Speaking in flawless Ilongo, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro wowed Panayanons when he addressed them during this year’s Binirayan Festival. In his message, he thanked them for inviting him to the festival as he also reiterated earlier pronouncements that he will submit himself to the selection process as the administration’s bet for the 2010 presidential elections amid queries of how his plans will take form.
While very much known as a son of Tarlac who speaks the dual language of his province, Ilokano and Kapampangan, Teodoro is rarely heard speaking visayan. Before a crowd at the Malandog Beach, in Hamtic, Antique, site where the 10 Bornean Datus first landed, Teodoro said his piece in their native tongue that surprised many of those present.
Teodoro gamely played “Datu Sumakwel” for this year’s festival by joining the “biray” with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia as his “dayang-dayang.” That meant setting sail on a boat from the port of San Jose, Antique’s capital town to Malandog Beach in Hamtic town in a well decorated boat to re-enact the landing of the 10 Datus in Panay. Datu Sumakwel is the leader of the 10 Malayan Datus who fled from Borneo to escape the rude and tyrant Datu Makatunaw of the Shri-Visayan Empire and found a new home in Panay. Popularly know as the “Legend of the 10 Bornean Datus” but historians refer to as “The Barter of Panay”, the story says, it was here when the leader of the Aetas named Marikudo and his wife Maniwangtiwang gave up the land to the foreigners in exchange of a golden salakot and a golden necklace. It is thus from this legend that the Island of Panay had been dubbed “ the cradle of civilization” as from here on the foundations of governance such as the balangay was formed.
The presence of Secretary Teodoro with Governor Garcia gave rise to speculations that the two will be running mates in 2010. Garcia could only respond in jest when asked if she is Teodoro’s vice president in the coming polls. For his part, Teodoro says Gov Garcia will be a good running mate should such team-up take form.
Garcia was at the Binirayan festival to bring Cebu’s one million donation to the province of Antique as part of the sisterhood pact of the two provinces. The amount was meant to sustain cultural development activities of the province.@ (jmclemente)
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