Think about it
A Pechay story
By Jun Velasco
OUR man in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, ORG, sent a dispatch that says Butch Pichay of Mindanao has many blood relatives in Ilocandia.
In that case, we have three northerners gunning for the senate: Pichay, Chavit Singson and Ping Lacson.
We don’t believe in parochial politics, but things being equal, there’s no sound argument why we should not support these three senatoriables.
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Speaking of the leafy vegetable, a writer in the newspaper mailbox claims that the local market needs upgrading because imported veggies, he says, are selling much cheaper.
True. Were it not for Butch Pichay running for the senate, this cheap veggie imports problem which is killing our local planters would have been sidelined.
We’re lucky Butch has raised the issue which in fact should go all the way to how our poor country should deal with cheap imports including the basic staple.
Most of you probably thought the “pechay” issue is a remote one plucked from nowhere just to promote Butch’s candidacy. No, because it underscores an economic problem that has stolen the daylights of most underdeveloped countries like the Philippines.
Reminds us of the time then First Lady Imelda Marcos turned all our backyards into a Green Revolution paradise. Those unschooled in economics were then dancing in the streets because of Imelda’s green and leafy vegetables fiesta. But here’s the rub. The GR revolution knocked out our vegetable producers; nobody was buying their produce anymore.
Enters Mr. Pichay who was asked to do something, when he makes it to the Senate, to lower the price of the nutritious veggie that’s making him a household name.
Mr. Pichay is solidly competent, and his economic sense will lift the cobwebs from the old issue of rich versus poor in our country and in the whole of Asia given his track record in turning barren soils into rich, multi-million opportunities.
Butch will be at ease in munching the leafy issue because even as a young government worker who literally transformed backward Surigao into a most modern province, he already has carved a track record in public service worth watching. A no-nonsense economist, his ideas should touch base for the future generation.
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We watched the debate between the administration and opposition candidates for the senate at the Manila Hotel last Wednesday.
Only two from the opposition showed up — Nikki Coseteng and Sonia Roco, while most of the administration bets ruled the forum.
The opposition who are enjoying high ratings in the recent surveys doubted the ability of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce to be impartial in the debate.
Right now, probably expecting the Gloria party would now get high ratings in the next days’ survey, some leaders of the opposition are now saying the results would be “doctored” even if they freely would come from the local government units dominated by Lakas, Kampi, NPC, and Liberal Party which have the countryside votes on their side.
So, expect a non-stop war even after the May l4 elections. Right now, the opposition are saying they’d be cheated.
* * *
How explain Dr. Jamie Agbayani’s popularity? It’s wrong to say that she is popular because of husband Governor Victor.
She has been holding medical missions for all the years that Victor is governor. And she is lovely and friendly.
And yet her platform is self-effacing, which is to carry on what hubby has begun.
Comes now Oscar Orbos who, pundits say, hasn’t lost his magic.
Because of Pangasinan’s vast size, name recall and popularity will play a big role in electoral victory.
This is why Oca Lambino who has hobnobbed with all the politicians for many years and Spines Espino’s 40 mayors vowing to back him are in limbo because of the popularity factor.
An Espino partisan says “organization will spell the difference.” Let’s see.
* * *
A tip to over-optimistic candidates: 85 percent of the voters would promise their vote, but left alone, they either follow their conscience or what their family elders or barangay ward leaders dictate. Only 15 percent will “sell” or give their vote to a candidate’s impassioned plea.
Watch your back.
(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/think-about-it/)
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