If you know you are right, fight for it! A Baguio City Market Example.

I recently came across a friend who had a story to tell. It was a long story and the details she shared are full of twists and turns. After learning of what happened and the steps they did, they got what they deserve. This story will remind us that if you stand for what is right, you will never lose.  

Below is the story:
    The Baguio sari-sari section market was struck by fire on April 11, 2008 at dawn time. Only half portion of the sari-sari burned and that was the area facing the Magsaysay road.
The leaseholders then had to go on with their business thus they had to make temporary restorations after a week.  They had to make use of the small area using sako (Rice bag ) that was given to them to make a living.  After months of waiting, the city government expressed their side that they will restore the market together with the vegetable section that was also burned down last summer of 2009.
      Everybody was happy because finally, after 13 months (April 11,2008 to July 27,2009)of waiting for the sari-sari section, they will now start to restore it.
    The first clamor that time was for the old/original leaseholders to go back to their original places prior to fire.   Mr. G  , the sari sari section leader  appointed  Ms. G  (daughter of a leaseholder) to represent the leaseholders  without even informing the group but then everybody was silent about it.
    When the city government , through the citizens forum held during the city council session on Oct. 26, 2009, gave an approval, everybody was happy.  When the Vice mayor asked if they  have stall assignments, Ms. G brought out a piece of bond paper from her bag and presented it to the council.  The group were asking each other if they had knowledge of that paper presented and they said none.
    One City Councilor even mentioned that "actually, this is the first time I was handed a copy of this stall assignments, that they have stalls already" as we read it in the minutes of the meeting. so when the presiding officer – Vice Mayor said, “okey let them sign already if walang conflict” and he assigned the market superintendent Mr. Tamayo to finalize the stall assignments.
    After the session, A leaseholder named Ms. J was able to read a copy of the said stall assignments and was shocked because it was not the original places prior to fire which was just been approved by the council.  SWITCHING  of stalls was done and she was affected.  Having a question regarding that paper, . she went to Mr. Tamayo and told him about it and so with the others who had questions with that proposal He instructed them to go to his office first thing in the morning.  Ms. J and those who were affected by the switching explained their sides and he too knows that upon reading it, switching was done.  What they did was to make new stall assignments basing it on the original places prior to the fire. In effect, “kung sino and katabi mo noon, siya din katabi mo ngayon sa new building.” That was the majority agreement.
    
Everybody was listening and cooperating and Ms. G even helped when Mr. Tamayo was positioning the names in a cartolina with numbers on it basing it in the new structure.
    However, when Mrs. G,  mother of Ms. G  arrived, she wanted  to be transferred to the stall across(stall #13) from the stall that was previously favored to her (stall #14). Mr. Tamayo didn't agree since in the first place, they should be in stall #17 and not #14. Mr. Tamayo said, BINIGAY KO NA NGA ITO (POINTING TO HIS WRIST) AT GUSTO MO NAMAN EH HANGANG DITO (POINTING TO HIS WHOLE ARM).  Ms. G cried and said, sorry.  After everything was done  , Mr. Tamayo instructed his secretary to type the names and have them sign beside it in front of him to assure that they agree with what was given to them. Everybody who was present lined up to sign and majority already signed when Councilor S and Mrs. M, the city treasurer arrived. They were questioning  Mr. Tamayo why he allowed to make a new proposal since the proposal of the “G’s”was already approved by the honorable in the city council. Mr. Tamayo defended his side but he can't compete with the 2 city officials so he kept quite. Councilor S then instructed him to follow the “G’s” proposal. Everybody was murmuring and asking each other if they could appeal and explain their side why they had to make a new proposal but councilor S did not give any of them a chance to explain.
    They then went back to Their temporary stalls and were asking each other if they can do something so that councilor S. will be able to listen their side. Some of them formed a group and decided to seek the advice of a media man Mr. P.L. He assisted them in making the letter addressed to councilor S and had the same received at the offices of the councilors, vice mayor, mayor and sangguniang panglungsod on October 28,2009. Time was so important so they went back again the next day to follow up the letter and luck was with them that day because there is a special session for garbage problem on Oct .30 and councilor C, R and A told them to  attend so that they will have Vice mayor listen to their plight.  they waited until it was their time to speak and so councilor C presented the problem to the council. The Vice Mayor was angry there was a misrepresentation of data and said “have this be investigated, baka akala nila may favoritism dito.”  The group of 5 women were very happy because the city council approved the proposal that Mr. Tamayo
     We told the others and they were happy with the result but the next working day, Ms G appealed to city hall insisting that her proposal be followed since it was the first one that was approved.  Councilor S and City Treasurer Mrs. M said they will follow Ms. G’s proposal since it is still under the Market Authority headed by councilor S.  The resolution #450 and #450b is yet to be signed by the mayor who is always out of the country. When the group found out what Ms. G did, They asked the advice of the councilors and they were given another chance to be heard in a council session scheduled on NOv. 16,2009.  They specifically approved the proposal that was done by Mr. Tamayo with the group and councilor R said that she wants the names of the stall owners be embodied in the resolution and not just an attachment. The Vice Mayor said, "motion as clarified is considered approved as presented".

Watch the session that was posted in  you tube "sari-sari proper baguio city council nov 16"

When Mr G, the section chief, visited the market in the afternoon of oct 24, he said that it is Ms G’s proposal that will be followed then councilor S came to new market building at around  6:oopm  telling those who were constructing their stores if they are sure of that stall since it is proposal  A (Ms. G’s) that will be followed.
    The next day, they were told that they will follow the proposal of Ms. G because all the resolutions passéd by the city council were vetoed by the Honorable Mayor and a memorandum was made addressed to the city treasurer. Ms J , told herself  to fight for the last time so Ms J and her sister went to city hall seeking for answer and thanks to councilor R, they were able to talk to Atty P, the city secretary, after  all the political squabbles, they were granted their original places.

The story above shows that if you are right and you fight for it, at the end of the day, victory will be yours.


Photo By: Carl Carino Taawan
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