Turning grief to rage

The Good Life with Eli F.J. Tajanlangit

Just what sort of curse is this that now holds back the development of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, I cannot even begin to draw. Here was Ayala, the country’s premier development company, with a master plan for the Capitol area, to bring this historic and checkered space to the 21st century, with all its aesthetic and environmental demands, and pffft it goes before our very eyes.

All in just a little over a year.

Maybe, we were all naïve to think that given the opportunities that the multi-billion-peso Ayala project would bring, we would all set aside our differences and work for its implementation. It has been a year since the company signed an agreement with the Capitol, and it hasn’t moved, and so now, the company has declared it wants to disengage from the project.

Maybe, we were all naïve to think there wouldn’t be egos, political and economic, lurking behind those who would work against it, just because they were embarrassed it did not go to where they preferred it should.

Maybe, we were all naïve to think a monumental project like it, which will not only change our landscape but, in fact, push the economy to heights it has not reach yet, would rally every single one of us and work to ensure it gets to fruition.

Like all things rooted on naiveté, we have just been proven wrong. Now, we face the very real prospect of the project, and all its promise and opportunities, leaving us behind. I say “very real prospect” because I harbor some hope, some glimmer of chance against all logic, that maybe, we can still turn this around. Maybe I continue to be naïve, because I saw Ayala’s letter, and it said that because it was unable to pursue the project, “it was now open to discussing [with the provincial government their] mutual disengagement from the project.” Might this still be reviewed and reevaluated? Might the talks of disengagement be turned around?

Over the weekend, I heard a lot of teeth-gnashing, some angry perorations, even bitter, over the prospect of losing the Ayala Capitol project. The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Negros Occidental has taken the cudgels and are spearheading the candle-lighting event today at the steps of the old Capitol to show its grief over this latest development.

I understand the contractors’ group is joining and so are many ordinary citizens. Now, don’t let anyone say this is a political move – I personally saw this snowball last Saturday afternoon. About 3 p.m., a restaurateur texted with a suggestion that they do something to give vent to their anger and frustration over this development. By 7 p.m., texts inviting people to the candle-lighting flew fast and thick. Yesterday, the texts were about who were joining.

Today’s mass action is a spontaneous development, one that, I think, is logical, considering the frustration and disappointment we all feel about this as we watched one trick after another thrown at the project so it wasn’t able to take off.

Those of us who think today’s action is all for naught, can remember that in the end, it is the people who will determine our fate. All throughout this affair, when our officials were fighting for the deal to push through, we hardly heard from the ordinary citizen. Sure, in gatherings and small talk, everybody had seemed to agree it was good for the city and province. But no one seemed willing to stand up and speak for his or her view to be heard.

Now, we hear, and feel, and see, stirrings that our frustration has turned to grief and that grief is turning to rage. It’s about time.*

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