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THE CABADBARAN CITY TIME CAPSULE, FINALLY LAID TO REST

July 28, 2012, 6:30 o clock in the morning. The sun has just shimmered but the
motorcade of Cabadbaran City Mayor Dale B. Corvera was already raring to go from its
rendezvouz at the Rizal Park. Many events were scheduled for that day in line with the Citys
5
th
Charter Day Celebration but this one event has to take priority at least for the next 2
hours or so.
Together with the mayor was the former Senator Migz Zubiri, the City Councilors and
other City Officials, Barangay Officials, City Hall employees, students and many officials in the
academe. The motorcade was to be the grand entrance, or perhaps finale, of the most
important object of the day the Citys 100-year Time Capsule. For the next few minutes, it
will traverse the City to give everyone a last glimpse before it will be sent-off to a journey in
time, to its final destiny where no one was or will be certain.
Embellished with adornment, the Time Capsule was reclining atop the white Hilux
pick-up truck. Onboard an Elf truck was the Bizarre Band, an all-percussions band that was
currently making local recognition with their distinctive neo-ethnic beats. On that day, they
were to provide the fiesta beat all throughout the motorcade.
On cue, the band began to roar adding fanfare to the already exploding drum beats of
the other participating school band. The convoy merrily rolled its way through the Citys
thoroughfares and towards the City Hall Grounds where crowd awaits to witness the
Cabadbaran City Time Capsule entombment.
Launched on July 28, 2011 on the occasion of the 4
th
charter day celebration, the time
capsule project, officially named: Project: Posterity (a 100-year Time Capsule), was to be a
year-long activity. Its main objective was the preservation- for at least 100 years - of
documents, materials and objects concerning Cabadbaran for the benefit of the next century
Cabadbaranons. The preservation was to be done by placing the documents, materials and
objects in a time-resistant capsule that was, the Time Capsule, entombed inside a
monument dedicated for the purpose.
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The time capsule contains many strategic data about Cabadbaran and its people. It
contains the socio-demographic profile of Cabadbaran which describes its economy, culture,
politics and other important statistics, past and present. Necessarily, it contains photos of all
streets in the poblacion and interior barangays, important establishments and landmarks. It
also contains photos of achievements such as the inauguration of the old public market in the
December 1959; the construction of Rizal Monument in 1920; the inauguration of the new
public infrastructures; Hisgotanay sa Barangay; Pa-birthday ni Lolo og Lola; Pahalipay sa
Kabataan; ground breakings, ceremonial toasts; ribbon-cuttings and other similar events
signifying milestone accomplishments. Old collections were also included, such as the
handwritten memoir of the late Dr. Teofilo D. Curato, Sr. The Time Capsule also contains an
exhaustive listing of Cabadbarans existing flora; lists and short profiles of existing socio-civic
organizations; recipe of important Cabadbaran delicacies; several original handwritings of
ordinary people which captured their perception about many things - the various street jokes
and anecdotes as it changes overtime; and listings of all elected officials.
Objects were also included inside like formal wear ( barong, trousers, leather shoes,
and belt among others), a small Bible, the books La Reunion de Cabarbaran by historian Dr.
Jocel J. Dagani; Red Sun Over Agusan, by historian Mr. Florante E. More; Where is
Mazzawa? by Mr. Gabriel B. Atega and some books written by the former Congressman
Edelmiro A. Amante; and actual samples of some minerals which Cabadbaran is known to
have in abundance.
It also held a collection of photos of typhoons and floods that devastated the place,
the fires that gutted the old public market in the year 2010 and other tragic events that the
residents share in remembrance.
During the projects year-long implementation, three events were organized: The Time
Capsule Quiz Bee, On-The-Spot Essay Writing Contest and Photo Contest. The competitions
were aimed at promoting interest in the history of Cabadbaran and to give venue for
common expressions. The winning entries were included as content of the time capsule a
rare incentive indeed to those who won considering that a prospect as this does not happen
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naturally. Rightfully so, because to be given the chance to speak for the future generation and
hopefully influence those who might be minded among them, is an opportunity to participate
in the shaping of the next century Cabadbaran, to say the most.
Revisiting the projects path, one cannot miss to mention the time capsule replica.
That shiny amber capsule encased in a glass showcase was unveiled by the City Mayor during
the 4
th
Charter Day Celebration to officially launch the Project Posterity. From that point
forward, the replica has never evaded public scrutiny. By its unusual shape and size, the
replica was in itself cryptic. To the clueless, it was a bewilderment of sorts. What was it for?
Why the look of an enlarged Enervon C? For what giant was it reserved for? Indeed the
capsule had its share of fame when it was transferred from the seclusion of the Peoples
Social Hall at the second floor of the city hall building, to the center of the lobby at the city
hall entrance where passers-by ogled in curious amazement. During those period, people
talked about it, posed query about it, made-up imaginary scenarios of the future with it,
joked about it and often wondered what it would be like witnessing its excavation and
opening. One thing sure though, if things would proceed as planned, none of us not even
those born this very minute, would witness its opening. For 365 days in that location, the
replica reclined in enigmatic poise, silent and patient but never ceasing to exude mystery. Its
adjacent wooden counter regularly, continuously, loses a page each day until only one
remained. On that day - July 28, 2012, the counter finally revealed 0.
Twenty minutes, or so, has passed, the convoy was already coming out of the
downtown area. Few more minutes and the time capsule will have to find itself inside the
Time Capsule Monument where it shall rest for another 100 years, or perhaps 1,000 years --
who can really be certain?
The monument itself was mysterious as the Time Capsule. Its design a tiled base
with a protruding open pyramid stainless steel was well-intended to signify a peoples
collective work dedicated for the ages. Its base, holed at the middle to serve as the burial
vault for the time capsule, is made of solid concrete reinforced by two layers of 12 mm.
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diameter round bars placed every 10 cm. distance a configuration which according to
construction experts would make the monument withstand against even a nuclear holocaust.
The convoy arrived at the City Hall grounds as the crowd begun to gather. The time
capsule was brought in front of the City Hall Building while the merriment from the convoy
gradually slowed, the drum beats from the schools drum Corps faded, and the waiting crowd
shifted to a subdued mood as the six members of the AFP-Special Action Force coming from
their station in Barangay Del Pilar, received the Time Capsule and positioned it in a carriage at
the entrance of the City Hall.
The programs host, Tiara Julia M. Santos, began to speak. Her words clear and crisp
heralded the moment. Preliminaries first, then an interpretative dance number and followed
by series of speeches. Project Posterity Chairman, Hon. Salutario B. Cuasito delivered the first
speech. Together with the members of the Technical Working Group(TWG), Hon. Cuasito
broke ground a year ago when the time capsule concept was approved by the City Chief
Executive. He led the TWG in all its turns until this eventful day.
Mayor Dale B. Corvera delivered his message next. Standing before the crowd against
the backdrop of the open-pyramid structure, he began by explaining that his message was
actually for the people of the next century Cabadbaranons. He proceeded to speak clearly
and elaborately. But not a minute longer as his emotions began to mute his eloquence. His
words betrayed him as tears clung his eyes. Obviously gripped by the profoundness of the
moment, he belabored to speak his heart out about the project; about our lives today; about
how various global catastrophes have threatened our existence; about how knowledge of our
history has enriched us and how he felt that we owe to the future Cabadbaranons the same
knowledge of the richness of our history, the affluence of our culture even the old
struggles of our fellow Cabadbaranons which we must share to them to hopefully guide
them as they traverse their destiny. Capping his speech, the mayor said: we visualize
ourselves standing before you today, with the people of Cabadbaran behind me, reaching out
to you as we hand this Time Capsule. This is our gift.
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Not a second did the sun shew itself during that cold morning; neither did the rain. For
the hour long or so, only shades of grey hovered the sky, adding to the already somber
feeling of all.
Few more talks. The former Senator Juan Miguel Migz F. Zubiri shared his
appreciation for the time capsule project. Local historian, Dr. Jocel O. Dagani, for his part,
recalled and expounded the significant dates in the history of Cabadbaran.
All being said, it was about time. Tune subdued, the host called the City Officials with
the guest Senator to position themselves at the City Hall entrance to start the entombment
proper. On parallel formation, the group began the processional, the carriage at the middle
held by six AFP-SAF personnel marching in tight cadence with the ambient music played at
the background. Proceeding in slow counts, the pack reached the final turn; the military men
snappily pivoted left, heading towards the monument. At that exact moment, the siren
sounded in prolonged cry, the boom trucks engine whined as it gracefully hoisted the
pyramid up fully exposing the enigmatic gaping hole amidst the tiled base. The honored men
and women gathered round as they carefully inserted the capsule into the hoisting net and
the descent began. All eyes steadied; all lens focused, time seemed to froze as the venerable
time capsule slowly and steadily descended until it fully succumb into the belly of the earth.
After a year of constant toil, the time capsule was finally laid to rest.
By way of postscript, a question may be asked: why do we not open the time capsule
after 50 years, so we can witness its opening? The answer is simple. The time capsule is for
purposes not meant for our generation, otherwise, we will just deposit its contents in a
museum. We have no business witnessing its opening because it is clearly not meant for us
but for the future.
The time capsule is knowledge to be handed down for who knows what exact
purpose it may actually achieve perhaps, as a means by which future Cabadbaranons can
learn, build on, recreate or survive and perpetuate further. The time capsule may even serve
not only the Cabadbaranons, but in its profoundness, the entire humanity as well. For
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nobody really knows if the time capsule will be opened 100 years from today as planned. As it
is possible, gauging by the rate at which global catastrophes are threatening us, that the time
capsule will remain buried after 100 years --- perhaps under the rubbles of turmoil, or
underneath waters, its existence forgotten and unknown, only to be remembered or
discovered on a much farther time when civilizations are dwindling. By then, its contents will
have become one of the precious few, if not the only piece of evidence of life on earth.

By: ErMORS