Like buttons in
the wrong hole

Today, for the first time, Bacolod City will celebrate the anniversary of that event on June 18, 1938, when then President Manuel Quezon of the Philippine Commonwealth signed into law the Act that transformed Bacolod into a chartered city. This will be the first time we are marking the proper date because, for all the years to come after that, our officials must have thought that the day when the first city mayor was sworn in was the Charter Day of the city. But anybody who can read would see that the Commonwealth Act No. 326 that Quezon signed, specifically states that it would take effect IMMEDIATELY, meaning on that very day – June 18, 1938.

***

Those who are protesting against what they mistakenly refer to as a “change” in the celebration have obviously not seen the law itself. Or else they have other reasons for opposing it. But why should we continue to mark a day that is not the proper one? Remember President Diosdado Macapagal? Because he believed that the July 4 Independence Day that the American government chose to share with us, was not as real an independence day as the one then General, and head of the Philippine government, Emilio Aguinaldo, had declared for us on June 12, 1898, he worked to change the celebration of our Independence Day to that date. So why should Bacolod continue to call the wrong day as its Charter Day?

***

The law supposedly passed only in 1974 had been sought by those who, all along, thought and believed that October 19 was the Charter Day, so they asked for it to be declared a holiday. It is very likely that nobody then thought of referring to the real law, Commonwealth Act No. 326 that set the start of our cityhood. As for me, I like to look at all this through an analogy, like, when you happen to put a button in your shirt into the wrong hole, you have to undo all the rest so that all your buttons will be in the right holes and your shirt will not be askew. It’s as simple as that.

***

I heard there were anonymous text messages that Vice President Jejomar Binay, can not come for his role as guest of honor today’s celebration. It was also mentioned elsewhere that the President had asked him to represent the country at the burial of Saudi Arabia’s crown prince who died the other day. There is indeed a Muslim custom to bury the dead within the same day, so, if the messages that also had some “give-away” words, are true, well, that is diplomatic responsibility that, as the French would say it is, Noblesse Oblige.

***

Manny Pacquiao has returned and, in line with his wishes, the reception was rather subdued. But he proceeded immediately to his territory in Sarangani where many of his constituents had been devastated by the floods that hit the area last Tuesday. Now… Manny was cheated of his win on Sunday (Philippine time), and on Tuesday heavy rains and floods struck his province. Were the skies weeping over the unjust blow dealt to him in Las Vegas?

***

Well, the cry against the horrible decision has sounded all over the world, and Timothy Bradley, no matter how thick-skinned he may be, must surely be smarting from it. And he did say in an interview that even his family is affected by all the negative reports coming from officials, boxing personalities and groups, and even movie stars and the media, that he is also hurting from it. Maybe he also heard that even Juan Manuel Marquez, who has long been chafing against the defeats dealt him by Pacquiao, said in a TV program, Golpe A Golpe, in Mexico that it was clear that Manny Pacquiao was the winner.

***

The latest, meanwhile is that the World Boxing Organization has assigned five international judges to review the scores of the Three Blind Mice (my words, borrowed from Bob Arum). The probers are a Puerto Rican, and four from New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida and Pennsylvania. The five are to review the tapes of the fight, and the vote on the results as they see them. But let’s not expect a reversal, or even a return of the belt, as another Pacquiao victim, Oscar de la Hoya, suggested. Like everybody else, we just want the truth.

***

Another development from the Pacquiao-Bradley anomaly is that Nevada Senator Harry Reid has disclosed that he will sponsor a bill that will regulate boxing. That is somewhat like closing the stable after the horse has ran away, but it’s a hopeful move. As for me, I wish that boxing as a sport will be banned totally.*

back to top