What has Mandaue really lost?

In the wake of the seamy scandal on the ten times over-priced décor lampposts and street lighting system, the government's loss is only money, so the cynics snort. Or, the bloated pays of the VM and Councilors reaching P6.19 M; or the millions of cash advances for fiestas or functions; or the costly renovation of City Hall premises blocking the Saint Joseph National Shrine, and the exile of the statue of Justice Sotero Cabahug.

Even the fiscal fiasco with Mandaue unable to fund projects without resorting to loans of over P1 B, is nothing to worry. Anyway, the theoretical sharing of these debts among its people, to include those abroad and the unborn, is just theoretical. Any damage is "damnum absque injuria" (damage without injury) as it, again, is only money.

That Mandaue "origs" are now a dwindling minority - 20 to 30 percent? - with the exodus of new breed of "strangers" in their midst, is the price of progress. The loss of native traits and values, or even quaint idiosyncrasies of the place, is also inexorable. Even the vanishing rural atmosphere, or ambiance, of the old "katubhan" and "intusan" of Canduman, Tingub, and Pilit of yore, or the "asinan" and "kugawan" Opao had only been known for, are but tokens of change.

From the turn of the past 20th century, and in its early half and thereafter, Mandaue used to be the enviable and proud place of the "ilustrado", the "educado", the "intelligencia" and the truly "honorable". "Ang Mandaue pinuy-anan sa mga mabuot, halangdon, ligdong, kinaadmanon, mga utokan, ug mga matarong ug buotan". The phrase "taga-Mandaue" used to be a badge and rite of passage in propriety, intelligence, ability, and integrity, which other Cebuanos then looked up to with deference and near awe. And yet, not a tinge of "pagawal" or humbug was attributed to a typical "taga-Mandaue" who was as humble and nicely popular, as the Mandaue "bibingka", "majareal", "tagaktak", or "buriring".

These were in the heyday and leadership by example, of the Cabahugs (Terong, Tosong, Patoy), the Briones brothers of SC Justice Manuel and Tura followed by Jose Briones, the Sanchez led by Pedro, or the Cortes family of Ariston, or the Seno family of Urbano, and the Perez clan whose progeny Eugeniano Jr., was the first Mandauehanon Bar topnotcher, to cite a few.

Past leaders and achievers, save for few well-heeled or affluent, were of middle-class, and many were poor. Like, one pioneer lawyer, Atty. Eriberto Seno of Maguikay, who went through law school on the "aguador" earnings of his uncle Ingko Itud. One's uncle Arturo Abella who reigned as Cebu's tennis champion before WW II was just a simple man. And many plain Mandauehanons, say Inse Munda, the old church candle vendor, were respected as equals even by the town's gentry. That was Mandaue of old…

Mandaue then was associated with values and virtues, but not with vices, shabu, girlie shows, or kickbacks, or "pilay amo?". The last vestige of such prestige lasted until a decade or so before the turn of the present century, a victim of Edsa I events. Then came the spinning off of old political culture and climate, including a decline of intellectual dignity and professionalism, as well as respect for mental prowess. For instance, the Cabahug-inspired Mandaue Fraternal Society died a natural death and, along with it also demised the Cabahug Medal tradition for academic excellence and, taken over by mediocrity and cornyism. And cronyism.

Between now and then, much difference has been wrought… Gone are Mandaue's intellectual elegance, its old simplicity and honesty, even the religious piety or spirituality of moral values, or the integrity and honor in public governance sans bureaucratic corruption, and all that stand for the "taga Mandaue" propriety and personality. Instead, there appears the proclivity to put premium on infamy or notoriety as a virtue trumping innocence.

On the heels of the stormy changing of the guards in governance for cause - from lampposts to streetlights - what has Mandaue really lost? Whether bonafide Mandauehanons in residence or those abroad in USA, Canada, Hongkong, or Timbuktu, still feel proud of their being so, isn't easy to assay. After all losing face may not turn out as losing one's soul. But losing one's faith in the innate goodness of one's native hearth to which one may still hope to return or retrace, is another loss altogether.

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