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May-June 1998  March-April 1998  February 1998  1997

 

Mrs. Gloria Angara
c/o The Cultural Center of the Philippines
Manila

Dear Mrs. Angara:

Your husband, the former Senator Ed Angara, enjoyed a large number of votes here in Iligan and Marawi Cities because many know of his capability, integrity, and intelligence. I, for one, including my friends who worked in his office, campaigned hard for him. We were then sure that even if he had lost, somehow, someday, he would be elected again.

Now we are having second thoughts about campaigning for him again. No thanks to your actuation of course. That international incident at the CCP last Monday when even National Artist Lucresia Kasilag, members of the diplomatic corps, and CCP President Baltazar Endriga  were barred entrance carried much mileage in media here. 

If you can act this way even if husband Ed is no longer an elected official, we dread to think of how you will act if he would be President.

We met personally for the first time last May 24 before the flag ceremony at the CCP grounds. We were invited to perform for this occasion. While we already knew of the situation at the CCP, we were unaware that you were capable of barring Mr. Endriga and the CCP workers outside. The act was despicable because of the potential violence that your guards exhibited through their hostile dispositions. Your guards looked like they were guarding a fort that kept tons of gold bullion. But in this cultural institution, your act was barbaric.

The earlier May 24 incident showed to our young impressionable performers the type of leadership you carry. Imagine the stories they tell when they arrived here in Iligan. Multiply these impressions narrated to more people and relatives and imagine how this can affect the image of your husband. Even now, people have begun to wonder how you would act should your husband be elected to a higher office. 

Be kind to Ed Angara. Please step out of CCP. If not for him, be kind to the whole artistic and cultural community. We in Iligan are unanimous in our convictions that our artists and artistic community do not need a despot.

Yours truly,
 
 

STEVEN P.C. FERNANDEZ
Founder, Iligan Arts Council 
and Artistic Director, Integrated Performing Arts Guild

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