impunity in Bulan with that zarzuela raid? My friend asked.

Well, after that zarzuela raid and the arrest of kubradors, jueteng in Bulan continue to operate.

Calling the attention of P/CINSP Jose Gepulle Gerero please don’t only please the people but do the job expected of a police officer. And another thing, don’t lecture a journalist and or a broadcaster on what to report and what not to report. We studied reporting, you studied law and order. We have different job orders.

A little manifesto of the Bulan press

By Roy Gersalia

The specter is haunting the Bulan Press. The specter of the then Bulan Press Club.

Let’s learn from history. Perhaps most of us don’t know – or have completely forgotten – that there was once a united organization of the members of the press in Bulan town.

It was organized in the 70’s by the front runners of newspaper publication in the whole province of Sorsogon, all from Bulan except one. And they are from the “Roving Eye” a fortnightly, later the Sorsogon Newsweek, a community newspaper founded in 1972.

It was widely known at the time that they are the first media organization to be united in the province and had a potent force back then in the media industry. They are organized before the Sorsogon Press and Radio club was organized in the capital province.

Until another generation of media members came. And then another. And the front runners had chosen another path. Some of them already retired while others goes into other professions. As it was widely known at the time -and until now- that working in the media especially in the province is a “labor of love”. They have to go where life would lead them to, as a sage once said.

Then the first Press Club in the province went defunct. And for a very long time it was unheard of.

But it had a message.

A message which most of media members in Bulan doesn’t heed: The need to have an organized and United Bulan Press Club. Plain and simple.

Today, Bulan town have a long-running newspaper, two radio stations and a cable television which has joined in the fray of delivering news to the public unlike before when the only outlet of information is the newspaper.

Evidently, members of the media from Bulan have augmented. But still they are not united and organized.

The radio stations particularly, has a lot of different news and public affairs programs -all in one objective, to make the public have an informed choice- but it leads to rivalry of news anchors and exchange of harsh words polluting the airwaves. And worse, most of the news anchors here in Bulan aren’t Bulan town residents.

But as Marx said, history will favor the true players.

Recently, media community from Bulan are working very hard to unite once again and reorganize the long-forgotten Bulan Press Club. They had enough already.

They said, “Media members from Bulan unite!