ILIGAN CITY, LIKE A MOTHER

I’m writing this article because I’ve read some reactions posted in the internet about the recent bombing in one of the bridges in Iligan City particularly the Agus Bridge at Barangay Maria Cristina. To those who are sympathetic, I’m so happy of their comforting words especially those who are outside of the country because they show their love and concern to this beautiful City.

At this trying moment of our beloved City of Iligan, right reason must prevail over wounded prejudices, justice against apathy, unity against segregation and faith instead of fundamentalism. All of these with a dignified feeling that the Iliganons can withstand and overcome this cowardice acts that disturb our City once again. Let us think always that like a wind, this will just pass by.

I am reiterating this because when crisis like this will come to our City, there are those who will take advantage of the issuing event and want to distort the truth. We shall always pray that our people especially our local leaders will be lorded with right reasons in solving this problem. Because right reasons will invite the full participation of the very important stakeholders involve in the security of Iligan. Prejudices that destroyed the unity of our people a long, long time ago should not in any way enter or poison our reasons and actions.

Iligan City is like a mother to us. This City is the City of our birth, or the city where we are now living or the city where we came from. Like a mother, Iligan City gives us name and nurtured us and help us in our dreams for a better future. Why we are born here or why we are here today in Iligan City living or working is not by chance. It is part of a divine plan dictated by God why we are here or connected with Iligan City. It is not our own choosing. Otherwise, we have chosen the first world Cities in Europe or in America.

All of us are responsible to this beautiful City because this city is connected to our lives in varied manner. Like my wife Lorelyn, she was born and raised in Cagayan de Oro City but her life is so connected with Iligan City. She studied here for over ten years from her undergraduate to law school and return here to live for good after working in Manila for five years. She is lovingly attached to Cagayan de Oro and at the same time has great affections to this beautiful Iligan City. Like this morning after I arrived from my coastal clean up, she was so angry to some people despising or who wants to desert Iligan City as if disowning this City, the City who makes them as a person, just because they are affected by the cowardice act of the few. I think this people has a limited view in life because surrendering and disowning is their easy escape when little problems like this will come.

It is very true that at this difficult time of our city, today is the time to pray for peace and to act for what is good for the City. Despising or deserting our mother city is an act of equal magnitude to that of the bombers.