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Writing from Legaspi City for The CRANE MONITOR and writing about Caramoan is like viewing both the town’s dark alleys and bright landscape or looking at it from the outside and seeing many interesting things.
But it does not make me a detached observer from where I am. That is the beauty of one who knows the place like the palm of his hand.
When I write, I write with passion and write even when the heavens shudder. Although my products are not masterpieces, they can touch everyone with either gentleness or searing pain. Anybody I focus my attention to is hard up forgetting my pen.
But I will see to it that my columns about Caramoan will build than destroy. This does not mean, however, that I will only write about the green meadows and peaceful atmosphere. There are many things to write about in Caramoan ------ its interesting people, its living edens’ and the tragedy of being abandoned because of its remoteness.
In my columns in other newspapers, I rarely write gloomingly about other people. But I am not cold-hearted, not with a tin heart, unfeeling. When there is reason to sing paeans, I do not hesitate. Lately, I prefer the tamer things in life.
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Big projects have been implemented in Caramoan, according to my source, one of which is an irrigation dam which reportedly ended up like an abandoned rusty ship. The funds are gone, eaten up by thin air but the project is there, a testament to some people’s greed.
It was pursued and partly finished but the cost skyrocketed. The loser? The taxpayers.
Who are those who have fattened their pockets, some possibly know. But they talk in whispers, afraid to be dragged into the storm.
That is a big weakness, one that encourages corruption. When you display the ‘I don’t care attitude’ you embolden the grafters, you even help them dip their dirty fingers into the pie.
If you want your officials to be on alert, if you want them not to fall into the devil’s trap, tell them you hate the way they behave. You may influence others to follow your example and help raise a howl of protest.
There is much chance the prick of conscience may lead them to the right path. Who knows?
What I’m telling you is, be vigilant.
In Legaspi City, in my more active years in the media and during my heyday as leader of the fearless group of mediamen, every shenanigan was given the full attention it deserved from our group.
We landed on the front page of the Asian Wall Street Journal in Hongkong and New York because of the way we reported the tumult occurring in our region during martial law.
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The Balik Caramoan project of the CRANE headed by our gutsy editor, Doming Alarkon, is laudable. It will bring home to Caramoan from all parts of the globe our kababayans who have much money to spend. Their money can boost the town’s economy.
We need their presence but we need their help, too. Give them the opportunity to spend their money in ways that will help the old hometown.
They should do more than this, besides spending their money for relatives and friends. What can they offer their birthplace so that their people will remember them for a long time?
(CRANE Executive Vice President Dr. Dolly Roa-Perez is chair of the Balik Caramoan Project-----Ed)
