By: Joe Sprite

The first of the “r” month is here. While we in the Philippines are still in the middle of the rainy season the northern hemisphere will mark the end of summer. Any typhoon at this time will pass the vicinity of Bohol unless some atmospheric disturbance will steer the storm somewhere else. There were years when strong winds battered the province. First the fiesta of Guindulman was allowed to pass before the destruction came. Hopefully the winds will spare Bohol this year but not the rains. We need the rains yet.

Three towns will celebrate fiestas this month. Guindulman will observe their festivity the second Saturday followed by Dimiao on the 10th. Jagna, as usual will throw a bash at the ending of the month. It is but coincidental that those towns near Jagna will celebrate their feasts in the same month. It may be that Guindulman and Dimiao were once part of the original Jagna parish. It may be true for the first but not for the second town. By the looks, the Dimiao church is just as old as the church of St. Michael of Jagna.

Jagna is really preparing for a big bash. Historical research shows that the town was created 375 years ago and that was on September on the feast of St. Michael the Archangel . While there are those who contend that the place was proclaimed a parish and not as a town, therefore the foundation day would be at some date else not when it was proclaimed a parish. The former is political and the latter is religious. However, historians argue that during the colonization, the established parish was also a pueblo or a town aside from being a parish. The priest is also the civil as well as the religious authority. It was only in the last days of the Spanish regime when a civil government was allowed with natives as mayors then called presidentes and later alcaldes. Jagna therefore was founded as a parish and at the same time municipality on that September 375 years ago. For lack of better argument, the claim is considered right.

The Jagna celebrations for this year promises to be big. First of all, a portion of the old BIT was made into a building for the Jagna Culture and the Arts Council. It is not clear whether the JCAC is there for keeps or it will lose its importance after the 375th anniversary and hence disbanded and the building will be given to other departments. Or it may continue to function to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the town. It might double as a town museum as well as library. Meanwhile, the roofing of the so-called Jagna sports center alias Don Carlos Gymnasium is continued. It may soon cover the whole area sheltering those attending functions inside from the elements. Presentations or long running activities may be held there without fear of rains or whatever. Aside from that the Jagna plaza was reclaimed and rehabilitated. Stories ran that Pancho Construction was allowed to use the plaza as a materials depot on condition that the contractor would rebuild the plaza after use. If that is true, Jagna got a good deal.

From reliable sources, the construction of the second story of the Jagna Public Market will be continued. This will give the local opposition time to resurrect the question of structural defect in the construction. Well and good, at least democracy is working here. However, the burden of the proof is with the accuser and not with the accused. An earthquake of intensity 8 on the Richter scale will topple the whole thing down, they claim. Or a cockroach will just sneeze. Any Juan, Pedro and Pablo can make the accusation particularly if he can hide behind the cloak of anonymity but it will take a Structural Engineer to prove it. in court or in the Ombudsman for that matter. Where the mayor got the money for those projects is a wonder. We hope he will not be accused of dipping his hands into the municipal coffers, there is no money that big here, It must be from somewhere else. There is money for the celebrations and launching of the commemorative book otherwise they would not be attempted. Mayor Eksam Lloren must have good sources.