By Lynde Salgados
Correspondent
“I’D rather have an abusive press than no press at all.”
In this certain period of the country where press freedom is highly at risk, that famous line blurted out long ago by former Congressman Erasmo ‘Jun’ Damasing of Cagayan de Oro’s then lone district ― becomes relevant again.
Known as a freedom fighter he was called “Rambo” by the local media and his political peers, reputedly the most engaging city legislator passed away yesterday at 7:25 pm due to heart-related problems and complications.
“Because of the pandemic, we will understand if you will not be able to pay your respects at his wake. No services, no eulogies will be in the schedule. No flowers also. Instead, your prayers will be much appreciated,” wrote his fellow lawyer son Eric in breaking the news to the local press.
Damasing, survived by his wife Dr. Annie Estrada-Damasing and sons Francis, Eric, Edgar, and Ernie, was 84.
It can be recalled that Damasing was the most vocal among the government officials in the city in his pursuit to decriminalize libel cases in the country that eventually made him the “darling of the press” in the 90s.
When facing criticisms from the media, Damasing would blow his top but instead of withdrawing his vow to defend press freedom, he chose to remain steadfast and diplomatic, blurting out “I’d rather have an abusive press than no press at all.”
“Nowadays, onion-skinned politicians and even our beloved president can take Damasing’s example,” said veteran photojournalist Joey Nacalaban, a victim himself of political harassment.
Broadcaster Rady Kimura said of Damasing: “We won't forget your legacy being a freedom fighter in Congress that would remain on us forever.”
“Cagayan de Oro is very proud of a highly respected fighter congressman of the city’s lone district then,” said former city vice mayor Ian Acenas.
So valuable for Damasing the media’s role in society was the fact that as past president of the Cagayan de Oro College (COC) that turned now into Phinma, he established the now-defunct COC Broadcasting Network (DxJR and TV 39) appointing as manager veteran media practitioner Susan Palmes (Susan Naelga Dennis at present) who is now based in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
“He was a man of honor and integrity,” said Susan’s erstwhile TV 39 deputy Maricel Casiño-Rivera, the concurrent city information officer of Cagayan de Oro.
The long-surviving congressman (from 1992-98) had initiated 1,115 projects for the city. But what stands out among them was the one he authored Republic Act 7938 (House Bill 3802) or an act converting the Northern Mindanao Medical Regional Training Hospital into the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) that led to a P160-million allocation for the hospital’s rehabilitation.
In this time of the pandemic, the state-run NMMC serves as the Covid-19 dedicated referral facility for patients in the entire Northern Mindanao.
The passing of Damasing came weeks after the demise of Misamis Oriental Provincial Board Jimmy Eballe Caiña Sr., 62, due to the Covid-19 virus.
Caiña was among the benefactors of Olympics boxing silver medalist Carlo Paalam.
He still managed to watch in joyful abundance the Olympic boxing fights of Paalam at his family-owned hotel in Barangay Nazareth, Cagayan de Oro City before the treacherous Covid sickness caught him up, said his secretary Eric Daabay.
The avid boxing supporter Caina was the one who provided for free a two-story warehouse-turned boxing gym to Paalam and the rest of the local boxing talents up in Aluba Subdivision, Barangay Macasandig, this city.
“Siya gyod haligi isa nagtabang kang Mayor (Oscar Moreno) nga maka provide ang city og libre nga boxing gym nilang Paalam ug uban pa since adtong mga bata pa sila. Until now, buhi pa ang gym padayon sa training program. Sir Jimmy was such a big loss to the sporting community,” said city sports coordinator Jaymar Rivera.
Caina, also a former president of the NMR-1 Eagles Fraternity, was one of the eight Covid patients in Cagayan de Oro who died on August 12 when the city recorded another 158 cases of local infection/transmission and 631 in the entire Northern Mindanao.
“Kuya Jimmy was one of the pillars of the brotherhood fraternity and selfless service to the people, especially in Northern Mindanao. We are greatly saddened by his untimely demise,” said Fraternal of Eagles National President Nelson Alonto Sarapuddin in sending his condolences to the family.
