The Church–Military and Police Advisory Group—Negros (CMPAG-N): Building Bridges for Peace for Negrenses 1

            

            

On 04 March 2008, a landmark agreement between the Catholic Church and the Armed and the Forces of the Philippines was signed by both parties in Bacolod City. Top leaders and officials of the church and the AFP in the Visayas gathered at the Bishop’s Palace in Bacolod City to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which subsequently formed the Church–Military Advisory Group—Negros (CMAG-N). The church was represented by the four dioceses in Negros Island, namely, the Diocese of Bacolod, Diocese of Kabankalan, Diocese of San Carlos, and Diocese of Dumaguete. On the other hand, the AFP was represented by then Commander of the 303^rd Brigade, Col. Honorato S. Delos Reyes. The MOU was signed in the presence of Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, D.D., the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines; Most Rev. Leopoldo S. Tumulak, D.D., of the Bishop Military Ordinariate of the Philippines; Maj. Gen. Victor S. Ibrado of the Central Command; and Maj. Gen. Juvenal Narcise of the 3^rd Infantry Division. Four years later, on 18 October 2012, the Philippine National Police represented by the Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental Police Provincial Offices, was formally accepted as part of the group. CMAG-N would then become known as the Church, Military and Police Advisory Group- Negros or CMPAG-N.

Tracing the roots

CMAG-N was borne out of the collective desire of the leadership of the church and the military to help achieve peace, security, and development in Negros Island. During the height of the insurgency problem in Negros Island in the 1980s, an invisible “wedge” was said to have existed between the Catholic Church and the AFP (which then included the defunct Philippine Constabulary). The tumultuous years of the Martial Law was said to have been the main driving force behind the perceived mutual mistrust between these two sectors, which naturally resulted in lukewarm working relationships. Although only a few members of the Church and other religious sects were actively involved in the underground movement of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), it was generally branded as “left-leaning”, or worse, as communist fronts. On the other hand, the religious sector also labeled the military as fascists, human rights abusers, and even puppets of politicians and private individuals. Naturally, this kind of labeling or tagging from both sides strained the already volatile relationship between the two, which lasted for many years. Hence, even though they have the same goal of bringing peace and sustainable development to the people of Negros, the church and the military seemed to have gone separate ways, virtually ignoring the wedge lodged between them.

 The Church–Military Liaison Committee

It took a while before key military and church officials in the island started reaching out to each other. The series of talks or engagements between them resulted to the formation of the Church–Military Liaison Committee (CMLC) during the late 1980’s. Although no formal agreements were established, the CMLC then regularly held meetings and dialogues to iron out issues and concerns affecting or involving the military, the Church, and the general public. The committee has become an effective venue or forum for discussing and addressing contemporary social issues, and eventually paved the way toward the enhancement of the relationship between the two sectors. Soon enough, the committee attracted more participants from both sides, and dialogues and other similar activities were also conducted more frequently.

         The CMLC would soon find itself on the brink of extinction again during the early ‘90s when insurgency in the island subsided. Most of the Army units stationed in Negros left for Mindanao to help contain the threat posed by the secessionist groups thereat; hence, the meetings and engagements became less frequent.  

        

The CMLC would soon be revived with the assumption of then Colonel Ibrado (who later became AFP Chief of Staff) as Commanding Officer of the 303^rd Infantry Brigade. As the highest-ranking military commander in Negros that time, he actively sought the restoration of the CMLC by designating the late Maj. Nelson L. Gerona, who was then the Brigade’s Civil-Military Operations Officer, as the military’s liaison with the church. Major Gerona re-established and strengthened the partnership and coordination between the two sectors, particularly with the Social Action Center (SAC) of the Diocese of Bacolod. Dialogues and meetings were held frequently again as the two sectors jointly addressed the social issues prevalent in the island during that period. However, the untimely demise of Major Gerona once again slowed down the progress of the newly revived CMLC, as no officer was immediately designated to perform his role.

         In 2007, the CMLC would have another milestone in its history, with the assumption of then Maj Gen Jovenal C. Narcise as the Commander of the Army’s 3^rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division. Major General Narcise, and Brig Gen Gregorio Fajardo, then the 303^rd Brigade Commander, opened up the idea of formally reviving the CMLC to Bishop Vicente M. Navarra, D.D., at the Bishop’s House in Bacolod City last 02 April 2007. Brigadier General Fajardo lost no time renewing contacts with the church through the Civil–Military Operations Task Unit—Negros, which was under the supervision of the Brigade.

         The first of many exploratory meetings was held at the Bishop’s Palace on 27 April 2007, which coincided with the death anniversary of Rev. Fr. Niall O’Brien, the founder of Pax Christi—Pilipinas. Father O’Brien is said to be the pioneer of the advocacy for “active non-violence” as a means of attaining peace in Negros. This was followed by a series of formal meetings among representatives from the four dioceses in Negros — the dioceses of Bacolod, Kabankalan, San Carlos, and Dumaguete — and key Army commanders in the island. It was facilitated by Bro. Jack Pamine of Pax Christi—Negros, and Atty. Francisco Cruz, the legal adviser of the Diocese of Bacolod. From then on, regular monthly meetings were held every third Thursday of the month.

The birth of the CMAG-N

         Upon the recommendation of then Lt. Col. Franco Nemesio M. Gacal, then Commanding Officer of 11^th IB, CMLC would soon be christened the Church–Military Advisory Group—Negros (CMAG-N). This was after representatives from both sectors concluded that the lack of a written agreement containing the common vision and objectives of the committee was behind the failure of the CMLC to sustain its activities. As an advisory group, the representatives saw the need for an MOU that would serve as the basis for their joint undertakings. This was unanimously agreed upon by the church and the military leadership in Negros, and soon enough, the MOU was signed on 04 March 2008.

            According to the CMAG-N MOU, both the military and the church have a collective vision to promote and respect human dignity and achieve sustained peace and development in Negros. Both parties recognize the need to foster a harmonious relationship and cooperation, along with the necessity to maintain an open line of communication between them. The CMAG-N shall serve as a body in resolving issues or conflicts in achieving a harmonious and proactive relationship and cooperation between the parties. It was to be composed of the SAC Directors of the four dioceses and the Civil Military Operations Task Unit–Negros (CMOTU-N).[1]

         Upon its establishment in 2008, CMAG-N released a statement, as follows:

“…the CMAG-N…envisions a harmonious relationship among its members and spontaneous response to issues and concerns that call for mutual cooperation, deep understanding and objectivity. Anchored on the principle that respect for life and human dignity is the uncompromising foundation for peace and development, CMAG-N is laying down the cornerstone of brotherhood not just between the Church and Military but more so among the communities in Negros. The body believes that the conflicts can be resolved through pro-active, discerning, honest, and sincere initiatives. CMAG-N is taking on the task of bringing together the compassion of the Church for the people and the supportive presence of those in the Military to facilitate a greater understanding of everyone’s common goal – a progressive, peaceful, and economically independent Negros Island. It is the common vision of all those involved in the CMAG-N that all Negrenses will be given an equal share of opportunities and the chance to be listened to without prejudice.”[2]

            Since then, the CMAG-N convened regularly (every third Thursday of the month) to discuss prevailing issues related to the church and the military. Significant matters were resolved through the active participation of church leaders and military commanders. The military and police would regularly present updates regarding operational matters, while the church would tackle the social and spiritual development aspects. As the partnership became stronger, the group also began inviting representatives of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Aglipayan) and representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP).

PNP participation

Representatives of the PNP began joining the regular group meetings on 21 May 2009. In September 2010, both the Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental Provincial Police Offices (NOPPO and NORPPO) formally expressed their desire to be a part of the group, which was subsequently approved by the body. With the entrance of the PNP, CMAG-N became Church–Military and Police Advisory Group—Negros (CMPAG-N), effective 18 October 2012.  The new group committed to actively work on the concretization of the following principles enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, along with the Catholic Church’s mission:

(i)    “The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy.”

(Article II, Section 5)

(ii)  “The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the state.  Its goal is to secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of the national territory.”

(Article II, Section 3)

(iii) “The Church’s mission is to proclaim good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year in the Lord’s favor.”

With an expanded constituency, the group came up with the declaration below:

1)            THAT we with the people of Negros shall work for an honest, orderly and peaceful election and shall intelligently select leaders who can provide good governance that we need in these crucial times as the outcome of the elections will affect the future of the Negrenses and the entire country as well;

2)            THAT we shall vigorously support the effective implementation of agrarian reform as part of social justice; and,

3)            THAT to win the peace in Negros, the Military and Police shall continue to address security threats and challenges working collaboratively with the other stakeholders: the government, non-government and other sectors led by the Church, who shall work hand-in-hand to address the spiritual, social, economic and political dimensions to bring the long-overdue development in the countryside.

The declaration further said that the church, military, and police must dedicate themselves to the attainment of these objectives “for our people to enjoy a life without fear, a choice without force, an act that promotes freedom, justice and equality for all”.[3]

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[1] Lifted from the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on 04 March 2008

[2] Lifted from the Joint Press Statement of the CMAG-N during the signing of the MOU on 04 March 2008

[3] Lifted from the CMPAG–N COMMUNIQUÉ, jointly signed in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, on 04 April 2014 by the different bishops of the dioceses in Negros Island, PNP, and AFP Commanders led by Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista (AFP)

The Story of 2Lt. Jun Corpuz, PMA’14

Last November 2, 2014, another Cavalier perished in the continuing war against terror- against the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group. 2Lt. Jun Corpuz, 22, died very young- too early even for us who have been prepared and continuously told that soldiers do get killed in the battlefield. He just graduated from the PMA last March placing 13th among the 222-strong Class of 2014. 

Although I am a soldier, I am still shocked and saddened whenever I read or receive news of soldiers being killed in combat. They say it’s “all in a day’s work” but I think I would never really get used to it. Death is even more painful if it comes to someone whom you know, you care about or love. I did not personally know Lieutenant Corpuz. I have never met him but his life’s story is basically the story of many members of the Long Gray Line. 

Basilan's hero: Fresh PMA grad dies in Abu Sayyaf hands

(By Carmela Fonbuena; Published 9:28 PM, Nov 03, 2014; Updated 9:38 PM, Nov 04, 2014 http://www.rappler.com/nation/73900-fresh-pma-grad-dies)

MANILA, Philippines – It was only in March when 222 members of Philippine Military Academy "Siklab Diwa" Class of 2014 were throwing their graduation caps to celebrate the completion of their 4-year military courses. It was a moment when the class seemed oblivious to the controversy that gripped the nation back then – the dismissal of their classmate Cadet Jeff Cudia.

Seven months later, the class suffered its first loss. Second Lieutenant Jun Corpuz, 22, died on Sunday, November 2, in a clash with Abu Sayyaf in war-weary Sumisip, Basilan. (READ: Junior officer, 5 soldiers, killed in Basilan clash)

Soldiers die in battle all the time. But Corpuz was too young. He won't make it to his first alumni homecoming in February 2015. He's never even had a girlfriend, according to his mother Elizabeth.

“I thought I poured out all my tears yesterday. He was a good boy. He was never a headache. I will not forget him,” an emotional Elizabeth told Rappler in Ilocano on Monday, November 3.Jun was very close to his parents, who live in Bacnotan town in La Union. He spoke with them several times a day, thanks to the unlimited call promos by the networks. It was the birthday of his father Crecensio just last week, October 27, and Jun sent him a cash gift of P2, 000.

He always told his parents not to worry about him. "Mas tahimik sa Basilan kaysa sa Sulu (It's more peaceful in Basilan than in Sulu)," Elizabeth recalled Jun telling them.

He also spoke with them an hour before the 7:30 am attack on Sunday. It was a typical call. She was having her coffee and she was making sure that Jun had breakfast. She would learn about her son's death early in the afternoon.

Jun was a platoon leader of Alpha Company, 64th Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. It was his first assignment. And 5 of his men also died:

·         Sergeant Tranquilino Germo of Aleosan, Cotabato

·         Private First Class Rolando Entera Jr of Aleosan, Cotabato

·         Private First Class Freddie Pandoy of Aleosan, Cotabato

·         Private First Class Raffy Canuto of Lebak, Sultan Kudarat

·         Private First Class Mark Anthony Singson of Pigkawan, North Cotabato

Lieutenant Corpuz’s death reminds me of another Jun who fell in the Basilan-Sulu battlefield. In my previous articles (Last Taps: Remembering the Mandala Heroes), I wrote about my very own classmate 1Lt. Dhel Jun Evangelista who perished on August 12, 2009 in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan after a gallant stand against extremist rebels. The most recent (and I certainly hope the last) casualty the Class 2006 had was Cpt. Mark Gamboa who heroically died last September (See For Mark G.) in Lantawan, Basilan. Dulan Cordero, Roldan Samera, Eugene Pinera and Ermin Soloren also sacrificed their own lives for this cause. Other classes have had their own ‘share’ in the continuing conflict in that part of the country but I think the Mandalans have given the most number of young men there. Six Killed In Action. Some were lucky enough to have cheated death but were left with lasting marks on their bodies. Some were even luckier to have escaped unscathed. And some are still out there slugging it out with the bandits. While some of us are already doing desk jobs and pushing papers, some are still leading at the forefronts and pressing it on. They belong to those whom we really look up to. They know who they are.

The Army's history is replete with these kinds of stories. I was also a 2^nd Lieutenant in 2008 when I almost became just another ‘lesson learned’. A wayward bullet pierced my left arm and exited through the left side of my body narrowly missing my rib cage. A six-month confinement in the hospital temporarily took me out of the field but it didn’t bring back my original arm. The injury was so severe it cut both my ulnar and median nerves. Even the best nerve doctor was not able to put it back to its old form. Among many other things, I guess I will never be able to do pull-ups and rope-climb again. Lucky me, I am not a leftie. 

I’ve seen worse. I’ve seen and heard soldiers crying in pain that’s why I have never felt sorry for myself. I have never felt any anger towards whoever fired the lucky shot that almost killed me. Curiously, I’ve never even hated the rebels. I guess we were just on the different sides of the fence, fighting against each other in the name of our respective causes. We were both willing to die for our cause only that the guy who got me was quicker. Was I at the wrong place and at the wrong time during that instant? 

My only lamentation was that we were both brown-skinned. I am sure both of us also spoke Filipino or Tagalog. We were both Filipinos for God’s sake. We both live (or lived, if he's dead) in the Philippines.  But I think that’s just how it is. They broke the law of the land. Break the law and its long arms will go after you, at all cost.

I wish though that their bravery would be put into good use- in some other ways, in some other arenas. But certainly not against fellow Filipinos.

The scars that soldiers take back home with them from the battlefield are not only physical. Some of us suffer wounds not even the best doctors can heal- wounds invisible to the naked eye but not to a perceptive heart. Some have both physical and psychological wounds. Some are eventually healed but some are just too deep to reach, to severe to cure.

It is not only soldiers who suffer these wounds. Their families are sometimes left with greater pain and anguish. There is no sadder picture than a mother clutching a photo of his fallen son or daughter, or a father hugging the flag-draped coffin, a wife sobbing with her innocent children, a brother or sister who’s lost a sibling, a child who’s lost a father. 

When a wounded soldier lies on a hospital bed, nobody can give the best of care to him but his family. Not even the best nurses can give the most comforting touch a mother, a wife or a daughter can give. No amount of therapy can ever equal the words of a father telling his son “don’t give up, kaya mo yan”.

Jun’s family lost him too soon. He wanted to fulfill his dreams for them. He wanted to be the fulfillment of their dreams. But he already was. He already is. He has made his family prouder with his heroic death. Amidst the chaotic world that we live in, amidst the controversies our country is presently embroiled with, Jun and his soldiers proved that we can all be heroes in our own small or big ways, that we can all do our part in making this country peaceful and free. 

Indeed, they have done their part. And they did it the best way they can.

Mighty Mike: Not Just Another Story of Heroism

I woke up early this morning and immediately took to the computer looking for news articles related to the recent clashes between soldiers and the dreaded Abu Sayaff  bandits. Yesterday, my CO told me about the fate of the 1^st Scout Ranger Company. Accordingly, 5 Rangers were killed in a fierce fighting in Talipao Sulu. As my instinct would have it, I tried reaching my contacts in the Basilan-Sulu area to know what unit was engaged and who led it. After some attempts, nobody among them replied. I figured they must have been busy pursuing the bandits so I tried other channels. Finally, another friend, also a Ranger said it was Mike Asistores’ unit that figured in a 5-hour gun battle against about 300 bandits. Five Hours??? 300???Yes. You heard it right. But he can’t give me more details as he wasn’t there himself, so this morning, I Googled “soldiers killed in basilan-sulu”. And this was what got my attention:

Junior officer holds line in Sulu clash despite wound, appalling odds

By: Priam F. Nepomuceno, Agence France-Presse
November 16, 2014 3:34 AM  

MANILA, Philippines - Despite being wounded the third time in his seven-year military career, 1st Lt. Michael "Mike" Asistores, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 2007, did not flinch even one bit and continued fighting during the desperate clash with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits in Talipao, Sulu Friday.
His third battle wound took place two hours in desperate fight with the bandits. Asistores was first wounded in an encounter with New People's Army rebels in Lingig, Surigao Del Sur in 2008. He got his second combat wound in a three-hour encounter with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Al-Barka, Basilan in 2011.
Asistores, 30, said that they started engaging the ASG brigands around 2 p.m. As of this posting, the soldier is a combat leader of the 1st Scout Ranger Company.
He said that at about noontime on Friday, his soldiers crawled stealthily and came as close as 20 meters from the enemy positions in their forest lair at the foot of Mount Tunggul and Bud Bunga, which is located at the boundary of Talipao and Patikul.
"It was my recon elements, led by Lt. Dante "Esprite" Espiritu, who spotted the bandits in a makeshift hut. He radioed to me that they will initiate contact as one of the bandits unknowingly approached their hiding positions in order to relieve himself," Asistores recounted.
He also said that Espiritu could not wait for him and his group to link up as the bandits would surely detect them infiltrating.
At this point, Espiritu and his men opened fire, not knowing that around 300 ASG brigands were all holding positions in the terrain above them.
The bandits were led by ASG leader Radulan Sahiron a.k.a "Commander Putol", Hairullah Asbang, Jurim Hussein, Hatib Sawadjaan and Juli Ekit.
Minutes later, Espiritu was forced to call for reinforcements as two of his men were downed by ASG fire.
"I could hear Esprite's voice over the radio amidst the heavy volumes of fire from various directions. They were almost surrounded by the enemy," Asistores said.
At this time, he added that he and his men were only about a hundred meters in their designated rally point.
Having experienced the "pintakasi" (attack from all directions) tactics used by the ASG in Basilan, Asistores promptly assembled a platoon to help his heavily engaged comrades.
While approaching the encounter site about 20 minutes later, Asistores and his men spotted the bandits who attempted to outflank the position of Espiritu. They were about 100 meters apart.
"The bandits wanted to annihilate the platoon of 'Esprite' by attempting to surround them, so I positioned my platoon about 50 meters behind of the bandits to join the fight," he said.
Asistores said that he was surprised upon seeing the bandits assaulting his position despite being raked with gun fire.
"The young-looking bandits were very daring and unmindful of our fires. They kept running towards our position despite being hit repeatedly. They were very ferocious and daring," he said.
Finding himself being slowly overwhelmed by the enemy, Asistores called for more support from his battalion commander, Lt Col Eugene Boquio.
He also dispatched soldiers to collect the casualties from Espiritu's.
Seeing the dead and wounded soldiers around him, Asistores pressed the fight by rallying the remaining soldiers to hold their line to provide support as the casualties are being evacuated.
After two hours of exchanging gunfire with the bandits, Asistores was hit by a shrapnel but he maintained his composure to inspire his men.
"One of my team leaders, Sgt. Kitong, came to my side and helped me control our remaining troops. He was very concerned when he saw that I was already bloodied," said Asistores.
He also said that he was lucky to have brave NCO (non commissioned officer) leaders in his company.
"I credit my NCOs for keeping the integrity of my unit. Aside from Sgt Kitong, my platoon sergeant, SSgt Tumala, was among those who exhibited conspicuous courage by running from one team's position to another to provide leadership amidst the volley of fires," he said.
Kitong was among the 28 soldiers who were wounded during the 5-hour long firefight.
He sustained a gunshot wound on his abdomen when he was trying to carry one of the critically-wounded team member.
Kitong was first wounded as a private of the 10th Scout Ranger Company when he figured in a six-hour firefight against the Abu Sayyaf in Balatanay, Basilan in October 2001.
He was awarded his first Gold Cross Medal, the third highest combat medal for grabbing an M60 machinegun from the Abu Sayyaf in that encounter.
Meanwhile, Asistores said that the ASG "borrowed" their courage from the marijuana leaves that they smoked before the firefight. His men recovered some of the left-over of smoked marijuana in the encounter site.
"That solved the puzzle about their bravery in combat. They are drug-crazed fighters," he said.
Asistores said that he considers all five men who paid the ultimate sacrifice as his personal heroes.
"They have shown us that the true spirit of the Scout Rangers. Walang iwanan. (No one is left behind)They died fighting for the country with their combat boots on their feet," Asistores said.
He also said that he and his men who are now recuperating in the military hospital in Zamboanga, are all willing to come back to Sulu and rejoin their beloved unit.
"I will gladly go back and be with my men in the frontlines. We must crush the Abu Sayyaf and end its kidnapping business," Aristores said.
Col. Allan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu commander, is confident that the military can gradually decimate the Abu Sayyaf ranks.
He also said that the Abu Sayyaf has nowhere to hide if the civilians will cooperate with the military in identifying them and pinpointing their jungle hideouts.
Latest information released by the military placed the death toll at 15, with five from the government side and 10 for the ASG with 28 soldiers and at least 30 from the bandits wounded.(http://www.interaksyon.com/article/99293/junior-officer-holds-line-in-sulu-clash-despite-wound-appalling-odds

Last night, I broke the news to my wife who is a good friend of Mike. And her reaction was "What? Wounded na naman? Thank God he is alive!".

Well, as the article said, he's been wounded three times already. His pretty-boy-matinee-idol looks have been punctured by bullets and shrapnel through the years- all for the love of country. Chick-magnet-turned-bullet-magnet.

We have been pushing him to get married already prior his stint in Basilan-Sulu. Actually, we did not know he was there until this news. As a Ranger, he was here and there. That's how they are-heroes in black suits.

I am not a Ranger myself. I have very high regards for these men who, most of the time, spend their lives behind enemy lines. They have so many stories to tell. Let's start with Mighty Mike A.

The Ruins: Ang Kwento sa Likod ng mga Kwento

Ang "The Ruins" sa Lungsod ng Talisay, Negros Occidental

 Nakapunta ka na ba sa Lungsod ng Bacolod, o sa anumang bahagi ng Isla ng Negros? Kung hindi pa ay simulan mo nang planuhing makaapak sa tinaguriang Kapital ng Asukal or Sugar Capital ng ating bansa. Ngunit bukod sa asukal at malalawak na mga pataniman ng tubo ay napakaraming tanawin pa ang makikita sa islang ito. Ako mismo ay namamangha sa tuwing may mga bago akong natutuklasang mga lugar sa ibat-ibang sulok ng isla.

Mula noong 2006 ay dito na ako halos nakatira sa Negros. Dito kasi ang unang destino ko bilang isang sundalo. Halos nalibot ko ang iba’t-ibang mga lungsod at bayan mula sa dulong hilaga hanggang sa gitna at sa katimugang bahagi ng Negros Occidental. Napadpad na rin ako sa Negros Oriental lalung-lalo na sa may bahagi ng una at pangalawang distrito nito. Nakasalamuha ko dito ang iba’t-ibang mga tao lalo na yaong mga naninirahan sa mga liblib na lugar at kabundukan. Doon kasi umiikot ang buhay namin- sa mga lugar kung saan may masasabing may suliraning pangseguridad. Ito yung mga lugar na tinatawag natin na vulnerable communities. Malimit ay kinakaharap nila ang karahasan, problemang pangkalusugan, kawalan ng edukasyon at syempre ang kawalan o kakulangan ng hustisya. Kahirapan ang karaniwang suliranin ng mga pamayanang nadaratnan namin. Isang mahabang usapin ito kaya’t hindi muna ‘yan ang isasalaysay ko.

Imahe mula sa Google Maps

Bagamat marami na akong napuntahang mga lugar ay iilan lamang sa mga ito ang kabilang sa mga lugar pang-turista o tourist spots. Halos wala naman kasi kaming panahon upang magliwaliw kapag nakadestino sa mga liblib na lugar. Mas ginugugol kasi namin ang aming mga oras sa paninilbihan sa mga komunidad o kaya naman ay sa pagsasanay. Bukod pa dito ay sadyang napakalalayo ng mga lugar-pasyalan. Kulang ang isa o dalawang araw upang sadyain ang mga natatanging pasyalan sa loob at labas ng Bacolod. Halimbawa, kung pupunta ka sa Punta Bulata at iba pang magagandang dalampasigan na matatagpuan sa bahagi ng Bayan ng Cauayan at Lungsod Sipalay ay halos tatlong oras na byahe mula sa Bacolod ang iyong bubunuin. Kung pupunta ka naman sa Mambukal Mountain Resort sa Bayan ng Murcia ay humigit kumulang apatnapu’t-limang minuto ang byahe kung mayron kang sariling sasakyan. Ang Campuestuhan Resort naman na isang kahanga-hangang lugar-pasyalan ay ganun din kahaba ang paglalakbay mula sa Bacolod. Subalit pagdating mo sa mga lugar na ito ay masasabi mo naming sulit na sulit ang iyong byahe sapagkat talaga namang magaganda at kaaya-aya ang mga ito.

 

Dalawang taon na ang nakalilipas simula nang mapasyalan ko kasama ng aking pamilya ang “The Ruins”. Ito ay isang makapigil-hiningang gusali na itinayo sa ngalan ng pag-ibig at iginupo naman ng poot ng digmaan. Matamis at masalimuot ang kwento sa likod ng gusaling ito na tinaguriang Taj Mahal ng Negros. Isa ito ngayon sa mga lugar na hindi nakakaligtaang dalawin ng mga turista sa Bacolod City at Negros. Naging saksi na rin ito sa napakaraming mga kasalan at iba’t-ibang mga okasyon. Marami na rin daw na mga kilalang tao ang dumalaw at pinahanga ng gusaling sa loob ng maraming dekada ay naging simbolo ng kayamanan at pagmamahalan.

Ayon sa salaysay, ang bahay na ito ay itinayo noong 1900’s ng isang mayaman at  makapangyarihang hacienderong si Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson (1865-1948)- para sa kanyang asawang si Maria Braga Lacson. Si Don Mariano na may dugong Pilipino-Kastila o Español ay isa sa mga nanguna noon sa industriya ng asukal at nagmamay-ari ng napakalawak na mga taniman ng tubo at pagawaan ng asukal. Si Maria naman ay isang Portugis mula sa Macau. Ang mansyon na kanyang ipinatayo ang siyang pinakamagara at pinakamalaking bahay sa buong lalawigan noon. Nakapaloob dito ang mga pinakamagaganda at pinakamamahaling mga mwebles at kagamitang pambahay na nagmula pa sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng mundo. Sa labas naman ay matatagpuan ang napakagandang hardin na mayroong napakagarang fountain.  

   

 

Pinangunahan ng isa sa mga anak ng don ang pagtatayo ng gusali na ginamitan pa ng pinakamatitibay na kahoy at pangunahing uri ng semento at iba pang mga materyal. Sinasabing hindi mabilang na itlog ng manok ang ginamit upang pakintabin ang mga dinding nito. Hanggang sa ngayon ay damang-dama pa ng mga palad ang kinis ng mga dingding sa ilang bahagi ng gusali.

Bagamat ang gusali ay itinayo sa ngalan ng pag-ibig, iginupo naman ito ng galit at poot noong panahon ng digmaan. Ayon sa salaysay ay sinunog ito ng mga gerilyang Pilipino diumano sa utos na rin ng Don upang ito ay hindi mapakinabangan o  magamit bilang himpilan ng mga sundalong Hapon. Sa sobrang tibay at tatag ng gusali ay makailang ulit nila itong sinubukang sunugin ngunit nagtagumpay lamang sila pagkalipas ng tatlong araw. Pinaghalong langis at gasolina ang naging katapat ng makakapal na sahig na kahoy at bubungan na natupok ng lubusan pagkatapos ng tatlong araw na lagablab ng apoy. Subalit ang napakagarang hagdanan, ang mga haligi at dingding ay nanatiling nakatayo hanggang sa ngayon.

Sa tibay ng pagkakatayo ng gusali, pinatunayan mismo ng mga inhinyero na ito ay maaring pang gamitin o tirahan kung sakaling aayusin at ibabalik sa dating anyo. Maging mga arkitekto umano ay nagsasabing kakaiba ang disenyo ng nasabing gusali na maihahalintulad sa mga sikat na gusali na matatagpuan sa iba’t- ibang dako ng mundo.

Salamat na lamang sa mga kaanak ng dakilang Don na nakaisip na muling ibalik ang dating ganda at sigla ng bahay makalipas ang napakahabang panahong ito ay napabayaan at halos ibinaon sa limot. Bagamat hindi na maibabalik ang orihinal na anyo nito, sapat na ang ibukas ito sa publiko upang magsilbing alaala ng nakalipas. Ito rin ay isang inspirasyon sa ngalan ng pag-ibig, at paalaala naman sa kalupitan at hinagpis ng dulot ng digmaan.