By ALFREDO P HERNANDEZ
MAMBULAOANS overseas and
elsewhere who are themselves happy netizens should feel luckier – they can now
participate actively in the discussion of issues affecting Mambulao.
The availability of social
interaction sites for this purpose is boosting their active participation
without having to be in Mambulao in flesh and blood.
The fast approaching local
elections in May is one event that should inspire to hone their talents in
dispensing with comments, criticisms, suggestions or insights, however
brilliant, run-of-the-mill, ordinary or inane they appear.
The World Wide Web is one place
specially designed to accommodate all this. Everyone is welcome to say his piece.
Everyone could be an instant
armchair political commentator, adviser or source of ideas thought to add more
zest in the discussion.
Taking advantage of this, one
Sangguniang Bayan aspirant, a new face in the political arena of Jose
Panganiban, he being newly-churned out from the college mill, has begun his
onslaught on Facebook targeting Mambuloan groups who have family members in
Mambulao voting this coming election.
Sometime last week, Tres
Panganiban posted a series of old pictures taken from events related to the
recent town fiesta of Mambulao.
To hundreds of Mambulaoans who
belong to these Facebook groupings, it was just a normal act of sharing
pictures that would surely interest viewers, especially if he’s from the place,
which, anyway, is common on this cyberspace.
But to a few who are closely
watching the town’s unfolding political scenario, it was one clever way of
promoting his name and creating a name recall come election time in May, short
of violating the rules on election campaign as set by the Commission on
Elections (Comelec).
This fellow is running for a seat
in the Sangguniang Bayan of Jose Panganiban, firmly believing that he could
bust the many ills that continue to plague our community.
With a built-in advantage in
having a name that sounds like the name of our hometown, he slyly used the
slimmest excuse that he’s promoting Jose Panganiban as a tourism destination
where there’s a lot of fun to have.
We can credit him for that as we,
being natives of Mambulao who would like to see good things happen to our
beloved community, would also do the same, given the chance.
But it became suspicious when
some time ago, he went around rural barangays kissing the hands of the elderly
and shaking hands with men for some usual chats.
A traditional custom which is
still alive in the rural areas, his act tried to project him an image of
“mabait na mama”.
Remove this veil and he is
instantly exposed as trying to pile up political scores while conducting an
early electioneering, just under the radar of the Comelec guidelines, safe
enough for him to skirt around a gross violation.
Species like him makes the
political aquarium more interesting to watch.
*****
WaLim & Co will push back
progress in Mambulao
BOTH THE contending political parties
in Mambulao are still firmly pulling back the reins of their campaign, although
Walim (Willam A Lim) recently came out of the woods to see how his political
allies are doing with their preparations for the March campaign.
Walim has lessened the stress of
local politics on his person by avoiding a head-on collision with Meyor Dong
when he opted to run for the vice-mayoral office against re-election candidate
Ariel (Aye) Non.
It would not be the in best
interest of Mambulaoans for Meyor Dong to have a vice-mayor who is a
“non-kapamilya” in his administration like Walim, especially now that Mambulao
is on a roll, what with those development projects never seen in the community
for the past 60 years – all taking place right now under Meyor Dong’s leadership.
“Mahirap nang magkaroon pa ng
ibang asawa si Meyor Dong,” says an old-timer in Mambulao.
As the English-speaking people
would say: Walim would be a pain ...
This goes without saying that
overseas Mambulaoans who are hoping to see progress to continue rolling across
Mambulao could make sense by telling their families back home to simply ignore
Walim and company in the May elections.
Walim, or any of his Sanguniang
bets winning in this election could easily push back the march of development
in Mambulao by at least 30 years.
All they would do is disagree
with Meyor Dong, and that’s it.
It would be a Walim-and-company
win and a big loss to all Mambulaoans, who are now primed for real progress.
I may be biased but my bias leans
towards an unimpaired development which Mambulao is now enjoying.
Walim and his boys are nothing
but bumps along a smooth highway to progress.
Mambulao had ran through these
bumps many years ago and conked out along the way.
It was only in 2010 that all were
swept out of the road, allowing a smooth ride for Meyor Dong’s development
caravan.
Correct me if I am wrong.
I invite Walim and his boys to
send in through the email addresses below their platforms for overseas
Mambulaons to read and evaluate.
As for me, I have made up my mind
and I will defend my mind in this space.
For feedback, email the writer:
ahernandez@thenational.com.pg and alfredophernandez@y7mail.com
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