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Thursday, February 19, 2004
Wenceslao: Senator Osmena’s woes
By Bong Wenceslao
There is nothing surprising in Cebu leaders ganging up on Sen. John “Sonny” Osmena, who is running for reelection under the coalition headed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He quarreled with these leaders separately for the past few years—now it’s payback time. Where I grew up, we called what Sonny owed as atraso.
He tangled with his cousin, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena, so too with former Mandaue City Mayor Alfredo Ouano, former congressman Celestino Martinez Jr. and Gov. Pablo Garcia. The verbal exchanges were brutal, the animosity created intense. Apparently, Tommy, the Ouanos, the Martinezes and the Garcias are not ready to forget.
I still have to hear Sonny react to the recent development, but surely he must be reeling from the insult. Being badmouthed by fellow Cebuano leaders is bad enough.
But being ostracized by your supposed coalition mates is even worse. And how would one describe the possibility the senator will lose even in his own province? Worst?
Of course, the possibility that Osmena will win in other places of the country is high. The odds are better for him now that he is with the administration coalition than when he stuck it out with the opposition even if it has a Fernando Poe Jr. Party machinery and government resources are important weapons for bets wooing a nationwide audience.
But winning will always be hollow if a candidate does not perform well in his own place. People do not fully appreciate a politicians’ leadership if he/she can not even convince the community where he/she grew up to vote for him/her. Indeed, the worst assessment of one’s character is when people refer to him/her as, way silingan.
Anyway, why does Mayor Osmena hate Senator Osmena so much? I think I heard that question being posed by Sonny after Tommy announced he would not allow the senator to mount the stage during their rallies in the city. Actually, only the mayor can answer that. But if you ask me, I will refer you to a certain law in physics.
Or doesn’t similar poles repel each other? Sonny and Tommy, with minor variations, have the same temperament. While Sonny speaks in very fluent and quotable Cebuano and Tommy can drown you with his English, the substance is the same. And their treatment of their constituents and those they quarrel with is similar.
Thus, when Tommy hits Sonny, I am amused because it is like the mayor is spitting at his image in the mirror. But levity aside, the two leaders fighting each other is good for Cebu’s democratic health. Imagine if they were on the same side of the fence, our troubles would double. At least for now, they are canceling each other out.
P.S. A Text Reax contributor, reacting to my column on the lunch hosted by Rep. Antonio Cuenco for around 30 teachers, think that the said teachers will be happy if they will be barred from serving in the elections.
“All teachers do not want to serve. Kuyawan intawon kay dili safe. Luoy ang teachers kay maoy buthan sa nangapildi. Pero dili mahimo ang pagpanikas sa precinct level kay daghan ang watchers nga entitled pa sa copy sa results. Kamo kahay serve sa election no?”
The texter actually missed the point badly. There is no question about the teachers being burdened by the additional job of serving in the elections. And they are often caught in the crossfire. That is the reason why the teachers should not have attended the lunch hosted by Cuenco, a candidate in the May elections. They could not escape being accused of bias.
Finally, here’s an announcement from the group that calls itself the Basak Engineering Community Association (Beca): “Diri sa Basak Engineering, way gitugotan nga magpatakag pamilit og campaign materials. Ang mamugos, way boto.”
(e-mail: khanwens@yahoo.com; text: 0927-4912362)
(February 19, 2004 issue)
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