Orbos would be better off as a senatorial candidate

By Gonzalo Duque

FORMER Governor Oscar Orbos is running for governor as the Catholic Church’s fair-haired boy.

According to him, he has no political party to back him. Why, may I ask, is not the church a big, in fact, the biggest political party these days?

That’s a big, big edge, my friends, so watch out, Dr. Jamie Agbayani, Congressman Spines, General Art Lomibao and, if true as Mark Jimenez would want us to believe, Biskeg boss Bebot Villar!

The popular Oca Orbos (during Cory Aquino’s time specially) has confirmed to a few select friends he is running for the post he once held.

Well, good luck na lang, pare ko.  I thought you’ve wanted out of dirty politics, as you claimed several times in the past. Well, medyo trapo ka rin pala, but that’s the way it is in this dirty game. No, I won’t take it against you, in fact, I commend you for waking up from the idealist type of politics that you thought you were advocating. Natan medyo abangon kala, well and good, politics is the art of the possible, you know that.

But   if   I were you, the senate would be the best challenge. With the CBCP backing, you’d make it to the winning column easily. I understand the Genuine Opposition is still looking for the replacement of Kiko Pangilinan, but, governor? Naku, mairap dia, take it from me, the traditional ways are still hard to break.

The governorship is like a Don Quixote fighting the windmills. Anyway, the windmills could either throw you on the mire or catapult you to the stars. Good luck just the same.

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Brian Lim, the better Lim, according to the young people, has captured the hearts and minds of the LNU students when he spoke during a recent convocation.

Matinik yay sanama awa?  With Brian in the campaign trail, they hit two birds with one stone.

If you have noticed, Brian’s name and face are all over the schools in Dagupan City. No, not as a candidate, but as an education promoter. Graben panag promote itan ha?   Well, anyway, the Comelec is very liberal on such things, I think.

Smart move, Brian. I want him to win in any political challenge he ventures into.

Kaya lang, salatan mo met  tay picture mod arap na aray escuelaan, iho, mukhang manmoteg ka ni, singa ka candidato ed student council or Dagupan Jaycees. Use a more macho picture. So you will look responsible, which you are anyway.

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And what’s this low gimmick Councilor Netu (don’t pronounce it backward, please) Tamayo is doing?  He has hung his poster everywhere with these misleading words: “I am against minors joining frats!” (words to this effect).

That’s negative advertising... Mag-bo-boomerang  yan!

Fraternities are good so long as they are responsible, or, in our case, regulated. Brotherhood organizations like the Masonry, Demolay, fraternities are ok, but should be well-advised to behave.

With that kind of mindset, baka mag cacampaign ang mga fratmen against Netu. Wawa ka naman.

*       *        *

My brother Health Sec. Pingkoy Duque told me that Speaker Joe de Venecia has assured him of  funds for the completion of my pet project, a regional drug and alcohol rehab  center in Burgos, Pangasinan, but  on a certain condition, that the central office is located in Dagupan City.

I must thank the Speaker for this positive development, but I wish it were a psychiatric center because there is a dire need for it, and I propose further the revival of that defunct Manaois sub-hospital in Bonuan Binloc to serve the purpose.

 I have voiced my concern for the putting up of a regional drug rehab center in Dagupan City because it could open the floodgates for drug addicts roaming around hereabouts. So to diminish their presence, I suggest just a referral center for rehabilitation in Burgos town, whose construction has already started actually. Please take another look, Manong Joe. And thanks, brod Pingkoy for taking up the cudgels for Pangasinan, notably provincial drug council chairman Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino.         

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The election season should give our candidates a chance to show their wares. I mean, what can they really offer our people? The elections are not mere popularity or gimmick contest. There are hard issues. What do our people really need? Are you really capable of delivering service and leadership to them? Maybe, you think you are already ripe for service. Many admire you for that. But show that you are capable and ready to serve.

In my book, it is he who leads in educating our people who should lead. Was it Confucius who said, “Give man fish, and he will eat for a day; teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.”

Make the electoral exercise count. Let’s educate our people with the elections.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/playing-with-fire/)

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