Here and There
Chaotic Labor Day in M. Manila differs from May 1 here
By Gerry Garcia
FIRST day of May tomorrow, Labor Day, has for Metro Manila, as usual, another sinister if not irrelevant significance far removed from the day’s actual intent. That is, if we took at face value the words of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) cited by news report to have “anticipated mass protest actions by extremist forces taking advantage of the Labor Day celebrations.”
Some trouble-makers bent on a “Final Talk 2” on Monday are reportedly expected to oust Gloria and overthrow the government on May 1. Where? In Metro Manila siempre, where else?
Final Talk 2, Security officials say, is a sub-plot of “Oplan Hackle” documents of which were allegedly “seized from recaptured Magdalo officer Lt. Lawrence San Juan.
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Out here in the province and away from the unnerving hassle of troublous Metro Manila, the final days of the month, including May 1, are days of merry-making.
Around 100,000 people, including visitors from the outside, are expected to flock in the city for the “Bangus kalutan” today, Sunday, and beginning last Friday up to Labor Day on May 1, some 6 top women’s collegiate volleyball teams from Metro Manila and Baguio City would be competing in the 2006 Bangusfest Women’s Invitational Beach Volleyball Championship. Leading entries: Boracay national Championship qualifiers De La Salle University, College of St. Benilde, Adamson University, Letran College, Lyceum of the Philippines, Far Eastern University and Saint Louis University.
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May 1 in the province is better knownas Pista’y Dayat than Labor Day.
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In the drab unpainted wooden building beside the Lingayen Provincial Jail there’s nary a tell-tale sign to indicate that the Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board is housed there. Many people with cases up for hearing at DARAB in Lingayen, have missed the building more than once because they were told the court had moved to the other side of the town near the Sison Auditorium.
We were under the impression, as a result, that the national office of Agrarian Reform in M-Manila did not have enough money for the DARAB building’s renovation…. fueling added suspicion that whoever is the presiding judge there, including his staff, is equally grossly underpaid.
We’ve also stopped wondering why attending lawyers of both complainant and defense, who fondly address one another as “kompanyeros”, are in the habit of unduly prolonging process of prosecution and conviction . . . and leaving their respective clients either disillusioned or happy, depending on you-know-what.
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