TWO events that happened over the week have accented the ability of the City government of Naga and of the local church to respond with dispatch to the wishes of their constituents and are worthy of mention and must be reiterated because of the values they uphold and advocate.

        The first is the decision of City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo to take back the permit he has given to the Caceres Amusement and Gaming Corporation (CAGC) to operate bingo games in the fourth floor of E-Mall. This mall is just across the Saint Francis of Assisi parish church and is very much frequented by students even during class hours.

        The decision of the City Mayor came after a couple of weeks of operation of the bingo games and after CGAC had been given legislative approval and highly recommended by the Committee chaired by then Kagawad Allen Reondanga. The hundreds of letters from students of the Universidad de Sta. Isabel that flooded the Office of the secretary of the Sanggunian Panlungsod denouncing the approval given to the CAGC and the resolution of the Parish Council of the Saint Francis of Assisi Parish that the bingo games would militate against the values of work and industry were more than enough to prompt the Sanggunian Panlungsod to give their approval a second look and for the City Mayor to heed the call of the students and the officers of the parish council.

        The executive and legislative bodies of the City government have been listening to the sentiments and desires of their constituents. Listening was good enough. And they acted with dispatch — the Mayor took back the permit he had issued to CAGC and the Sanggunian Panlungsod has set a hearing on the CAGC case — which is even better.

        Whatever the outcome of this event should be for the greater glory not of any businessman, not of any city official but of the city, which is supposed to be a local government by people who have no room for any game of chance.

        The second is the decision of the parish priest of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish to remove the streamer including the steel contraption that serves to hold streamers on top of the old belfry in front of the church. This old belfry is the only structure left standing of the old San Francisco Convent where Spanish officials and citizens had flocked to seek shelter when the uprising staged by Guardia Civil Elias Angeles and Felix Plazo turned to favor the rebels. This belfry was witness to the fall of the Spanish government in the Bikol region. This is how historically significant this belfry is for Bicolanos.

        The removal of the streamer and the steel framework that was built on top of this belfry took place in the afternoon of Friday when the attention of the Saint Francis of Assisi parish priest as well as of the descendants of the Quince Martires who were at the Plaza Quince Martires was called on some items that tend to show irreverence if not contempt to structures and souvenirs of the heroic deeds of bygone heroes. By any language, the reaction of the Saint Francis of Assisi Parish priest was fast. He was listening to the sentiments and desires of local historians and researchers. That the parish priest was listening was good enough. His action to remove the streamer and the steel framework from the belfry was even better.

        In both instances, the values that are dear to our hearts are upheld as better than the resolutions or ordinances and even business opportunities that may the city or church coffers fill. The worth of these values are beyond any legal or commercial appraisal.