A LAND TOUR OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA - (Part 4)

By Rene Calalang
Scarborough-Canada
January 26, 2016



NEXT STOP was the City of Sacramento, capital of California since 1854, fourth largest city in California in terms of Metropolitan area and known as California’s most diverse city. It is also the home of the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association.

Our visit here was to see the California State Capitol Building, the California State Legislature. The building which was constructed from 1860 to 1874, did not really excites me as I had seen a few buildings of this design (classical revival that is) most prominent of which are the Capitol Building in Washington DC, and the Capitol building in Havana, Cuba – a former US colony.

Nevertheless, since we were already there, we decided that we, with the company of Lita’s niece, Annie and her husband David, who lives in Sacramento, and rushed to see us, might as well see the inside and admire the beautiful interior of this historical building.

But getting inside, even if it was Sunday, was not easy as we have to go through a very strict security check. I asked myself, “Where the world is leading us to, that everywhere we go now, security and safety seems to be an issue.” It appears to me that religion, which is supposed to lead us into a better and safer life, is leading us into the opposite direction.

It was here, while in line, where I can’t help but recall my poem “PEACE ON EARTH.”

PEACE ON EARTH
By Rene Calalang

O Religion
How could you be a cause of so much troubles?
When we worship the same God
Although in different names

If we all live as brothers and sisters
There will be PEACE ON EARTH
PEACE ON EARTH

O nationality
How could you be a cause of so much troubles?
When we live in the same planet
And are citizens of the same world

If we all live as brothers and sisters
There will be PEACE ON EARTH
PEACE ON EARTH.

O color of the skin
How could you be a cause of so much troubles?
When it is skin deep only
It does not matter the color of your skin
As long as you are a good human being

If we all live as brothers and sisters
There will be PEACE ON EARTH
PEACE ON EARTH

Inside, as usual, we admire the beautiful interior especially the session hall where we took some pictures with the hall on the background.

But Sacramento has also some dark side to it, as it was here, together with San Francisco, where the massive discrimination against the early Chinese immigrants (which was very evident by the passing into law of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882) happened.

However, perhaps realizing their mistake, the city later recognized the Chinese for their contributions (one of them is in helping built the railroads that span throughout the city as well as the transcontinental railways that span throughout the United States) by building a museum dedicated to the history of Sacramento’s Chinatown.

But if there was one event that happened here where we, as Filipinos should be proud of, it was here where a Filipino boxer named Francisco Guilledo, better known as Pancho Villa, a Boxing Hall of Famer, and one of the greatest flyweight boxer of all time, fought and defeated Sacramento boxer Georgie Lee at L Auditorium on March 21, 1924.

So, you see Virginia, even before Gabriel “Flash” Elorde and Manny Pacquiao became household names in the world of boxing, there were already some before them who made Filipinos proud in the art of sweet science.

THE NIGHT of the second day of the tour would be spent at Reno, the other gambling capital of the State of Nevada. Traditionally, because of its location, Reno is the place to gamble for residents of Northern California like San Francisco and Sacramento; while Las Vegas is for the residents of Southern California like Los Angeles as well as those from Phoenix area.

Reno, before the 1950’s was the gambling capital of the United States. However, because of Las Vegas’ boom in gambling, Reno’s gambling business slowed down.

But gambling was not for me, and I am not speaking for others in our group, for I don’t know their gambling habits. Nevertheless, for experience sake, my wife and I decided to play the slot machines, and as usual we lost, but only a small amount – small enough for us not to lose some sleep.

Here, we had our dinner, but it was not a good one, as the food and its cooking were not to our liking.

The next morning, we walked a short distance to a nearby casino, to have our breakfast, courtesy of the generosity of Rollie and Edith L, which turned out to be an excellent one.
TO BE CONTINUED