DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines – “I feel I’m at home.”
Thus said Fernando La Sama de Araojo, president of the National Parliament of the Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste of East Timor, after he joined the grand opening of the Bangus Festival 2009 here the other day.
De Araojo arrived here for a private visit four days ago to join his wife, Jacqueline Aquino Siapno-De Araojo, who hails from Barangay Bonuan Gueset this city, and their five-year-old son Hadomi for a vacation. Jacqueline and Hadomi arrived here more than a week earlier.
The 45-year-old De Araojo, the second top man in his country, and his family joined the parade where street dancers clad in bangus-inspired costumes competed in the Gilon Gilon Ed Baley.
De Araojo, popularly known in his country as “La Sama” (which means cannot be colonized and beaten), told The STAR he was happy with the warm welcome given him by his wife’s family and city officials led by Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. and Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, who again chairs the yearly festival, who have made him an adopted son of the city.
According to De Araojo, there is also bangus (milkfish) in East Timor, although he has praises for the local variety, which he finds delicious.
He said he longed for this vacation, as he works 14 hours a day. He is spending another week here, after which he is flying to Portugal, Africa and Angola.
De Araojo said East Timor, which gained independence in 2002, is well on its way to establishing steady institutions and is now focused on consolidating its national police.
“The situation is very calm today and the East Timorese people are very optimistic. In five to 10 years, the situation will change and we have the chance to develop the lives of the people,” he said.
He said they have sent many East Timorese technicians here to learn from Filipinos. In fact, he said more than 100 East Timorese are studying agriculture in Philippine universities while their doctors are specializing in the country.
During his country’s struggle for independence, De Araojo was a leader of the student movement and was arrested by the military and incarcerated for six years and four months.
It was in jail where he met Jacqueline who came to visit as part of her work with Amnesty International.
De Araojo was elected member of the East Timor parliament in 2002, and its president in 2007.