“Previously known as the “island of howling winds” because it lies on the typhoon belt, Catanduanes has acquired the name of “Happy Island,” which the Nuncio loves to quote. It is a small island where the Catholic faith is visibly strong. Here, marriages still fail, but you do not hear any wild clamor for absolute divorce.
It has its share of political problems, too. My three-day visit allowed me to talk to people about the wild social media stories about the alleged Chinese “invasion” of Catanduanes that has reportedly reduced the place into a “Chinese enclave within a ‘Chinese-dominated’ Philippines.”
But contrary to this libel originating from Manila, the province has not been invaded by the Chinese. Although Gov. Joseph “Boboy” Cua and his brother Vice Gov. Peter Cua are definitely of Chinese descent, they are genuine Filipinos, seriously committed to the progress of the province. They have long deployed their business resources to the province’s economic progress.
There is no denying that they constitute the ruling political dynasty of the province, but this is a national problem that begins with the Marcos family in Ilocos Norte, the Duterte family in Davao, the Villar family, the Cayetano family and the Ejercito/Estrada family in the Philippine Senate, and replicated everywhere else by other political families. I’d like to believe that I broke the back of the 30-year-old political dynasty in Catanduanes when I entered Bicol politics in 1978, but my stern refusal to put up my own political dynasty and the absence of an enforceable anti-dynasty law encouraged the new dynasty to surface. We need a thoroughly grounded reform, consecrated by law, to end the continuing idiotization of our politics.”
The above opinion piece is an excerpt from the First Things First column of former Senator Francisco S. Tatad in the Manila Times issue of July 1, 2024, with the title “Rediscovering Catanduanes.”
It should be duly noted by every Catandunganon, Filipino or with Chinese blood and whether here or elsewhere, that the beloved son of Gigmoto is most likely the first eminent public figure in the country to debunk the “Chinese invasion” political propaganda circulating on social media.
Every Happy Islander who knows how the province has gotten this far in terms of economic development, and not just the Cuas and the rest of the Filipino-Chinese community, owes a debt of gratitude to Tatad for giving clarity to the issue and discrediting the libelous drivel that even described the Tribune as Chinese-owned.
While it can be proven that the current publisher has Chinese blood, his mother having descended from a Fujian native who married a local woman, the entire Gianan family consider themselves 100% Filipino.
Sure, there had been an offer in the past to buy this 43-year-old community newspaper but the publisher politely rejected the offer out of respect for its loyal readers and the man who founded it in 1967, Fredeswindo Tomagan Gianan, Sr.
With certain pride, we consider Mr. Tatad one of those who contributed to this paper’s history, having served as a columnist of the founder during the early years.
As he is a highly respected political pundit on the nation’s affairs, it is hoped that Tatad’s brief but substantial comment on the “Chinese invasion” issue would put to rest the unfounded fears of those who may have been swayed by its gutless authors and promoters.