Developments can make one go bonkers

I almost went crazy trying to pick out which major event to attend this weekend and the next. There are just too many major events wanting to be covered. Each day brings in fresh news of important events that require a journalist’s focus.

For example, I found myself enticed to go to Antique province to attend the revival of komedya, the theatrical performance. Antique Gov. Sally Zaldivar Perez said the three-day komedya affair has the support of the National Commission on Culture and Arts.

It also coincides with the Panaad Festival, Negros Occidental’s leading one-week affair that allows visitors to see for themselves the best products and the culture of the various towns and component cities of the province. Besides, there is the report that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may attend the convention of the Vice Mayors’ League here.

Then, there is the Pasalamat Festival of La Carlota City. Kitchie Benedicto told me that Mayor Jeffrey Ferrer has managed to convince the Eat Bulaga group to do a live show. Besides, the Pasalamat Festival is an enchanting event. It proclaims how the late Mayor Nonoy Jalandoni managed during his lifetime to convert the young of the city to love percussion instruments. And one of the most enchanting sights is the young swaying to the Samoan Latin beat while gently or violently beating drums made of indigenous materials.

Then, just Thursday afternoon, I found myself invited to attend the annual convention of the Philippine Masonic Association of America Inc. at the Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel.

I met a Fil-American couple who were attending the meet. They were on their way to a favorite eatery of Bacolod’s elite in the company of a local Masonic leader.

The two-day confab has reportedly brought to Bacolod scores of members of the Philippine Masonic Association of America. The Negrense 200 Foundation Inc. is hosting the affair.

Negros Occidental put its best foot forward to host the golfers who are scheduled to participate in a tourney at the Marapara Golf and Country Club in Barangay Bata.

But there will also be groups who will visit the Mambukal Resort and the Buenos Aires Resort in Bago City.

Newly appointed Regional Trial Court Judge Franklin Demonteverde, a close family friend, is the convention chairman.

Then, I got a faxed invitation to the International Sugar Forum, which kicks off at the New World Hotel in Makati City on April 24.

This event will bring to the country some of the top sugar experts, including from the International Sugar Organization (ISO), and the Common Fund for Commodities.

The Philippine Sugar Research Foundation Inc. chaired by Bernardo Trebol is hosting the event.

Guests of honor will be Common Fund for Commodities managing director Ambassador Ali McBuno, ISO executive director Dr. Peter Baron, Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban, and Philsurin chairman Trebol.

There will also be representatives from world sugar producers. They include officials from Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, Fiji, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Sudan, Swaziland, and Tanzania.

Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines will lead the discussion on lessons learned on sugar sustainability from the CFC/ISO/20 grant of $2 million for sugar variety improvement in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

A dissemination workshop on the results of the project’s second phase will follow on April 25-28. This will include a visit to Negros Occidental where they will be given a birds’ eye view of the role which Mill District Development Councils (MDDCs) play in the accelerated adoption of improved technologies by Philsurin director general Leon Arceo.

On Thursday, Arceo will brief the delegates on the role of MDDCs at the L’Fisher Hotel here. After lunch, the delegates will motor to the Philsurin experiment station in Victorias City.

On Friday, the group will again visit the Hawaiian Philippine Co. (HPCO) MDDS. Later, they will tour Hacienda Tinihaban owned by Sugar Administrator James Ledesma and the MDDC facilities. HPCO president Tim Bennet will host the lunch.

CFC/ISO/20

The sugar variety improvement project of the CFC, which the ISO has endorsed, pooled together sugarcane specialists and resources from five countries to increase sugarcane productivity in the region.

In the case of the Philippines, this impacted dramatically in boosting the country’s sugarcane productivity, resulting in a surplus production of sugar, transforming Philippine sugar from a sunset to a sunrise industry.

It also temporarily created a complex problem. Fortunately, the weather last year contributed to bringing down production.

The best example of self-help on the part of the Philippines is Philsurin, the country’s research, development and extension arm domestically funded by sugar producers.

Over the years, Philsurin, working through the MDDCs, dramatically turned around the situation.

The MDDC is a district organization made up of mill officials, sugar farmers, and technical personnel from both the SRA and Philsurin, whose efforts are coordinated by the Philsurin MDDC coordinator.

Trebol agreed that the success of Philsurin is largely attributable to the key role played by the MDDCs in the education and introduction of sugarcane varieties and the promotion of sugar technology.

Now, the foreign sugar experts will have the chance to see for themselves the successes achieved by the CFC/IS0/20 in the Philippines and the participating countries.

Komedya

As I earlier pointed out, Aya Bagatsing (youngest daughter of former Manila Congressman Ramon Bagatsing Jr.) was convinced to stay longer in Negros to attend the Panaad Festival this weekend.

That to a certain extent confirms the lure of Panaad.

But there is another affair in Antique – the komedya revival which will highlight the Binirayan Festival which projects the natural heritage of the province.

Antique Gov. Perez said the komedya revival, which won support from the NCCA, aims to promote cultural awareness and also environmental protection.

The Binirayan Foundation Inc. headed by executive director Alex de los Santos, has been working on it since last November. The Binirayan, which kicked off last April 1, has the theme "Kabuganaan halin sa pianubli nga dunang hanggad (a bountiful harvest from our natural resources)."

Actually, Gov. Perez credits the late Antique former Gov. Evelio Javier for launching the Binirayan which commemorates the legend of the landing of the Bornean datus in Panay.

The festival highlight will be on April 27 to 29. There will be the traditional honors for the Bugal awardees and the Layas Antiqueros.

The komedya festival will be held in San Jose, the capital town of the province, from April 20 to 23.

Komedya is a folk theater presentation originating from the fourth century and which became popular in the 1900s. It is characterized by fantastic story lines, sword fights, and resplendent costumes. The first komedya in Western Visayas was held in San Jose as recorded by Eco de Panay in 1893.

Thus, you can see how I almost went bonkers over my dilemma on which event to cover and write about.

Anyway, before ending this column, I also wish to call the attention of Aklanons to a very interesting event – the selection of former Assemblyman Jose Tumbokon as Outstanding Aklanon Awardee during the province’s 50th celebration on April 25. Tumbokon is a close personal friend and a colleague. And Aklan is my adopted province, being the birthplace of my late wife, Dr. Lourdes L. Espina, who was born in Ibajay.

How I wish I could also attend the affair. But anyway, the only thing I can do now is just salute Soning. I’ll miss that affair. But I am proud that an esteemed colleague and personal friend is getting the top honor from his province.