The Antique Perspective
By Jun Escalona , Antique Bureau Chief

The Leocadio Alonsagay Dioso Public Library

The Leocadio Alonsagay Dioso Public Library in Pandan, Antique is one institution that's apart from all private libraries. It is privately-owned and yet is open to the public, particularly students who want to do some research. It is recognized by the National Library as a public establishment.

We had the opportunity to visit this beautiful establishment to assist students from three northern Antique high schools put up a school paper, thru the auspices of its President. Except for some incidental expenses, we volunteered our services for free, out of our desire to see young people get started on the basics of expressing their ideas in print. Besides, the enthusiasm of the Library president was inspiring. The experience was a novel experience, not new, for we were in this activity for quite a long while, helping government information officers perform their duties during our long term at the Provincial Information Office.

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Going back to the Library, it was the dream and vision by a known diplomat from Pandan to see his people enlightened on the world outside of this large town. Leocadio Alonsagay Dioso was a Consul to Brazil in the early 60s, when the Forniers were the acclaimed leaders of government in Antique.

Before he died, he expressed a desire for a public library that now bears his name. We think that his travels abroad had inspired him to aspire for a better deal for his “ kasimanwas ” via enlightenment. His people could be globally competitive through research and self-study that a modern library can offer. This was realized thru his son, Leocadio Jr. who used his life savings from a stint in a foreign country to put up his father's dream of a modern library for all to use in the pursuit of knowledge.

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The library is a well-built edifice with the amenities of a furnished facility and an internet connection. It is situated a block way from the town's public market. One can read and relax in an atmosphere that suits one's quest for knowledge. We even wondered why local governments have not thought of an institution like this for their constituents. There is no better project that LGUs can set up for its people than a well-stocked library. It is one instrument to conquer ignorance, and diminish poverty in the long haul.

But of course, this library that proclaims its accessibility to the public entails some expenses to operate. For it to be sustainable, it needs some support from its public, or from government. This is where the LGU of Pandan, or perhaps the provincial government, could encourage more of this project to emerge, and that is by giving its support, in footing the payroll of its skeletal staff. We think that this idea is not far-fetched.

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Common Development urged for Panay provinces

How do you develop the island of Panay as one area, without necessarily confronting individual concerns of its provinces? For decades now, this problem has constantly cropped up in some development forum and Congress, as each representative try to outdo each other in obtaining bounty from the national coffers.

With the prodding of the former DTI secretary, however, this problem had finally solved itself, with the creation of the CIAGA Panay rea Development Project.

A memorandum of understanding was approved and signed by all governors of Capiz , Iloilo , Antique, Guimaras and Aklan for the creation of the Panay Area Development Project on August 11, 2004 .

A project management office will be mandated, budgeted and staffed, by the Regional Development Council to coordinate, monitor and evaluate the projects undertaken by lead agencies in the sectors of agriculture, fisheries and tourism, the three concerns considered most crucial to the area.

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Bigger Asian Spirit planes for Antique

The 70-seater Advanced Turbo-Prop (ATP) plane of Asian Spirit took its inaugural flight February 2, 2005 to San Jose 's Evelio B. Javier Airport with Antique Governor Sally Z. Perez and A.S. Executive Vice President Joaquin Po on board . The new acquisition, manufactured by British Aerospace is one of the newest turbo prop planes being used by the airline in support of Antique's tourism industry. Mr. Po believes that Antique has a potential for good airline traffic, reason enough for its acquiring a new aircraft.