Thursday, March 06, 2008 So: Mike and Carlo By Michelle P. So Caught in the Net
UNLIKE ex-election commissioner Ben Abalos’ “hamburjer” that Jun Lozada seemed to be “willing to die for,” the presidency of the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines (VMLP) is not a position Carlo Fortuna will shoot or hang himself for.
Carlo himself said this when I talked to him on the phone while he was in the boat on his way home to Cebu from Bohol where he and Mike Rama campaigned yesterday. The Mandaue City vice mayor made the avowal in Cebuano and then repeated it in English to make sure I understood him because I parroted him, first in Cebuano and again in English. I was just thinking of having a “burjer” for a snack before I made the call.
Thoughts of hara-kiri and “hamburjer” aside, Carlo has no plans of stepping aside for Mike so that the Cebu City vice mayor can run as the lone VMLP presidential candidate of Visayas and Mindanao.
Not even when Mike, according to Carlo’s accounts, told the vice mayors of Bohol that “I pray that Carlo will reconsider from running.”
According to Carlo’s accounts, he countered Mike’s prayer with his own. Speaking after Mike, Carlo told the vice mayors of Bohol, “I pray that we all be enlightened that come election time, we will have an indivisible and singular candidate from the Visayas and Mindanao.” Carlo meant himself, not Mike.
Such religiosity of the two lawyers deserves some sprinkle of holy water. It seems that what Mike and Carlo had in Bohol yesterday was a prayer campaign.
The position of VMLP president is without pay, so why kill yourself, I mean, why run for the post? I asked Carlo, who I know from our high school days.
Carlo, a lawyer who packs his thoughts in concise language, told me that the endorsement from the vice mayors and “the encouragement from Gov. Gwen Garcia” made him run. He did not seek the post, he said. The opportunity simply presented itself a few days back.
“It’s not about ambition or prestige because I have already held two national positions… but rather it’s about a job to be done, and a number of my peers believe that I may be the right man for it,” Carlo said.
Mike believes he’s the right man too. I tried to get Mike on the phone but he didn’t reply to my text. I would have asked him the question I asked Carlo: What’s in the VMLP presidency that you so much want to win it? It is the hamburjer too?
Unlike Carlo, Mike has been preparing for the VMLP presidency since he was sworn into office in June 2007. He is serving his last term as vice mayor.
Carlo’s and Mike’s political careers are alike in a number of ways. Produced by the University of San Beda, the two lawyers started their career as councilors and are now vice mayors. Both had been elected to national positions in the Philippine Councilors League (PCL). Both like to talk in public to a fault and are accessible to their constituents. Their commitment as public servants cannot be doubted.
The VMLP, like the other leagues of local governments such as the PCL and the mayors’ leagues, has neither executive nor legislative power. It is simply an organization of vice mayors with minimal logistical funds and is heard only when there are issues that concern the vice mayors such as being tagged as spare tires of the mayors.
It is a social network like Multiply, Friendster and Facebook, in bureaucratese. It tells you who to tap for help and connections.
