Batang Puerto Princesa (BPP) founder Majal Bautista underscored the need to address the power problem in the city.
Speaking during the second anniversary of the popular Facebook community group on Sunday, Bautista said the problem affects individual productivity and has a psychological impact that can slow down the development of the communities where residents belong.
Bautista said there is a need for the local government officials, concerned agencies and other stakeholders to work together to provide a solution to the problem.
“Yong isang usapin na dapat mabigyan ng pansin na sana maging pressure ‘yan, itong usapin ng enerhiya kasi araw-araw sinisira ng kawalan ng ilaw ang buhay ng mga tao, productivity, relasyon sa loob ng tahanan, sa opisina kasi hindi mo puwedeng sabihin na may katapusan ang badtrip mo sa bahay na wala kang tulog, hindi ka maligo, makaplantsa, may psychological impact,” she said.
As BPP celebrated its second anniversary, Bautista noted that their group, which began as a Facebook page is now a platform establishing friendship among its members.
Batang Puerto Princesa started during the time of the mayoral rivalry in 2017, reminding BPP members of the need to stay united even through opposing political sides.
“Ang Puerto Princesa, maganda siyang bayan pero magulo, maraming mga tao dito na gusto nila na yaman ng bayan nasa kamay lang nila, hindi sa kamay ng lahat ng tao. Dyan mo makikita na nag-aaaway-away sila sa kapangyarihan, nagkakagulo sila sa likas-yaman, so maraming beses na naging priority nila yong sarili nilang interes na nasasakripisyo nila yong kapakanan ng bayan, yong identity nya, yong pagkakaibigan,” she said.
From her trending essay in 2017, the establishment of BPP continued to grow and now has 43,000 members online. She stressed that BPP has no single leader and everyone in the group leads.
Bautista said that BPP is now strict with accepting interested members in the group to avoid activities that are not relevant to its content.
Currently, the Facebook group is active in discussing timely issues in the city and province such as the coal power plant, creation of three provinces, and others, for every member to be informed to make sound choices and decisions.
Citing the “anomie theory” that means lack of normal ethical or social standards, Bautista believes that Puerto Princesa is undergoing a process that involves dominant traits clashing and the birth pains of transitioning from an old society to a modern city that is developing continuously.
“Ang Puerto Princesa sa tingin ko nasa proseso ng anomie, may tunggalian pa kung ano ang dominant traits, mula sa isang lumang lipunan na patungo sa isang umaangat at nagiging modernong bayan. ‘Yung mga paniniwala at kagawian ng mga tao di mo masabi pa talaga kung ano talaga ang pangkalahatan at malakas. Kasi andyan yung sobrang luma, yung dating dominant, at yung mga moderno at dayo na kaisipan at kilos. Kaya may putol ang pagkayakap ng indibidwal sa komunidad. Maraming tao ang di maka identify sa nakararami. Kaya hindi makabigay ng sapat na giya ang lipunan sa mga indibidwal na ito. Parang may state of normlessness pa sa Puerto Princesa,” she said.
Bautista added the old and new generations must have a common language which may not necessarily be a dialect.
It could be a vocabulary of respect, care for the environment, regard to the differences and appreciation about similarities, as well as being selfless in prioritizing others before his or her own sake.
“Ang Puerto Princesa kaya siya nagkaka-ganito hindi dahil hindi sya united. Meron lang problema sa meaning. Hindi pa pareho ang meaning ng mga bagay-bagay. Magkaiba ang jargon ng matanda sa bata. Ang quest ngayon ay bumuo ng isang jargon na universal, na ita-transcend nya ang kakulangan ng teknolohiya ng mga matatanda at kakulangan ng appreciation ng history ng bagong tao,” she said.
Unity will be achieved if there is good communication, she said.
The BPP celebration in People’s Amphitheater in Mendoza Park was attended by members of the group. They had a distribution of eyeglasses, free haircut, and different performances.
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