Bong O. Wenceslao
Wenceslao’s road to the journalism profession was circuitous. While still with Southwestern University’s campus publication The Quill, he was offered a reporter’s slot in the Visayan Herald (now defunct). He worked part-time in dyLA.
But a bigger concern drew away Bong, as colleagues call him: the fight against the Marcos dictatorship.
Some seven years later, he was back, more serious about resuming his journalism career at dyLA. But as writing was his real passion, he left broadcasting to be a reporter at The Freeman. In 1997, he joined Sun.Star Cebu.
As a journalist, he believes he is no longer out to radically change the world but merely to make a difference through his writing. His columns reflect his causes: freedom, nationalism, justice. Twice, he was awarded best in column writing by the Cebu Archdiocesan Mass Media Awards.
Columns
More poll surprises
Rep. Tomas Osmeña, who lost to reelectionist Mayor Michael Rama in the May 13 polls, said it well: when you keep on running, there’s always the possibility that you lose. Indeed, it wasn’t only the big guns like Osmeña and Reps. Eduardo Gullas and Pablo Garcia who suffered defeat in the recent political exercise. Lesser political lights got dimmed, too.
Daanbantayan Mayor Ma. Luisa Loot was finally defeated by perennial challenger Augusto Corro, ending her long-time control of the town’s politics.
Congressional winners
ONE of the noisiest sites on Facebook in the last elections was Maghisgot Kitag Politika, Bay created by Anol Mongaya and Bino Guerrero. While the noise mostly came from alias-using supporters of opposing political groups, some identifiable names also posted opinions, like the now Manila-based Jesse E.L. Bacon II, formerly with The Freeman.
Davide’s win
YOU can’t fight city hall” is a phrase that sums up people’s experience in battling a bureaucracy. Urbandictionary.com defines the phrase this way: “it is useless to clash with a politician or establishment, or it is foolish to fight a battle you can’t win.”
“You can’t fight city hall” came to mind when I viewed the result of the May 13 gubernatorial race in Cebu. I thought that performance would trump the power of bureaucracy and a demonizing campaign. But the reality is, you can’t fight city hall, or should I say, Malacañang.
The Gullas debacle
HE ALWAYS runs scared. That was what Rep. Eduardo Gullas told reporters when asked whether his decision to reopen the tricycle drivers’ parking area in Barangay Tabunok in the middle of the campaign period for the May 13 polls was made because his rival in the Talisay City mayoral race, businessman Johnny V. de los Reyes (JVR), was gaining adherents.
End of the Tom O era in city
CALL the results of these elections as introduction to change. Big names have fallen or are about to fall. Rep. Tomas Osmeña in Cebu City. Rep. Pablo John Garcia in Cebu Province. Rep. Eduardo Gullas in Talisay City. Rep. Pablo Garcia in the second district. The Espinosas in Toledo City. Ma. Luisa Loot in Daanbantayan. Estrella Yapha in Pinamungajan.
Vote buying and conceding
TODAY is May 13, election day. I reckon that on this day majority of Filipinos of voting age will exercise their right of suffrage and troop to the polling precincts to choose names they want to fill the various government positions made available, including those for senators, congressmen and party-list representation, plus those for local government units.
An election roundup
THERE'S reason for Akbayan senatorial bet Risa Hontiveros to be optimistic about her chances of making it to the Magic 12 in the May 13 election’s senatorial race. Her ratings in the surveys have been rising consistently, which means she is doing the right things in the campaign.
Joavan’s arrest and escape
SO JOAVAN Fernandez escaped from detention?
A few days after the Talisay City Police Station was praised for finally arresting Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez’s problem child and his city’s “menace,” the errant one humiliated the police Wednesday night by fooling his guard and then dashing into a waiting vehicle.
Dirtiest campaign in city?
THIS is perhaps among the dirtiest—both figuratively and literally--electoral campaigns in Cebu City in the past few decades. And the problem is that candidates are abetting it and their supporters are relishing it.
Burned City Central School building
I RECEIVED the information about Rommel Hermosisima’s death through our batchmate in City Central School, Dr. Fe Marie Maningo-Perez. The last time some of us met Rommel was in his residence in Poblacion, Sibonga. Funny, but when my family and I passed by the Poblacion on our way to Simala the other Sunday, I got this urge to visit Rommel’s house. I didn’t.
