The last time

By Eva C. Visperas

People remember people, events or places either the first or the last time.

The last time I visited San Carlos City was when I passed by to see my son two weeks ago in Basista doing a special school mission. The place was aglow and many people were around the streets obviously enjoying the peace therein.

April 28 around 3:00 p.m., Mayor Jolly Resuello and I talked over the phone.

I extended an invitation from Biskeg na Pangasinan where he was a ranking member for a special meeting last May 2.

Mayor Jolly even said, “Eva, pasensiya ka la ta agak akapi birthday ed sika.

Masyado ak ya busy. Belated Happy birthday la (Sorry I wasn’t able to come on your birthday. I was too busy).”

I assured him it was okay as the campaign is nearing homestretch now.

Past 10 p.m. that same day, I received another call, this time from a concerned citizen present at the time Jolly was shot inside the auditorium.

The following morning, we went to San Carlos and saw the mayor airlifted to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City. Female reporters who were present and interviewed the mayor’s son, Vice Mayor Ayoy Resuello, were crying while hearing the words coming from the grieving son. Vice Mayor Ayoy was a picture of a real man, tough at a most difficult time, yet gentle in expressing his emotions.

Tuesday, the sad news came. He’s gone. That same night, I, together with the Biskeg na Pangasinan friends led by its founding chairman, Usec Bebot Villar, came to pay our last respects to Mayor Jolly.

One thing that amazed me about Mayor Jolly was he hung Usec Bebot’s smiling photo while seated beside him in his office and in his residence. No other photo of any public official. Their friendship was beyond question. They were like brothers.

With his death, people I’ve talked to said one thing: We’re back to the old San Carlos.

I know how they feel. I grew up in San Carlos. I finished my elementary in Central II and high school in St. Charles Academy there. I still remember those years when people lived in fear because some groups sowed terrorism in the area. Whenever darkness set in then, people must be home for fear of their lives.

Stories from old folks said some groups killed people as if they were just killing chickens. Killings were rampant then. Amputi’y layag (white ears) was what San Carlenians were tagged then. It connotes bravery in killing people.

This killing sends a very bad signal to the people. It leaves again another bad image to San Carlos.

Is this the prize a dear person like Jolly had to pay for bringing peace and progress in our city? These were the words of my high school friends now based abroad in their emails to me after learning of this bad news.

As I was writing this piece, a friend’s husband from the US called and said that I was right in my prediction several months ago about my fear that if the boiling political pot in San Carlos wouldn’t cool down, there would be a worse scenario to happen.

I just hope this will be the last time a politician’s life would be sacrificed for selfish motives of some people.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/business-log/)

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