The Two Sentinels Are Gone

Many Local Government Units (LGUs) are occupied looking for something unique or special about their municipalities. This something distinct and special will then be used to market their respective towns to investors and tourists, foreign and local as well.

In line with this, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) leads in implementing One Town One Product (OTOP), a concept where products or services unique to every town are being supported by various government agencies. This would give every municipality an opportunity to promote itself through its produce or services.

Tago, my home and my town, boasts for its ampaw (rice pop) products and sumptuous crabs and tiger prawns, not to mention its succulent and mouth-watering pudding. We also have great stories to share.

It wa  s just disappointing that one time the LGU has passed a resolution ordering the cutting down  of the two towering acacia trees nestled at the mouth of the municipal road (dapit sa bay o gilin  gan ni Insikay). While other agencies conserved or protected these centuries-old trees, our LGU has demanded their demise for reasons that it cost them much on road repairs.

We don’t dismiss the fact that large roots of these giants damaged our main road. But we could not also dismiss the sentimental value these landmarks had for the majority of Tagon-ons. These formidable giants had stood witnessed to the development of our town. They had seen Tagon-ons come and go. They were even older than those people who made that useless resolution.

The cost of road repair could and would never justify cutting them down. There are other ways, if they are only willing to consider, in solving the road problem. It was a sad day for Tagon-ons. I was disappointed seeing those giants lying beside our highways on my way home that awful day. A bridge on top of the old highway could be a best solution. I am certain that there are many Tagon-ons who are willing to give money than want them as pieces of furniture.

In Cagayan de Oro City I have observed that the new bridge project connecting Carmen and the city had preserved the magnificence of an old tree which perhaps witnessed the development of the city. Instead of cutting the tree to give way to the construction of the bridge and road, they let the road circumvent around it. How lovely and brilliant their disposition is.

Tagon-ons had not expected these guards (read: acacia trees) would meet their end like that. They were the only remaining century-old trees in our poblacion aside from the one in our town plaza. We used to have many gigantic acacia trees.

What remains today are its outgrowth depicted by that picture and the chilling stories about them. Stories had it that they were favorite rendezvous of towering white skinned magical giants (kapre) on white sutana (priest’s robe) robe. On many occasions, locals had seen them seating on its large branches perhaps having a tête-à-tête. There were instances also that one or more coffins were seen – coffins hanging on its branches or floating in the air beneath them.

We just hope that the fate of the remaining outgrowth of those trees will not be decided by LGU without proper consultation of its constituents. We hope that this new tree will be preserved and cared for. It is now becoming somewhat similar to its ancestor.