Thoughts about the Ludabi Conference
Last Sunday, instead of taking my usual Sunday breakfast ride on my motorcycle, I accepted the invitation of Presidential Legislative Liaison AdelinoSitoy to attend the LUDABI (LubassaDagangBisaya) conference on Federalism. Among the speakers were Education Secretary Leonor Briones, National Council for Culture and Arts, National Artist VirgilioAlmario, Dr. Jes Tirol of LUDABI-Bohol, Atty. Leo Zaragoza and Adelino Sitoy. Venue was at the Cebu Technological University (CTU).
First of all, I'm not a member of LUDABI because I do not write in Cebuano. And when I read Cebuano, I do so very slowly, just like reading Tagalog. This is because we were always taught in English and I do think in English, after all I consider English as my first language. But I fully support the ideals of LUDABI and will fight for the Cebuano language until we ran out of breath!
But as I was listening to Atty. Zaragoza, he was vehemently against our use of the English language. He doesn't realize that the Filipino's ability to speak English has become a major reason why many Filipinos are working abroad and in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry that gives our economy a major boost. I can only say that Atty. Zaragoza is 30-years behind in his rhetoric. Hopefully LUDABI should take the lead of my group, the Defenders of Indigenous Languages of the Archipelago (DILA), that has targetedFilipino as the biggest threat to the Cebuano language.
I didn't stay long because of the unbearable heat in the gymnasium, but I left two of my TV crew from MyTV because we shall be showing this event on MyTV's Federalism Hour. Yes we are the only TV Channel having a Federalism Hour. Anyway from the reports of a friend who emailed me his thoughts about the LUDABI conference, here is what he said.
"Sir Bobit, first of all, English and Tagalog dance music played on sound system prior to 9:00 start. None were in Cebuano. The choir sang Tagalog LupangHinirang and then SugboHarangKapupud-an. NCCA/KWF head VirgilioAlmario greeted Maayong buntag several times before launching into a Tagalog speech. Various native Cebuano speakers including DepEd Sec. Leonor Briones and Cebuano Studies Center head Hope Yu related personal experiences growing up with the vernacular including the fines imposed on those who speak Cebuano in schools. Last major speaker was Presidential Legislative Liaison Adelino Sitoy who admitted that there are points in the latest PDP-Laban proposed constitution that he wants corrected."
I'm glad to read these comments from my friend who wants to remain anonymous. He also suggested that it is about time that LUDABI turn itself into a Party-list because if they win in the Visayas and Mindanao, it is enough to win us at least three congressmen. Our fight is for Cebuano and other major Filipino languages to become national languages and rename Pilipino into what it really is - Tagalog!
***
Do you remember where you were 54-years ago? I do! I was serving the Holy Mass in the main altar of the Redemptorist Church when the priest announced that US President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Pres. Kennedy fascinated me not just because he had a beautiful wife in Jackie Kennedy, but he launched the Peace Corps Program that brought many Americans to volunteer here in the Philippines, which gave us an idea that America cared for Filipinos. But alas, his Presidency was cut short by an assassin's bullet in Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas exactly 54-years ago.
The latest about the late Pres. Kennedy was that the files of his assassination were finally released by the National Archives in accordance with the JFK Assassination Records Collection Act. On July 24,2017 3,810 documents were released, followed by releases of 2,891 documents in October 26, 2017 and on November 3, 2017 13,213 documents were released and last Friday November 17, 2017 around 10,744 documents were released. All these records from the FBI, CIA and other US agencies were withheld from the public by the Assassination Records Review Board for what reason, I really don't know.
All the conspiracy theories written about the JFK assassination would no doubt fill up a small bookstore. But with these new documents finally released to the public, you can bet that the authors of those conspiracy theories would come up with new books telling their reader... I told you so!
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