BY now, everyone is probably engrossed with the stories, gossips and everything else in between on the death of Albuera, Leyte, Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. in his detention cell.
You could argue that his death was related to illegal drugs. But you could never argue the fact that he belongs to a long list of political personalities in the country whose lives were cut short one way or another.
There are a lot of individuals out there who ended up dead all in the name of politics, and that often-used reason of love of country.
Funny thing is that I was recently in La Union, and someone there told me that in their province, a politician has a higher probability of going 6 feet under, as compared to those who are using or peddling illegal drugs.
I really do not know if that was the truth. Maybe it was just half-truth. Maybe it was just an urban legend. Maybe I am just gullible enough to believe everything told to me. In fact, I would really be glad if someone out there can tell me the history of politics in that province.
But what I do appreciate, from what I have been told, is the fact that the province has very minimal number of drug users and pushers. It just goes to show that there are still places that can progress without bringing with them the ugly side of it.
Going through some parts of La Union, I could see the vibrancy all around. You do not need to ask if a certain fast-food restaurant is present or if a mall or supermarket chain is present. They are all there.
And a good bet for the reason behind the progress of the province and how it managed to keep itself relatively clean of illegal drugs is tourism.
You see, for Metro Manila dwellers, La Union is just one bus ride away. In five hours, you are basically in the heart of the province. And right now, beyond its history and culture, La Union is now one of the country’s premier surfing destinations.
A lot of us are becoming health conscious right now. If you want evidence of that, you only have to look at all those fun runs that are being staged weekly around the city.
We are also now watching what we eat. Yes, there are buffets all around but I see people who now look at the nutritional facts on the labels of the food they eat. That is something really amazing.
Progress and development aside, it is all of these things that what makes La Union such a viable destination today—the beach, fresh air, food and the overall vibe of the surfing lifestyle. And it is not even tough on the pocket at all.
Businessman and surfing enthusiast Joey Cuerdo saw how La Union and Urbiztondo, in particular, evolve over the years.
You see, he was surfing in La Union long before it became what it is today. He told me that back in 1999, there were only four resorts in the area and plenty of empty lots.
Today Urbiztondo has 35 resorts, and scarily starting to show signs of turning into something similarly crazy as Boracay today if its development remains uncontrolled.
It is a fact that Department of Tourism Region 1 Director Martin S. Valera is very much aware. He said the areas around the Urbiztondo beachfront are becoming congested and, that with everything becoming consumer-driven, the place might end up like Boracay in five years.
The good news is that people from La Union care, and they do not want to lose one of their biggest assets as a province. To them, it starts with basically taking care of the shoreline and making sure the environment remains pristine.
I was at the La Union Surfing Break and I just loved the atmosphere there, and I just hope the province can keep it that way. Never mind that the country’s two mobile companies were there trying to outdo each other during the event.
The beach area turned into a lovefest. Maybe that is what John Lennon imagined. Everyone was a friend to everyone. I could walk around and talk to anyone, and they would welcome me with open arms.
I was at a restaurant there, and suddenly the lovely couple of American Michael Chambers and his Filipina wife Lyn, without any prodding, invited me to their table.
They were in La Union not just because of the surfing break but because, with Lyn hailing from La Union, the couple regularly holds community outreach project in the province courtesy of their Nurses Touch Foundation.
The couple has a nursing business in Los Angeles but for three months every year, together with volunteers from the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, they provide medical and dental assistance and a food-feeding program in the province.
Moreover, before the school year started in June, Michael told me they also started providing school supplies to some of the grade-school students.
At the beach, I also met Rwandan Rene Ishimwe and Schadrack Niyonkuru, who, just like me really, do not know how to surf but are enjoying the beach and all things happening at that time.
The two have been in the country for more than four years, and are set to graduate with degrees in marketing and pharmacy, respectively. To them, the Philippines is their second home and would love to stay in the country long term.
Nothing really compares to the beach and surfing. Just like what Joey said, by surfing, a laid-back approach to life is introduced, everything slows down, and you begin to understand the value of patience. Those are really good things to have these days.
Oh, and before I forget, I also met at the beach artist Reese Ricaborda, who was offering free hugs to everyone at that time. I will never forget her smile. I will be back in La Union soon, and maybe I can still ask her for a free hug then.
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