FEBRUARY TRAGEDY

By Reymundo Salao

Three days earlier, at the start of the month, the government imposed the R-VAT. This means, another increase in the tax burden of the Filipino people. While many government heads assure that the tax addition is very minimal, this still is undeniably very very heavy for the poverty-stricken masses of this country. Many are still aching the pain of the E-VAT, now R-VAT has made the worst, horrific. With the non-transparency of how the government would use these additional funds, the agricultural funds exposé, the missing Marcos money, and the unresolved Garcillano scandal, among many other unresolved government anomalies, it is a virtual addition of insult to injury; vinegar on open wounds. If the crippling effect of the tax burden can even be felt by the middle class, how worse can it be for the ones down the poverty line.

It is a grim fact that some may resort to crime just to free themselves and their families from utter misery. These people will do anything for survival. Desperation is an understatement for what the poor citizens of this country is experiencing. But still, there are many who have the decency enough not to cross that line of morality just to have that redemption. Many still just work hard, and depend on a decent way of life to live on and survive. But as one may prove, the fruits of hard labor sometimes feel insufficient for one to attain real redemption. Inevitably, many will dream of that easy road to redemption, as they wish to win the lotto, the sweepstakes, and the noontime TV game shows that give out millions of pesos.

One such show is ABS-CBN’s “WOWOWEE” which is a game show where many of our masses would go to, with humble wishes to win, maybe even for some mere consolation prize. In a country where poverty is something shared by 90% of the citizens, Wowowee is a show that symbolizes as something that people would look up to, where their simple wishes can come true. Wishes that are nothing more than a little redemption from the miseries of poverty.

After the R-VAT has grown to terrorize the pockets of the Filipino people, many naturally look up to Wowowee to save them from the tsunami of this new tax burden. On the scheduled big Saturday First anniversary of the show, a great number of people have brought themselves by the overwhelmingly large numbers, all headed to the ULTRA complex where the show would be held. But tragedy struck as a stampede killed around 79 victims and left many more wounded and hospitalized.

Is it the fault of the security and gate personnel? Is it the fault of a couple of people who allegedly started a panic by shouting a false bomb threat? Nobody knows for sure. But what I do know is that this is the result of desperation. Desperation not of people who wish to be rich like kings, not of people who desire to own and drive fancy cars, not of people who wish to be business tycoons who own various businesses, not of people who wish to be influential like the gods of their provinces. In these times of increasing prices of taxes, of commodities, of education, and of medicine, these people simply wish redemption from their poverty miseries. These people are victims murdered by desperation and poverty. There is nobody to blame but poverty itself.

MY THOUGHTS ON DINAGYANG ‘06

By Reymundo Salao

Sure, this year’s DINAGYANG was a success, says everybody. But I have very mixed reactions with this year’s festivities. I was really proud that, as a friend who works in Manila informed me, ad campaigns for Iloilo’s Dinagyang posted in Metro Manila have been very visible and seemed to have attracted the attention of the many that weren’t even familiar with the Dinagyang festival in the first place. That kind of exposure does open the floodgates for tourists and festival-hunters. And indeed, we were more than enthused to welcome them with red carpets. The related programs like the Miss Dinagyang and the various exhibits were well-planned. There were more than enough programs to welcome our mass of guests. The Opening Salvos and the Dinagyang Bulilit Competitions were unique and does add to the color of the festival. However, I wish that next year, during the Friday Fluvial parade, the City Government should declare a non-working holiday to government office workers in the vicinity of the city proper, even for just half-day, since it is kind of pointless to be in your office when the main city transportation routes are closed anyway.

My impulsive verdict on this year’s Dinagyang celebration is that it is indeed a success. But looking back at the little things that I noticed there are still many things that should be improved. Primarily, there are two major issues that I think needs some improvement.

Last Sunday, I was roaming around the Atrium-Casa Plaza-Prov. Capitol area, in my usual askalish mood, hanging out under the sun, and waiting for the tribes to pass by after their performances in the judging areas. As I finished my Melon Shake & Waffle dog, I, being a pseudo-non-purist-environmentalist, noticed that I could not EVER find a decent trash can area to throw my litter. Even the usual basura site near the LBC area was gone. What in freaking Treebeard’s nosehair is going on here? Just because it’s festival season in the streets and everybody is expected to be a litterbug, doesn’t mean that we have to tolerate and cultivate that same bad attitude by not providing enough trash cans in the streets! I’d had to hold on to my empty Shake cup & pretend that it still has some shake on it before I found a makeshift trash area. I wish that next year, they’d provide numerous trashcans for the people to throw their little litters on.

The second issue that needs to be improved or maybe altered is the deprivation of the street-merry-making sound systems. I believe it is better to REGULATE the sound systems instead of just imposing a ban on it. I agree with the opinions of many who have complained about the pointless multiplicity of ultra-loud sound systems that even though how close to each other some of them are, play different or varies music. Why not just limit the number of sound systems instead of just totally banning it. One sound system area per radio station (or any organization).

Why totally deprive the people of their street merry-making opportunities? Because of the crime rate? Well, increase police visibility and presence. This banning of the sound systems seems a bit TOO BOURGEOISIE. People who go to the Merry-making festival are normal people too. They just want to dance, jump around, rejoice, and have some fun. What? Only those who can afford to go to sosyal places like the bars and clubs where concerts and gigs are held, the only ones who have the right to have fun in Dinagyang? Not the masses? Killjoy is an understatement: to me, it seems BOURGEOISIE. Does that term sound offensive? Oh, well, sorry…I hope next year they restore the merry-making in the streets. And if it does, I hope it still gets the Police vigilance it requires. The spirit of DINAGYANG is not just for tourists, it is for us ALL.