Deretsahan
Revealing advertorials
By Bebot Villar
SOMEONE said, “The cat is finally out of the bag” while people watched the fight of the century between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather last May 3 live on USATV.
No, it was not about the fight itself kung saan marami ang luhaan because Pacman lost but what the people watched during commercial breaks. Thousands of Pangasinenses who watched the fight here could not but notice the political ads that were shown.
Of course, the pol ads showed support for our pambansang kamao na sana’y manalo syang muli para sa Filipino but there was more to the ads, something therein was revealing.
We saw the advertorial of Dagupan Mayor Belen Fernandez and some of her councilors, former Board Member Alfe Soriano of Malasiqui town, representing the Liga ng mga Barangay during his stint, Malasiqui Mayor Armand Domantay. The hot topics in media commentaries were about the tandem of former Congressman Mark Cojuangco at Calasiao Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay for governor and vice governor respectively in 2016. Of course, hindi rin nagpa-iwan ang team nina BM Amado Espino III alias “Pogi” at Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr.
As far as Malasiqui is concerned, the indication is there na malamang magbabanggaan sina Alfe and according to many, and the wife of Armand sa mayoralty fight in 2016. (Armand is a graduating mayor since he is already in his third successive term). If you recall, muntikan nang ma knock-out sana ng mother ni Alfe na si Mrs. Fe Soriano, whose husband Poncing was also a three-term mayor, itong si Armand when they fought twice for the mayoralty.
So in the next year’s election, it’s still Soriano versus Domantay ang aabangan although there’s already another name na napapabalitang malamang lalaban din for mayor in Malasiqui. This young man belongs to a very powerful political family and is already seen going around town. He should not be taken for granted. Huwag siyang ismolin dahil hindi sya basta-basta. Truth is, he’s been going around feeling the people’s pulse and perhaps, by this time, meron na rin siyang malinaw na decision. Maybe when he starts to kiss babies, gaya ng sikat na sikat na naging lider ng bansa, only then will we know that he has thrown his hat in the political arena next year. Pag nangyari yan, it will be a fight of the decade in Malasiqui. It will be matira ang matibay. Todong bakbakan yan!
But going back to “the cat is finally out of the bag,” yung paglabas ng ads nina Pogi at Ferdie would confirm talks that it will be their tandem vs Mark Cojuangco and Mark Roy Macanlalay. With that political ad, the battle lines are drawn!
It’s about time Ferdie shows where his loyalty really lies. My reliable informant told me that when Cong. Mark was a guest at the recent Mapandan town fiesta, he said he waited for six months to get Ferdie’s commitment to be his tandem. But he waited in vain prompting Cong Mark to seek an equally capable tandem in the person of Mayor Mark Roy.
The reason Ferdie was considered as Cong Mark’s partner was because they both belong to Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), the political party founded by former Ambassador and business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr., who is Mark’s dear dad.
And so it was only late last year when Mark finally announced Mark Roy as his vice gubernatorial tandem. Since then, they have been attending important events together and Mark would always say that he is proud to have Mark Roy as partner.
Si Ferdie naman, has been going around making his presence felt in fiestas and other official events. During those times, sari-sari pa ring wild speculations ang naririnig natin about his political plan. But for the record, everything can still change and nothing can be deemed final until they file their certificates of candidacy, di ba? In fact, maski nag-file na there is still the possibility of substitution for any valid reason.
But wherever Vice Gov Ferdie chooses to tread on later on, let’s just respect it. So to him and our other friends seeking political mandate, good luck to all of you. I only wish and hope that there will be fair play dahil maliit lang ang mundong ginagalawan natin. Let the people decide.
Speaking of Mayor Belen Fernandez, she’s about the only politician na aakalain mong every day is a campaign period. While other candidates become visible only during the campaign period, siya naman ay walang tigil in pursuing her projects. That is why I’m sure she is up for three terms because kitang-kita naman sa sipag at tiyaga niya.
The only thing her detractors can do to pull her down is to mislead the people and fabricate lies. Of course, no leader is perfect but in the case of Dagupan under Belen’s stewardship, people already count their blessings because she is sincere about serving her constituents, unlike many whose priority is to enrich themselves while in office.
A true good leader ay dapat laging handa, whom everyone wants to follow, dapat anumang oras pwedeng isabak sa giyera.
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We’re still a long way to election day, pero wala nang tigil ang ikot ng mga candidates in the province. Even former Congressman Gener Tulagan in District 3 has been seen making the rounds regularly. But I note that in other districts, there are still no serious challengers na lumalabas na lalaban.
I really only hope that the focus and priority ng mga candidates would be the fight against illegal drugs. Dapat din kasama ito sa kanilang platform of government because illegal drugs is now the number one problem, hindi lang ng ating probinsya but in the whole country.
And I hope candidates will assume an attitude na walang personalan and that after that political exercise, everyone will work together para sa ikabubuti ng ating probinsya.
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