Despite floods, Masantoleños still flock to cemeteries
MASANTOL - A day before the All Saints’Day, cemeteries in this fourth district town were still submerged in at least ankle-deep flood waters.
According to Mayor Danilo Guintu, pumping out of water is not an option already as the cemeteries were left behind the road upgrading projects implemented by the government around its vicinity.
“Ali tana pwedeng mamomba, ali ne pante ing sementeryu ampong dalan. Bala dagat ne ing sementeryu tamu (We cannot pump out the waters anymore. Our cemeteries seem to have become ponds now due to the high elevation of the main road),” he expl ai ned.
But the floodwaters in cemeteries seem not to dampen the spirits and faith of Masantoleños as many are still seen cleaning and visiting the tombs of their loved ones, Guintu said.
As early as last week, families were already taking turns in cleaning the tombs and some were already lighting candles and bringing flowers, he added.
“Sumangid ning kalbug, tuluy pa rin ing selebrasyun mi kareng memayapa. Ing pamangadi, pamanyinding kandila ampong pamiyabe deng pamilya
Having said this, I must caution that mere invocation of the principle that Federalism is that government closest to the people is best was not a substitute for competence, integrity and dedication in public governance. Transition from Unitary system to Federalism is not easy. An ancient doctrine known as the Rule of Subsidiarity that which states that every government responsibility should be relegated to the lowest level of government competent to handle it. Indeed, the Local Autonomy Act fathered by that quintessential public servant, former Senate President Nene Pimentel, Jr., has already started the ball rolling towards genuine Federalism. Federal states will certainly rise up to the occasion when emancipated from bureaucratic control and direction.
Federalism then is rightly conceived as being the essential first step towards what could be transformed into a long-term, conscious plan to disengage the imperial central government in Manila from unwarranted intrusions into areas more appropriately left to Federal states.