Leday Aler … promoting the nutritional
needs of the kids at the day-care center.
By PERCY A OSTONAL
BEING the center of economic-business activities and
host to the public market and transport terminal, Barangay South Poblacion
would always be on top of the list during election time as the place
"where pivotal political talks and
controversy" would matter most.
This year's election was no different from the
previous ones.
And everyone had asked their kabarangays to support
the bid for punong barangay of a particular hopeful, whether he/she was a
seasoned politician or otherwise.
And whoever emerged the winner would be the subject of
speculations – (what else is new?) among the members of that particular
barangay – can he/she really do it?
Lack of leadership skill, training and experience,
energy, public relations and so on ... and so forth -- these were the same
pitch every politician hurled – towards Ms
Leday Aler, the winner the baranggay contest.
Outgoing barangay chairman Surec Barcoma and losing
candidate Arsenia Avellana were of course on the frontline orchestrating the
excessive criticisms.
They are all decent people in the community,
noteworthy of praise for their respective remarkable contributions and
unquestionable integrity.
But the people of barangay South Poblacion had spoken.
They wanted a fresh leadership, new insights and new approach to bringing more
progress to the community as a business hub in Mambulao.
And so, Ms Leday P Aler, who will take over the reins
of the barangay as the new chairman, was prompted to issue this message to Mr
Barcoma and Ms Avellana and their political supporters to clear the air once and for all:
“Hindi po madaling maghilom ang sugat ng politika …
gagap ko po sa aking dibdib ang tunay na salitang pag-aabot ng aking mga kamay
tungo sa muling pag-kakaisa, pag-kakaibigan, pag-kakapit-bahayan at pag
kakamag-anakan dito sa ating minamahal na barangay.
“Hindi man po naging kanais-nais ang pagpapalitan ng
ating mga kuro-kuro noong nakaraang halalan, hindi po tayo nawalay sa iisang
adhikaing makatulong sa ating mga kabarangay.
“Umaasa po akong sa darating na mga araw ay muli po
tayong magkikita at magkatulungan.
Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat "
Mr Fred P Hernandez, MWBuzz editor-in-chief and myself
as MWBuzz co-founder, agreed in principle that whoever won this contest,
deserved some space in our online new tunnel.
And so I requested an interview with Ms Aler.
Yesterday, November 2nd, I placed an overseas call and
spoke with her. Here's our conversation:
Percy A Ostonal: "Hi Ms Aler, good evening. Si Percy
Ostonal ito ng MWBuzz. Congratulations for winning the barangay chairmanship.
"This is perhaps a surprised moment for you getting a call from me. I am asking
your permission kung puwede kang ma-interview para sa month of November issue
ng ating online news. Puwede ba?
Leday P Aler:
Aba'y opo. Please just address me as "Leday” po. Para sa ano po
itong interview n'yo sa akin?
PAO: “It's all about what the list of things you'll do
once you assumed the office of the barangay head.”
LPA: “Maraming salamat po at itinanong ninyo ito sa
akin. Foremost and number one, with the sad state of our barangay hall – that
is being dilapidated, dirty and health hazard to everyone, gusto ko pong ma
I-prioritize to have it renovated.
In the Local Government Code Of the Philippines, may
section dito na nagsasaad ng powers, duties and functions ng sangguniang
barangay. Specifically iyong portion stating the “role of the barangay" as
it is applicable to above project.
PAO: "Okey, I will have a look. Apart from this,
do you have some "most urgent" issues you intend to present during
your first barangay session with the newly-elected kagawad?
LPA: “Yes po … naging usap-usapan pong emotional ang
presence ng ating Muslim brothers sa barangay. May mga ulat po akong natanggap
na "once I took over" as punong barangay, things would change as far
as their being residents here is concerned.
Unconstitutional po ito as far as I am concerned. When
I learned about such accusation, I requested their leading figure "sadik"
after their prayer time for an audience and fully explained that being
Filipinos that we are, walang dapat
ikatakot ang sino man as we are one people.
Sa bagong South Poblacion baranggay leadership, I will
encourage everyone who are new to our place to join us and be a productive
member of our community.
Dahil ang nutrition program po dito sa ating barangay
ay nasimulan na ng aming ankan as our contribution to Mayor Padilla's health
program for the kids, tuloy tuloy po itona gagawin natin as barangay
project.
PAO: During the campaign, your zero experience in
public service was repeatedly questioned by your opponents. Now that you have
been elected with nothing to bank on except your instinctive understanding of
common sense and personal commitment, do you think it will be good enough for
you to carry on and face politics the way it should be dealt with.
LPA: Unquestionably true po about my lack of political
experience and training. I like to believe that leadership is a shared
responsibility. Para sa akin po, ang
kakulangan ko ay mapapagpunuan ko sa mga susunod na panahon sa
pamamagitan ng masusing pagmamasid, pag-aaral, pakikinig, pagtanggap ng
pagpupuna sa aking magiging kamalian.
Ang yamang kaisipan ng mga kasapi/kagawad ng barangay
South Poblacion and the people I will serve would be my guiding light and
inspiration.
Maraming salamat po dito sa inyong interview sa akin.
PAO: You're
welcome, again congratulations!!!
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