Friday, May 18, 2007 Speak out: Awakening By Joseph M. Dabon Hermag Subdivision, Basak, Mandaue City
THE political dust has started to settle and vague forms are beginning to take shape, albeit in hazy hue---the victors and the vanquished, those who have remained standing and those beaten to the ground.
Despite the gory run-up to the 2007 elections, so much promise has been held that after almost a generation of deep slumber, Mandauehanons are going to have a beautiful awakening.
If early returns are maintained, Jonas Cortes, who anchored his campaign on a dream, shall have these fulfilled after driving out from the helm of government Mandaue’s worst nightmare: the administration of suspended mayor Teddy Ouano.
If early returns are maintained, Mandauehanons from all walks of life, age, sex, financial levels and religious persuasions shall have made it known in strongest terms, that we shall not be shamed anymore, cowed anymore and that we, more than anything else, want to have leaders who have a heart, leaders who can make us feel proud of being Mandauehanons.
The new day also brings forth the sterling quality that distinguishes Mandauhanons from the rest; that while we can pursue our passions passionately, we do it still with deep reflection.
Thus, in the contest between two good men, the Manduehanons were inclined to give the vice-mayoralty seat to Carlo Fortuna.
Glenn Bercede and Carlo Fortuna are both good men. They share the same fate of being stunted and constricted under the suspended mayor’s City Council.
But Mandauehanons believe that if free to soar in an atmosphere of freedom and independence, the latter can soar higher than the former.
Carlo Fortuna is not only given a trust but a gift by the Mandauehanons---a gift to blossom and become the potentially good leader that he could be.
It is too early to tell what the City Council would be. What is certain is that Manduehanons allowed not for evil to prosper. It is now up to our chosen leaders to live up to our expectations.
Help is not a problem if sought after. We are all eager to lend a helping hand. But we cannot lend legitimacy to a governance that will prove to be the fire under the pan we leapt out from.
Among other things, this awakening includes a keen sense of vigilance that our newly elected leaders will prove worthy of the trust we have given them.
