At two o’clock in the morning of Holy Monday, April 10, per agreement, Jojo picked me up from my hotel. We were joining the NBI Team in the raid against blasting powder and blasting caps in a remote island off the Lapulapu City. It was a very tiring taxing operation. Our boat got lost at sea, and what would have taken a 40 minute trip took almost four hours. But the special operation was successful and we arrested several sacks of blasting power and scores of blasting caps.
Since we were running late for our meeting with (Cebu) Governor Gwen Garcia and the commercial fishing boat owners, I asked a friend to pick us up with her speedboat. As I was climbing the bow of the speedboat from the seashore with some difficulty, Jojo joked: “Our knees are a little weaker already, you know.” I laughed and slipped, and fell into the water. My cell phone slipped out of my pocket and also fell into the sea, which Jojo himself promptly picked up. And we both laughed.
We sped to the mainland (about 35 minutes away) and then hopped into his rickety vehicle, and proceeded to the 10:30 meeting. We made it on time, with 5 minutes to spare. All these without any breakfast, without sleep, and without even a shower.
We debated and discussed the issues in the meeting. At lunch, I met with the Governor and her consultant (and brother) together with Jojo to lobby for the grant of the Provincial Government’s radio time. Jojo and I had earlier agreed that we should begin shifting our efforts to public education, through mass communication. The Governor agreed to give us 30 minutes a week, and her brother/aide and Jojo agreed to discuss the details. Jojo would serve as (unpaid) anchor of the radio program.
At about 3 pm, we went separate ways. I was off to Bantayan Island to join my family for the weeklong holiday, and he, off to work. Such, my friends, was the extent of his commitment.
Forty-eight hours later, he was shot in his house.
As we all know, Jojo dedicated his life for the protection of the seas. To those of you who may now know it, according to the UN and other scientific studies, the Visayan Seas is the richest marine waters on Earth. Yet those who do not understand it have been abusing this wealth for so long, perhaps thinking all throughout that this is right. We do not wish to pick a fight with you; we only want you to understand that there is no right nor wrong in what you are doing, there are only consequences. If we abuse our marine wealth today, if we destroy the very source of our food, that consequence will be that nothing will be left for our children to eat? Do we want that?
We only wish that our brothers would understand that we hold the richest marine wealth on earth, and that if we just took care of it, we will never go hungry. To those who do not understand this, let us sit down, let us discuss, let us debate and let us argue -- within the bounds of law. This is the way of a civilized people.
To those of you who took his life, I hope you will be bothered by your conscience and from now on, sleep with your eyes open. The good book says, “Vengeance is mine,” sayeth the Lord. Divine justice and the law of karma will get to you one day.
To those of you who took his life, do you think that you have snuffed out the light out of his candle? No! Instead you have lit a little matchstick that will cause a conflagration in our hearts which will only strengthen our resolve. Hopefully, it will also be the fire that will bring light to every nook and cranny of the minds of our people. In every movement for social change, there is a tipping point where change really begins. The death of Jojo is that tipping point.
Rest assured, Jojo, that we will continue the fight to protect and restore the richest marine waters on Earth. There may be a few of us, a handful of us. But a great social thinker of the 20th century once said that, “Never doubt for a single moment that a handful of thoughtful and committed men and women CAN change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever did.”
Those of you who vow to carry on from where Jojo left off, please stand up. (Each and every one in the Church starts to stand up).
As a token of our gratitude to Jojo for his efforts, his tears and his blood; as a token of our thanks to Evelyn (wife) and Vincent (son) and his family for the support that they have given him; and as a token of our resolve to continue the fight, let the world hear a big, loud, and resounding applause.
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