A millennium blockbuster

I did not realize the awesome depth of public interest with the Vizconde massacre case, until Judgment Day came last Thursday, January 6. My househelp, glued to the television set as early as 7 o'clock in the morning, shrieked when the TV coverage began. And my maids refused to budge from their seats in front of the TV set, and they stayed glued there, for more than five hours, listening with rapt attention to the words that came out from the lips of the clerks of court.

Across the street, a neighbor turned on his radio set at full blast. Apparently, he wanted everyone nearby to join him in listening to the verdict of the Judge. As I myself watched the TV proceedings, my phone kept on ringing, with phone calls from friends and kin, telling me of the coverage going on.

In the Philippine broadcast industry, the January 6 coverage must have attracted the biggest audience ever, on a nationwide scale. Throughout Metro Manila, everyone seemed to be watching the televised courtroom proceedings. And the TV viewers and radio listeners stayed on, for five long hours, even though they already knew, as early as 9 o'clock, what the verdict would be.

It was way past noon when I told my driver we were moving out of the house. "Sir, there is no radio coverage. Why don't we just finish watching the TV coverage?," he answered. Apparently, my driver, too, wanted to reach the final ending, on audio and film, and share what seemed to be the nation's emotional moment.

Judge Amelita Tolentino's verdict attracted cheers and jeers. But note how ABS-CBN's running tally of public opinion went, as minute after minute passed during the promulgation of the Decision. At the end of the courtroom drama, 10,404 said "Guilty" while 1,560 said "Not guilty." Apparently, the Judge was able to muster an overwhelming majority of the people behind her Decision.

Alleluia! After three long years, the Memorandum of Agreement on the Marikina-Quezon City Bypass Road Project has finally been signed by the Bases Conversion Development Authority and the Department of Public Works and Highways. Now, the next step is for the DPWH and the Philippine Army to agree on the relocation of the facilities at what was once Camp Atienza. Let us see how long this will take.

Ed Morada, head of the BCDA public affairs department, went out of his way to fax to me a copy of the MOA signed by DPWH Secretary Gregorio Vigilar and BCDA Chairman Rogelio Singson. The BCDA's interest in opening up the Bypass Road is evident -- a sharp contrast to the deafening silence from the DPWH on such an important road network.

Would you believe that the DPWH took three years to review the proposed MOA? But better late than never. The signing of the MOA last December 27, 1999 will certainly give a breathing spell to the people of Metro Manila who are daily harassed by rendous traffic jams.

Thanks a million, and God bless the following Christian-hearted people who have a big, big heart for their less fortunate fellowmen:

* Anonymous, P5,000 (BPI Family Bank 0071526)

* Retired Justice & Mrs. Romeo M. Escareal Sr., P5,000 (PNB 00788)

* Mr. & Mrs. Dante P. Manahan, 816 Valencia St., Sampaloc, Manila, P500

* Ms. MHP of Forbes Park, Makati City, P3,000

* Mr. & Mrs. S.C. of Canlubang, Laguna, P1,000 (LDB 1044948)

* Wil Ong of Aurora Blve., Quezon City, P2,000

* Ma. Elaine Sy of Brookside Hills, Cainta, Rizal, P1,000

* Ms. Joycelyn Betco of Maple St., Valenzuela City, P1,000

* Ms. C.B. of CBCP, Port Area, Manila, P2,000

* Ms. F.A. of Manila Doctors Hospital, P1,000

* Annie Besira of Balboa, Vista Verde, Cainta, Rizal, P3,000

* Vicente Yabyabin of Del Pan, Makati, P1,000

* Charilu Puno-Dizon of Micron Publishing Affairs, P3,000 (FEBTC 1123047)

It seems things are not getting any better with MetroStar, the so-called White Elephant of EDSA. As I wrote a week ago, the steeply-angled stairways and the similarly steep fares are turning off potential passengers, making it a steep uphill climb for the MRT Corp. to recover its investment. And as observed by many people, it is not just the MRT or the commuters having a hard time; it is the pitiful motorists as well.

All along the MRT route on EDSA, the construction work is causing many hassles to many commuters. But while the inconvenience is understandable, the delay in the construction job is not. For instance, in the southbound lane tunnel between Ayala Avenue and Pasay Road, the construction work is proceeding at a snail's pace. Heavy equipment and a platoon of men are seen sitting idle at many hours of the day.

Obviously, there are many factors involved in the delay behind the completion of MetroStar and the auxiliary roadways. Some are technical; others are financial. I hope, however, that whatever the reason, both the MRT Corp. and the government agencies concerned will do everything that is necessary to finish the job soonest. The sooner the project is completed, the sooner the suffering of motorists will end.

Don't think that there are hardly any aggressive and young Muslim-Filipino entrepreneurs and thinkers in many parts of Mindanao. There are many, and some of them are based in General Santos City. One of their leaders is Alberto "Bert" Olermo, who recently organized the Muslim Business Forum.

The Muslim Business Forum is a unique and forward-looking group, made up of Filipino-Muslim professionals and entrepreneurs. It is designed to promote productivity and self-reliance among Muslims, by encouraging them to engage in economic enterprise. Bert Olermo envisions the forum to serve as venue for information exchange, technology transfer, and business opportunities. One immediate goal is to train these Muslim-Filipinos in fields that will enhance their economic productivity.

Art A. Borjal's e-mail address: <[email protected]>