Today is a red-letter day for the officers and staff of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) on the occasion of the launching, at 10:00am at the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center (EADS), of a children’s book entitled “Akong Bugsay†written by Ms. Amaya C. Aboitiz, the daughter of our dear friend and RAFI President Roberto “Bobby Aboitiz.
During the course of our attending the numerous Aboitiz sponsored conferences or programs like the Young Minds Academy (YMA) programs, the Kool Camp Adventure or the Aboitiz Business Leaders Summit, a couple of years ago, Sir Bobby came up with his “Bugsay Principle,†which I can very well say is the Cebuano version of the Tagalog bayanihan spirit. Using the “Bugsay Principle†especially in a children’s book, we can teach our youngsters the great benefits of working together as one… instead of against each other or worse… on our lonesome.
The “Bugsay Principle†simply put is to have a goal coupled with good planning and working hard to achieve that goal. Fishermen naturally understand the Bugsay Principle easily… where if one “bugsays†paddles or rows their banca in unison… they will certainly get to their destination quickly. But if someone in the banca is not helping with his bugsay or worse, paddling in the opposite direction… you can be damn sure that the banca would never arrive at their intended destination.
Now how Ms. Amaya came up with this children’s book about the Bugsay Principle is something we’ve got to see. Mind you, this book isn’t expensive at P150 each, while a coloring book cost only P50. But here’s the best part. For every book sold during the launch, a copy of the coloring book will be given to the Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund’s Day Care Centers. To add more to this good news, RAFI recently turned over a new day care center and playground in Barangay Catarman and San Vicente, in the municipality of Liloan, Cebu. For sure, the new day care centers will also benefit from this new book by Ms. Amaya Aboitiz. More power to RAFI!
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It’s the turn of the Liberal Party (LP) to hold its proclamation rally in Talisay City. I hope that Pres. Benigno “Noynoy†Aquino, III would grace this political affair so he can pass by the South Road Properties (SRP), which includes the longest tunnel in the Philippines, conceptualized, planned and executed during the term of then Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Of course, we must give credit where credit is due… that Rep. Tomas Osmeña did much of the planning for the SRP, but without the nod of the former President, there would be no SRP today. So I hope Pres. Aquino would not lambast the former President if he shows up in Talisay today, lest he turns off the Cebuano voters for we have benefited greatly from the SRP.
If there is anything that is a huge minus factor for those in the LP who are seeking out votes, it is that since PNoy came into power in July 2010, Cebu got zero infrastructure projects. Sure, they’ll tell you that they did this or those small miniscule infra projects…but I’m referring to the big ticket infrastructure that we Cebuanos badly need. Where’s that third link whether by bridge or tunnel from the Cebu mainland to Mactan? It must still be in someone’s mind.
But the biggest disappointment that PNoy gave to Cebuanos was when he rejected the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) of Rep. Tomas Osmeña. Until today they have not given us any logical explanation why the BRT has been deferred or worse rejected. This is why it gets my gut when I read in the national newspapers that the Light Rail Transit (LRT-1) P70-Billion extension has been approved for bidding. Mind you, the BRT was also planned during the Arroyo administration, but they ran out of time. With the uncalled for delay of the BRT, for sure if this project gets PNoy’s approval, it will never be completed under his term.
What about that parallel road to Escario that we’ve been harping about three years ago when traffic in Escario St. was still manageable? I don’t know if this would materialize in our lifetime, but I can already hear motorists grumbling that Cebu’s major thoroughfares, like the Banilad Road, is fast becoming a huge parking lot during peak hours. What is plain to see is Cebu has never been a priority under the Aquino Regime. So it is time to ask ourselves… should we be voting for those seeking elective seats with the LP? If we only get more promises from the LP, it is time to tell them that we are no longer interested in hearing about their failed promises.
Finally, I would like to hear anyone from the LP Senatorial slate lambast the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA) for the massacre in La Castellana and their continued collection of election fees? If you didn’t know, LP Senatoriables are friendly or cuddly with the NPA so they can campaign in NPA infested areas.
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Email: vsbobita@gmail.com