EDITORIAL

“By The Aklan River”

by ODON S. BANDIOLA

I can still memorize the lyrics of the first stanza of the hymn of my Alma Mater, my beloved, the then Aklan College, now the Aklan Catholic College, which runs this way, and which I still love to sing repeatedly:

“By the Aklan River is a spot we love so dear

Haven for youths who for life and truth aspire

Its trying past with faith our hearts inspire

We think of thee, Alma Mater”

Aklan College main campus, of course, is by the Aklan River banks, at Cor. C. Laserna and Arch. G. M. Reyes Streets, at the heart of Poblacion, Kalibo.

Since forty two years ago, in 1971, when I graduated AB English Cum Laude, and ROTC Corps Commander and President of the Liberal Arts Dept., a college and SEATO scholar in my senior year, I love singing and singing, repeatedly, my Alma Mater’s Hymn.

No longer is the case since 2008 when Typhoon Frank ravaged Aklan and submerged the capital town of Kalibo under water, until today in the aftermath of Tropical Depression Quinta when floodwaters again swept Kalibo and six (6) other towns “By The Aklan River.”

The first line of my Alma Mater’s Hymn, “By the Aklan River is a spot we love so dear” is no longer true. The lyrics and the tune of it sends spines tingling, fear grips my aging heart and mature thoughts, that every period of inclement weather, almost everyone in this “Town of a Thousand” is awaiting the “Sword of Damocles” to rip through his/her bones.

That’s the spectre of devastation and serious threats to life, that every Aklanon, who is living “By The Aklan River” in Kalibo and the neighbouring towns of Numancia, Lezo, Malinao, Banga, Libacao towns crisscrossed by the Aklan River and its tributaries, must learn to live with.

The Aklan River and tributaries are now looked upon more as monster which will extinguish lives, damage properties and vanish sources of livelihood at any moment least expected.

By The Aklan River is no longer the lifesaver of the past most of the time which clinches the thirst of Aklanons and nourish the plains and lowlands for bounty harvest.

It’s already a long stream of fiery and ferocious water, eager to engulf houses and drown bodies towards the Sibuyan Sea.

By The Aklan River is no longer a spot every Aklanon must love. “By The Aklan River” is now a spot that must be feared and to stay away with, the sooner the better.

The might of the Aklan River is already felt not for the better good but for the worst.

By The Aklan River, one must be beware!!!

By The Aklan River is no longer a haven for young people. If one decides to rear a family, it must not be “by” but far away from the Aklan River because it can be hell.

Remembering Tay Soñing and

Tay Serging

Politics of patronage is the order of the day in this country, ingratitude and amnesia thrive. Long after politicians are gone away from power, limelight and public adulation, they are easily forgotten and no one cares to remember them, not even their public legacies which affected the lives of their people for generations.

I wonder of the whereabouts and state of health of former Banga Mayor, former Aklan Board Member and Acting Vice Governor Sergio Rigodon of Banga, Aklan and former Assemblyman, former Minister of State for Public Information and Batasan spokesman Jose Tumbokon.

Tay Soñing and Tay Serging remain the survivors of a generation of Aklan politicians who are prominent figures of Aklan politics since the late sixties up to the eighties.

But where are Tay Soñing and Tay Serging now? The last time I saw Tay Serging in person was when I had him as guest in our once famous Kapihan Sa Aklan. 

The last time I saw Tay Soñing was when he was one of the speakers in the launching of the Aklanon version of the book of former Vice Governor Kel Tolentino on the 19 Martyrs of Aklan at the Museo sa Akean, also two years ago.

Both eloquent and dynamic speakers at their prime, Tay Serging and Tay Soñing are remembered for their contributions in building Aklan as one of the progressive provinces of the country.

Tay Serging was appointed Director of the National Irrigation Administration. He was instrumental in the construction of the Aklan River irrigation System that transformed the perennial deficient rice producing province of Aklan into a surplus producer.

As chief executive of Banga, he popularized the monicker “Banga, The Beautiful” for his town.

Tay Soñing occupied influential positions in the national government under the late Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos. To be named Minister of State for Public Information and Batasan Spokesman is by no means trivial. It is a record yet unequalled by any Aklanon political leader. At the local scene, he was instrumental in cementing for the first time the Kalibo airport runway. He was also instrumental in the construction of the road from Aklan to Caticlan, Malay, main reason for Boracay’s and Aklan’s booming tourism. /MP