Brgy election in October

Competition is always the necessary element for progress. Complacency retards growth.

It is to the best interest of Bacolod that Congressman Monico Puentevella and Mayor Evelio Leonardia continue to fight each other for Bacolod leadership. The threat to be evicted from power is the greatest and best incentive to do one's best. And, in the process, watch one's step because the other will be just waiting for the other's mistake. Or irregularity in office.

***

The election for barangay officials will be held this October. I haven't heard Monico say something about it. But Bing was reported to have said, he will support those who supported him. Naturally, he will fight those who fought him.

And, for sure, Monico has this same thinking too. To the barangay officials, they can sing Franklin Delano Roosevelt's campaign song in the early 30s, "Happy Days Are Here Again."

I like that song, "Happy days are here again, / The skies above are clear again; / Let us sing a song of cheer again, / Happy days are here again."

FDR's victory made him launch the New Deal that brought incomparable progress to the U.S., especially with the factories of war in World War II at their busiest.

Who says war which is the biggest competition, does not bring progress?

***

In the last election, Monico had 42 out of 61 barangay captains under his wing. They also supported Joy Valdez. Bing had 19 but four of them were supporting also Monico.

If May election is Round One, then the October barangay election will be Round Two of the Monico-Bing fight. This will be very interesting.

Who says there will be a reconciliation? Toti Ramos, the biggest promoter of the Monico-Bing reelection ticket, the two being his nephews, hurriedly corrected himself when Alex Espino disagreed with his reconciliation plan.

He is for the reconciliation of the families. Concededly, he is also for the open competition but offered to promote the watchdog group to be sure the two do not get out of the line.

***

How important are barangay leaders in the election? That depends on the barangay captains and the pocket of the candidates.

Recall in my column yesterday, I quoted a survey that said, only one out of three follow the choice of the punong barangay. This means two vote on their own. It was proven in last week's election.

But having a punong barangay is needed by the mayor or the congressman to implement his projects. This means if you are not the punong barangay of the mayor, project implementation will be given to another, most likely your opponent. You lose your power and the perks and privileges that go with the project.

The same thing, if you are not the barangay captain of the Congressman. You can never have a single centavo of his projects.

***

That's why, I said, this will be an interesting election. And both Monico and Bing are ready to battle it out. You can get that from their statements to media.

Bing was reported to have said when asked of the possibility of reconciliation, "If he (referring to Monico) wants peace, I will give him peace. If he wants war, I will give him war."

Monico does not have to say it. Everybody knows he is a fighting man, at his peak when in a fight, especially if he feels he is behind.

It will be a good match. Bing has learned, after having been bruised and battered in the past, to be a fighter. You could never hear from Bing a statement like the one I just quoted in the past years. Now, like Monico he has also become a warrior.

The great Apache Indian Chief Geronimo who fought the U.S. federal troops the longest and died at more than 80 as a farmer, said, in his book "The Story of My Life," that warriors never die. They continue to fight. Douglas McArthur had this same thinking when, in his valedictory address at West Point said, "Old soldiers never die. They just fade away." I am not sure. It seems this was from his speech before the joint session of the U.S. Congress. Whatever …

***

Warriors are honed to fight. When Al Smith ran for the U.S. presidency in 1928, he called himself the "Happy Warrior." Many disputed him that warriors are fighters. Happy only when fighting. I can see a happy and interesting Bacolod because we have two warriors. On to the barangay election!*

back to top