Misplaced Criticism

By Gonzalo Duque

IF only our mayors were like Sammy Rosario of Binmaley town, then, to parody a once great politician, this province can be great again.

You know what we mean. Just visit his town which from sleepy hollow is now a beautiful and prosperous local government unit.

We bumped into the winsome mayor at Shakeys at CSI recently, and the little chat we had about his town gave us an idea of what this man has between his ears. He is a no nonsense town executive, and the Binmaley folk are just lucky to have finally had a topnotch mayor of his caliber. We won’t be surprised at all if someday soon, the beautiful town will become of the best LGUs nationwide – all because of this good leader.

When we asked him his formula, he said, “performance, sir.”

Performance is the basis of a continuing public trust, he stressed.

He is also one leader with a political will. Just ask what he did with the vexing fishpens in his town. He dismantled them all.

Another town executive who has carved a shining reputation in so short a time at the helm is General Reynaldo Velasco of Sta. Barbara town.

Rey, as his kins Mel andJun V told us, cuts a persona that’s more technocrat than politico, which should therefore make him a real leader needed by the times.

Kasi sawa na tayo sa trapo e. One of his pet projects is an airport in Sta. Barbara. High sounding? Nope, knowing his track, we won’t be surprised at all if he will make it soon.

Sana mga ganitong chief execs ang magpapaandar ng ating mga LGUs, So that we can talk about hope. If you ask us, Rey is over qualified to be mayor; he should carve a name in some higher posts, say congressman or governor. Go for it, Rey!

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Senator Pong Biason got a round of flaks for openly criticizing President GMA’s trip to the US.

In this day and age when we can talk to just anybody anywhere in any part of the world, all this grape about requiring a government official to be with his constituents  in times of calamities is Jurassic thinking, out of time and out of line.

That is why you saw PGMA giving instructions to her cabinet through the internet or high-tech facility. They call it teleconference. Para na rin siyang nandyan sa tabi, di ba?

This Biazon type of criticism falls flat on his face because PGMA’s US visit had been scheduled long before, and it won’t be possible anymore to cancel it just like that.

Because of her visit, President Bush had agreed to send a Ronald Reagan carrier to the Philippines calamity-visited parts to assist in retrieving bodies that drowned in the sea. Magagawa ni Senator Biazon yan nang ganyan ganyan lang?       

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But it’s a different story when it comes to some congressmen whose constituents were directly affected by the tragedy at sea, those in the Western Visayas, Iloilo, Romblon, Panay and the like. They should have stayed home.

Hindi naman sila expected sa state visit e.

We would really require them to stay put in the spirit of filial love. This explains why Speaker Boy Nograles has sounded the bugle calling them to come home – those in the severely affected areas in the Visayas.

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We again mentioned the word “speaker.” Nakaganahan na natin na ang titulo na yan ay para sa ating kaibigan na si  Manong Joe. Singa agko labay ya isulat so Speaker Nograles e. But life is like that, agaguik ira.  Miss pa rin natin si manong Joe kahit wala na siya sa tugatog ng congress.

Sana, truly, Manong Joe, it’s our hope that you will get back your bearings and be an instrument of the nation’s unity and progress. We are waiting, Manong.

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Did you know that about 20 more typhoons are slated to hit the Philippines?  Panangasi yo pa, mandasal itayo ompiano agtila lamet nabakbak! Anggad natan, mansasalat ak ni  na agabyang ya atep ko. Mansalat tilay ugali tan kagagawa mga agagui. Manpapasnok lay Katawan, ta dakkel ni ray pikewet so kagagawa na karaklan ed karaklan.         

(Readers may reach columnist at punch.sunday@gmail.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/playing-with-fire/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

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