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Sunday, March 21, 2004
Hortaleza: The Mayor Cried
By Rhee Fer Hortaleza
Reelectionist Dagupan City hizzoner Benjamin S. Lim shed tears after delivering his state of the City Address last Wednesday, I wonder…. Was it Lim (Luha ng Isang Mananalo)? Or Lim (Luha ng Isang Matatalo)?
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‘Guingona: Poe can rebuild the nation’- newshead. Panday nga talaga!
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Or, maybe, the king of Philippine Movie can have another titles:
Kar-Poe-ntero! Undoubtedly, however, he is GMA- Gumaganap nang Mahusay sa Aksiyon!
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‘GMA welcome Guimgona defection’- newshead. For her, he is Gui-Gone-na.
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By sheer coincidence, five friends from various places met and drew the conclusion that Fernando Poe Jr. will win in their respective communities. They are from Olonga-Poe city, Anti-Poe-lo city, Quia-Poe in Manila, Cuya-Poe in Nueva Ecija and Poe-zrrubio in Pangasinan!
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‘Japanese ambassador meets with FPJ’- newshead. Of course, they did not talk about how many Japanese soldiers FPJ killed in his war movies in the past.
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A feng shui prediction states that the presidential bet from the eastern part of the country—that’s Raul S. Roco from the Bicol Region—will win in the May polls. Nakaka-Roco ang feng shui, Ha?
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When Dagupan city’s first Filipino-Chinese mayor delivered his state of the City Address, he was the picture of a man who believed that he has accomplished much for the city in almost three years; but felt that there is still a need to do much, much more.
Citing his achievements- both tangible and intangible—Lim pointed out that, in the process of effecting change, he discovered that implementing drastic reforms and radical changes was a painful and difficult process. Nonetheless, he readily admitted that this is the reality of democratic governance.
Definitely, his administration was not wanting in accomplishments. Undoubtedly, the face of Dagupan City has change (for the better) during his nearly three years of occupancy of the mayorship. Inevitably, too, he encountered some opposition to is acts.
Still, Lim plodded on, One thing good about the man is that he is not easily swayed by threats of losing votes in the next election, a long as he and the expert believe that what he has set out to pursue or implement is something beneficial to his city and his constituents.
In his SOCA, he clearly emphasized this steadfast stance when he said: “We were warned that by doing so, we might hurt the feelings, and consequently invite the ire, of the voting public.
“This conventional wisdom of traditional politicians has consistently and effectively hampered our progress as a nation.
“Each time we allow ourselves to be influenced by personal motives and vested interests, and are forced to give up our good intentions, each time we sacrifice the rights and the welfare of the greater majority for the sake of political expediency, we commit a grave act of disloyalty to our people.
“No.
“We have not and will not allow ourselves to fall prey to political blackmail designed to prevent us from doing our sworn duty to uphold the rule of law and to promoting the public welfare.”
Brave words from Benjie, indeed.
Having seemingly delivered his message across, he winded up his address with a line that left everybody thinking when he said: ‘and if you want to follow the same path that we have just taken, and still wish to go further, I will be glad lead you once again."
That sentence earned a resounding applause from the audience.
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It appears that three female mayoral bets in three Pangasinan municipalities are gaining headway in their respective campaign thrust this early—with people talking about them quite pleasantly. The three are newcomers in the world of politics but their visions for their towns must have touched soft spots in the hearts of their townmates.
The three are Viktoria E. Agbayani of Sual. Marissa Bangsal Cerezo of Binmaley and Rose Tinte Erfe of Sta. Barbara.
Are Pangasinense voters opting for female gatpunos?
(March 21, 2004 issue)
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