Thursday, October 18, 2007 Wenceslao: Election frenzy By Bong O. Wenceslao Candid Thoughts
MY family visited our old place in Sitio Kawayan, Barangay Sambag 2 yesterday and, as expected, the hot topic in the talks was the barangay election. Caryl, daughter of my brother Maning, has just graduated from her course and the proud parents celebrated the event in our old house. Maning is running for councilor in Langub, Asturias town.
Maning has proven himself to be a leader, but previous tries at snagging the post failed because of inexperience and lack of money. He is more experienced now but financial difficulty is still hounding him. He thus has to rely on the support of his slate, which is leaning politically towards the camp of new Asturias Mayor Allan Adlawan,
The other day, my uncle Genn Wenceslao told me he is running for councilor in Barangay Adela in Poro, one of the four towns in the Camotes group of islands. As head of the Parent-Teachers Community Association in that barangay’s elementary school, he is currently busy realizing his project: the construction of the school’s perimeter fence.
My friends were again asking me why I am not running for a post in Sambag 2, a question that I can only answer with a smile. But I think the election in that place is already interesting as it is, with my cousin Noel Wenceslao no longer eligible to run for barangay chief. Instead, veteran Jessie Aznar is pitted against young Lowell Belarmino.
If there is any chance for Noy Jessie to get back the post he once held years ago, this election should be it. The problem for him is that Noel is backing Belarmino, which also means he has the support, secretly or otherwise, of Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s group. Sambag 2 will therefore see opposition and administration bets battling it out one-on-one.
Incidentally, while I was rushing back to the office yesterday, I met Bebot Ancot, one of our opponents in basketball pickup games we played in Brupa, Sambag 2 when we were younger. He told me he was running for councilor under Noy Jessie’s slate. His neighbor Dondon, brother of Councilor Edwin Jagmoc, is also gunning for the same post.
Not only are there a good number of bets gunning for barangay posts, many are younger than me, which only shows how old I have become. I heard that many media people are in the hunt, which is good because this makes the coming political exercise more exciting. Elections should always be about presenting the best candidates available.
