Can we trust this man?

By Jesus A. Garcia, Jr.

I WAS surprised to receive a call from Seato Gonimil, chief de mission of Dagupan City’s delegation to the Region 1 PRISAA Games. He was fuming mad as he reported that the general services officer of Dagupan City, named Ed Magno, did not live up to an agreement that two coaster buses will be provided by the city to transport the city’s athletes and officials to Laoag City on October 27 for the games. Gonomil said a formal letter requesting the two buses signed by Region 1 president Atty. Gonzalo T. Duque and approved by Mayor Benjamin Lim early this month, was subsequently endorsed to the general services office for action. Gonomil said he made a follow-up on the request that two weeks before the trip, and was assured by Magno that the buses would be made available.

But a day before the trip to the venue, Gonimil said Magno informed him there were no drivers available on October 26 due to the two days of postponement of the barangay and SK elections of 19 barangays in the city. The drivers have to vote, he said. Gonimil said it was a flimsy alibi and Magno should have looked for replacements to man the buses to help the city government fulfill its commitment.  It was bad enough that Magno only told him about the problem when he was confronted and when time was already running out on them. “I was even more upset when he said “problema na ninyo yan.“ He forgot that his office is for public services and we were representing Dagupan City.”

“He’s incompetent and has no palabra de honor at all and should not be in that office,” said the upset and enraged Gonimil. “He failed the city’s athletes and embarrassed the city government,” he said.

I don’t know Magno quite well. I only met him occasionally but what I do remember about him was he ran for a seat in the city council many times and always lost. I also believe that he’s not a sports buff because I never saw him participate nor watch sports competitions, not even in basketball, the number one sports favorite here. No wonder he can’t bag a seat in the city because it’s obvious he can’t win the hearts of the young ones who are into sports. Remember, survey says there are more young voters than the old ones.

Gonimil said Mayor Lim and Atty. Duque were both out of the country and so there was no one who could help him resolve the problem. (I don’t know why he didn’t ask for Veem Belen Fernandez’s help).

Fortunately, there was Governor Amado Espino, Jr. who readily gave a helping hand and sent two aircon provincial buses to help ferry the delegation despite Dagupan being a chartered city.

The city’s delegation is now competing against the best from La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte provinces. As of this writing (Friday) latest report sent by Region 1 PRISAA executive director Phil Celi said the Dagupan basketball team ripped its two opponents, Laoag City and La Union, 94-48 and 114-51, respectively, to clinch the gold. The Dagupenos also triumphed in volleyball for men and women as well as sepak takraw. (No thanks to Magno!).  Beach volleyball, athletics, table and lawn tennis and other disciplines are still being contested as of press time.

Celi said Dagupan will represent Region 1 in the National Collegiate Games slated in Manila on February 20-26 next year at Rizal Sports and Memorial Center in the sports event where it shall have won gold in Laoag.

Mabuhay kayo guys. And bring home more gold medals and seize the pennant.

QOUTE OF THE WEEK: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” “And he who curses his father and his mother shall surely be put to death.” Exodus 20:12 and 21:17.

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