GMA enjoys Cebu visit but sees RP team clobbered in Bacolod

President Arroyo was visibly moved by the performance of the Filipino athletes in Cebu City. But she visited Bacolod Tuesday only to witness the debacle of two RP teams, especially the Philippines’ defeat to Malaysia in football.

But one good thing about the week, according to a sugar producer, was that front page stories of newspapers were mostly about the Southeast Asian Games with hardly any negative news. In short, he said, we are witnessing a respite from political brickbats.

Suddenly, athletes are in the limelight instead of movie stars. Even Herman Santos, office manager of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations (CONFED), was talking about how his 11-year-old kid beat him repeatedly in badminton. And he was no mean player himself.

That’s why I was surprised when Bernard Trebol told Julian La’o last Tuesday that one reason why he refused to attend the Philippine-Malaysia game at the Panaad Park and Stadium was because the Filipino booters might be no match with the more experienced Malaysians.

This was the common topic of conversation among Negrenses the whole week since the start of the SEA Games.

GMA visit

Not even the presence of the President could catapult the Philippine men’s football and volleyball squads to victories on Tuesday. That’s how Christian Irl Tan of the Visayan Daily Star described the impact of GMA’s visit to Bacolod when she touched down there to boost the morale and drive of the Filipino athletes.

The Philippine football team, however, lost their chance of gaining a semifinal slot since 1991 when they bowed to Malaysia, 4-2, before the groaning crowd at the jampacked Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan.

Filipino spikers were also walloped by the Vietnam team, 25-11, 25-17, 25-15 before another jampacked crowd at the West Negros College.

The President, however, left early for the Panaad Stadium to cheer for the Philippine football team. But she watched only the first 20 minutes of the Philippine-Malaysia football match and saw how Malaysian Rudie Bin Ramli converted a header in the 14th minute. But Fil-British Philip Younghusband struck for the Philippines in the 33rd minute.

Anyway, the match ended with the heart-breaking loss of the Philippine team, which was denied entry in the semifinals.

Minor rhubarb

A small crowd of 20 protesters near the Bacolod Airport were dispersed by the Bacolod police control dispersal management group. The protesters held placards calling for Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation.

The protesters complained about alleged political harassment after the policemen confiscated their streamers, placards and flags.

Policemen also dispersed a bigger group of around 150 at the corner of Hilado and Burgos streets. They called GMA a "fake" and "dictatorial leader."

Police Superintendent Pedro Merced denied harassing the protesters. He pointed out that the police moved in only when the protesters became unruly.

GMA calls on Bishop Navarra

President Arroyo met Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, vicar general Msgr. Victorino Rivas and Social Action director Anecito Buenafe for 45 minutes at the Bishop’s residence after lunch.

Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas Rafael Coscolluela, Rep. Monico Puentevella, and Government Mass Media Secretary Cerge Remonde accompanied the President to the luncheon.

Navarra later said four issues were discussed by the diocesan presbeterium with the President. These included the dismissal of the illegal logging case against Don Salvador Benedicto Mayor Cynthia de la Cruz , her husband Nehemias and several others by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales.

The President reportedly promised to raise the case of Negros-based human rights lawyer Francisco Cruz to Chief Justice Hilario Davide.

The President also asked Coscolluela to look into the complaint over the rising hunger in Negros brought to her attention by Bishop Navarra. Coscolluela was also asked by GMA to coordinate with Fr. Buenafe to help identify areas where hunger exists so that the necessary action can be taken on behalf of the children.

There was also the concern by the Bishop and the religious leaders over the reported clashes between the RPA-ABB and the CPP-NPA.

Rivas also called the attention of the President to the case of Bombo Radyo reporter Boy Hinolan who was killed in Kalibo last year. She promised to provide legal assistance to the Hinolan family.

The Bishop’s house was tightly guarded that even members of the media and some priests and employees of the diocese had difficulty entering because of the tight security implemented by the Presidential Security Group.

Negrenses, meanwhile, enthusiastically rooted for Negrense (Cauayan) strongman Arniel Ferrera who bagged his second gold medal in the hammer throw event. Scoring 60.74 meters, he successfully ripped the 12-year-old SEAG record of 58.80 meters set by Malaysia Wong Tee Kue.

Ferrera is actually from Barangay Nan-uling of Cauayan town in southern Negros Occidental’s CHICKS area. That is the acronym of the towns of Cauayan, Hinobaan, Ilog, Candoni, Kabankalan and Sipalay City.

Another Negrense, Binalbagan-born Jerro Perater, grabbed the silver with his 53.44 meter throw for second spot.

ADDENDA. It was the 60th birthday of Senate President Franklin Drilon last Monday, but it was hardly noticed by most Ilonggos. Anyway, happy birthday, Senate President Drilon…Today, the Junior Chamber International Metro Iloilo Dinagyang will host the Second Visayas Festival at the Amito Terrace Hotel. The two-day conference is the brainchild of the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) Food Technologists’ Alumni Association. It is co-sponsored by the UPV School of Technology. Marie Chona Rosali, president of the UPV Food Technologies’ Alumni Association, said food technologists and practicioners need to be updated about new trends in the food business. Participants are expected to learn methods, techniques and sustainable practices in fastfood chains, restaurants, bars and catering business… Malay Aklan Vice Mayor Floribar Bautista said the current move by some quarters to separate Boracay from the town of Malay will set back tourism and development efforts of the national government. He said such a move would only stall the development plans of the Malay local government and of Aklan Gov. Catalino Marquez.