An Inconvenient Truth on Bicol Politics

Devotees of Our Lady of Peñafrancia were greeted by yellow banners hanging in the middle of the city’s major roads bearing messages against Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero Friday morning. Chiz, as what he branded himself in his political campaign when he ran and won for a senatorial seat back in 2007, is a vocal critic of Naga City’s former Mayor and now Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse M. Robredo. “Crab Mentality ni Escudero, ugaling pang Trapo” says one of the many messages.

These messages were obvious indication of the strong support Nagueños and Bicolanos alike are giving the DILG Secretary. Nothing wrong with that, I myself am a supporter of Secretary Robredo, but I strongly disagree with the manner and timing these manifestations of support were executed. The execution leaves a bad taste in the mouth and brings uncalled political propaganda in the middle of a big religious celebration. I’m sure Secretary Robredo wasn’t fully aware of his supporters plan to hang these banners, had he been informed, the good secretary’s wisdom would say otherwise.

Yes there are truths to these messages, but it was very unfortunate to note that these political tirades are done by Bicolanos against a fellow Bicolano on a time and place devoted to a Religious Celebration Bicolanos are known for all over the world. Just 8 days ago, President Noynoy Aquino issued Proclamation Number 33 Declaring the City of Naga and the Province of Camarines Sur as Pilgrimage Capitals of the Bicol Region and Recognized Top Tourist Destinations of the Philippines. In simple words, the mud we Bicolanos are throwing at each other has the magnitude of the botched hostage taking crises month ago in terms of word-wide exposure.

Pilgrims from all over the world who came to join us in our celebration now have a different perception of our culture. Once upon a time, the Bicolano race is a force to reckon with in any battle, but now that there’s infighting inside mainly because of our greed and thirst for power, we wouldn’t be surprised to see this mighty race crumble in a not so distant future. Just when we mark our 300 years of devotion to our Ina, just when we believed we are politically matured, just when we begin to be proud of the achievements of our few brilliant Bicolano politicians, is when we realized that we are all idiots, cowards and egocentric individuals not far different from the “trapos” that we despise.

Secretary Jesse and Senator Chiz, mag-ulay kamo lalaki sa lalaki and don’t allow your supporters to talk in your behalf. Since when did our unique dialect become a hindrance to mutual understanding and strategic alliances? Furthermore, what is the value of being called “oragon” if we can’t fix this all in the name of the roughly 5 Million Bicolanos who put their individual trust in you. Chiz can never achieve his presidential ambition without the Bicol block by his side, Secretary Jesse won’t be successful either in the implementation of his department’s objectives in local governance without Bicol leading by example. We can’t be Presidents of the Philippines all at the same time but we can always be Bicolanos all the time.