I had my eyes initially focused on Antique’s Binirayan Festival with the invitation of Gov. Sally Zaldivar-Perez dispatched earlier. Bookings in the fast ferry to Iloilo presented a problem. While debating on it, I received a phone call from Gov. Perez (a personal friend).
She told me how her preparations had paid off. She rattled the names of key government officials who had come to Antique. Among those she mentioned were Negros Oriental Gov. George Arnaiz and North Cotabato Gov. Manny Piñol.
The latter is a close personal friend. During our younger days, when he was still in journalism, Piñol and I shared a lot of experiences. Last year, I met him in Davao post a previous visit to Sultan Kudarat when he was still mayor of M’lang. I truly wanted to see him in Antique, knowing that Piñol still speaks Kinaray-a with fluency.
But that could not push through. The one that beckoned was the reenactment yesterday of the landing of the 10 Bornean datus in Malandog Beach of Mantic town. (Binirayan actually means those who had sailed). This event depicted the 13th century landing as mentioned in the Maragtas legend.
Although a legend, the tradition has been observed for many years in Antique and revived with zest by the late Antique governor Evelio Javier in 1974. But the legend had preceded that commemoration.
The tale of Datu Puti and Datu Sumakwel states that these Bornean datus fled Borneo to escape the cruel ruler, Datu Makatunaw. After finding the area in the Siwaragan River in San Joaquin, Iloilo as coky, the group then proceeded northwest until they reached Malandog.
Today, however, Binirayan has evolved into a major festival, luring thousands from Panay provinces and Iloilo to watch the unveiling of Antiqueño culture. This is reflected in the pamalaye, the harana, the sinulog and other cultural activities which reeled off yesterday.
Another interesting thing I had wanted to visit was the Museum of Antique which was unveiled the other day at the old provincial capitol.
Aklan is the birthplace of my late wife, Dr. Lourdes Espina. That is why it holds a special place in my heart. Especially her hometown, Ibajay.
Actually, it was Gov. Perez who reminded me about that event. During our phone conversation, she mentioned that my late wife, Nene, was actually a sorority sister (Sigma Rho) at the UP where she graduated in medicine.
What struck me was the report that Land Reform Secretary Rene Villa, another personal friend, was the invited keynote speaker of the celebration. What whetted my appetite further was the report that Villa had asked the Aklan agrarian reform communities (ARCs) to put up the Kalahi Farmers’ Center at the Piña and Fiber Festival with the Agro-Industrial Fair at the Goding Ramos Park at the provincial Capitol in Kalibo.
The ARCs’ exhibit included piña and abaca fiber products and handicrafts made of sinamay and the nito vine.
Aklan Gov. Catalino Marquez and Rep. Florencio Miraflores kicked off the display of Aklan’s loom-weaving industry which has catapulted piña into a cloth mixed with other fibers.
Today, costumes and dresses made of piña have become major attractions. From pure piña, we now have piña with other fibers used in coming up with the impressive barong.
I learned that a total of 97 exhibitors participated in the trade and agro-industrial fair. And, yes, there was also the garden and cutflower exhibits which featured 19 exhibitors.
Besides, there were also 37 government and non-government agencies which participated in the affair. Among those mentioned were the Aklan State University, the Fiber Industry Development Authority, Department of Tourism and the Department of Science and Technology.
Of course, that reinforced my indecision — Antique or Aklan?
This was an affair which has always been close to my heart. It is the transformation of a city into a beehive of drumbeaters started by the late La Carlota mayor Nonoy Jalandoni, a former member of the Executive Group.
The affair was sweetened by hundreds — nay, even thousands — of local residents holding aloft white balloons as they celebrated their thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.
Fr. Armand Onion added spice to the affair by blessing the first fire, seeds and agricultural crops.
From a hometown affair, it has developed into a major tourist attraction, thanks to the efforts of media-savvy Kitchie Benedicto-Paulino.
As expected, Mrs. Julie Benedicto, wife of the late Philsucom chairman Roberto S. Benedicto, also participated in the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon which opened the Pasalamat Cultural and Arts Festival 2005.
La Carlota City Mayor Jeffrey Ferrer led local leaders. Roberto and Agnes Cuenca, the chairman of the Pasalamat Foundation, were also present together with several mayors of the fourth district.
So that was what happened to me. I opted to remain a bystander and just monitor the goings-on in these places.
Meanwhile, there were a lot more things happening in my area of concern. ADDENDA. This included the report that Regional Trial Court Branch 41 Judge Ray Alan Drilon has ordered the National Power Corp. to pay Eva Ledesma, in her capacity as attorney-in-fact of the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th Sonia Corp., the sum of P22,226,400 or their Barangay Granda property it had expatriated or its 138-KV Bacolod-Cadiz transmission lines. The amount is less than the P12,966,378.50 already paid earlier to the landowners... In Negros Oriental, RTC Branch 43 Judge Winston Villegas also sentenced to two to eight years’ imprisonment 84-year-old Ricardo Teves for the slaying of his brother, Angel, whom he shot with a caliber .22 Beretta pistol on Sept. 4, 1992. Both are the sons of the late Serafin Teves, who was once a governor of Negros Oriental. The killing stemmed from an argument when Ricardo requested for a special audit on selected accounts of the SL Teves Realty and Development Corp. Ricardo’s lawyers said they will file a motion for reconsideration.