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Port Orchard, Washington
USA
November 15, 2002
The Honorable Kagawad Jesus Dionela
Sangguniang Bayan
Municipality of Pandan
Antique, Philippines
Dear Jesus,
I didn't know that you are also one of the Kagawads until Bob Alojipan
mentioned it to me tonight. This news really makes me smile. It's just
wonderful to think that you have achieved prominence and status in our town's
government and governance, just like Celedonio.
The best news from your high school classmate Bob was that you are also
against the NAPOCOR power plant in Patria. Because you are a Kagawad, you
are an important addition to our group. Welcome to our fold. You are a strong
voice in our fight against the power plant. I am glad that you can foresee
the vast and long-range destruction the power plant will do to our town
mates' lives, health, livelihood, property, and surroundings. I admire you
for your great show of courage to stand up and openly oppose the power plant
proposal even if other Kagawads are in favor of it and are therefore not on
your side. I call you a true Pandananon. You are a Pandananon through and
through because you work and fight for what is right, for the general welfare
of your kasimanwas even at the expense of friendships, personal gains, and
divided loyalties.
If your beliefs are based on respect for basic human rights, human dignity,
self-worth, and the protection of those rights, you can never go wrong. You
elevate yourself to a higher and nobler plane if you fight for the rights of
the less fortunate who depend on you for their protection and salvation.
Someday, all this will come to pass and you will look back and tell yourself
that you did what you had to do. That you did what you felt was right. That
you didn't just sit and watch or went with the flow. You became a mover and a
shaker on the strength of your convictions. You will see the past, the
present and the future, all bound together by the land and the people who
have come and gone and will come and go. Then you pat yourself on the back
and proudly say, "Yep, I was in the thick and thin of it all. I have the
scars to prove it, but it was well worth it." Your sleep will be more
peaceful and your final rest will be more divine. Godspeed, and more power to
you.
Very truly yours,
(Sgd.) Thelma Mantac Ramos
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