Think about it
Pangasinan is assured of orderly barangay polls
By Jun Velasco
“The greatest happiness of the thinking man is to have fathomed what can be fathomed, and quietly to reverence what is unfathomable,” Goethe
BY the time this paper is out, the nation would have made up its mind on whom they want to man the thousands of barangay posts of chairman and kagawad all over the land.
It would be ill advised to treat the political exercise lightly because those we’d choose are our first line of defense nearest our homes.
We should be on the sharpest lookout not to err in making our choices.
The above mindset is not all there is to it though. It’s not only our individual or conscience’s choices at stake, for out there — between our place of abode (homes) and the polling place—lurk formidable forces out to block, main or divert our own choices, like the goons and pawns of determined candidates to win fair or foul for their bosses (the corrupt politicians) who are guided by Machiavellian “there’s no substitute for victory” code.
We need to be vigilant and exercise utmost caution to protect our vote.
You see the government closest to home will tell us the kind and quality of our lives.
It’s like choosing your housemate or spouse who you’ll have to live with for the next 3 years. Hell if you get a crook and lazy bone for a mate, but heaven if he or she is straight and masipag.
* * * *
Last Thursday afternoon, we found our self at a command conference “Final Joint Security Preparations for the Barangay Elections” at Consuelo’s Pavilion in Lingayen town.
The briefing was set up by the Pangasinan police under Col. Marlou Chan, the Comelec under Deputy Chair Marino Salas and DepEd’s Czarinas Drs. Viraluz Raguindin and Geraldin Casipit.
Read the news item on page 1 or in the main section of this issue because our man on the beat—the indefatigable Ding Micua—was in the press gallery, along with PDI’s Ging Cardinoza, GMA’s Alfie Tulagan, DWIZ’s RJ Jimenez and Liway Manantan, and others whose names temporarily escaped us.
We were impressed by the phalanx of chiefs of police from all Pangasinan’s towns and cities in attendance including Comelec and DepEd key personnel.
We have to give it to Marlou Chan, our former partner in Oscar Orbos’ coffee shop partners in the 90’s, the normally embattled hepe who was in his element and able to handle with aplomb a sensitive query if there’s any initiative of a tie-up with the provincial government. Marlou has mastered the art of managing his emotions.
And so, with the resource speakers making a neat impression, the province, in spite of colliding political interests, is not unprepared for the Oct. 28 elections.
In the open forum, we briefly mentioned that we had met with Comelec’s pretty and intelligent Commissioner Grace Padaca to show our concurrence to the province’s preparedness in overseeing the October 28 barangay polls.
It just occurred to us like an after thought, that supposed Gov. Spines and Col. Chan – who are both products of the Philippine Military Academy — were in the best of terms from day 1, would it be better for a cleaner, more orderly and peaceful elections?
But a modicum amount of conflict, according to psychologists—would be an ideal mix for success.
Let’s keep your fingers crossed.
* * * *
Many Roy, Ope Reyna’s sidekick in the anticipated “grandest” Dagupan City National High School reunion and homecoming on December 28 and us had coffee at Figaro last Wednesday.
The guy and Ope crafted the successful “salat! salat!” battle cry for Belen Fernandez, in the last elections.
Manny just planed in after meeting with City Highers (DCNHS alumni) in the West Coast to drum up for the Grandest Homecoming on Dec.28.
But Ope was scratching his head. Not so many sponsors signed up with Manny Baby.
Nag-junket lang si Manny?
Nope! The fact that the Alumni Association sent its man to personally make a personal appeal for the alumni’s ‘grandest’ event has its electric power.
Our U.S.-based alumni are now forming many groups in preparation for a grand invasion of Dagupan on Reunion Day, which coincides with Class 63’s Golden Jubilee!
See you there!
* * * *
NOTES: LTO Dagupan’s Richard Agbayani is showing how to bring the government closer to the people by holding his office in front of his office to beat the “fixers on their job” Smart move…. Jun dela Cruz reports that the INC has adopted Lilia Yasar, while Philadelphia goes for Julie Ann Perez in Pantal’s heated polls. Mon Santillian says come-backing chair Angel Gumarang and Albert Gregorio are in a race to topple re-electionist Kap Rico Mejia, while in Lucao, it’s a dizzying race between LP national mogul Ely Quinto and comebacking Lino Fernandez.
May the best man or woman win!
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