Friday, June 08, 2007 Seares: Make-over for Tomas? By Pachico A. Seares News Sense
TO critics, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is a bastard but a bastard who doesn’t hide beyond nicety or pretense (which explains but doesn’t justify boorishness).
“It’s very simple,” he said. “Mary Ann de los Santos admits she lied and we build the school.”
Tomas says Lahug Barangay Captain Mary Ann lied during the campaign, peddling the tale of a vengeful City Hall giving nothing to Lahug.
The P15 million building for Lahug Elementary School was scrapped not for misplaced priority or fund drought. Not a case of failed bidding or wrong choice of site--–or another school needing it more badly.
Tomas just wanted to get even. How? Using power over contracts and funds, he would bully Mary Ann into making a humiliating confession.
Taming the ego
Tomas must have been severely hurt, but which inflicted more pain, Mary Ann’s lying or his Lahug defeat? He was sure he’d win as mayor but he hadn’t won in Mary Ann’s barangay.
Point one, the lashing out is late. Point two, most politicians lie, especially during elections. But those points cannot tame a surging, runaway ego.
The bullying is clear enough. Tomas took and would give back the school if she’d publicly admit the lie. But Mary Ann won’t.
And Lahug folk and friends will help Mary Ann build the school. No school without me, said Tomas.
Many politicians decide on the basis, or pretext, of public good. Here, Tomas pushes right ahead, moved by what pleases or angers him, unmoved by plea of distressed schoolchildren and parents or a saintly cardinal.
They say a make-over will help the mayor. The looks maybe, with some people’s nip-tuck skill and fashion savvy. But the mind and heart?
