So what's Ed Angara up to these days?

Just as the pro-impeachment cauldron was heating up in the House of Representatives, Sen. Edgardo J. Angara, the proud son of Baler, returned to his hometown to celebrate its annual town fiesta. I asked him then why he seemed disinterested in the impeachment initiatives in Congress, or why he seemed unusually "quiet."

"It is by choice," he admitted, referring to his absence on the centerstage for impeachment. "One day, when the opposition and the administration may need a bridge, I can be that person." Thus, he’s not burning bridges to either side, though he claims to be still very much part of the opposition.

With Angara in the Baler town fiesta were Ambassadors Lim Kheng Hua of Singapore, Ryuichiro Yamazaki of Japan, Axel Weishaupt of Germany and Peter Beckingham of the United Kingdom and his wife Jill. Jesus Quintana, deputy head of the Agencia de Cooperaciones Español, also came, representing Spain’s continued endearment for Baler, the last bastion of the Spanish occupation in the Philippines. The diplomats had a taste of good old Aurora hospitality, and even enjoyed the experience of helping several fisherfolk haul in fishing nets filled with the day’s catch.

Aurora, aptly named "nature’s splendor", never fails to mesmerize its visitors with its lush forests and pristine beaches. The famous nine-foot waves of Baler Bay, a contiguous segment of the Pacific Ocean, is just one of the town’s tourist assets, attracting hundreds of surfers in February for the coveted Aurora Cup.

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In time for this year’s celebrations, the Museo de Baler, which serves as a trove of cultural and historical heritage, underwent refurbishing with the help of no less than former Philippine consul to Spain Jose Maria Carino and Sonia Pinto Ner, who worked as a curator for the Ayala Museum. Its improved ethnological and anthropological displays, art and interactive exhibits are impressive. It is interesting to hear the stories behind the old photographs, memorabilia and remnants of early architecture.

The newly organized Quezon reading room was unveiled, with a backdrop of the late President’s famous quote on social justice. The reading room is a tribute to his revolutionary initiatives in social justice which gave hope, decent lives and equity for those living in the margin.

Perhaps Quezon’s most memorable and symbolic gesture was giving away more than 100 hectares of land to the landless, unlike the elite of his time whose remedy for a mounting peasant-based revolution was lip service.

The ambassadors laid a floral offering at the Quezon Memorial to commemorate his 127th birth anniversary, and visited the replica of the kubo where the late President was born. 

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The Philippines is among the 12 finalists for BBC’s The World Chalenge, a competition aimed at finding the best innovations at the grassroots level.

It is therefore serendipitous that the groundbreaking for a coconut fiber and virgin coconut oil plant was held just recently in Barangay Reserva, Aurora.

Aurora is blessed with vast tracts of land, much of which is planted with rice and coconut. Soon, nets which are useful in preventing soil erosion will be made from waste coconut husks and provide additional income to hundreds of families. Likewise, virgin coconut oil will be manufactured using the cold-press method. Many already know that virgin coconut oil is full of health and beauty benefits, and is steadily gaining market in and outside the country.

Still, the province’s full development is yet to be realized. Given adequate support, Aurora’s potentials would prove truly extraordinary.

For Ed Angara, going home to his roots at a time when no one seemed to make sense of the political situation on its country was time better spent.

Pillow talk

espite all that has transpired between them these past months, there remains a part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that seems to still appreciate former President Cory Aquino.

Otherwise, GMA would not have continued to display the hand-painted throw pillows the former President had once given her – during happier times, to be sure. The former president only gives her paintings – whether on canvass, leather bags or pillow cases – to very few special people.

A recent Palace visitor admits he was shocked when he saw the throw pillows, which displayed the artwork of Mrs. Aquino, in a sofa in President Arroyo’s private sala. After all, Mrs. Aquino has called for the President’s resignation and no one would blame her (the President) if she did not want to be reminded of that fact every time she retreated into her inner sanctum.

When the Palace visitor asked why the pillows were not yet consigned to the store room, a close alalay of the President raised his eyebrow and retorted, "Aba, eh mahal pa naman namin siya rito."

The supporters of President Arroyo and former President Aquino are not mutually exclusive – a lot of them belong to one camp. It pains many of them to see a division in their ranks – a lot of them want to remain loyal to one without being disloyal to the other.

Actions speak louder than words. And in this case, so do pillows.

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