HOTSPOT
This week, I had the opportunity to visit Bacacay, a small town in Albay.
The town’s patroness is St. Rose of Lima, formerly the principal co-patroness of the Philippines alongside St. Prudentiana until 1942, when Pope Paul XII declared the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Immaculate Conception as new principal patroness of the country.
This humble place has produced over a hundred priests, including a bishop — a record unrivalled in the country.
Bacacay native Lucilo Quiambao was ordained auxiliary bishop of Legazpi in 1982, and served in that capacity until 2009.
The people of Bacacay who love their priests and who love to offer their sons to the priesthood have also elected a priest to their municipal council in 2022.
Rev. Emmanuel C. Alparce, or Fr. Noli, has since become Honorable Councilor of Bacacay.
Fr. Noli did not go straight from high school to seminary, but studied sociology at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños. He joined the UPLB Sociology Society, the same organization I would join years later.
Of course, I did not miss the chance to meet my Sociosoc brod Fr. Noli.
While his bishop suspended him from the priestly ministry in 2022, it is really difficult or perhaps impossible for Fr. Noli to abandon his faith. He talked about being a public servant as a new expression of his unflagging faith.
The Bacacay Community College, under the auspices of the municipal council and government, is a major personal achievement for him. It’s opening had been delayed for years, but he focused on it until it was finally inaugurated in 2024.
It is the first and only public tertiary college in Bacacay, which is obviously something that people there appreciate, especially the many young people who applied for admission.
Fr. Noli and others like him give us some extra dose of hope that non-traditional and progressive politicians can win and be good leaders. The challenge now is to keep them there, reelect them, and to promote them to higher office.
While I was in Bacacay, I also fondly remembered Crispin Beltran, one of the finest and most prominent sons of Bacacay. Known to many as Ka Bel, he became chair of the Kilusang Mayo Uno and later Member of Congress representing Bayan Muna (2001-2003) and Anakpawis (2004-2008).
When he was already a congressman, he would happily visit the Bayan office for press conferences and leaders’ meetings, and would not miss an opportunity to speak at Bayan events. Often, he would arrive wearing a Barong Tagalog, the required attire at the Batasan. But he would take it off and change to a t-shirt or polo shirt as soon as he arrives at the Bayan office or at Bayan events.
In a widely reported episode of his storied life, Ka Bel had his electricity supply cut after refusing to pay his bills in protest of the controversial Purchased Power Adjustment charges. When the Meralco staff arrived at his home to cut his service, they were surprised to see Ka Bel open the door. He told them he won’t stop them from doing their job, but only requested time to iron his clothes for Congress. It was a humble request they couldn’t refuse.
Months later, Ka Bel and the POWER Alliance won in court, and had Meralco ordered to make billions in refunds.
Ka Bel died in 2008, while still serving as congressman. He passed away after falling from the roof of his house which he had been repairing. Tributes poured when news of his death spread across the country.
Flower vendors in Dangwa, taxi drivers, all labor centers, labor secretaries, and the House of Representatives paused to honor him – the Grand Old Man of Labor and incorruptible Member of Congress.
I wish Bacacay would have a monument for Ka Bel. A small town can pursue big dreams and produce great leaders too.