From scarcity in spirit where not so many seemed to bother anymore, the Mayapay
Park issue was given up to eternal rest. Eulogy was delivered and melancholy
feeling was expressed. It was a noble task, but the road was full of snags that
every turn and twist did encounter impediment too sensitive and difficult to
overcome. It was indeed hard to swallow. It was absorbed in bitter taste for
despite want and need, it didn't come out right. The dream is dead.
But out in the blue when attention was about to fade, where aches subsided and
blames even ignored, a brazen pronouncement rang out that the dream was alive
with fresh beginning. A noted one thousand city dwellers went up the mountain
and planted trees under the gracious initiative of a seated politician.
We recall that the notion to restore Mayapay was conceived by out of town
Butuanons. It was promoted heavily by passionate rhetoric around the globe and
even dragging impending calamity into it. A petition was circulated which
gathered tremendous support from all over. A bill was filed in congress to make
the mountain a national park. From then on was an uphill climb. It got tangled
with conflicting realities on how the mountain would be perceived.
The compulsion to own is so compelling that private enterprises on the mountain
increases. It could be just sour grapes from a forsaken dream that every brick
added to deface it is still felt in pain. The mountain belongs to Butuan; an
icon of pride; God's giving gift...and on to fittingly describe Mt. Mayapay.
There was no quarrel on that. The squabble was on intended use. This was where
the dream died.
We should be thankful that when chips were down and expectation withered,
someone from unwary front took command. Local people were enthusiastic and
Butuan's community spirit resuscitated to revive the dream.
This recent community action is a lesson. We have to learn from it. That it's
appropriate for Mayapay issue to be handled by people in Butuan. Any action
from outside, though of best intention is undercutting local ingenuity in
managing their own affair. Besides, they seem to be doing it well.
Butuanons from far away places should stand aback and embrace reality that the
local people are more adept in addressing this question. It's true that we can
ably see from our vintage point the contour of the valley. We have benchmark to
pattern and even ways to accomplish. Yes, we wore Mayapay T-shirts. This is
indeed helpful. But when it comes to nitty-gritty, people on site should take
charge. It's their show. It's too bad that despite present technological
wonders, internet by itself can not still dig a hole to plant a tree.
Permit me to add my thoughts on this from what I said on April 2006.
We should allow them to do their work. We shall aim our focus
instead on human
wellness. We shall not impose to divert the helm of governance
away from those
that are mandated by choice. Our usefulness is more effective and
practical when
applied towards benevolent undertakings rather than directing
local management
to install our own resolve..
A thousand people from all walks of life in the city can not be taken for
granted. This collective action openly manifested community interest and
willingness. It was not only from fruit of their toil that they were
recognized. It also sufficed to belittle our belief that the die was already
cast to fail.
Butuan society is uniquely incomparable to other places in the country. When
family clans and alumni batch system are put into effect for good community
intention, the impact is hugely beneficial. This is indeed hard to come by, but
when the cause is fairly common, it is possible.
However, let us be aware that like any other system, it is a two-edge sword. It
could also encourage internal isolation with disparaging effect on migrants in
the city. Our prosperity has to do with outside commerce. One reason why we
lagged behind with other cities in Mindanao was our protectionist attitude in
the past. We were afraid that we can not compete with big businesses from
somewhere. This gave us a degree of reluctance to open freely our door. This
antiquated reasoning did cause to slow down progress that Butuan is still
reeling to correct today.
Let us also take into account that it is election time. In a place where even a
carabao has political affiliation, it is but fitting to assume that community
projects involving big bucks these days may contain underhanded political
intention. The change of heart in Mayapay issue could not be different. It is
not far fetch to postulate that the mountain is politicized. The money used in
planting trees comes in kind from pork barrel allocation of a politician, whose
eyes over public forest in the region contains controversial intent.
All that we have is trust. Mayapay needs it more than ever as interest already
faded out to just wishful thinking. A shot in the arm though from suspecting
sources may revitalize strength and focus to previous path in realizing the
dream again. We have no choice, but to let go our doubts and believe.
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