‘Makapanghinuktok’

‘Makapamalandong’ or ‘makapanghinuktok’ (ponder), was how a friend of mine described his feeling about the passing on of senior Cebuano statesmen in a span of about a year. Wednesday night, former Cebu governor Pablo “Noy Pabling” Garcia died at the age of 95. His death came a month after the death of former Cebu governor Lito Osmeña on July 19 at the age of 82.

Last February, former senator Sonny Osmeña, who also became mayor of Toledo City, died at the age of 86. In June last year, Cebu City Councilor Antonio Cuenco, who established his mark as veteran lawmaker representing the 2nd District of Cebu City prior to his city council stint, died at the age of 84. In November last year, Cebu City 1st District Representative Raul del Mar also left us at the age of 79.

So what was ‘makapamalandong’ about their leaving us even at their late senior years and after some of them have already retired from politics? Those of us who grew up post-EDSA in Cebu under these leaders probably know the answer. These were the leaders I knew during my younger years from elementary to college.

Their passing on is “makapanghinuktok” because we lost them at a time when Cebu has lost its mojo in the country’s political affairs. Mojo means magic power. But the word can take a more nuanced meaning among those who have watched the movie “Austin Powers”, where mojo came to represent some form of charm and prowess, albeit the sensual kind.

The events of these days make us think; what kind of milieu molded these older generation of Cebuano leaders who in their heydays commanded respect and gave Cebu considerable influence at the national level?

Some of these notable leaders who have gone before us are Pablo Garcia, Lito Osmeña, Sonny Osmeña, Raul del Mar, Antonio Cuenco, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Ernesto Herrera, Cerge Remonde, Marcelo Fernan, Inday Nita Cortes Daluz, and Ramon “Manong Amon” Durano.

Others are still alive and well but have since retired or about to retire like former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr., former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña, former senator Sergio Osmeña III, and Cebu 1st District Rep. Eduardo Gullas.

My last question will be easier for historians to answer, so I leave that to them. On deeper thought, maybe it’s just history playing out in stages. Cebu today may have found itself no longer needing such big personalities at the national level. Its private sector and key stakeholders may have grown strong enough to eke it out on their own. In fact, Cebu still leads the country in many aspects especially in economics and social dynamism.

We’re secure enough on our own now that we no longer care if some of the leaders we elect are a bunch of shoddy and deferential politicians who are incapable of looking beyond the tip of their nose. We don’t mind anymore to nurture the best leaders who can make an impact at the national level.

Indeed, makapanghinuktok.

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Another friend of mine told me he feels safer here in the city than in the towns because at least here more people can be seen following the mask mandate and related health protocols. In the countryside, he said, people are more complacent.

I have not visited the towns in Cebu Province for quite a long time already so I don't have a first-hand account of the situation there. But I did the math on both Cebu City and Cebu Province just to check if my friend is right.

Based on the daily bulletin of the Department of Health from the start of the surge mid-July up to August 17, Cebu City recorded around 7,720 COVID-19 cases with 190 deaths. Meanwhile, Cebu Province recorded 8,836 cases with 449 deaths. That's a 2.5% fatality rate in Cebu City compared to 5% fatality rate in the province.

If we break down the numbers for the whole province per local government unit, the fatality rate in some LGUs becomes more glaring, likely the result of lack of testing and contact tracing. Balamban for example, based on its own report as of August 20, has 657 total confirmed cases and 41 total recorded deaths, or a 6.2% fatality rate.

This is a reminder that wherever you are, whether in the big city or in the countryside, please wear your mask and keep your distance.