Don’t cry for me Tacloban City

MOONLIGHT lady… “a crooner croons hauntingly at the sing-along in Leyte Park Hotel, the place in Tacloban City. It’s a week after the fall of the despotic Marcos regime. It’s also a dead night outside and even as residents of Imelda Country snuggle towards a new era, they will still have sighs to heave, tears to wipe away and a lot of things long unsaid that they have to say. It is not quite morning yet but there is no mistaking the signs of a rude awakening.

“Ma’am” is gone.

Over at the 351st PC Company headquarters in the city someone forgot to erase the entrance blackboard that says, RED ALERT EFF 230800H FEB 86. “But we’re already on blue alert,” an officer gaily explains.

Except for an avalanche of familiar stories already heard from known and vocal Aquino supporters and a few free spirits, there is not much a stranger on a whirlwind visit can elicit yet from the ordinary pedestrian on how he or she feels about the sudden turn of events.

Odon Sabarre, an Imelda protegee and artist-in-residence at the People’s Center, is not really that shattered though. Look ma’am, no tears, except that Sabarre does not know where to collect some P100 thousand in back wages owed him. He has not been paid these last two years.

Sabarre was Imelda’s ballet scholar who was sent to Moscow and around the world for study tours. A Samareno, he was sent to Tacloban from Manila in 1981 after the People’s Center was put up to serve the cultural needs of the region. Since then, Sabarre has been dancing his way to the Leyteno’s hearts but he also tripped his way to something short of a financial disaster.

He just kept on, he says, not knowing where to get finances to keep his programs going. He even used his own money and had to hold jazz and aerobics classes to augment his income. On his own, he spent for scholars. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (MECS) was a help for some time but not for long. “The MECS was waiting for the center to be turned over to them but that never happened,” says Sabarre. “Sometimes we didn’t even have floor wax. The six janitors will have to go. Right now we owe Leyeco some P45 thousand for electricity.”

Sabarre plans to take a trip to Manila to talk with people like Tingting Cojuangco or Joji Felix Velarde on what could possibly be done.

The People’s Center is a huge white open edifice that houses an auditorium, a hall, a 22,000 volume library and dozens of dioramas depicting Filipino folkways. Its white banig-like cement walls are said to have undergone several transformations to suit Imelda’s specifications.

“People told me, naku, malapit ka kay Imelda (you’re close to Imelda), you could have asked. Siguro ako lang ang malapit na hindi naka-aprobechar” (I did not take advantage of my closeness), he confides. The last time he saw Imelda was in January in Olot, Tolosa, Imelda’s hometown, when she came to campaign. “There were several of us there, including Armida Siguion-Reyna and Marichu Maceda. She talked and talked from nine in the evening till four in the morning without even standing up to go to the comfort room. Kami naka-tatlo na (We had already gone three times). I asked her what see wanted to do in life and she said she warned to put up six or seven buildings that would house precious things and beautiful paintings as her gift to the Filipino people.

“She was even planning for the (victory) inauguration. She said, ‘My hair stands up to think of Cory as president. I never saw the bad side of Imelda. We were so away from politics. I create dances so people will forget their miseries. I want to help drug addicts.”

Aquino was strong in Samar, Sabarre says. “But the KBL had more money. I think the people really wanted change. They (the Marcoses) had many faults, I know. Last Feb. 7 knew they would really have a hard time, especially with the Church. I thought, if Marcos gets away with this, will really consider him a god.”

The Nipa Hut is very big so goes a parodied folk song, but big it really is. The residence of former Leyte governor now refugee Benjamin “Kokoy” Romualdez called the Nipa Hut (the galvanized roofing is covered with nipa, that’s all), is one huge complex that sits on some 3,000 square meters of land. Inside the compound used to be several government offices recently packed up and transferred to where they should be. Three black limos are gathering dust on the driveway. The family residence itself is one scandal of a “hut” considering that Leyte is not too far ahead of neighboring poverty-stricken Samar.

Where in these islands can one find a nipa hut with an unpaid electricity bill of P460 thousand?

Resituta Tizon, the Romualdezes’ caretaker for the last 18 years gingerly shows the visitors around. There is a strained smile on her face. The last time she saw her masters was shortly after the elctions. Yes, she felt sad when she knew what happened.

Chinese and Philippine decor are all over the place. There are many photographs of Kokoy during his term as ambassador to the People’s Republic of China. His study and library are spic and span, the books very new. Expensive paintings adorn the quiet walls and somewhere in a corner of the house is a poster calendar of his son Philip who was the little governor of Leyte in the absence of his father who was also ambassador to the U.S. Not even quite 30 yet, Philip was beginning to wield powers in the province. In his bedroom was an unopened loaded suitcase with a name tag. He was either coming or going.

The historical Price Mansion not too far away is also supposed to be owned by Kokoy. Although its real ownership is still being disputed, the place has been used as the governor’s guest house. Antiques and war memorabilia are still there (MacArthur stayed there) and like the rest of the Romualdezes’ properties, are under guard until the time when things cool down and decisions are made regarding them.

Like PR 12, the only television station in Tacloban for example. The station is supposed to be owned by Philip Romualdez. When asked what he thought would happen to the station, Jerry Ruiz, news director says, “Your guess is as good as mine Nangangapa kami.” (We’re playing it by ear). The station which was put up in March, 1984 has 15 staffers. What Ruiz knows is that PR 12 is owned by the Universal Broadcasting Corporation and he does not know more than that. They were back in operation on Feb. 27, two days after the Romualdezes flew away with the Marcoses. What’s next, the staffers of PR 12 do not know.

Col. Anacleto Arque (PMA ’65), provincial commander and police superintendent says there was no movement of troops in the province during the tense three days. Of the “revolt” Arque says, “I did not expect it. I was not only surprised, I was shocked. Initially, I thought it was a war between two factions, a battle between giants that does not involve us. I kept the troops intact and communicated with my company. We policed our own area and watched out for possible NPA attacks.” They never heard from Gen. Fabian Ver, he adds.

There is a loose organization of Reformists in Leyte, he says. “There were meetings but I was not able to attend. We don’t have to join any group. I am a professional soldier and my mission is to protect our people, no matter who holds the rein of government.”

First Lt. Cristino Campanilla (PMA ’82) who escorted the journalists to the famed places, thinks of himself as a Reformist. He did attend some of the meetings, he says, and as far as he is concerned, he would support Gen. Fidel Ramos all the way. He asks to be quoted.

Even with military escort and a letter from Col. Arque, it was not that easy to enter Imelda’s tropical paradise-by-the-sea. MSgt. Wenceslao Beltran of the Presidential Security Command (PSC) who has held fort and worked here for 12 years was not going to let anyone in. “This is private property,” he barked. And not until a bullyish foreign correspondent who acted like this was his country threatened to break in and get himself arrested, did Beltran give in. The bewildered Beltran did not quite know whom to follow — his bosses who are now in Hawaii or his immediate military superiors.

The Olot paradise 28 kilometers from Tacloban City was constructed a few years after the imposition of martial law in 1972. It sits on approximately 50 hectares of rolling terrain, planted with swaying palm trees and carpeted with lush greenery. The surroundings are punctuated with hundreds of intricately carved JaVanese and Hindu stone figures that rise out of bushes, lawns and corners. The stone wall that separates the residence from the beckoning seashore is a parade of such carved figures. Orchids and ferns cascade from coconut trunks. Tiny kiosks with cornucopias of plastic fruits dot the landscape.

This indeed is paradise enow. This could very well be a place to write a novel or one’s memoirs. Olot the smallest barrio of Toloso. Located between two hills fronting the Pacific Ocean, it had been a favorite picnic area for Tolosoanos with its beach of beautiful black and white sand. In the Waray dialect, Olot means boundary. The late speaker Daniel Romualdez and then Finance Secretary Eduardo Romualdez built beach houses in the areas for their occasional visits to Leyte.

It is said that Imelda would head for Olot whenever she wanted some quiet and get away from it all. This was supposed to be her gift to Ferdinand in the same way that the winding San Juanico bridge (also called Marcos bridge) that connects Leyte and Samar, was his gift to her. It has a golf course with nine holes, meant to be a surprise for her husband. There is a pelota court and swimming pool of course, but the caretaker says he has never seen Imelda take a dip there or in the sea.

The inside of the main house is not lavish looking compared to Kokoy’s Nipa Hut. But there are paintings galore. The ambiance is rustic and decidedly Pinoy. When The Sunday Inquirer got there, the household staff was busy cleaning up. Piles of cushions and draperies were all over.

Beside the house is a huge multipurpose hall with several pianos. The slightly elevated stage is also an altar with antique ornate ornaments from some century old church. Big gatherings and parties were held here. Those times are said to be days of plenty, when everybody around could fill their bellies, courtesy of the National Food Authority. Six big cottages stand ready for Imelda’s guests and for the religiously inclined, there are not only Sto. Ninos and Sto. Ninos, there is also a grotto and the 14 Stations of the Cross done in mosaic that line the winding roads.

Somewhere at the entrance but inside the compound, is the Olot headquarters of the PSC. For a while it looked like an evacuation center. Wives and children of soldiers were lazing around while some were packing and unpacking their belongings. They have come from several nearby PSC detachments and are on the ready to go back to their mother units since the PSC has recently been dissolved. All these many years this PSC unit was here apparently to act as security guards and caretakers of Imelda’s hideaway.

The Olot resthouse complex includes cabanas as guest houses; heliports and helipads; a catacomb-chapel housing the Romualdez Mausoleum built at the side of the hill; its own water and power system.

Imelda’s famous Sto. Nino Shrine in Tacloban was definitely closed to visitors. Until perhaps word from higher authorities. What lies hidden there how, no one knows.

Meanwhile, at the city’s Sagcahan district, people are coming in droves with their bamboo poles and other construction materials. This seafront used to be a squatter colony but two years ago, the residents here were relocated to some far place. A Bliss project complete with water and other services were offered them but since they would have to pay, they refused. They’re coming back now to “reclaim” and Sagcahan will be the same again.

With Imelda gone, Tacloban City and the province of Leyte which are undoubtedly beneficiaries of whatever grabbed her fancy, may be in tears but they are not showing it. For sure, Imelda left her indelible mark, not only with her fanciful and whimsical projects (many of them constructed without biddings) but also with more down-to-earth ones. Here own people first, of course.

The Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical School which was embroiled in a controversy at the time of its construction is operating. Dr. Carmelo Quintero, city health officer (brother of Opposition leader Valente “Tente’ Quintero) who teaches there, thinks well of it. Not that everything is fine as far as health programs are concerned. According to him, the health budget is left with 20% per quarter this year as a lot of the funds went down the drain during election time. A half-finished regional hospital which is supposed 10 serve health needs of Samar and Leyte stands forlornly just before the San Juanico Bridge and surely needs finishing regardless of who started it.

The political scene in Leyte will surely change. Already people name names as to who would possibly change who. Former vice mayor, ex-detainee Tente Quintero was recently summoned to Manila by Minister of Good Government Jovito Salonga for a meeting. A La Salle graduate, Tente could very well be Tacloban’s version of Antique’s Evelio Javier. Detained several times, he also has libel charges (along with Mr. and Ms. publisher Eugenia Apostol) from Commission on Audit’s Francisco in 1972. Tantuico was allegedly involved in election frauds in the 1984 Batasan elections. The Quintero brothers are nephews of the late Con-Con delegate Eduardo Quintero who exposed the payola case in the constitutional convention.

Imelda country is not really as solid as Marcos’ Ilocandia. During the campaign, when President Corazon Aquino came, she was supposed to have targeted only 20% of the votes but she came away with a good 34%. Present incumbents Vice Governor Vicente Veloso, Tacloban Mayor Obdulia Cinco and Vice Mayor Uldarico Mate (brother of MPArtermio Mate) may be precariously holding on to their seats while Oppositionists Tente Quintero, Butch Romualdez and Emmanuel “Butch” Veloso are waiting in the wings.

The Church leadership may have to do some mea culpas. The “pampered religious” (by Imelda) as some of them are called, perhaps need not explain why the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) statement on the fraudulent elections was not read in some churches, specifically at the Sto. Nino Cathedral. Rank-and-file religious, like the SVDs and the Redemptorists, were the ones who had the statement read in their own bailiwicks.

Regional Commander Gen. Salvador Mison has gone on to become vice-chief of staff of the Armed Forces Brig. Gen. Benjamin Cruz has taken his place. RECOM chief is Brig. Gen. Jose Lopez.

Meanwhile, Tacloban is starting to pick up the pieces and go on again with their lives, expecting some of the bounty under the new regime. For they were not all that complacent, and blissfully ignorant. During the campaign, the elections and the three-day “revolt”, many tried to be as informed and involved as they could. Closet Oppositionists stayed glued to their radios and despite prohibitive prices of newspapers (the P2 Inquirer was selling for P8 to P10 at the black market) and their sometimes mysterious disappearances (somebody was buying them by bulk), somehow the truth leaked in through the cracks and crevices of this not-too-solid south.

So welcome the new era. Recently people somehow managed to stage a victory parade for the new leadership. As danseur Sabarre says, “They rejoiced but I think they felt a little lonesome also.” When asked how he felt, a mechanic tinkering with a jeep’s engine says: “Wala. “Is he sad? He answers timidly, “Ang iba siguro.”