Equatorial Guinea president also learned something

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, president of oil-rich Republic of Equatorial Guinea, was one chief of state who did not just bear gifts but also candidly admitted that he has learned from Negros Occidental’s agricultural plantations to boost the food needs of his country.

President Obiang and his wife, visited the province Saturday with House Speaker Jose de Venecia. They were also accompanied in their visit to Hacienda Balbina of business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco by several lawmakers, including Rep. Ignacio Arroyo (fifth district).

Obiang had his first taste of mongo and chicken adobo. Both dishes, prepared by Cojuangco and his spouse, Gretchen, were among the fare served Obiang and his wife, Constancia Mangue de Obiang.

Congressman Arroyo said that when Obiang tasted both dishes, he declared them awesome.

The fruits served the Obiang couple included durian, pomelo, mango, bananas and other vegetables.

Among those who accompanied the visiting head of state were Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon, Vice Gov. Isidro Saycon, and Reps. Genero Rafael Abuaran III (sixth district), Charlie Cojuangco (fourth district), and Thirdy Marañon (second district), according to Arroyo.

Obiang and his wife arrived in Pontevedra Saturday for a visit to the ECJ Farms of the Cojuangcos as part of their four-day agri-economic tour of the country.

Obiang said what he learned from his visit here he would replicate in his country.

He said he would ask their cook to prepare ginataang mongo and chicken adobo.

That was the most important highlight of the Equatorial Guinea president’s visit to the Philippines. He just did not bring promises of investments and a promise of providing 10 percent of the country’s oil needs. More important was his acknowledgement that he had learned something from us, especially how to grow more food for his people.

Equatorial Guinea maintains an estimated 1.28 billion barrels of oil yearly. It also hosts some 3,000 overseas Filipino workers.

De Venecia, meanwhile, said that aside from the prospects of boosting Filipino OFWs working in Equatorial Guinea from 3,000 to 5,000, Tony Boy Cojuangco is also going into a joint venture with the National Bank of Equatorial Guinea, through the Philippine Bank of Commerce.

But more important is that President Obiang’s visit may lead to the replication of Negros plantations in his country, the Speaker said.

Seldom have we had a visiting foreign dignitary who acknowledged that he also had learned something from the Philippines. He’s one visitor who is most welcome among us.

Meanwhile, Speaker De Venecia remains optimistic that the Philippines will be able to shift from a presidential to a parliamentary form of government despite legal challenges and the opposition of the Church and some members of the Senate.

He is hoping for some positive developments from the House-Senate talks on how to go about Charter change.

De Venecia, however, said the House can always fall back on the people’s initiative should the Senate fail to cooperate with the House.

De Venecia targeted July as the time to shift the country’s form of government.

Well, as I have previously mentioned, the three dioceses of Negros Occidental have joined hands in a common campaign to unmask the people’s initiative as a series of lies and deceptions.

No less than Bishop Vicente Navarra, backed by 50 members of the local clergy and representatives of the San Carlos and Kabankalan dioceses, last week launched an education and information campaign to make people better aware that Charter change under the people’s initiative should be challenged.

Two more cops killed

The visit here Saturday of Lt. Gen. Samuel Bagasin of the Armed Forces Central Command was marred by the liquidation of two Escalante City policemen purportedly by members of the New People’s Army hit squad.

Ironically, Bagasin ordered a "decisive operation" against the NPA in his address to the various military units on Negros Island, particularly the 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army.

Killed in the Escalante City incident in northern Negros Occidental were PO1s Albert Escala, 27, and Melvis Villarama, 23. Both were members of the Escalante police and the 602nd Regional Mobile Group, respectively.

The two were reportedly assigned to secure a benefit dance in Barangay Mabini, Esclante City about 1 a.m. Saturday when four gunmen reportedly fired at them. Both suffered several gunshot wounds, including fatal injuries in the head.

The hit men also took their M-15 rifles before fleeing the scene after firing their guns.

Two others were injured. They were Arnel Maguato and Roberto Satam, the driver of the police.

Kagawad Ernest Undoy of Mabini said Escala’s killer shot him in the head to ensure his death.

Villarama reportedly tried to help Escala, but was also shot by another gunman, Undoy said.

Both gunmen are reportedly between 19 and 20 years old and stand only about 4’7" and 4’9".

Two months earlier, and NPA team also raided a police outpost in Barangay Malasibog, also in Escalante City. They carted away eight firearms, including an M-60 machinegun without firing a single shot.

PNP provincial director Charles Calima said he may no longer allow policemen to secure benefit dances, especially in remote areas, as they become targets of NPA liquidations.

The two Cebuano-speaking hit men are believed to be on a test mission.

Tragically, Escala had been in the service for only three years and got married to his wife, Suzette, only five months ago.

It seems the long hot summer is not over yet in Negros Occidental.

Iloilo rejects crematorium

In the Visayas, crematoria have become a common craze. In Cebu City, I had attended several cremations of kin, the latest of which was only less than a month ago for my adopted brother, Rene.

In Bacolod, the crematorium in the Chinese cemetery has become a popular destination of many dead Negrenses, notably those of the upper crust of society.

Cremation seems to have become the latest fad here as well as in nearby Cebu City.

Thus, I was surprised last week over the strong objections by several groups to the application of the Philippine American Cemetery Association for a crematorium inside the Philippine American Cemetery in the Jaro district of Iloilo City.

The Iloilo zoning board rejected the petition last Thursday, according to Mayor Jerry Treñas.

The most important concern of the zoning board, he said, was that the project lacked social acceptability.

Among those who opposed it were groups in the thickly populated area where the PACA wanted to put up the crematorium. They reportedly included the Colegio de San Jose, restaurants and other business establishments.

The protesters claimed that the crematorium would have adverse effects on the environment, health and well-being of the people.

The protesters, who included University of the Philippines Visayas chancellor Dr. Ida Siason, contended that the barangay resolution which endorsed the crematorium was passed by people who reside in other places, including Guimaras and Negros Occidental.

Anyway, Iloilo folk may still have to wait for more time for a crematorium to be set up in the city.