ash'ventures

Order of Sikatuna for Pacquiao, Order of Lakandula for Peñaflorida, what Order for Ampatuan ?

The month of November 2009 brought the country of Philippines and Filipino people to the world's attention, not once but three times in the month. However, these 3 episodes portrayed varied dimensions of the Filipino - first being courage, second being compassion and the last one moronism to the largest extent. I rejoiced with my fellow Filipino friends on the first 2 occassions but I hung my head in shame for the third incident.

On 14 November 2009, legendary boxing champ Manny Pacquiao fought Miguel Cotto at MGM Grand in Las Vegas in a fight labelled "Firepower". Pacquiao was promptly conferred the "Order of Sikatuna" by his home country. Pacquiao's victory brought a sense of hope and pride to the Filipino people, especially those who were ravaged in recent floods.

A week later, on 22 November 2009, another Filipino, Efren Peñaflorida, shot to world fame by winning CNN Hero of 2009. Peñaflorida was duly awarded the title of "Order of Lakandula" by his President. Peñaflorida's achievement gave Filipino's the assurance that even when government policies failied, a common man's dream and commitment to his countrymen produced better results than the powers that be.

One day later, on 23 November 2009, the world heard about Ampatuan Jr. In one of the worst political massacres ever seen by Philippines and in recent times, by the world, the Maguindanao Massacre hit the TV screens and newspapers across the world. I'am not one to comment on political issues in my host country, but the official reactions to this incident makes my skin crawl. Following, calls of justice from across the world and the reaction by Filipinos to this incident, there seems to be some progress. However, I wonder if the person responsible will end up with another Order of something noble or will be duly charged with the Order of the Noose ! This is one of those instances, I whole-heartedly support the capital punishment, but alas, Philippines does not impose capital punishment.

now reading - The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

around Cebu - Ramon Durano Foundation (Guinsay, Danao City)

I drove up to Danao City, to see the Ramon Durano Foundation. The compound houses a church built by the great Hon Ramon Mercado Durano (Durano Sr) in 1973 for the people of Danao City. Within the compound is a lavish park featuring human size statues depicting the life of Jesus Christ including the nativity scene at Bethlehem, the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, the stations of Way of Cross. The garden also features busts of each Pope and Saints of the catholic faith. It also has 15 small building housing statues portraying the various mysteries of the Holy Rosary all interconnected with a giant size Rosary. There is even a piece of Rock of the Calvary, shipped all the way from Palestine.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed to see the poor and sad state of the place. The statues are vandalised and the place is abandoned. It is such a pity, cigarette butts and beer bottles lying around, weed grown all over the garden, the Holy Rosary broken into several pieces, body parts of Jesus and his disciples are missing, busts of the late Pope's and Saints with broken noses and one or both ears missing. The marbles representing Jesus' last supper was gone. The Church seems not to attract much visitors either, at the time of my visit, there was a mass going on and there was less than 10 people inside the Church.

However, even in the sorry state the place is in, it gives a sense of calm and satisfaction to visit the place, amidst the dirty surroundings.

Nearby the church is the Durano clan's resting place. The grand old man Hon Durano Sr, his wife and some of his descendants are buried there. There is also an old age home there. I hope someone could restore the place to its old glory. Maybe it has the potential to attract religious tourists to this marvelous place. Or could the Church take over and run the place?

I wonder if there is an unknown mystery as to why the place was abandoned, like a law suit or some mysterious chain of events. As I was writing this post, I came across this from MyCebuPhotoBlog, written in 2006, which shows the place is a much better condition. So what could have happened in the last 3 years? If you know something about this, please share.