THIS Editorial is a side dish to the discussion on the Naga City Coliseum and the determination of Naga City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo to enter into a loan agreement with the Development Bank of the Philippines by virtue of an authority to be issued to him by the Sanggunian Panlungsod..

        It is good that the Rotary Club of Naga has resolved to pull down its Rotary wheel monument in Plaza Quince Martires and to set up on its place a well-lighted flagpole for the Philippine flag. This is an affirmation by a civic club that, with its willingness to tear down its Rotary wheel, it answers the call of Mayor Jesse M. Robredo for a more vibrant cultural and historical expression of Naga’s heritage.

        It is good that Rev. Fr. Nelson Tria, parish priest of San Francisco Church, did not push further the setting up of the castillo for the Holy Week encuentro inside the Plaza Quince Martires. This is an affirmation by a religious sector that it is supportive to the call of Mayor Jesse M. Robredo for a more vibrant and historical expression of Naga’s heritage.

        It is good that the same parish priest has removed the steel scaffoldings that used to stand for many, many years on top of the old San Francisco belfry. This is a bold statement that the Church of Caceres is a listening Church, and that it recognizes the historical value of the belfry in the history of Naga.

        It must be remembered that in June last year, the City Mayor made historical vibrancy one of the major thrusts in his new mandate as city chief.

        It must also be remembered that even before the people of Naga gave Mayor Jesse M. Robredo a new mandate, Ordinance No.2006-050, known then as “The Ordinance establishing the Liberation Day in Naga City” had been approved by the Sanggunian Panlungsod. This ordinance provided P100,000 fund for suggested activities that would propagate the significance of the San Francisco Convent belfry and would help in the preservation of this historical landmark. But since the enactment of this ordinance in 2006 and its subsequent amendment in 2007 as to the title of the ordinance and the exact date of Naga’s katalinkasan, not even a quiver from City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo has been observed to save and preserve this very significant historical landmark.

        As constituents of the City of Naga, we believe that City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo is mandated not only to manage the daily administration of City Hall but also the implementation of its ordinances. Ordinance No 2006-050 has been written, but not done. Mayor Robredo is very much unlike Rameses, who made “Thus it is written, so it must be done” a principle in his rule over ancient Egypt.

        At the time the ordinance was enacted two years ago, a few strips of balete roots were seen clinging on the surface of the old San Francisco belfry. Today, these roots have grown thick and have almost covered the surface of the belfry. We know how destructive a balete tree is. It is just a matter of time when this parasite will destroy the remaining landmark of this historical San Francisco Convent.

        Perhaps, the City Mayor finds the funds set aside by the sanggunian for the belfry’s preservation too small and insignificant to make this cultural landmark vibrant.

        Perhaps, the City Mayor has not truly understood the gesture of Fr. Tria when the latter removed the steel scaffoldings used for streamers from the top of the old belfry. This gesture has been raring for a corresponding move from the office of the City Mayor of Naga, which is mandated by the Local Government Code to take on the responsibility of preserving cultural and historical landmarks.

        Perhaps the City Mayor would not appreciate activities and cultural movements in the city if these are not really his initiatives.

        But let it be stated for our consideration that faithfulness in small things is an indicator of faithfulness in bigger responsibilities. If the Mayor cannot faithfully implement Ordinance No. 2006-050 with its P100,000 fund, how can he faithfully administer the P115 million loan that he is asking the Sanggunian to authorize him to enter into with the Development Bank of the Philippines?