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Hofileña: American arrival and Negrense resistance (Part 1) Posted: 01 Jun 2021 06:48 AM PDT THE historic arrival of American colonial forces in the Philippines was first indicated when news reached Bacolod about the forcible entry of US Com. James Smith following the earlier occupation of Iloilo City by the Americans on February 11, 1899. Following the substantial destruction with the American arrival in Iloilo City, the Negros Occidental authorities concerned to prevent a repetition of the same possibility of an American landing in Negros, the Negrenses raised the American flag on February 12, 1899. The general attitude in Negros composed of officials and prominent citizens was to await the result of the Negrense commission which was contacting the American authorities in Iloilo. At this early stage, American opposition by Negrenses was generally in a passive form and most Negrenses waited for more official information from the Americans in Iloilo and Manila. On March 3, 1899, more US troops arrived in Iloilo and part of this contingent arrived in Bacolod on March 4, where they were received by the Negrense officials. The head of the US group, Col. James Smith, conferred with Negrense officials and he assured them of his further assistance to the Negrenses who also informed him that they were in the process of framing the Constitution of the Negros Cantonal Government. Meantime, Col. Smith re-opened the cable service between Iloilo and Bacolod and as another act of good will, the Americans allowed the creation of a police force of 200 native troops. Meanwhile, the Negros Cantonal officials had already chosen a Commission to draft the Negros Constitution with the membership of Estanislao Yusay, Jose Luzuriaga, Lope de la Rama, Antonio Jayme, Eustasio Torres and Eusebio Luziriaga. Despite, however, the offer for the Negros Oriental delegates to join the drafting of the new Constitution, the Negros Oriental leaders refused the invitation. The framing of the Cantonal Constitution was finished in less than a month and Col. James Smith duly reported this to his headquarters in Manila. Interestingly, the Constitution was generally patterned after the format of the US Constitution with the aims of the Negrenses to secure social justice, domestic tranquility, and good government. The longest portion of the draft Constitution contained probations similar to the US Constitution such as freedoms of speech, liberty, and peaceful assembly and the prohibition of slavery and involuntary servitude. Elections, however, were limited to males over 21 years of age and with property in Negros. Though meant for independent government, the highest provincial officials were under the control of the American Colonial Occupation. Notably, also, the Negros Oriental officials had not attended the discussions on the draft constitution. Hence, Juan Araneta was entrusted to convoke a province-wide assembly and while they sent a participating group, Negros Oriental President Demetrio Larena did not concur on the draft constitution except to discuss its various aspects. After its approval in Negros on May 3, 1899, it was submitted to Gen. Smith and forwarded to Washington USA in early July. Shortly after this submission, Major Gen. Elwell Otis disregarded his earlier agreement with the Negrenses and abruptly ordered that an American Military Governor would have veto power over the local officials and the draft Negros Cantonal Government. The main explanation of this General Order Number 30 of the American authorities over the Negrenses was the reported widespread public dissent and the failure of local officials to control the growing resistance to the American authorities. Clearly, the relationships between the Negrenses and US forces were experiencing difficulties that needed to be settled. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Ombion: Playing the piano well Posted: 01 Jun 2021 06:48 AM PDT THIS is how I described succinctly the conduct of Bacolod City Government vis-a-vis Covid pandemic and the crisis and its debilitating impact on governance, local economy and state of life of the people, and of other little things knocking at the new government center. My lead title is actually a famous quote from the late Mao Zedong, the founding chairman of the Communist Party of China (CPC) that catapulted the entire continent of China into a socialist republic, who alluded it to the many complicated tasks that confronted then the CPC party cadres to advance their protracted struggles against feudalism, fascism, colonialism and imperialism. In playing the piano, all ten fingers are in motion; it will not do to move some fingers only and not others. However, if all ten fingers press down at once, there is no melody. To produce good music, the 10 fingers should move rhythmically and in coordination. Mayor Bing Leonardia does not make all the decisions, direction and supervision all by himself. He ensures that all units under his executive office, and those under the legislative and legal offices, put all their fingers on the right key boards at the right time following the timing of the baton of the chief executive. Sometimes, there may be some seconds delay or some pressing wrong keyboards, but corrective measures are drawn on time to produce harmonious melody. The public knows that Mayor Bing has also a core of researchers, strategists, tacticians and planners who draw with him timely assessment of objective and subjective conditions, continuous fine-tuning of implementing plans and programs, and always moving forward his best steps to meet goals and targets. This explains how Mayor Bing and his team effectively adjusted from the difficult, trial and error, push and pull conduct in the early phases of the worst crisis it ever confronted, the Covid pandemic, to a more scientific, evidence-based, logical and sensical approach to the pandemic crisis. From the more reactive, blinkered, restrained and militaristic responses (relying heavily on lockdowns and police-military enforcement) in the early phases of the pandemic crisis, it steadily moved to a more logical and sensical, pro-active, communitarian, compassionate responses. Today, Mayor Bing and his team play the piano well in dealing with all the aspects and facets of the pandemic crisis, giving emphasis on easing the quarantine for different sectors to recoup from crisis, address relief and rehab needs of the economic sectors, while enforcing local and national health protocols. Bacolod City Government was not alone in its troubles in confronting a crisis it had never confronted or managed before. Hundreds other LGUs were even in worse condition; some LGUs' responses were panicky, giving too little and too late, others more chaotic and destructive, many turned more militaristic, and a few just fairly laudable. Himamaylan City Mayor Tongson was coincidentally as open, flexible, compassionate and team player as Mayor Bing, so much that he quickly learned to respond more effectively and comprehensively to the pandemic crisis, often personally leading the frontliners in urban and rural communities. The recent statements of NIATF officials and Cabinet Secretary Nograles that among the LGUs especially highly urbanized cities (HUC) and component cities Bacolod is leading the fight against covid pandemic maybe true and commendable. It appears that Bacolod City is still far from normal, or new normal, or whatever, but the city government has learned its lessons well, now focusing on essentials, and has honed its capacity to deal comprehensively the crisis and all challenges that go with it. With its close coordination with the NIATF, RIATF, DOH, and the DILG, it is certain the City Government will make further headways in the fight against Covid pandemic. What also appears important elements in the city's fight is the full and effective cooperation and support of the citizens, especially the CSOs, POs, NGOs and the private corporate institutions. And not the least, the understanding, patience, civility and support as well of groups and personalities who may have political ambitions in conflict with the city government leadership. Now is the time to have more reasons to unite, than to part ways and advance ambitions and vested interests. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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