Monday, April 02, 2007 Pangan: The drama unfolds By Benjie R. Pangan At Close Range
THE road shows are on. Welcome the specter of attacks and counterattacks and the spectacle of grandiose spending, grandstanding and mudslinging.
With the certificates of candidacy all in, I presume, and now indexed at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices nationwide, the aspirants for the positions of congressman, governor and down the line, can now "legitimately" engage in all forms of campaigning, tactics and gimmickry, although the more enterprising ones have done so even six months before the official campaign period allowed it, conducting so-called caucuses, although in reality, these were already subterfuges to campaigning. Really, some people are smarter than the others.
Some quarters are seeing the tide turning over to the side of the incumbents, as in the case of Pampanga Governor Mark T. Lapid. If the photos appearing in newspapers were any accurate gauges of the sustained strength of the youthful provincial executive, then one can safely make a forecast: the younger Lapid will have his second term at the capitol.
As I've previously stated, the charm of the Lapids may still be there and there's no disputing the collective drawing power of the father-and-son tandem.
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In Mabalacat, Councilor Cherry Manalo is one force to reckon with in the race for a seat in the Provincial Board, representing the first district of Pampanga. Mabalacat and Magalang are both turfs of Cherry but her main artillery is her solid and unsullied performance record as a legislator and her complementary achievements as a Youth Council chairperson for several years where she espoused energetically the concerns of the youth.
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Going over the claims of the other gubernatorial bets, Pampanga Board Member Lilia "Baby" and "Nanay" Pineda's credentials cannot be discounted as she had been consistent with her generous assistance to indigent patients and other medical care recipients. While her legislative prowess may be sneered at by her detractors, she nevertheless proved them wrong by delivering on her promises.
If the two other protagonists, namely, Ely Pamatong and Fr. Ed Panlilio were serious in taking over the reins of the Provincial Government, sad to say, their credentials are inadequate and would not stand the scrutiny of kapampangans who, by the way, deserve a hands-on governor and not the now-you-see-him, now-you-don't individual.
Pampanga desperately needs the care and attention to breathe life into it and revitalize its organs. Would somebody please do this?
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Opening salvo or sargo. Mabalacat's own version of Team Unity opened its campaign with a well-attended meeting headed by reelectionist Mayor Marino "Bokng" P. Morales and his teammates headed by Dr. Pros Lagman. Again, if the attendance and enthusiasm of the attendees were any indication of the continued reign of Mayor Boking, then his supporters might as well be rejoicing as the good mayor may have another term in his sleeves.
Any well-meaning observer in the elections will wish to have a peaceful and orderly conduct of the May 14 elections sans the violence usually accompanying this exercise. Sana, no untoward incidents will happen this year.
