(Outgoing) Mabalacat City Mayor Cris Garbo did what no one else could easily do. In Monday’s flag raising ceremonies with city government employees in Xevera, he enjoined everyone to support the incoming administration “101 percent”.
Although he has already conceded defeat several hours after the elections, his public appearance in a big gathering Monday morning was the first time since being drubbed by former tandem-turned-nemesis Atty. Geld Aquino, along with his running mate vice mayor elect Jun Castro.
In doing so, Garbo graciously accepted his very first defeat in his 30-plus years of political career. Yes, he has not yet lost in any elections since first joining the fray in 1992.
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Along with a now-tarnished political record was that of his own daughter’s setback as vice mayor wanna-be and eight of his councilorables.
But he has manned up to his and his slate’s pounding.
It is not easy for any political figure, especially in Philippine setting to be doing something like that, moreso coming from a grueling and tension-filled campaign.
But Mayor Garbo, a mature evangelical Christian that he has become, simply acknowledged that God may have better plans for him. He has quoted Romans 8:28 – “all things work together for good to those who loved Him and are called according to His purpose.”
In accepting the rout and the circumstances around it, Garbo could be likened to few Biblical characters like Moses (who led the Hebrews out of oppressive Egypt only to face complaining and rebellion in the dessert by his own people later), David (who bravely killed Goliath then appointed to be king had to escape King Saul’s attempt to have him killed out of insecurities).
Perhaps, one of the more apt comparison would be Joseph the Dreamer. This wasn’t just about a story of being sold into slavery but also of how his own brothers connived and deceived him out of envy and treachery. It was also about betrayal and abandonment.
Prior to being used to save his people from famine, Joseph was also falsely accused of a wrongdoing by Potiphar’s wife. The story’s ending, as we all know, resulted in Joseph’s forgiveness, leading to a reunion and restored relationship with his brothers and father Jacob.
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Garbo faced that all – treachery, abandonment, betrayal, disloyalty. Add the black propaganda, mudslinging, brick batting, name calling, and every trick in the book.
How does he respond? Forgiveness, support, respect, honor – virtues that may be hard to find among today’s politicians. And Garbo is not one of those.
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SHOCKING ELECTIONS. Still a fascination, if not a total mystery, are some of the results of the local elections.
In the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, the camp of losing mayoralty candidate Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab still could not believe how they did not register a win in one single solitary precinct.
I could not wrap my head around that bafflement too. While she and her team may not be favored in some areas of the premier city, I find it strange that automated election results did not yield any win in any of the precincts. This one is for the books. Perhaps, that really gives credence to the need for a manual recount which her camp had petitioned Comelec for.