Paying for the party

WHAT used to be a one-day event wherein people simply went to the beach to enjoy the sea has grown into a bigger, longer festivity.

Pangasinan now celebrates the Pista’y Dayat, traditionally set on May 1, for several days with plenty of activities lined up to highlight the value of the province’s marine bounty, the importance of protecting the environment so that it can continue to provide resources, and as a come-on for tourists. In Dagupan City, the Pista’y Dayat has become synonymous with the month-long Bangus Festival, which has been recognized as one of the major fiestas not just in the region but in the whole country. All the revelry offer a good respite and a huge entertainment package for residents and visitors, bidding well for businesses, especially those related to the tourism industry.

But in the midst of all the partying, let us not lose sight of the reality that problems in governance do not disappear. These are merely suspended. One of those issues is the weak system for monitoring accountability and difficulties with transparency from local governments, which is particularly important in light of the fiestas because most of the expenses in these celebrations are paid for by taxpayers’ money.

When all the fun comes to a close, the people must demand their local officials to report on how much the party cost. The public has the right to know and judge whether it was worth all the amusement.

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Burying a mistake

THEY call it “Libingan ng Mga Bayani.”  The “Cemetery for Heroes.” By its very name, only heroes are to be buried here.  Why Bongbong Marcos still wants Ferdinand Marcos buried here is not surprising.  Ferdinand was Bongbong’s father. Blinded by bloodlines.

For the record: Ferdinand Marcos killed democracy with his martial law in 1972, resulting in the death of thousands who opposed it and jailing many thousands more, not to mention rendering many thousands more disappeared.  A hero does such abomination?

Why Bongbong became senator in May 2010 is not also surprising.  This nation forgets so easily, as in the abominable death of democracy under Ferdinand Marcos’s 14-year dictatorship.

We forget, and we are bound to make the same mistake again.

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