FOR a couple of years now, I have been writing a weekly column called “View from Calumpang” for OpinYon Laguna, OpinYon Tacloban, OpinYon Subic-Clark and OpinYon Batangas, which is also carried online by the OpinYon website and digital.
Although the column's name reminds one of that landmark bend on the road where, driving from Manila, one turns right to Lucena City in that rustic Tayabas barrio called Calumpang, that column now discusses national issues and not limited only to Calabarzon.
And so, with the revival of OpinYon Quezonin this year 2026, I opted to rename my column here to “SAMLANG.”
Those not from Quezon, Laguna, Batangas and nearby towns who do not know what the word means, well, you may look for that iconic Lucena radio announcer named Jun Mendeja and ask him.
Trouble is, good luck if you can find him.
—o0o—
There was a lively discussion in the Serbisyo Mismo radio program of our friends Gemi Formaran and Russel Roales (pitching in for Ace Fernandez) about the serious need by the city of Lucena to have its own hospital.
Gemi pointed out that more than 60 percent of the patients in the provincial hospital of Quezon are from Lucena. We all know that hospitals nationwide have limited capacity, especially when the outbreak of diseases reaches pandemic levels.
In the mad rush to get a bed in hospitals, some patients resort to soliciting help from politicians and influential people. This is a problem for all Filipinos---although the rich among us seldom encounter this, while the poor always fall victim to the centuries-old curse of poverty.
Did you know that during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, a billionaire tycoon could not get any private or public hospital to accommodate a patient? This poor billionaire had to ask for assistance from Ramon S. Ang, who seemed to have some influence.
So, even rich people are sometimes troubled with medical emergencies.
Back to Quezon, Gemi Formaran said he was there and he heard the conversation when Quezon Gov. Doktora Helen Tan asked the Alcalas of Luce if they had any plans to establish a city hospital. The reply was made by the Vice Mayor, and it was as fuzzy as "we'll think about it."
Meanwhile, the city is enjoying some sort of a health free lunch from the services of the Quezon Provincial Medical Center.
Gemi noted, and we agree, that this situation negatively impacts on poor patients from Catanauan, San Andres, San Narciso and other far-flung places who had to travel for hours all the way to Lucena City, only to find fewer beds available for them.
Another case of rich towns and cities pushing poorer municipalities to the margins.
--o0o--
Cavite has its Kiko Barzaga, one of the first members of the House of Representatives who defied the powers-that-be in that chamber. Barzaga had the temerity to unveil the extent of corruption in the House under Martin Romualdez, that extends even now under Bojie Dy.
Batangas has its Leandro Leviste, another congressman who cannot stomach the cesspool of a House teeming with crocodiles. Both Leviste and Barzaga are young lawmakers from the Tagalog region.
How about Quezon, Laguna and Rizal--to complete the provinces that first rose against the tyranny of Spain? Is the heroic spirit, the legacies of Hermano Pule, Macario Sakay and Teodoro Asedillo already gone in Calabarzon?
Samlang is just asking.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews #Samlang