Antique Museum wins NCCA award

Undoubtedly, the most sensational event in Negros Occidental was Friday’s foiled installation of Task Force Mapalad members at the Hacienda Velez-Malaga in Barangay Robles, La Castellana town.

Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman cancelled the installation of the agrarian reform beneficiaries after DAR officials assessed the situation with the local police as needing a cooling-off period.

"We are here to assess the situation on the ground. But as far as DAR is concerned, there is no legal impediment in the implementation of CARP. But the situation is aggravated because of the concern of the contending parties," Pangandaman told local mediamen.

There was something funny that happened. As soon as Pangandaman arrived, local mediamen found themselves presented by a TFM member with a copy of a press release declaring that the installation had pushed through and completed. It also included quotes and impressions from TFM members, some of them in Manila.

Apparently, the PR outfit handling TFM did not foresee the developments later when Pangandaman, after a six-hour closed-door assessment, determined that only the postponement of the action could temporarily defuse the tension in the area.

What sounded funny was the report that farmworkers of neighboring landlords who had rushed to the hacienda to support the cooperative workers in their fight against TFM incursion, were later reported by a TFM press release in Manila as goons. The press release even reported that several people died in the confrontation.

In short, that showed that the TFM media bureau (if it really has such an outfit) must have come up with invented stories as against the impressions of mediamen on the ground.

Anyway, Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon initially scored Pangandaman for his disrespect for the local government officials when the DAR secretary failed to call on the governor to brief him on what he intended to do. Later, however, he sat down with Marañon. The latter was mollified with Pangandaman’s gesture and explanation on his delayed call on the provincial executive.

Local mediamen went in droves to the hacienda to witness the event which the TFM earlier hailed as a triumph of justice. Unfortunately, what they did not know was that Pangandaman decided that the lives of people could not be sacrificed just to insist on the installation.

"We avoided the conflict and the possible bloodshed that might have cropped up. So therefore, I have decided, together with my group, not to go there," Pangandaman said.

Romulo Tupas, president of the Malaga-Cuenca Independent Workers’ Union, said, "Our situation is like a woman who is being raped. We don’t want this installation, but it is being pushed against our will. We are 127 farmers against 57 TFM members. We are taking the path of righteousness and we will fight for it."

La Castellana Mayor Enrico Elumba refused to go to the site, pointing out that he and his family are victims of CARP. "Our lands were converted into CARP lands but not a single centavo has been paid to us until now," Elumba said.

The TFM called for Pangandaman’s resignation, calling his action a betrayal. Pangandaman, however, also pointed out that the TFM itself has filed a case for certiorari before the Supreme Court.

That was dismissed by TFM president Jose Rodito Angeles who said the DAR secretary was using flimsy alibis to justify his failure to install the farmer-beneficiaries. He said Pangandaman cannot perform his duties as DAR secretary.

"We will launch an active campaign for his resignation. We will mobilize support from civil society groups to compel him to resign because as long as Pangandaman sits at DAR, the Velez-Malaga farmers cannot hope to be installed," fumed Angeles.

Landowner Roberto Cuenca, however, said he has already agreed to turn over the property to the cooperative of his former farmworkers. They are now the ones who will handle the fight against those who would usurp their right to own the land they are entitled to, he pointed out.

Sining Award for Antique Museum

What made it significant was that the Antique provincial museum, although still unfinished, was recognized as Sentro ng Sining by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts during this year’s National Arts Month celebration.

What makes the award more impressive is the fact that the Evelio B. Javier Gallery opened on Oct. 31 last year showed the Museo’s potential in terms of exhibits, curatorial concept, and management.

The Sentro ng Sining Museo Antiqueños is among Antique Gov. Sally Zaldivar-Perez’s priority projects.

The Museo is housed in Antique’s old capitol building. The winning proposal highlighted the use of old halls as galleries and the inner courtyard as a performance area.

It received a P100,000 award and a marble plaque designating the Antique Museo as Sentro ng Sining. The other winners are the People’s Museum and Library in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, and Balay ni Tan Juan Community Hall in Bago City. This is a tribute to General Juan Araneta of the Cantonal Republic of Negros.

Beloy’s last letters

Historians may now have reason to rush to the Antique Museo. That’s because two letters written by the late former Antique governor Evelio Javier before his daylight assassination on Feb. 11, 1986, were put on display.

Both letters were addressed to Gov. Sally Perez, Evelio’s god-sister.

The first letter, written days before his assassination, recounted the harassment and threats which Evelio and his allies received during the counting of votes in the 1986 snap elections.

The letter was subsequently published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Feb. 12, a day after Evelio was killed.

The second letter to Sally was written just hour before Evelio’s death on Feb. 11, 1986. It was in his handwriting, on his professional stationary and consisted of five pages.

It sounds more like a foreboding of his death, 10 hours after. Evelio complained that he felt so tired and he wished he could finally rest. He also predicted the need to rally the country to oust Marcos.

Among the latest visitors to the Antique Museum were retired Brig. Gen. Robert Delfin of the PNP, and Gen. Roy Cimatu and his wife, Fe.

Gov. Perez said she has turned over old copies of Malay on Evelio’s assassination and burial, including the necrological services for him at the Ateneo, to the EBJ gallery.

Antique’s feat only proves that one can come up with a good museum with dedicated collection and taste in beautifying a place.

ADDENDA: In Iloilo City, city officials and those of the province decided to bury the hatchet yesterday over the issue of security threats that reportedly led to the cancellation of the GO senatorial slate rally at the provincial capitol grounds. This, after councilor Jed Mabilog decided to change the tenor of his speech from a confrontation to a reachout. But councilor Perla Zulueta also pricked a sensitive issue when she castigated members of the Sangguniang Panglunsod for maintaining complete silence when PNP forces tried to eject Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas and company from the capitol. City Mayor Jerry Treñas, who resented the security threats bared by Gov. Tupas and provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada, also relented to Mabilog’s call for a ceasefire. But before that, the Association of Barangay Captains of the city had declared Tupas and Mejorada persona non-grata. The Iloilo Business Club also denounced the two for stigmatizing the image of the city and its tourism promotion program. That definitely will have a major impact on Tupas’ bid for reelection. As a matter of fact, there are many supporters who have been pressing on opposition Rep. Rex Suplico to throw his hat against Tupas, his uncle… In Negros Occidental, La Carlota Mayor Jeffrey Ferrer announced yesterday that the perfect time has come to announce his bid for congressman in the fourth district vice Rep. Carlos Cojuangco. Ferrer made his announcement during a press conference after Gretchen Cojuangco earlier announced her decision not to seek the position. Aside from thanking Charlie and NPC-UNA chairman Eduardo Cojuangco, Ferrer also lauded Gov. Marañon for not having been remiss in "lending me his encouraging and wise counsel." "He has always said that in our efforts to render public service, we must wait for the perfect time, then to act accordingly," Ferrer said. More developments later.