Anything Under the Sun
Guimaras -the Emerald Isle -6
On its people -- The people of Guimaras are from Panay seeking greener pastures after Panay became overcrowded around a hundred years ago. This explains why most surnames in southern Guimaras were those of southern towns of Iloilo like Guimbal, Igbaras, Tubungan and Tigbauan. And- those in northern Guimaras are from those of northern towns in Iloilo like Dumangas, Barotac Nuevo, Anilao and Banate.
But before these migrations, Guimaras was considered a waste land. That is why it is called originally as Himara-os from himud-os, meaning one has to work hard to eke a living from the island's bossom. When the Chinese came they called it Himal-os due to phonetic difficulty. When the Spaniards came they called it Guimaras.
These migrants from Panay and their present ancestors made what Guimaras is today. They are strong, sturdy and industrious people, very much determined to make the province a very prosperous one.
But here comes the oil spill which affects not only their daily activities as mentioned earler, but above all, their health.
Fumes from bunker oil can cause pulmonary and respiratory diseases, stomach aches and skin diseases. It can also cause long-term damage to brain, lungs and liver which may develop into cancer. Not only people at the shores can be affected by these toxic fumes which may be carried by winds into the interior thus people there, too.
The situation is the concern of all Filipinos.
Lastly, many fear and with valid reasons that if the oil spill may last for a longer time good people of Guimaras will agonize. They fear that the progress of Guimaras would set back not only decades but perhaps, a hundred years going back to the time when it is still called Himara-os when people would gain toil hard to earn a living. God forbid it!!!
Indeed, the situation is really very grave to cause Gov. Nava to shed tears in public and to merit two visits of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The situation should not be the concern of west Visayans only but of us all Filipinos, for it will really affect all of us in one way or the another.
God bless Guimaras -- the Emerald Isle!