Apologies and biases

Letters from the Agno
March Fianza

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- One of La Trinidad’s most able councilor Francis Lee sent me a text message last week telling me that according to his colleagues in the municipal council, my opinion column was too strong. The words that councilor Francis used were “grabe kanu.”

He did not say that they or at least some of the councilors were hurt but I do feel that maybe some were offended and were of course unhappy with the opinion column. Well if that is the case then at least I found out that the councilors are also human – that they too have feelings.

Honestly, I had no intentions of hurting anybody’s feelings. But I just wanted to vent out my reaction to the persona non grata resolution that they custom made for a colleague in the media which to me was uncalled for, since it did not pass due process anyway.

Speaking of due process, I thought that resolutions do not spring out from thin air nor from anyone’s whims but must be a well thought-out legislation – borne out from sensible minds.

And that people could have been consulted, including the person who was being alluded to in the resolution, and matters could have been clarified by mail if personal contact was impossible. Maybe a letter to the editor via the “Week’s Mail” in a newspaper could have solved everything. But none of the above was the choice.

I found out that the resolution was not discussed, but even that is “water under the bridge” because the persona non grata resolution was written and signed by a majority anyway.

Well, I texted back councilor Francis and promised him that I will make apologies for whatever purpose it may serve.

After reading my own opinion column I found out that indeed the words I used were stronger than the mix of Schnapps and Fundador I had with councilors Henry Kipas and Roderick Awingan at Kalei’s Grille. Until now I am nursing my head.

And so, if anybody in the municipal council of La Trinidad was offended with my thoughts about their resolution, I express my apologies.
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For a writer, there are unexplained moments when he can just blast away with what fills his mind. I am guilty of doing that almost everytime but I do it anyway because I know no one reads what I write.

It has been said many times before that the first one who reads an opinion column is the opinion writer himself. Sometimes it stops there. And the first person who reads the Editorial is the editorial writer himself.

Yes, these are the least read articles in a newspaper, unless there is something to it – a controversial matter, tsismis, and corruption somewhere, etc., etc.

And so, I was surprised when councilor Francis texted me about it. In fact I do not even read what I write. Truth is, the next day I immediately forget about what I had just sent to my publisher. Forgive your columnists, but that is the truth for many of them.

I also admit that opinion writers have many biases. But these are the biases that they think would do something good for a bigger number, even if that bigger number is silent – the silent majority.

That to me is what counts most. No matter how unpopular you become in public as long as you feel and think that many whom you do not even know personally believe in you, then go ahead and do what should be done.

I am aware that biases hurt a few people but what may be unfair for some maybe okay for others. Unwittingly, for opinion writers who just fire away, that certain bias could be the built-in instrument in their complicated brain.

To me, it seems like they know what would be more favorable to the interest of a greater number as against the interest of a few. Opinion writers know that traffic jams are bad for the environment and bad for the health.

They know that if any big mall is built in the open space near the public market building, it would definitely congest the Km 5 area and traffic jams would get worse to become the greatest problem that La Trinidad would ever have.

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The bumper-to-bumper traffic from Aspulan down to the Pines Park entrance that we experience daily would even be longer. And congested traffic would never be resolved because the only solution to it is to disallow the construction of a big building in that area in the first place.

While it has not been constructed yet, it would be wise for the proponents to deal with the Benguet State University, the biggest real estate owner in La Trinidad. That would be good for all since building away from the center would decongest populated areas.

Talking about opinion writers who hurt people’s feelings, I recall Mondac’s story about then newsman Oswald N. Alvaro and Benguet provincial police commander Roy Aguana who rose to become police general and regional head.

It was said that Gen. Aguana was so hurt with the “biases” of Mang Oswald. As friendly as he was known to be, the police head “invited” the gentlemen of the press to his quarters for a friendly meeting.

As the dialogue went deeper, the general started talking about the hardships and problems of being police head. And since he saw an opportunity to hit back at Mang Oswald, his critic, he said: “Apay kunayun sa nalaka ti ag police kumander! Nu kayat mu Oswald alaem dytoy paltog ko ta padasem met ti trabahok.”

As far as I can recall the story, Mang Oswald answered Gen. Aguana saying: “Wen a Sir, alaem met dytoy bolpen ko ta padasem met ti agbalin nga newsman!” (LOL)

Mang Oswald and Gen. Aguana became better friends, better persons and had better working relationships after that meeting that happened years before I saw my first article land in the news page.

I know because later, when I became a part of the group, and belonging to the same paper, Mang Oswald and I would visit the general who always had coffee and Marlboro cigarettes ready for us.

Gen. Aguana has retired and may be enjoying somewhere, I hope so, while Mang Oswald has been blessed to do more editing in a newsroom above the clouds.

There may still be hope because there are Aguanas in the LT municipal council and Mang Oswalds in the press. –marchfianza777@yahoo.com