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San Diego, California
USA
November 18, 2002
The Sangguniang Bayan
Municipality of Pandan
Antique, Philippines
Dear Honorable Members of the SB:
I have inherited some land from my mother, Consolacion Unlayao Rodillon, in
Patria. One of them is in the sitio of Danao. I promised myself that I will
honor my mother's memory by making sure that the land she handed down to me
from her parents will always remain safe with me.
The diesel power plant that NAPOCOR proposes to build in Danao is bad news.
I am totally against it Even if I am residing in the United States, I still
feel strongly connected to Pandan, to my roots, to the townspeople, and to
the land. I have relatives and friends in Patria. I don't want to see them
destroyed, and this is what the power plant will do to them. The prospect of
jobs that they claim will boost the economy is false gold. It is not going
to last. What will last will be the destruction of lives and property from
the widespread contamination of poisonous substances and pollutants that will
seep into their bodies, into the air they breathe, into our seas, lakes,
ponds, springs, streams, and water supply, and into our fields, hills, and
forests.
As I have promised, I will never condone any abuse and destruction of my
mother's property and other properties surrounding it. It is a matter of
principle. It is a matter of conscience. It is a matter of pride. It is a
matter of respect. It is a matter of heritage. Our ancestors tilled and
sanctified their land with the sweat of their brows…with their blood, heart
and soul. They left their property to us, their children, confident that we
will continue to cherish it and put it to good use... not to destroy it, not
to destroy people's lives, their livelihood, their surroundings, their
relationships, and their legacy. Keeping this promise is a small price to
pay for what our ancestors had gone through to keep our land beautiful and
safe for us and for our children.
I say NO TO NAPOCOR and NO TO THE POWER PLANT because I will never be able to
sleep peacefully at night and look at myself in the mirror each morning with
a clear conscience if I agree to the power plant. It's like selling my
mother's soul to the devil. Agreeing to the power plant will be my own death
sentence.
I wish you all a good night's sleep.
Truly yours,
(Sgd.) Lucy Rodillon Sulit
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