By Nora Soriño
ILIGAN City -- This is only my own opinion of the top newsmakers of 2019. As in, “iya lang kaugalingon og way labot kining estasyon,’’ as they say on air.
The decision on the Maguindanao massacre, rendered by Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, would make it the top newsmaker in this paper, Mindanao Gold Star Daily. The banner on Dec. 20, 2019, screamed “GUILTY!” A sweet decision on a very bitter happening 10 years ago especially for the 57 victims’ families. But a sad one, a bitter one for the 58th, family of Reynaldo Momay whose body could not be found in the crime scene except for the dentures.
The GCTA would be next. The “Good Conduct Time Allowance” brought back to our consciousness, a nightmare called Antonio Sanchez of Calauan, Los Banos, Laguna. If not for the vigilance of some people that prevented that nightmare to come out from the hole he was in. If he had been out again from that hole, that is Bilibid, who knows what would have happened next?
That was in September.
Next would be the grenade blast at Initao, Misamis Oriental which killed a police officer in early December, wounding another with several persons hurt also.
Then that news about a “cannibal” in another Misamis Oriental town called Talisayan. That would have reinforced that belief of “witches” in Initao. This is according to Cora, a friend from Initao. This was after that Initao incident. She was thankful though that the incident did not happen there.
Then, there was that Salma Quijano disappearance. Salma was the wife of former mayor Franklin M. Quijano, now administrator of the Phividec Industrial Authority. After weeks of looking for her, she was found to have drowned at the Mandulog River near the couple’s home in this city.
This was a bitter episode too but at least, after some time, there was closure on the search as she was found to be the one fished out of the waters, although beyond recognition, but identified by autopsy by Soco.
Hong Kong also reminded us of the poem “Paradise Lost” by John Milton. Protests that began early in the year went on for several months. The “Extradition Bill” which had started all that trouble morphed into something else and Carrie Lam, the executive there had a hard time grappling with the trouble. Today, the trouble there might be far from over.
There was trouble too in a successful bus company of the Yansons. The Yanson siblings had rivalry among themselves and at one point, one sibling maneuvered a coup in the presidency and the CEO posts. This was made known during July and August. We don’t know if the trouble there is over now.
Then there was dengue that freaked many areas of the whole nation including this city. This resulted in this city declaring a state of calamity on Aug. 22, after more than 2,000 got downed with the scourge with 20 fatalities counted.
Other happenings barely made it to the consciousness of most of the people as it did not directly affect their very lives. Like the bankruptcy of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corp. Philippines in early January.
Although some people here remember too what happened to then a crown jewel called the National Steel Corporation. Hanjin had collapsed under the weight of loans incurred from banks outside the country and within the country even as subsidies from the government went to it too. There were enormous shipbuilding contracts for Hanjin. Maybe this was a case of recklessness in the matter of handling the funds. We are not very aware of the fate of the 28,000 workers there.
Too, there’s the recurring water problem in Manila. Which also reflects a water problem ironically in this “City of Waterfalls” especially in such areas as Dalipuga and Palao. The latter area of Pala-o in 542 particularly has been the subject of a P14-million water project. But still, up to now, is a question mark.
And there was the usual “circus” brought about by the elections on May 13, which we all know who won. Here, the “pulahan” party of Celso Regencia still won. But not all, won though, signifying cracks in the once upon a time, perceived as a”solid” group.
The rest of the news was not much different. Like who was busted in the drug war and/or killed in the process. Only the names were different.
President Donald Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives, led by its fiery speaker, Nancy Palosi. This is based on allegations that Trump had been demanding that the Ukraine leadership investigate a potential opponent in the coming elections in November, Joe Biden. This in exchange for assistance by the US in the form of military and financial aid to that country. This was in early December. Although, many of us here in this country which is far from the US don’t really care very much what happens to Trump; we have our own gadgets, I mean, our own lives to live or destroy though.
And oh yes, let’s not forget, this paper the Mindanao Gold Star Daily marked its 30th anniversary last July 1, in Cagayan de Oro. This was led by boss Ernesto “Toto” Chu with wife Ma’am Bebotte Chu and their kids, Gladys, Caycay though eldest Lissa was not around as she is living abroad with her own family.
The editorial staff led by editor-in-chief Herbie Gomez was there. So was administration led by Ruchelle Bangis.
Columnists were there too, like Uriel Quilinguing, Netnet Camomot, Rhona, Canoy, Paulita Roa, Atty. Egay Uy, Cong Corrales, who is also among the leading editorial people putting the paper to bed every day, and several others.
Of course, the bureaus of Mindanao were there with their own personnel. It was such fun. (One of the personnel here, Frank Dosdos Jr. who was there in that party too, succumbed to a heart ailment towards the end of the year and that was another story told.)
These are random notes though viewed from the perspective of an Iliganon who once lived too in the Golden City of Cagayan de Oro.
A bittersweet year, really!
