Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap Disrespects Blood Compact Commemoration by Carrying Around Her Mobile Phone

Thursday March 16th, 2023 marks the 458th year of the blood compact made between the natives of Bohol and Miguel de Legazpi.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/493629/458th-year-of-the-blood-compact-remembering-friendship-and-unity

Boholanos on Thursday, March 16, 2023, commemorated the 458th year of the blood compact, which marked the celebration of friendship and unity between the natives led by Datu Sikatuna and the Spaniards led by General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.

Mayor Jane Yap said that the commemoration of the historic event “is a timely reminder for us that friendship and unity can be forged despite differences in languages, race and religion.”

“The blood compact monument is a testament of this alliance, and forms part of our heritage and character as Boholanos,” Yap said in her message.

“We are doing this every year to ensure that many generations that will come after us will also experience the pride and happiness that comes with being Boholanos, whose ancestors were trailblazers in forging the first international treaty of friendship,” Yap said in a program that was held at the city’s Friendship Park late on Thursday afternoon.

The gathering was also held to mark the official start of the Saulog sa Tagbilaran 2023 celebration.

Ahead of the program, a wreath laying ceremony was held at the Blood Compact Shrine in Barangay Bool.

That sounds like a rather big deal. It sounds very important. So why is the mayor walking around clutching her cell phone like she's expecting a call any minute? 

Even in the the group photo she cannot put it down!

Now. you might say, "It's just a phone, who cares?" Well, it's these little details that matter all the more. Look how she dolled herself up in a terno pantsuit to look her best. She knows image matters that the mayor of all people cannot show up to an important ceremony as if it's any ordinary day. So why grip onto that phone? Is there no one who could be trusted to hold it? Are there no pockets in her pants? If someone  had called or texted during the ceremony would she have been so brazen as to respond?

I haven't seen anyone else call out Mayor Jane Yap yet but I am. How could I not?  It's not hard to miss. Her cell phone stands out like a sore thumb.