‘Sa Akin ang Angeles Sa ‘Yo ang Magalang’

DOCTOR’S ORDER. To strengthen the case of CGMA who needs medical treatment abroad for her displaced titanium implant, her surgeons at St. Luke’s Medical Center should declare or admit their inability to correct the misaligned neck support. The Palace is disinclined to let her out of the country, suspecting the latest medical condition of CGMA as a ruse of ploy to seek asylum in another nation.

The doctors at St. Luke’s, in admitting their incapacity/incapability to do corrective surgery, would be helping Mrs. Arroyo’s arguments but would also lose their prestige as experts and earn a public stigma for admitting their ineptness and inadequacy. This will put the former president surely on a bind, especially when the Philippine Medical Association has announced there are local doctors who can do the re-operation if required.

NATIVE SON. It is premature for the camp of Vice Gov. Yeng Guiao to count the eggs before hatch time when the elections would be nine months away. Presently, Guiao’s supporters nurture extreme optimism that he would beat former mayor and ex-congressman Blueboy Nepomuceno on account of powerful backers behind the Magalang native. But the Angeles Ninja works quietly with deadly stealth. His silence is dangerous.

Guaio’s campaigners should not forget that Angeleños traditionally vote for their own “kind.” Yeng comes from Magalang and Manila while his opponent is well-entrenched in vote-rich Angeles. His family enjoys vast goodwill, affection, and respect from residents after many decades of being a public servant.

This unique public dilemma of Yeng as an “outsider” is beyond easy solution. He may get the captive votes of the city mayor who is supporting him. On the whole, Angeleños, no matter what their misgivings on Blueboy, will go for their own son. Angeleños spell the difference between defeat and victory in the congressional polls. This is the reason why Rep. Tarzan Lazatin refused to convert Angeles into a Lone District.

DOÑA LOLITA. The most expensive and money-driven contest of vice mayor of a town may be fought in Bacolor. Matriarch and philanthropist Lolita Hizon, mother of the incumbent mayor (whose former running mate and vice mayor deserted him) will run as his vice mayor. Supporters of this rival are spreading word that Pampanga’s First Gentleman would be financing the deserter, implying that money will flow, like floodwater over Gugu Creek in Bacolor. Doña Lolita said “using the FG’s name and boasting of his vaunted fund support to our rivals is only a psy-war operation. Para makakuha lang ng tulong financial ni FG, pinagsasabong kami,” she said.

For her personal cause, money is of no moment to the feisty Doña.

THE BEST TESTAMENT. The eulogies, accolades, and awards bestowed the departed DILG Sec. Robredo pale in comparison to two famous and outstanding city mayors’ reactions to suggestions that they be considered as replacements of the deceased. City of San Fernando Mayor Oca Rodriquez declined his possible appointment as DILG chief while Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte turned down any aspiration for the job.

The two celebrated mayors of the country’s most progressive cities have their personal reasons for disavowing interest in the position. The plausible conclusion is they felt inadequate and daunted in assuming the gigantic tasks at the DILG. They simply were awed by Robredo’s landmark performance, his unsullied integrity, his consistent accessibility, and his devotion to duty.

Robredo’s virtues and skills were plainly unmatchable by even the best city mayors-prospects. His honesty, modesty, simplicity of lifestyle, and his genuine love for the disadvantaged is legend.

Mayor Oca’s and Vice Mayor Duterte’s humble deference to the former DILG chief’s legacy record and the bright milestones he had left was the best testament to his epic and heroic stature.