ONE of the sincerest apologies in the annals of Philippine politics was “I am sorry” uttered by then President Gloria Arroyo on June 27, 2005. Its genuineness ended the “Hello Garci” scandal of a purported wiretapped conversation requesting the then Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano to protect her one million votes.
In spite of the controversy however, Arroyo made her nine years and built infrastructure projects not only in greater Manila area but also in the countryside.
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I AM SORRY but I do not want to equate with our neighboring city, Cagayan de Oro. It has four wide bridges to cross Cagayan de Oro River. It has West-Bound Bus Terminal in Bulua and East-Bound Bus Terminal in Agora to minimize the traffic if not totally avoid the city congestions. They have a wide coastal road and a modern designed airport. Who are their leaders in the past two decades?
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I AM SORRY to note that there are no much visible projects in Davao City from the national government until lately with the ongoing construction of the coastal road. We have apparently large area and of dense population than of Cagayan de Oro. Yet we have narrow bridges that crossed Davao River. And the dreamed north and south bus terminals have been long overdue. What we can be proud of, are our leaders through the years who dole-out pails of goodies and gift checks every year-end.
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I AM SORRY that a mid-morning fire on Wednesday, January 15 in Rayco, Bankerohan was a complex scenario that blatantly told us, we lack wide bridges. The traffic wedged while the narrow Bangkerohan Bridge was occupied by the fire fighters in an attempt to save the 60 residential houses that were razed down. This bridge is a permanent chokepoint for many years and the motorists left no option. We certainly need more bridges.
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A classmate in high school is confined at Southern Philippine Medical Center (SPMC) for a minor surgery. Like any other public hospitals, the availability of beds and poor sanitation is a very serious concern. Nonetheless, everything is free.
Knowing how the batch mates did each share, our then class adviser expressed his gratitude, saying: “What you have been doing to your classmate made an old man cry! I am so proud of you. May God bless us all.”
I AM SORRY, Sir, the (not so) old man should not cry. Because what we are doing now is the transparent lateral of our furtive actions before, sharing of one-fourths, one-halves and answers! (abrigodann@gmail.com)