January 9, 1986
Letter to the Editor, The Daily Inquirer

A couple of geographical inaccuracies spoiled my enjoyment of Mr. Abe Licayen’s story about Ferdinand J. Marcos, a transplanted Mindoro of Ilocano parentage who won’t vote for his namesake, the President (Inquirer, Jan. 8).

While I can’t fault a Cebuano newsman for ignorance about Luzon’s geography, I would expect a Manila editor to know that there is a "Naujan" but not a "Nauhan" in Oriental Mindoro. And I would expect the Inquirer’s Ilocano publisher to know that there is no such town as "Bascarra" in Ilocos Sur, but there is a "Bacarra" in Ilocos Norte.

I think Mr. Licayen missed another good story when he did not get the name of Ferdinand J. Marcos’ uncle, the mayor of Naujan, who, despite Ninoy’s help in a successful election protest, remains steadfastly loyal to the president.

The "ungrateful" mayor is Manuel R. Marcos. Understandably, Mayor Marcos had boasted about his kinship (real or imagined) with the President that if he came out for Mrs. Corazon Aquino, I don’t think anyone would believe him.
 

DONALD VILLABLANCA