Learning about ourselves from Dr. Resil Mojares

Cebuanos are quite blessed, especially the teachers and students. Town histories are available for reading, and learning about the localities and there is a volume on Cebu City and another on Cebu Province. The past week’s celebrations was reason to take a look at the materials.

The books open with message from Vice Gov. Agnes Almendras-Magpale, Chairperson of the Cebu History Committee, asserts that the “present generation’s obligation is to carry on what their ancestors had done.” She declares that the books are dedicated to every Cebuano, especially the students.

Gov. Hilario P. Davide III had this to say: “Ang atong kasaysayan mao’y atong garbo ug ang atong garbo mao’y atong gahum pagsulat sa atong kasaysayan.”

So as we celebrate our province for having developed over the years and displayed its capacity for sustainability, let me share quotes from the book written by Dr. Resil Mojares who wrote about the province of Cebu in the first chapter wherein the geography of Cebu is discussed. He describes the interaction between the people and the land. He states the limitations of the land: It has less rainfall, at times experiences water shortage. It has erosion problems which result in lessened soil fertility. One result of these is “a historical orientation toward corn as the chief subsistence crop rather than rice as in most parts of the country. While the cultural preference for corn is not as it was in the past, it nevertheless remains one of the defining aspects of local culture.”

A very significant feature of Cebu is explained by its geography: “Its central maritime location favored its growth as the largest commercial and service center of Southern Philippines.”

Mojares also reminds us that “geology endows the province with rich natural resources, like coal, gold, copper, silver, lead, and oil. Cebu has the largest deposits of coal in the Phiippines, with combined proven reserve representing approximately 25 percent of the country’s total reserve. The province also hosts a copper mining operation in the city of Toledo that, at its height, was the largest copper producer in the Philippines.” This reality is quite a challenge for the environmentalist.

Another environmentalist challenge is the reality refered to in by the book: “Visayan Sea one of the richest most biodiverse marine regions in the world” is considered as one of the nautral assets of the province. He continues saying, “While these resources have been severely degraded, increased environmental awareness over recent decades has led to efforts to mitigate this problem and preserve the patrimony of a sea that been called ‘the center of the center of marine biodiversity.’”

In the afterword of the book, Mojares discusses how the people positively adapted to the limitations because of the features of their land through alternatives to agriculture, resulting in the rise of manufacturing and service sectors “and products such as industrial and consumer goods.” He proceeds with the observation that Cebuanos tend to value “autonomy, enterprise, adaptability, mobilty and outward-orientedness.”

In this summary and ending, Mojares explains the relative stability and absence of extreme changes in Cebu. He explains, “A highly diversified economy, fragmented landholdings, and low incidence of landlordism have militated against against mass movements.” Besides, he adds, Cebuanos can be like traders, highly pragmatic.

These quotations show that the history books, especially Dr. Resil Mojares’ has a great deal to provide the young who decide to respond to the gift and challenge of Gov. Hilario P. Davide III and Vice Gov. Agnes Almendras-Magpale.