The Cebuanos — more observations

In my column last week I described the Cebuanos as more religious and more urbane than other sub-cultural Filipinos. Of their leaders I said these were known for their probity and propriety, saying further that their contemporary counterparts still posses such qualities, although in a less discernible manner. What follows is a continuing exploration on the subject.

Perhaps because the Cebunos are better informed they are less clannish than other probinsyanos. Attachment to their native province is not a directive sentiment, the reason why their feeling towards their paisanos they meet outside the province is usually just a matter-of-fact encounter. Let we cite one incident.

I was on a supervisory trip with my assistant, a Boholano, in Western Samar when we passed by a number of Boholano peddlers in a barangay "tabo". Recognizing one of them, my assistant disembarked to greet the fellow. "Sano kini!" the latter shouted at his companions. Immediately, there were excited handshaking and exchange of pleasantries as if they were long lost relatives rediscovering each other.

Sometime later, still on a supervisory visit in the same area, we stopped by a "carenderia" for our lunch. I was told as we entered the place that the proprietor was a Cebuano so I greeted the elderly fellow behind the counter in Cebuano, "Cebuano ka diay?" he asked. I said, yes. Then we exchanged information rather guardedly as we tried to size up each other. Half an hour later we paid our chit and went out, merely gesturing out my goodbye to my paisano.

Cebu - particularly metro Cebu - is a cosmopolitan area, a melting pot of various ethnic groups. This probably explains why the Cebuanos have also a cosmopolitan state of mind and their attitude towards their fellow Cebuanos is seldom emotional. In fact, such attitude may sometimes become adversarial and anti-social. Here's an example.

While stationed in Tacloban City, I was invited to join a Cebuano organization, but having been informed that there were three such organizations, I declined. A friend informed me later that originally there was only one Cebuano association, but factionalism developed and a breakaway body was formed. Still later the Bolsheviks could not agree among themselves so another association was formed - and all three were on continuing feud with each other. In contrast, the Circulo Boholano in that place remained intact as a solid group similar to that of the Bicolanos, the Batanguinos and the Ilocanos.

This happening suggests the absence of a strong feeling of oneness among the natives of this island province. This explains why there is no such thing as a Cebuano vote. If there was, John Osmeña and Ernesto Herrera would have been reelected senators. This explains too why such initiative as the Sugbuak has emerged. To the proponents of this idea, there is no such thing as a Cebuano spirit, so chopping the province into disparate chunks is of little moment. Cebuanos getting riled at the idea? No way - after all they are already far apart in sentiment.

Of the Cebuanos' disunity on political matters one consoling implication is their sense of maturity. When it comes to choosing the key leadership of the country provincial sentiment does not blind them. Their vote is for the best Filipino, not for the best Cebuano. Does this not make for a strong democratic governance?

There is, however, a negative implication on the lack of unity among Cebuanos, one which is characteristic too of other ethnic groups. This is the "talangka" mentality. It seems a Cebuano cannot accept the idea of another Cebuano rising higher than he insofar as political leadership is concerned. Were it not for this negative streak in the Cebuano character one of them most likely would have been an occupant of the Pasig office these days.

Remember the 1990 elections when the late Senator Fernan and former governor Lito Osmeña elbowed each other for the vice-presidency? This of course split the Cebuano votes in the Visayas and Mindanao, thus paving the way for an Estrada victory. Two Cebuanos refusing to give way to the other plus the maverick votes from their own kind - how could the results be otherwise?

The Cebuanos may not be closely-knit; they may tend to compete with each other; they may be excessively zealous about their rights. But their sense of spirituality and humanity is strong and their attachment to what is good and proper is appreciable. Who is not proud of being one?