Cebu's Turn? Advocating Republic Of Cebu Divorced From Imperial Manila

[Art2ro]

http://ph.news.yahoo...-064231172.htmlCebu's Turn? Advocating ''Republic of Cebu'' divorced from ''Imperial Manila.''MANILA, Philippines - Just arrived from a Cebu sabbatical, cradle of my birth and reminiscence. The peregrinations embraced a retracing to my paternal home of effervescent youth and familiar pockets of archaic leisure and memories in old Cebu. The rising cement urban jungle sprouting all over the metropolis is worthy of the new hue of emerging sights.Yet, indulgence is re-connecting with family over food, bartering laughter, and advancing a journalists trade - inside stories. I sensed however, in renewing filial ties, an uneasiness of blood bewildered by the bigger picture, of political events in the capital - consumed by''impeachment'' (executive hubris?) in Manila.Relatives seek illumination in the natural wisdom of an elevated desire for greater good with so much of the national attention, nay energies, (and public money) expended for a moral plain?But can truth be told? Manila leaders throwing stones yet unready themselves to live in a glasshouse. Impudent promenading in a hall of mirrors unto themselves?And in the background, the reality, reinforced by plutocratic contest for power; with identified media networks and big business incestuous, to covet & cornering government contracts? Whilst the commoner's life goes on - innocent, hopeful, wrapped by an illusion and damned. I cannot blame colleagues in local papers here advocating ''Republic of Cebu'' divorced from ''Imperial Manila.''They, like me, cognizant the greatest asset of the province is the Cebuano and his ingenuity. Cebu over produces bristling energy and creativeness e.g. 90 percent of furniture exported etc; world's emerging destination for business process outsourcing; Mactan Export Processing Zone with 148 Locators; Tsuneishi Heavy Industry build 23,000 ton type ships- 58,000 ton type bulk carrier ships.When the country suffered a black eye abroad, Cebu advertised an ''Island in the Pacific'' (and no armed NPAs). International airlines fly direct to Mactan (Korean Air Lines, Cathay, Asiana, ANA, Qatar, Silk Air, Air Busan, Jin Air, etc), with tourism increasing, avoiding Manila. Provincial sentiments for ''independence'' is a looking glass at burgeoning disgust over unraveling state of administrative affairs in Manila i.e. broken historical tradition of a President from Luzon and a Visayan or Mindanaonon (V/M) Vice President (vice-versa); contracting number of V/M senators; non-ascendancy of a V/M president?; Tagalogs violating Art. XIV Language Sec. 6 making Filipino the national language enriched from other existing local languages; concentration of big media networks in Manila - accentuating Manila centered events, personalities, politicians etc. Thus, come election day, expect popularity of Manila based performers, entertainers, politicians to win national office! Visayas and Mindanao crowed - ''Our turn!''

[Tatoosh]

I really love Cebu too, but it has its warts. The whole PRC thing there is rife with corruption. Teachers in Cebu regularly purchase their credentials. Politicians buy votes and if you can't pay, don't bother running. In that regard, I don't see a Republic of Cebu being any better than the current situation, except that it would be locals not the Tagalogs running things.To paraphrase a famous Filipino, I'm sure you'd rather see Cebu run poorly by Cebuanos than run well by Tagalogs. Though I'm not trying to say the Tagalog/Manila group are doing a great job.

Edited March 1, 2012 by Tatoosh

[billten]

To paraphrase a famous Filipino, I'm sure you'd rather see Cebu run poorly by Cebuanos than run well by Tagalogs. Though I'm not trying to say the Tagalog/Manila group are doing a great job.

IMO if Junjun Davide becomes the next Governor of Cebu, things will change for the better as regards the corruption thing.Regards the Northern issue, the people of Cebu constantly feel slighted and overlooked by the perceived arrogance of the Tagalog people. One example is, why in the world should my kids learn a useless language like Tagalog (a langauge that NO-ONE speaks here or anywhere the local kids are going to try to get a job) when they could be using the valuable time learning something that will be useful?I personally think that a lot more autonomy for the people of the Visayas would be a very good thing.

[Tatoosh]

Well, in one respect, a common language is a binding factor in nation building. So if I was trying to forge a nation out of a diverse group of islands populated with multiple clans, I might try insisting everyone learn at least one common language. To the Philippines credit, they attempt to assist on two, Tagalog and English. It is only partially successful, but watching my Cebuano wife study in Baguio City, where Ilocano is the most commonly spoken language, she uses both Tagalog for daily business and occasionally in school. English is the predominant language in the classroom here. I do believe in local rule generally. And I understand there is a lot of "Luzon" attitude, the portion of Luzon being the Manila metro area, but it creeps up here to Baguio sometimes as well.