commentary Mine your own business
Mine your own business
Monday, 30 January 2012 00:00
THIS is mine, that is mine, these are mine, those are all mine. Mine, mine, mine. That's why it's called mining? Hmmm. The rivers are turning brown and the culprit is not this particular choco drink that's known for annual marathons, sports events, and "Go, go, go with..." Some people are saying the brown color is caused by illegal mining. Others say it's all kinds of mining-whether legal or illegal, that's still mining. And then there are those who say that illegal logging also helps make a choco drink out of rivers. Others say it's not just illegal logging-illegal, legal, does it matter? It's still logging. They're cutting down trees.
And yet there's this city councilor who said it's none of the above-there were trees during the time Noah built his Ark, so why blame it on mining and logging? Some city officials are now being accused for their participation in the illegal mining industry. They could be the investor, the trucking services owner, the lawyer, whatever their alleged role is, it's now being questioned by concerned Cagayanons. Well, that's understandable considering the way the flashflood wiped out several barangays out of the city. Cagayanons simply can't sit back, relax, and wait for the river to morph further into dark bitter chocolate, right? The real dark chocolate is good for the health, but when it comes to rivers... To be so detached is even bad. If your reason for sitting back and relaxing is something like, I have houses all over the world, I can always leave Cagayan de Oro (CDO) if things get worse, hmmm, good for you? Tsk tsk.
Logging and mining are big-time industries. But I guess you know that already. Those who started it all way back when, are now big-time businessmen who can't be thrown off their thrones anymore. They don't have to be friends with the barangay chairman because their connections can go much higher-the city mayor? Hmmm. Governor? Higher. Congressman? Uh. Senator? Maybe. The country's president? Spin a win! That's how it was during GMA's time anyway. In other words, logging and mining have always been there. So if you're focusing now on the city councilors who are allegedly involved in illegal mining, you should adopt the mind of a miner: dig deeper. Even you will be shocked with the treasures you'll find. That's when you'll see the six degrees of separation among Cagayanons: why is he rallying against these people if he himself is...
The flashflood had wiped out several barangays out of the city's map, but we're now hearing stories that new voters' lists may be brewing in the relocation sites. Is that the reason why there are evacuees who profusely thank the top guy at city hall for the permanent shelters that will be given to them? A profound and painful experience is supposed to teach us lessons but if we'll regress back to our pre-Sendong mindset, that's almost like inviting a flashflood to come and visit again this City of Beholden Friendship.
The residents of Emily Homes may not forget Sendong that soon, though. On Jan. 21, 2012, more than a month after Sendong, the Emily Homes Homeowners' Association placed a streamer at the entrance of the subdivision, stating their plea to "the local government of Cagayan de Oro": "We desperately need your support. Please give us a little of your attention!!!" Perhaps the top guy at city hall has not seen the streamer or maybe I didn't hear about his help for the subdivision, because instead of mentioning Emily Homes, he was again focusing on his favorite no man's Land: Isla de Oro. This time, though, he wasn't talking about how the Isla has had residents in the last 50, 49 or 47 yeaaaaarrrs (that number kept decreasing each time he granted interviews or talked with some people). Perhaps he finally felt the futility of insisting that those residents would never vacate the place.
But there's no stopping a determined top guy. If the Isla is a danger zone and therefore could not be used as a residential area anymore, then he'd go to the next level: transfer the Night Café to Isla de Oro. This plan of his was so out-of-this-world, most people didn't even care to comment about it anymore. And I was shocked with that response-I thought they would be marching on the streets! Well, let's hope Cagayanons will not go back to sleep again and end up having nightmares that start with a typhoon signal number 2. Mata na tawon, CDO.
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