Limlingan: Trina sa Tersera

THE month of March as declared by a Presidential Proclamation during the Aquino administration is Women’s Month. In deference to the women gender, we recognize a woman who has herself carved her name in local politics.

Trina Tiglao Dizon, the 1st ranking member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Mexico town has ranked herself among the candidates aspiring for a Provincial Board slot for the Third District of Pampanga.

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A promising young lady, she is on her third term as a local legislator for this 43-barangay municipality. Born on May 25, 1975, she is among the young breed of politicians in the province who have established their careers while young in the world of politics.

Born and raised at Barangay Pangatlan, she is said to be married to public service, giving us the reason why she is still single and available to her right man’s heart. While supposedly belonging to the medical profession, she has indulged herself in giving her services to her constituents for quite some years now. She is by the way a Physical Therapist.

She first threw her hat in the ring in 1996 when she was elected as the Sangguniang Kabataan chairwoman in her barangay until her election to the Sangguniang Bayan of her hometown in 2001. I can say she has not only the background, but a track record worthy of lauding.

I’ve known her, since my stint as a news writer at a defunct local newspaper, to be an active advocate of the youth, attending to their needs and causes. She is surely known to the young and those young at heart in Mexico town.

As for every “graduating” elected official, one has the choice either to rest from political stresses or to aspire for a higher position. She chose the latter for she is said to be unstoppable in her advocacies as a public servant. She would want to give herself in the name of public service not only to her Mexico constituents this time but to the whole quarter of the province as well.

On Monday night, I got a chance to see her in person and had a brief chat. I said my congratulations for her for simply surviving the rigors of politics and eventually graduating from a nine-year stint as a member of a sangguniang bayan. As a local legislator, I asked her on what she can say on her political career being a woman in a male-dominated world. She retorted saying that it is quite challenging and that one has to focus on the tasks, duties and responsibilities of being an elected official.

In my mind, was the thought that she will be facing a tougher challenge as she is aspiring for a higher Sanggunian this time at the Provincial Capitol.

Her political bailiwick, Mexico, is one of the vote rich towns in the province. She has a strong personality to speak and a machinery to boast. She has the backing of barangay officials of her town and her fellow incumbent officials. Of course it is expected that her town mates would surely support her bid.

It pays to be a former SK Chairwoman and an incumbent official in a town in order to win the votes on a district level. What I mean, she has the edge over other aspirants especially those neophytes in politics.

I say she will win.

Based on different informal surveys and what I hear on the streets, Councilor Trina is a sure winner. Her strong character is a plus factor and being a woman is an advantage rather than otherwise.

I call it woman power. Trina, with her vast experience and dedication to her chosen field, will be an effective lawmaker someday at the halls of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Tasks are the same, just on a higher level. I am quite sure that even in her sleep, she can draft a resolution or ordinance on her mind due to her long years of legislative works.

During her previous years in the Sanggunian Bayan, she had initiated various legislative measures for her cabalens. Her legislative expertise is a great qualification and a sure passport to her being a member of the provincial board come June.

Goodluck Madam Trina!

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Happy birthday to Archbishop Paciano “Apu Ceto” B. Aniceto. Good health and long life is all I wish for you Among.