THE TRIUMPH OF INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP AND POLITICAL WILL: Why Catandunganons will re-elect a CUA-SARMIENTO administration

Catanduanes, Bicol’s best kept secret…an island only known amongst everyone as an entry point whenever a tropical storm or typhoon enters the archipelago. Its natural beauty and economic potential hardly known to its own fellow Filipinos, left behind without any consideration and determination by its previous administrations towards means of development.

For decades members of political dynasties and various personalities took turns in occupying the Provincial Capitol and also the seats of the Municipal Halls, yet the same condition of the island and every Catandunganon remained. These leaders despite enjoying laudable influence over personalities and connections to the national government, miserably failed to maximize efforts and materialize programs to improve the island.

Governor JOSEPH "Boboy" CUA

Came in 2007, when one man took the courage to usher in a different approach in leadership and bring an end to this era of stagnation…steering the island towards a new direction. Enter Governor JOSEPH “Boboy” CUA, the man who never lost faith and belief to the promise of the island province and its people, who despite losing on his first attempt of securing the leadership of the province never gave up in offering his alternative brand of leadership to the people.

Looking back from his humble beginnings, this leader’s keen faith and hopes for the Island has been tested by time. Braving the fear of investing on businesses in the island unlike other fellow businessmen, Governor Cua and his family never thought twice of taking chances in investing on businesses that provided jobs and other opportunities for his fellow Catandunganons and their families.

Immediately after taking over the Capitol, he made it clear that the path of his leadership must begin by bringing it closer from the source of its mandate…the people, the Catandunganons. He kept himself visible and reachable to his people, whether at the Capitol or thru roaming around the eleven municipalities of the island both during calm and even amidst the storms.

He brought the innovation in the provincial leadership, setting aside politics and sticking it out with his guiding principles… a firm and clear platform of government “J.O.S.E.P.H”. From then on continuously accomplishing scores of achievements in key areas of neglect towards development where his predecessors failed to attend to, notably having led the province with resiliency and stability despite the economic downturn due to the “abaca crisis” spawned by the global economic crisis then.

Likewise he never got tired of developing alternative means of income for Catandunganons through programs and projects for agriculture and fisheries notably the Catanduanes Crab Center, the “lasa” or tiger-grass development, “cassava” processing; establishing economic centers to entice investors for business such as the Virac Youth Center Mall; boosting tourism thru development of infrastructures  for the promotion of the island’s prime tourist spots like the famous Twin Rock Beach Resort and Majestic Puraran Surfing Resort among others.

A more in-depth focus towards improvement of Education, Health and Social Services were intensified by programs and policies under his watch, resulting with the modernization and upgrade of the island’s prime health facilities under the Eastern Bicol Medical Center and a more dynamic provincial scholarship program, known as the College Unified Assistance program for the island’s college students was launched.

Congressman CESAR V. SARMIENTO

In 2010, with the foundation of change established and stabilized during his first term, Governor Cua reaped the fruits of his dedication and selfless efforts having been triumphantly re-elected for a second term overwhelmingly by his people. At this same time another leader with the same determination and aspirations of hope for the province, was selected by the Catandunganons to represent them and their continuing struggle for development to the halls of Congress… Congressman CESAR V. SARMIENTO.

Cong. CVS was not new to the woes of his people, having served as the second highest official of the island as its Vice Governor and presiding officer of the Provincial Board during those tumultuous days overwhelmed by too much politics at the Capitol brought by the indifference of the then sitting Governor. This state had hindered important projects and relevant legislations towards development in the sidelines as legislative sessions ends up in a gridlock between the Governor’s cohorts and other members of the Provincial Board.

But as much as hindrance would block his efforts, Cong. CVS will not be stopped from other means of bringing service towards his people. Despite a sudden lie-low from politics opting not to run for re-election as Vice Governor, Cong.CVS having been appointed to the national government to join the Department of Transportation and Communications maximized this avenue of bringing service to his people...notably in securing safety for the island during times of calamities, having been instrumental in securing the assignment of telecommunications equipments and emergency warning systems from the International Telecommunications Union.

He also spearheaded advocacy programs for youth empowerment and the environment, actively participating in tree planting programs, coastal clean-ups and other valuable endeavors notably the highly successful Cesar V. Sarmiento Oratorical Cup, which develops the potential and the political maturity of the island’s youth into social awareness, critical thinking and nation building.

In his first term in Congress, Cong. CVS proved that with sincere and dedicated “political will”… aspirations can be turned into reality. With his matchless enthusiasm and determination, his peoples’ long aspiration for the Catanduanes State Colleges, its lone state college’s conversion to a state university was finally realized. This feat has taken only a single term for him to achieve, compared to the total of 18 years or three 3 year terms of his predecessors combined.

Furthermore, Cong. CVS shown that with “political will” paving the way for the foundations of development for the island do not require too much time, having caused for massive improvements and construction of major facilities, centers and infrastructures for the province just in the span of his three years in office. Cong. CVS strength is fueled by his own persona and the same passion towards achieving his goals and aspirations for his struggling people.

Both Governor Cua and Congressman Sarmiento combined service ushered in a new era, a new approach and a new face in the island’s leadership and government, the results of their policies and projects are now felt and evident to the sudden shift of direction that the island province is heading onwards… the not so far, not so long achievement of progress.

With this proven integrity, level of leadership and accomplishments, why should Catandunganons take chances on taking a different choice?

The hard side of it… there are no more questions, they already made their choice.

SULONG CATANDUNGAN!

The Triumph of Elitism: the travesty, betrayal and the continuing saga of the masses

An aristocracy in the making guised as hope cast on “liberal reformism”.

How interesting it was of observing over the sudden twist of events to be brought about by the highly sensationalized death of the revered “democracy icon”, the late former President Corazon Aquino to our country’s politics, which by then was already being marred with overflowing bold ambitions for the upcoming Presidential polls next year.

It was just recently that the talk was all about whom among the aspirants from the opposition, shall stand up to lead its fragmented ranks and different winged-parties towards a sure victorious conquest of the Presidency. While the administration is desperately scouting for a viable candidate who could be at least possibly acceptable to the people owing to the incumbent President’s celebrated unpopularity.

Then suddenly floated the thought of encouraging her only son and martyred husband Ninoy Aquino’s namesake, Benigno III popularly known as “Noynoy” in the same pattern to her mother who herself served as the unifying persona over a similar situation of the then political opposition in standing up against the then solid political juggernaut of the dictatorship in the contest for the Presidency.

The Filipino middle class, whether due to their soft-heartedness brought by fanaticism of telenovela dramas, great admiration for both the dictator’s martyred arch-rival and his wife, the saintly lady figure who would later take his mantle against the dictatorship and eventually lead the country after its collapse or simply just out of desperation towards a better leadership to replace the present corrupt autocratic regime converted all the sympathies towards the mourning family into a flood of committed support towards a political movement called on to be led by them.

But with emotions blinding reason, they pathetically failed to look at the fact that Cory herself failed to deliver the much needed reforms towards betterment and progress of the nation after successfully wresting power from Marcos with the EDSA Revolt, only to be the first of the post-EDSA Presidents which saw the continued deterioration of the country’s state even worsened steadily by her successors notably by the incumbent pygmy who herself served as a member of the former’s cabinet.

They also forgot the her own lapse of judgment over the issue of agrarian reform, which her administration ironically claims as its legacy in the being of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) that was enacted into law but miserably failed to materialize to this very moment due to the lack of sincere will of implementation owing to their own feudalistic landowning backgrounds.

Both their revered and adored late couple themselves, belongs to the same class of feudal landlords or hacienderos especially the lady who belongs to the renowned Cojuangco clan who holds ownership of Tarlac’s famous Hacienda Luisita. Elite and rich, it is sad to note that both themselves did nothing to alleviate the living standards of the masses during their hold on to power which could have made a big difference at present. He as the sensational, “Wonder boy of Philippine politics” and she as the iconic “Mother of Philippine democracy”.

It is also strikingly insulting that they looked unknowingly fooled by those presently propelling Noynoy’s candidacy to the belief that the latter is the country’s only viable hope for change and reform towards progress, when the neophyte senator’s records in congress shows a lackluster performance having not produced a single bill of significance into law nor had any specific project for his constituents especially that of the underprivileged for the last 9 years he spent in the lower house and nearly 2 years in the Senate.

Further in such fair criticism, he also lacks a specific agenda or program of government for his administration, merely banking on the popularity of the persona, image and name of his departed parents adding up her popular sister-actress, Kris who’s own following of both showbiz personalities and fans are likely to catch huge number of votes. Such in the line with the pathetic nature of the Filipino electorate to vote not by the candidate’s quality and capacity but rather by popularity and fame.

Looking further at the other candidates who earlier threw their hats in the presidential derby, none of these personalities has earned enough right and reputation to identify themselves to the masses. Even the self-proclaimed “Mr. Sipag at Tiyaga” himself, Senator Manuel Villar who is undoubtedly more than willing to spend all his riches in producing campaign ads in television portraying his beginnings as a poor boy in the slums of Tondo and his rags-to-riches story, in such a pathetic effort to convince and win the sympathy of the underprivileged which commands a lion’s share of the electoral cake.

It is not too surprising that the masses would rather welcome and support former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s declaration of his determined attempt of reclaiming Malacañang, which he historically won unprecedentedly in 1998 mandated by no less than 11 million votes, mostly from the people classified as those in the C, D and E labels of social survey sheets. Who despite his fall from power and grace after the successful elitist EDSA People Power 2, perfect demonization and humiliation of his successor through his incarceration, trial and conviction as plunderer remained with their unshakable reverence and faith in him.

Though it is with high doubts that Erap’s eligibility to seek re-election would not be contested by his opponents, who are most likely to gang up on him to put him out of the race by sighting legal technicalities for his disqualification. An issue which expected to be dragged up to the Supreme Court for final decision, but while no petition is being filed and yet to be heard, he would still be part of the campaign circus itself. He still notably remains a formidable foe to reckon and deal with, especially on the hearts and minds of the poor folks who forever acknowledges him as their champion.

With the likes, backgrounds and nature of the other aspirants namely: Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Senators Richard Gordon, Jamby Madrigal, Evangelist Eddie Villanueva, Councilor JC de los Reyes and Environmentalist Nicanor Perlas. All known of growing up being with well-heeled families, never having experienced having their stomachs empty or work for very meal they are to munch daily. It is empirical to predict that the masses would ever find themselves epitomized by any of these names, closing the serious contest between the three.

It is inquisitive to note their personal backgrounds: Teodoro, himself is a member of the Cojuangco clan and cousin of Noynoy himself; Gordon and Delos Reyes, being uncle and nephew are of the same American ancestry; Jamby is a member of the rich Spanish-Visayan Madrigal family; Bro. Eddie, himself owns a TV network and even the relatively unknown Perlas, is a son of a well-to-do former public utility administrator.

While many new factors are given speculations of significance for the coming polls, among others being the age factor where the youth population (ages 18-30) comprises almost more than 60% of the electorate, the factor of party machineries and local support bases’ strength and effects of sudden maneuvers like party and alliance shifting among political turncoats themselves, the usual ones are forever to remain such as the ever infamous 3G’s of guns, goons and gold.

Yet the chilling thoughts of election failure due to a sudden shift from the usual manual system to the automated one, remains lingering and sinisterly haunting as the election machines set to be used for the coming polls are still being manufactured by the company tapped by the government to take charge of the automated process. And with barely five months left, the total number of machines produced not even reaching half of the total number of all the polling precincts in the country and the COMELEC stubbornly refusing the idea of partial-automation or reverting back to manual polling as fallback options.

That is most likely to keep the female pygmy holding on the throne in the Palace near the murky river.

It catches one’s interest that the parodical filing of more than eighty (80) nuisance candidates, for the Presidency of the Republic during the COMELEC’s mandated period for filing of certificates of candidacy for those aspiring for elective positions in the next polls, was to be ironic yet a highly symbolic reflection of the common people’s despair over the prevailing system. Adding insult to the injury of deeply enrooted public distrust to our electoral system and the governing agency itself, COMELEC.

Nevertheless the coming election is nothing more but like a mere fireworks display of the people’s ill-fated hopes, especially the poor for change and betterment of their lives, giving nothing but a split seconds of sparkling lights only to fade away with the reality that none of these aspirants are sincere agents of the change they seek but mere adherents of the prevailing status quo, out to gamble up everything to protect their selfish interests within the context of the present system.

While we were made to believe that we are in a democratic society guided with the principles equality, freedom, truth justice and popular will, we are indeed in such a travestied reality, in an elitist society where a continuing class struggle is still being waged by the masses towards achieving these very same principles towards genuine reform and change.

From time immemorial, since the era of foreign colonization to the so-called independence era, pre-martial law era, new society era, post-EDSA era to the present nothing has changed. The rich and powerful elite only changed their personas from mestizos, caciques, hacienderos to the present day alta sociedad that rules over the nation from the government, the economy, the church and to the very aspects of our everyday lives.

The Philippine democracy is that of a tired one, so as to say. The people have long resigned themselves to the expectations of a government to bring betterment to their lives, yet they still cast hopes on to so-called “leaders” whom they can identify as one of them. They would dramatically hold on to this faith, unto the prevailing system brought by alien imperialists to fool them continuously.

We are being fooled by this charade of being a so-called “democracy” it is nothing but the prevailing status quo of elitism where the rich and the powerful completely holds control of everything. None of the principles of democracy itself is to be shared to common man and the poor alike, none but the indulgence of suffering, hunger and poverty.

This is the painful truth of the reality we are to face, the prevailing status quo of the elite in triumph while in continued betrayal and mockery of majority, the masses themselves.

This is the travesty of our democracy.

Enough of casting hopes in personalities…it is up to us our own selves to bring the real change.