Zeroing in on Guv Spine

By Al S. Mendoza

HOW can Guv Spine lose?

He is the incumbent.

He is the toast of Pangasinan’s businessmen and the darling of provincial media.

He has been going great guns from Day One, punctuating his first few months in office by transforming the Capitol from a decrepit edifice into what arguably is the most beautiful seat of provincial government the country has ever had.

I’m not saying you vote for Guv Spine.

What I’m saying is, you vote according to your conscience. According to a candidate’s performance.

I know nothing significant about the past administration of Victor Agbayani, the one replaced by Guv Spine.

For 9 years that he’s been at Princess Urduja, Agbayani could not show anything of note that would make every Pangasinense proud.

For 9 years that he’s been governor, Agbayani’s most significant performance was to get mad at me for a reason even a kid of 10 would laugh at heartily.

I wrote in my column at the Inquirer about a bridge that has remained un-repaired and, instead of repairing the bridge, he reprimanded me through my editor.

My then editor (I retired from the Inquirer in 2006 after a 20-year stint there) said, “If you believe in your advocacy, ignore him.  Go on writing about what you think is right.”

I did.  Still do today – write about positions I believe are right.

Ever since I started voting in the Eighties, I had cast my vote only in Pangasinan.

Although I live in Manila, I made it a point – no, I made it a vow – to always vote in Mangatarem.

Why?

“Because I wasn’t born in Manila,” I would tell each one firing me that question.

Quite a shallow reason, you might say?

Not to me.

I want my kabaleyans to give me the government I dream for, dream of, dream by.

In Metro Manila, although I live there, I do not have any affinity with those charting the course of the Big City.

Since they are not my cabaleyan, cailian, I feel like there’s no genuine bonding with them.  All superficial.  Plastic.

Over here, it’s different.

We are all like brothers and sisters.

There’s almost like family ties among all of us.  No fear.  No inhibitions.  No guarded moments.

When you feel like your leaders here are going astray, you can scold them even at the top of your lungs and you feel a sense of fulfillment.

It’s like, you are merely telling your brother or sister what should be the right path to tread.

Mostly, you are heeded.  At times, you get rebuked – but, of course, done in the spirit of freedom and democracy, if not fraternal bonds.

As what Gonz Duque would love to say, “Singa tayo aga mangkakalugaran.”

Or, “Singa tayo aga mangkakanayon.”

You do that in Manila – chastise, perhaps a mayor, a congressman or even a councilor – and you might end up being blacklisted, if not consigned to the dustbin of history.  Lucky if you don’t get salvaged.

How can Guv Spine lose?

He has provided free buses for the Kapitolyo employees home-to-office and back since he took over in 2007.

Charity begins at home.

If you have a governor, a Guv Spine, that lives by that core value, how can you not love him?

Only a fool won’t.

So, on that note, happy valentine!

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