MEDIUM RARE
Jullie Y. Daza
Dolomite, dolomite! “What’s the fuss?” asked an exasperated photographer, Sonny E, who has seen lots of beaches, more beautiful and less controversial than the one along Roxas Blvd.
If he was tearing his hair as he said so, would Sonny have ripped his shirt as well upon learning that on a single day last Sunday 171,500-plus adults and children flocked to Dolomite Beach? What is dolomite, in the first place?
The dictionary (Chambers) defines it as “a mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate, formed by the replacement of limestone.” We see it as a kind of sand, white or creamy in color, evoking images of Boracay and therefore tourist-worthy, ergo a must-see. Why scold people from Tondo, Malate, and as far away as Bulacan, for their curiosity? The way they flocked to the beach, you’d think Dolomite was our own Ipanema.
It wasn’t until Ramon S. Ang of San Miguel Corp. pointed out the positive uses of dolomite that the “useless, expensive” project began to pick up speed. One year later and now that dolomite proves that the people need it and want it, they who cannot afford to visit Puerto Galera or El Nido, let them enjoy it.
How much did it cost DENR? Whatever its budget and maintenance costs, the highest price was paid by the ground commander assigned to oversee security but who lost his job after Sunday’s exodus, which could very well produce a spike in COVID-19 transmissions. His problem was crowd control. The crowd’s problem was that in their eagerness to spend a day on the beach they forgot about their children’s safety (and used the kids as their excuse to escape the lockdown). Apparently, the police officer was not following the TV news, otherwise he would have seen the daily coverages of the masses enjoying the sun, sea, and sand.
As former Manila mayor Lito Atienza put it, “water is a beautifying element” – nowhere else in Metro Manila will you find a sight as calming and soothing. The big city is a congested city, all brick and mortar, concrete and people, more and more people. When a space as scenic as a new beach comes along, who cares if it’s manmade as long as entrance is free?