In any type of contests, there are winners, except in some cases where result stalemates, if not interminable protests. But not so in traditional political tiffs such as those we are now observing and are engrossed in. In them, there are no losers, only those who claim to have been cheated of victory.
While bruited about as non-partisan as in barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, all caution is thrown to the wind to win and win they aspire, at all cost.
All the rhetoric about rendition of public service fly out of the window after the elections and we must learn to live by the actuations of those elected to office, the barangay officials and SK leaders included.
Today, Monday, we should participate in the exercise of our right of suffrage and elect only those who we think are deserving of our trust and this is a delicate task because all men and women we put to public office will form the core to the next important polls in 2010. What if they fail us and foil our aspirations and expectations. Should we blame the "fearless" forecasts?
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Having laid the predicate, I proceed to mention at random and, for name recall, the men and women we may consider voting to office. Remember, up for grabs in Monday's polls that open at seven in the morning are a barangay leader and his seven councilmen and one SK leader and seven councilmen.
We will be doing our communities and ourselves a good deed if we elect only the deserving and trustworthy. We know who they are, so we formalize our choices on the ballots given at the precincts. Please go out and vote. Don't sleep away on this very important role and let the undeserving sit in power.
The young SK hopefuls are better advised that, should they be elected, they must make good their word to serve their community and country and avoid being heirs to that infamous statement of a former senator of the realm addressed to a deposed President, thus: "So young, and yet so corrupt".
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Factored in the victory of barangay hopefuls are performance ratings, potentials for leadership and the "solid" votes of influential religious, business and sectoral blocs. In Dau, given all these parameters, Atlas Morales has the edge over his rivals and may be a shoo-in for the top post; ditto with San Francisco's Boy Cruz and Mabiga's Jesus Rivera. It will be an exciting fight between Dapdap and cashiered barangay chairman Jay Taruc and the officer-in-charge Gus Baluyut. We just hope that the election will be orderly and peaceful and no personal animosities run the event.
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Too much fuss over cash. The issue of the P120 million cash distributed among congressmen, governors and some lucky mayors more than two weeks ago in Malacañang is still going the rounds and there seems to be no end yet in sight until the ownership of the money is fully and finally established and resolved. Whoever comes out as the source of the huge sums will meet all sorts of flak and criticisms, if not lawsuits and tax assessments. Earlier, the League of Provinces of the Philippines claimed ownership over the largesse. Still much earlier, although on somewhat ambiguous terms, the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines allegedly tried to cover up the disbursements by issuing statements to prove ownership.
The morality of the issue had been brought to the fore by Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio and he was seconded by several prominent members of the clergy and the civil society, some even suggesting that the President of the Republic, who may have allowed the distribution of the cash, resign to save her face and the grace bestowed on the country by the blessed ones.
There is no finish yet to the issue or issues, if you may, since no one will ever categorically own up to the source, ownership and eventual distribution of the money.
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Last Thursday, October 25, I was invited to the mini birthday bash of colleague Lino Sanchez, Jr., and in that luncheon were CIAC president Jose Victor "Chichos" Luciano, DPWH Central Luzon Director Alfredo Tolentino, Eric Panganiban, brother Perry, chairman Deng, Robling Sanchez and Dante Fabian. Prexy Chichos disclosed the grand plans he and his team are cooking up for the world-class airport which, by the way, hosted recently the very huge Airbus 380.
Likewise, Director Tolentino bared plans to move up the NorthRail project and fast track it, thanks to the wholehearted support of the President and the hard work of Secretary Ed Pamintuan, CDC president Levy Laus and others who prefer to remain in the sidelines despite their huge contributions to the maximization of the potentials of the Central Luzon corridor and Urban Beltway. With these men and women led by Chichos, President Levy, Director Tolentino, Secretary Pamintuan and, not to forget EVPs Philip Panlilio (of CDC) and Alex Cauguiran (of CIAC), there is not stopping progress and full development of CIAC, CDC and the whole Central Luzon infra network!
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To all the voters who will participate on Monday's electoral exercise: let us vote wisely.
