Performance counts

We were writing this piece before our television program last night where our topic was "What Now?" a sequel of our program last week, "What If?"

Many years ago, there was that popular song, "What now, my love?" I forgot the movie it was taken from. But if you will bear with my defective memory, it ran something like this, of lovers going separate ways. Politicians should sing this after election.

"What now, my love, now that you've left me, / How can I live through another day? / Watching my dreams turn into ashes and all my hopes into bits of clay.

"What now, my love, now that it's over, / I feel the world closing in on me, / Here come the stars tumbling around me, / There is the sky where the sea should be.

"What now my love now that you're gone, / I would be a fool to go on and on …" You supply the rest.

In a tense situation only music and a song can ease the tension. Monico and Renecito are both good singers. Let us see who of them can give a better interpretation. They were together before. And if necessary let Monico and Bing sing in a duet. They were together too, in 2004. Now that love is gone . . .

***

This year's election in Bacolod, while going over the list of winners, show very clearly that it was performance that counted over those who lost.

Those who lost may have performed perhaps, but these were not communicated effectively to the voting public. Maybe they were too humble or they just did not know.

I find disappointing the loss of Elcid Familiaran who has been a good performer but was just hounded by the unlucky No. 13. He is Barangay Captain of Brgy. 13. Last 2004, he placed No. 13 in the council slate. Last Saturday, his team mate Dr. Reynold Iledan also dislodged him at No. 12 that pushed him down to No. 13.

What now, Elcid?

***

When I looked at the lineup of the winning councilors they are all performers, starting from Greg Gasataya, Homer Bais, and especially independent candidate Jocelle Batapa-Sigue.

It's not surprising that Jocelle won. If she were in the line up she could have topped the list. And another independent candidate too, Celia Flor made it.

They are all performers, each of them.

Another performer is Lyndon Caña. He didn't make it but the number of votes he got was very impressive.

For an independent candidate, it is not safe to run for a one-on-one position. But I correct myself, Thaddy Sayson won in Sum-ag. It is his bailiwick.

***

For the mayorship, Leonardia has impressed on the voters he has been a better performer than Joy Valdez. His votes were more than twice the votes of Valdez.

Leonardia with 109,789, got the highest votes a candidate in Bacolod ever garnered. In 2004, Monico got a total of 102,753, the highest up to that time.

In the congressional fight, Monico was more known as a performer compared with Renecito. And Monico always harped on that while Renecito was silent on it.

The issue of graft and corruption was not able to overcome the issue of performance. Both sides claimed the other party bought votes.

They were both telling the truth. What I heard was one side pocketed the money, believing they were winning. This is not verified but most losers would give this out as an alibi.

If it's true some money was pocketed, the one who pocketed it was the real winner.

In elections, there are many unverified talks. Don't believe them.

***

What surprised me was another performer Ed Guillem, former president of Ceneco, was there near the tailend. Guillem is not difficult to sell.

I never saw him since months before the election.

In 2003 when I stepped down as Ceneco president, I supported him running for the board which I represented. He won in all precincts and even in the barangay of his opponent where this opponent was the barangay captain.

Immediately after the election, we convinced the board to elect him president. He is the only director who, upon his election to the board, became president right away.

When he ran for reelection, he won again and even in the barangay of his opponent where the opponent was the barangay captain.

I cannot understand why he didn't make it. Voters in Bacolod are all Ceneco consumers. Electricity rate in the Ceneco area is much much lower than electricity rates in all West Visayas area. This could have made the difference.

Our rate is less than half or probably a little more than one half of Iloilo City. This shows how well Ceneco is run. Winning votes is not just performance. It is also making voters believe there is performance.*

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