Thursday, January 08, 2009 Commentary: Igniting old political flames By Ely delos Santos
A LOT of people are wondering why Bacolod Mayor Bing Leonardia was nowhere to be found to carry Pacquiao’s belt as he used to in the ring icon’s previous fight. He was there alright. But why is Pacquiao’s belt carried by somebody else? Might Pacquiao thinking that Leonardia does not bring good luck anymore?
So if he has been stripped at this function, why is he still there? Sick with wanderlust, he is often traveling from one point of the globe to another such that were he transparent by opening the city’s books, I am sure Bacolod taxpayers will be astounded by the enormous amount these travels cost them.
Leonardia makes us understand that it is Pacquiao who shoulders his trips just so Leonardia can carry his belt. But this time, isn’t it ridiculous to pay for Leonardia’s trip just so the mayor can watch his fight with Golden Boy dela Hoya?
Pacquiao’s previous fights were difficult ones. He nearly lost to Marquez. And Leonardia carried his belt in all these fights except the latest. Might Pacquiao have thought that Leonardia does not bring him luck, after all?
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Personally, I do not consider that Leonardia’s serving as water boy to Pacquiao does Bacolod City honor. I find it degrading and humiliating.
There is so much that Bacolod City can be proud of. After all, a section of Spain’s mighty army surrendered here. So can you imagine its chief executive now acting as if he were an “alalay”? The grand old man Montelibano Sr. and his junior or the late Cong. Guanzon would rather die than being shame to this glorious city. Jr. Montelibano would shudder at the thoughts of adopting Pacquiao as a son of the city.
Did that thought ever cross Leonardia’s mind? I suppose it did. He is not that dumb, after all.
So why did he subject Bacolod to this disgraceful act?
I suppose the urge to have his picture taken is just too hard for him to resist. You only have to look at his pictures as they appear in the local papers to see how he actually poses, trying very hard to look handsome. You can never see Leonardia in a candid shot. He is always posing the way a movie star does whenever a photographer is around, shunting his eyes a little bit and wearing that Mona Liza smile as if it were a permanent fixture on his face.
Narcisus was like that, always adoring himself by a river bank. Until the river swallowed him. All that remained of him was a beautiful flower sprouting on the exact spot where he was swallowed.
Leonardia needs to learn a little lesson from Greek mythology.
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It was months and months ago since I personally paid Gov. Zayco a visit at his Capitol office. I asked him if the province can do something about the unfinished concreting project in my home barrio of Tabao, San Enrique. I must confess that I have a personal interest re: my visit to the governor. You see, this provincial road passes through our family’s property and that is where my house stands. When heavy rains come, rain water accumulates right in the front of my house which naturally causes my family some difficulty.
Gov. Zayco was quite theatrical in dealing with my problem. Right in front of me, he called the Provincial Engineers Office. I am not sure whether the person at the other end was an engineer or a janitor, but Zayco, in very clear and resonant voice, instructed the one he was talking to go to my native barrio and look over the said road and pave it with concrete.
Well, that was ages ago, but until now, I have not seen either hair or hide of the fellow. And the road in question is as forlorn and lonely as ever.
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Regarding that road in my barrio, I also talked to Vice Governor Dino Yulo, who assured me he would take it up with the governor himself. Dino, you see, is former Isabela Mayor Emmy Yulo’s son. He was just a college freshman when I was often in their sprawling residence at Villamonte, where Emmy and I would endlessly talk about public affairs.
Now, he is a young lawyer on his own. Married to a Gatuslao, one need not speculate on Dino’s political future. It is practically tailor-made for him.
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Gov. Zayco is in a quandary on where to run in 2010, in the province or in his native Kabankalan.
It is difficult for the Zaycos to leave Kabankalan. Their main rival for the city’s mayorship is Cong. Genaro Alvarez himself. Gov Zayco’s brother, Mayor Pedro Zayco, is on his last term. So, if Gov. Zayco fields just anyone, Lim-ao would make mince meat of him. In short, the Gov. is the only person who can stop Cong. Alvarez from taking over the city. In fact, he cannot even be sure of simply dismissing Lim-ao if he runs himself. The fight for the mayorship between him and Lim-ao is a battle royale eagerly awaited, not just by Kabankalan, but the entire province.
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Another political hotspot to watch is the City of Talisay. Cong. Kako Lacson is on his third and last term, of course he cannot just ride into the sunset and reminisce over his golden years in politics. Quite young to retire, Kako has to run to remain in the limelight. But where to run? In the province? He already tried that long ago, and he lost miserably. Therefore, the only alternative for him is to run for mayor of his home city.
Kako’s problem is that another political family, the Lizareses, stands in his way to an easy victory. The political supremacy in the city moves like a pendulum, swinging his way of Lizares. The incumbent mayor, Dr. Eric Zaratan, is a Lizares protégée. And Miling Lizares, the clan’s old man, is expected to do anything to frustrate Kako’s desire to stage a comeback.
Like Kabankalan, where two families, that of Alvarez and Zayco, are locked in mortal political combat, Kako’s running for mayor of Talisay will re-ignite the old political flames which will be a wonder to watch.
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The key in the resurrection of these old political rivalries is Danding Cojuangco. Only he can tip the balance in favor of whoever he chooses. All of the protagonists in these two fights are close allies. More so in the case of Lim-ao, who is even a close relative.
Surely, the wind will blow the way of Danding choice.
