Ben Contreras
THIS was sent as a private message to me by Cornelis Sandy Rijskamp but I guess I can share it with you.
“You were talking about cleanliness, sidewalks, pollution, etc. I was recently again in Bukidnon, passing Gango, Kinawe, Kiliog, Libona, Camp Philips, Alae and back to Puerto, CDO area. And the moment you pass the border of Bukidnon, even a poor province, it is so much cleaner than CDO. Also, the traffic signs along the road from the border are very well-placed. Maybe it’s a national road, a different money source. Malaybalay is much cleaner than CDO. I never saw Bitan-ag Creek cleaned out for example. In the small community I live, from all offices of 10 families, I’m the only one who keeps our private entrance road in good condition and clean, picking up the littering from the kids, etc. But I keep it up, slowly I see a little more self-initiative.”
Sandy is married to a Filipina and has lived a simple but healthy life. But it’s not just about him loving his Filipina wife or loving his family, it’s also about loving the place he now calls home.
I can’t exactly recall how we met. It must have been one of those gatherings in the park where people usually gather to protest how our city was being ran by the sitting officials or was it right after the “Sendong” disaster.
When we organized the CDO-CRCD volunteer group, Sandy was also there during the initial meetings. Like us, Sandy also saw the need to improve our traffic which we felt then that nothing was being done or the problem was not being addressed seriously.
In short, Sandy was like any Kagayanon who wanted to see our city clean, an orderly traffic and responsible city officials. That was then as he is today, still concerned of our city.
Sandy is not the first foreigner to make these observations. Foreigners, local visitors and many Kagayanons alike share the same sentiments. And if the so-called “self-initiative” is making headway, it’s because Sandy showed them the way. We should do no less.
Are there people listening?
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Two people I know have shown what we call unity during a tragedy. And to think that I had a brief spat with them over differing opinions.
The first one was the only media practitioner in the city who posted kind words on Facebook about the executive order imposing the Freedom of Information (FOI) although limited only to offices directly under the Office of the President.
After the Davao bombing, he called for calm as any responsible citizen should.
The other one I can empathize fully as a father. My nieces were worried of their father, too, whom they thought was in Davao as he was scheduled to be there that Friday. It’s about the fear of losing someone we love unnecessarily, and from terrorism.
I thank him for his Facebook post that in situations like what took place in Davao, the only person in the best position to see the entire picture is the President, and tht we should just hope that he does the right thing.
Let’s be one people, and one nation against any threats.
