Always, a good leader is everybody’s leader

By Al S. Mendoza

BENJIE versus Belen.

Let’s get ready to rumble.

From the red corner, Benjie Lim, weighing quite heavily with the crown on his head as mayor of Dagupan City.

From the blue corner, Belen Fernandez, weighing quite lightly with nothing in her head but grit.

Benjie is the odds-on favorite.

Nobody beats a mayor.  Anything a mayor throws, he scores.  Virtually, that is.

Rare is the time that a mayor loses, as in a lion losing jungle control to a mule.

Forget about the kitchen sink being also hurled to ensure victory for Benjie.

Even his mere toothpick can “outblade” the sword of anyone.

But given all that, is Benjie Lim justified in exploiting all his advantages against Belen Fernandez?

Belen has good intentions:

Generate more revenues to the city.

Provide more jobs.

Contribute to the city’s stature as a major – OK, major! major! – eco-tourist destination in Pangasinan.

Belen can give all that if she succeeds in building a hotel complete with resort amenities.  Imagine huge revenues pouring into the city.

But Belen’s bombastic plan has absorbed an initial blow.  Although not mortal, it dug deep into the ribcage.

It came in the form of a loud no from Benjie, invoking the law in stopping Belen from realizing her dream.

Benjie said a zoning law prohibits anyone from building a hotel along that boulevard that lovable Joe DV had built only a while back.

I’m not sure now if the law cited by Benjie has enough teeth to chew Belen’s blueprint.

But I’m sure, though, that if there is, indeed, a law on that, that law is not, should not be, a be-all, an ultimate, an absolute.

Laws are man-made and can, therefore, be amended, even destroyed, by man.

The Son of Man himself, Jesus Christ, commands us, eternally, to break the Sabbath law if the situation warrants it.

I have yet to hear one say Belen’s belief in her grand plan is flawed.

In fact, it’s the one blocking progress for the city that is wickedly flawed.

Benjie is mayor, yes, but he is also Citizen Benjie as well.

He should stop being mayor when the citizen’s interest gets in the way.

No, better yet, he should exploit, always, the weight of his crown to ensure a better tomorrow for the city.

A good leader is everybody’s leader. Not one to lead only his own self or he will surely get lost.

That should be the primordial duty of especially one who has an undue advantage over everybody.

OK, I know, I know. Benjie and Belen are not only political enemies but business foes as well.

However, with election being over, politics should take the backseat. From today up to 2013.

But no.

Benjie hasn’t discarded his political boxing gloves, first ordering City Hall department heads from attending sessions presided over by Belen.

Then, after deflecting Belen’s hotel dreams, Benjie would next veto the granting of 23 franchises or so to tricycle operators approved by Belen and the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

What is this, martial law all over again?

Either Benjie’s gone mad or lost his mind.

Take your pick.

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