On Thursday afternoon, Antique Gov. and Regional Development Chair Sally Zaldivar-Perez delivered a very thought-provoking speech entitled, "Culture and Art: The Antidote to Politics."
That and the other series of activities served to relax Lyn Gamboa, chairman of the Negros Museum, after weeks of preparing for the week’s events.
In terms of attendance, of course the SM soft opening drew bigger crowds. But there was a select crowd at the launching led by Rep. Monico Puentevella, City Mayor Bing Leonardia, Bishop Vicente Navarra, and SM owner Henry Sy himself, Iloilo Mayor Jerry Trenas,Cebu Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Sy’s contemporary and bosom friend Simplicio Palanca, chairman of BREDCO.
There were other officials such as Vice Mayor Renecito Novero, who is running for congressman opposite Puentevella.
There was reason for the air of jubilation among city officials. SM’s Sy pointed out that the mall would be able to provide jobs for some 3,500 employees. The tenants are expected to hire an additional 3,500. That means a total of 7,000 new jobs for Bacolod folks, or some P288 million pouring into the local economy by SM and its tenants per year. Leonardia says there would be surge in the city’s economy.
Meanwhile, the inauguration of SM Bacolod is also slated today and thousands have already started to congregate near the area. Everybody wants to gaze at the impressive structure sitting on a 66,000-square meter lot with a bridge connecting the two buildings.
And yes, there is the Masskara painting in one of the lobbies. But as early as now, the SM Bacolod has already an impact on city folks. The other existing malls came out yesterday with sales pitches of up to 50 percent as they viewed with concern the competition that SM Bacolod will pose. But as they see it, after the initial outbursts of interest in the new one, things usually settle down to normal after about two weeks or more.
The Kalahi workshop for out-of-school youths and the indigenous people, Gov. Perez pointed out, took to the arts so that marginalized sectors can be transformed and became more active and expressive of their life conditions as presented through paintings, music, dances, and plays.
This is how the Antique governor described her experience with arts and culture as the antidote to politics. But I’ll write more details of that later.
Of course, it was not the first time the two had received such tribute from an awe-struck crowd. But one distinguishing thing about Thursday’s audience was that it was composed mostly of the cognoscenti and the literati of the province.
The most thrilled by the performance was international violinist Gilopez Kabayao whose family, Wednesday night, ushered in the First National Arts Fair with a concert at the capitol.
Gilopez was about the best judge of the performance of Tomescu and Espina. He was all praises for the Romanian violinist. And Gilopez gave the best tribute to Mary Anne when he invited her to be his accompanist when they play in Iloilo this year. He also invited Tomescu to another concert in Iloilo, the Western Visayas’ capital city.
Joe Marie Chan was also present. And his was the booming voice that repeatedly shouted "bravo and encore." It was Joe Marie’s enthusiasm that promoted the audience to give four standing ovations to the two artists.
Later, Chan gave me his impression about Tomescu’s playing, saying that his heart was in it. And Chan paid tribute to Mary Anne when he asked for her autograph.
"No, you should be one to autograph our program," Mary Anne told him. But Chan, himself a noted musician and composer, insisted that he should be the one to ask for Mary Anne’s autograph.
Msgr. Guillermo Gaston, younger brother of soprano Conchita Gaston, was also present and was one of the enthusiastic rooters of both. And he stayed behind like some of the big names of Negros society to exchange ideas and musical tidbits with Tomescu and Mary Ann.
Nonelucio Alvarado, the famous Negrense painter, reminded me of his determined effort to encourage more Negrense artists to hone their talents. Noni, as we call him, is from the same barrio of Fabrica, in Sagay, where I had grown up.
And he regaled me with tales and insights of his first ever (and last) venture into politics.
"It’s an entirely alien world insofar as I am concerned. I don’t think I’ll ever fit into it," said Noni.
As a result of his sortie into politics, Noni came out with a series of drawings about his impressions of it as practiced in his hometown of Sagay.
Actually, according to some, it was just the low turnout of voters that prompted the sortie to be called off. And there were speculations that the stunt also gained the GO team media exposure and earned them public sympathy.
Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada called it off at 9 p.m. on Wednesday because of alleged numerous texts and calls warning that a bomb would explode at the rally.
And Iloilo Gov. Neil Tupas, who claimed that he also received calls and text messages from friends and supporters warning him about a possible sabotage, confirmed this.
Later, San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito, GO campaign manager, admitted that he could not afford to risk the lives of the GO ticket members. He also inferentially blamed local politics for the tension that led to the aborted rally.
Later, however, the GO team proceeded to Roxas City and Capiz province where they were greeted with a rousing welcome by the Liberal Party members under Sen. Mar Roxas and Gov. Ernesto Bermejo.
Sen. Ed Angara swooped down on Negros Occidental Friday and called for the government to provide the infrastructure that will allow the opening up of more land for sugarcane production. This, he said, is needed to make the province the national center for ethanol production and the regional center site for call centers and other outsourced jobs.
Angara, incidentally, enjoys good relationship with sugarmen. He is credited for instituting policies that helped boost the sugar industry. And he is the one credited for the implementation of the Agriculture Competitive Fund (ACEF) that gave added teeth to the Sugar Regulatory Administration in its bid to boost sugar production.
That’s why Angara was welcomed into the province by sugarmen.
ADDENDUM: The shocker: philanthropist Gretchen Cojuangco announced yesterday that she has decided not to run for congresswoman of the fourth district of Negros Occidental. Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Maranon said La Carlota Mayor Jeffrey Ferrer will run in her place as the official candidate of the National People’s Coalition (NPC) and the United Negros Alliance… Meanwhile, Rep. Tranquilino Carmona submitted his certificate of candidacy to Comelec provincial officer Jessie Suarez. He is reportedly being opposed by former congressman Jules Ledesma. Maranon is still asking the NPC to decide on the issue between Carmona and Ledesma.