I Have A Dream (Part 1)

Martin Luther King

By Taga Ibaan Ako

“I have a dream…..”

This is how Martin Luther King started his enigmatic speech in one of the rallies he led as part of one of the most remarkable revolutions ever made in USA. All he ever wanted was for America to afford his fellow Black American equal treatment and recognition from all forms and sectors of the society. His brothers were able to grow that in their backyard. But only after he was assassinated and shot dead while standing at the balcony of a hotel.

I, myself, an Ibaeno, also have a dream. I’ve been living with it since I learned reading the word “IBAAN”. But my dream does not need either bullet or any blood to fuel what I envision for Ibaan. All it takes is a hefty load of political will of the local government and a dome-like bowl of cooperation from Ibaenos. Lightning may strike me in the middle of the street, but hopefully, crossing my fingers, I won’t be called a freak in losing streak for this. Anyway, quoting Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, although not in a very literal way, I’ve almost gotten used to “having death threats for breakfast” since I started Taga Ibaan Ako.

Well, so much for the adieu. I think it’s time to go dreaming. At any given time of the day, I wish to have people dreaming for the same dream that’s been keeping me awake in the last 15 years.

Simple and serene Ibaan (Photo by Reynaldo Bago)

Photographs And Memories

Almost a year after I started keeping the nights wide awake until break of dawn creating Taga Ibaan Ako, I’ve come across number of photos portraying Ibaan decades ago. Moving around Ibaan, some people who know me to be the man behind the account even opened their long forgotten albums to share with me how Ibaan looked like before. I’ve been hearing stories of old Ibaan, but I have to say “Thank you” to Mang Mael Patena for giving me the first glance of it.

Then there’s this album that was tagged to me by Mr. Reynaldo Bago, a true bloodied Ibaeno currently residing somewhere in Zamboanga. I’m bound to thank Mang Rey for that as well. One way or another, our followers, much more of the young ones, were afforded to go aboard a time machine back in those days.

Old Ibaan Municipal Hall.

The album consisted of images of Ibaan back in the early 1960. The shots were taken from “kampanaryo” of Saint James The Greater Parish, revealing Ibaan’s simplicity and serenity with highly visible Spanish influence fused with American architecture.  They were in black and white. And I could clearly imagine what it’s like of Ibaan at night and in day time.

Decades have passed. Photos are now in full color and can still be edited. There’s so much complexity in every way we try to be today, not to mention the decades to come. And Ibaan’s way of life is not an exception. It has moved from one phase to another as we all strive to create a community that is acceptable to everyone. In a way, yes, some of our traditions have vanished. But a hundred more remain. However, there are times when we need to go around it, have them in a box,   and make drastic changes.

Change is inevitable. It could break someone’s heart. But there’s always a room for a dream to recreate and reconstruct Ibaan in a way that will benefit its people. Ibaan has been left behind by other nearby municipalities. This has been a long standing issue that divide us every three years of our lives. That should not be the case. We can do better than that.  And just like those photos we’ve mentioned, it’s about time that we give and add more life to Ibaan.

The Dream

I actually have three dreams for Ibaan. Let me call them this way: (1) “down town grooming”, (2) “the great move”, and (3) “countryside slide”. How will they go? What the heck are those things? Let me tell you a story.

Ibaan's version of "rush hour".

Down Town Grooming

Directly, I have to say this, down town Ibaan needs a facelift. It may not be a necessity as I think of it, but there’s a great possibility for this. What can be done then?

Three things. A centralized parking area, a building for standard business stalls and a local government hospital. Ambitious? Granted.

Ibaan got two basketball courts; Medrano Plaza and Recto Gym. Medrano Plaza has served its purpose already for Ibaan. The Plaza, if I may say, and if only if its human, is one of those living proof of Ibaan history having seen major political gatherings and having heard the words of both political greats and political fools. It’s a landmark already. And the Plaza will have to remain at the center. What I envisage to put into more productive use is Recto Gym. And it can be Ibaan’s central parking area or central transportation station.

Possible site for Ibaan's central transportation station.

Too small? Again, reconstruction is imperative.

Ever heard about “fly and drive”? Maybe we can have the same thing in our town. A three-storey building can be built replacing Recto Gym for that purpose. The building can house official terminals for jeepneys, vans and tricycles. Although Ibaan’s busiest hours stands only at roughly five (5) hours a day –that’s 6:00am to 8:00am and 4:00pm to 7:00pm, the main street go crowded with people in a hurry and mass transport vehicles parked anywhere they may please.

Comparably, ibaan’s traffic volume is too small than those in Batangas City, Lipa City, or at least in the Municipality of Rosario for this kind of structure and system. However, instead of playing cat and mouse across the street just to catch a ride and having thoroughfares around Ibaan clogged with parked PUVs,  wouldn’t it be nice to come to a place where all routes going in and out of ibaan is housed under one roof?

A Supreme and a clogged street in late afternoon.

What about the building? The building is at its best with the ground floor as a “drive-thru” for PUVs traversing Batangas – Ibaan – Rosario – Lucena route (that includes Supreme). It shall be the loading and unloading point of all passengers. Sangguniang Bayan can pass an ordinance making it mandatory. Disembarking from a PUV, if passengers still have to go somewhere else, tricycles, vans and other mode of transportation are waiting either at second floor or third floor.

On the other hand, expectedly, with passengers flocking at one place, there is business opportunity. This is one part that small scale business minded Ibaenos can take advantage of. Along sides of the building, either at the ground floor or second floor including third floor, wherever it may prove to be safe and economical for both passengers and businessmen, a line of stalls can be built. They may operate only during certain period of business hours or for as long as they want remain “open”, 24/7.

Vans may have their permanent
terminal at the central station.

One way or another, the presence of business stalls at the station will generate income and employment. No matter how big or small they are, there stands a chance for our fellow Ibaenos to participate in the local economic activity.

Another option. In case and assuming that the ground and second floor are enough to accommodate PUVs, passengers and business stalls, the third floor of the building may be customized in different way. Perhaps we can have a Conference Hall overseeing a big part of Ibaan is appropriate. This could be a selling point for Ibaan’s capability to host regional conferences and gatherings from both public and private sectors. Even Ibaenos’ social gathering in need of a reception or venues, the place is a good catch. Participants and visiting won’t have to worry that much with parking space already in place.

Jeepneys and bus liners may be
required to "drive-thru" the
central station.

Of course, hardly there’s anything in this world that is for free. The central station is foreseen as an income generating venture for the local government. And again, through an ordinance, all PUVs that will utilize the station will have to pay for it, including those in “drive-thru” section. A driver pays a “barker”, maybe they can do the same thing for the station? Anyway, barker might not be needed in the station. Just a thought, though.

(More of this in Part 2. I need to sleep for now, it’s 4:00am already.)