Ben Barredo and Bredco

Ben Barredo, former city councilor, who now commutes between the U.S. and the Philippines , called up the other day. I told him to come yesterday to McDonald's where many of his high school classmates, members of the Sunshine Boys were having breakfast. Ben belongs to NOHS Class '49, classmate of Toti Ramos and Marianing Tuvilla.

Ben told me that, as city councilor in 1960, together with Toti Ramos, he authored a council Ordinance that authorized the reclamation of the Bacolod 's foreshore areas and is today the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corporation or Bredco.

Ben then was chairman of the committee on laws while Toti was chairman of the committee on finance which made the study.

The resolution was passed December 19, 1960 , or 47 years ago. It was carried by a unanimous vote of Barredo, Ramon Misa, Inocencio Lucasan, Jose V. Ramos, Ricardo Arnaldo, Jovito Sayson, and Pedro Alit, Jr. Only Barredo, Ramos, and Lucasan are still around.

* * *

This was the start of Bredco, a colorful history of nearly 50 years under Sammy Palanca who nurtured and worked out to make it succeed.

Ben just wanted to correct history and also to put in proper order other aspects of his political career, also a colorful one.

But, it was Toti who remembered more. There were four bidders to develop Bredco aside from Palanca. But, the three Manila bidders were beaten by Palanca who showed he had the means to develop it. The officials also felt it was better to give it to a local bidder.

In the breakfast yesterday, we also had Arsenio “Buc-an” Yulo who was one time chairman of the Public Estates Authority (PEA) that had supervision over Bredco.

He said, when he took over PBA his staff told him, Bredco had many problems in its papers and Buc-an called for Sammy Palanca to have them corrected.

I said, Dec. 19, 2010 is still far to mark the 50 th year of Bredco's birth. Why don't we make a celebration, even just a simple one on Dec. 19, 2007 ?

The role played by Bredco and Sammy Palanca in the development of Bacolod is very paramount. Bacolod could have not been Bacolod as it is now without a port provided by Bredco.

I will interview Sammy Palanca after this.

* * *

Ben recalled it was in the early 50s when Jose Yulo, valedictorian of the first graduates of NOHS was around at the NOHS. Ben spoke there and with his usual eloquence – very few here in Bacolod have the oratorical eloquence of Ben Barredo – spoke of the problem of Bacolod not having a sea port. Yulo and at that time, Bacolod Mayor Felix Amante were impressed by Ben's eloquence and asked him to work for it, Ben told me.

Ben topped the council slate in 1959 with Toti Ramos and others who held higher positions, like Lucasan and Sayson who both became vice-mayor.

In 1963, he was made a Liberal Party candidate for Governor against incumbent Gov. Valeriano Gatuslao. He lost to Gatuslao.

At that time, Diosdado Macapagal of Liberal Party was the country's President and Ben was prevailed to withdraw and be appointed Justice Secretary. He chose to politely turn down the offer and pursue his gubernatorial candidacy.

* * *

A more interesting aspect to Ben Barredo's life was the election of 1971. There were three candidates for mayor, incumbent Romeo Guanzon, Carlos P. Benares, and Ben Barredo.

As Ben told it, he was at first the candidate of both Peding Montelibano and Amading Araneta, both arch enemies but joined forces to beat Guanzon.

“I got funding from both”, Ben said. And Buc-an Yulo confimed it. But, Ben said, then Bishop Antonio Y. Fortich pressured Montelibano not to support Barredo, being a Protestant.

Not only the pressure from Piding, Ben said. He was also facing death threats from then known armed goons. Ben said, he was afraid his sons would also be involved who were ready to shoot it out for their father.

Amading was angry with him. But he had no recourse. He withdrew. “How much was involved?” I asked. “None!” he said. It was only his safety, Ben said.

* * *

This corrects history now. At that time, the perception was Ben withdrew for some monetary considerations. And the joke then was “What bank did Ben Barredo withdrew from?”

Even later when his son Kenneth ran, there were still questions that he might withdrew from the bank also.

But, that was 1971 or 36 years now. History must be put in its proper perspective, especially that Ben is now 78. But he is still strong.

Ben is brilliant. His children and grandchildren too. His son Kenneth was a bar topnotcher, his grandson in the U.S. graduated from law summa cum laude. His son, Ben Junior was magna cum laude at La Salle and his wife Luisa Carisma was summa cum laude.

How about him? “Suma sabit”, he said. And not “Magna-nakaw?” He laughed. One good thing with Ben is his sense of humor is fully intact. He can laugh even at himself which shows he is a straight man.*

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