End of a Montelibano era

Former Gov. Lito Coscolluela said it well that with the death of former Gov. Alfredo Montelibano Jr., who was also former Bacolod City mayor, an era has ended.

But such is leadership. It changes hands with the passing years. And the Montelibano era has ended. But it does not mean Montelibanos cannot come out to be future leaders.

The Montelibanos have left a hallmark. They have left a tradition of leadership. Of outstanding public service to the people. History can never forget it.

But the Montelibano era started on Oct. 19, 1938 when the Grand Old Man of Bacolod, Alfredo Montelibano Sr., was sworn in by President Manuel Quezon as the first city mayor of Bacolod .

Peding Montelibano continued the leadership, including the sugar industry and is remembered for his multifarious contributions. This Montelibano leadership ended in 1995 when both Junior Montelibano who ran for Congress against Romeo Guanzon, and Bobby Montelibano who ran for Mayor against Evelio Leonardia, lost.

The Montelibano leadership was still there but it was just a shadow.

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On his own, Junior Montelibano who held the Governorship for 18 years and the mayorship for six years left a record of outstanding public service, never tainted by any hint of an anomaly. For Junior was a stickler for honest service.

In an environment of corruption in the present era, Montelibano is an example to follow. But, we are lucky, none of the Governors has been shadowed by hints of corruption.

Daniel “Bitay” Lacson followed Montelibano. Rafael “Lito” Coscolluela followed Lacson. And now Joseph Marañon. They have all stood out as honest men, interested only in the welfare of the Negrenses.

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The late Peding Montelibano and also Junior had visions of how to make Bacolod a great city. Some of those visions were realized. Others were not, owing to problems encountered. But, one thing sure, they tried.

Junior Montelibano showed a good leadership. He was also known to have a soft heart for the poor. He was people-oriented.

I was not too close to the former Governor although I covered him as a newspaperman but I was also trying to distance myself because of what I felt was his being cool to me, after he knew I was close to his political nemesis, Armin Gustilo.

But, it never diminished my respect of him as a leader.

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I recall upon his election to the Governorship in 1967 and before he took his oath of office, I was always with him. He asked to write his inaugural address.

A few days later, he asked me to visit him in his house. Together with my wife we went there. He asked me if I could join him as an executive assistant. That was in 1967 forty years ago.

I asked for a day to study his offer. The following day we came back and I told him I could not leave my job at La Salle where I was then dean of commerce.

Besides, when I asked for the pay, I found out, it was less than one-third of what I received from La Salle , from The Manila Times, from Sugarland Magazine, and from my radio newscasting.

All these I would lose if I joined him. Besides, I told him, I would be more useful as his ally if I was outside where my favorable stories of his would be more credible. Later he got Rolly Espina to be his executive assistant. And Rolly did a good job, which I could have not done myself.

I have no experience in staff work. I have always worked on my own without one telling me what to do.

Overall, though, Junior Montelibano was a good leader. May his legacy stand up for our young people to follow. As I said, we are just lucky we have outstanding Governors, one reason why Negros Occidental has always been progressive and surging forward.

We reiterate our condolence to his bereaved family.

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One tragic thing in this country is that convicted public officials for major and heinous crimes are there in front getting more publicity than the upright ones.

A convicted plunderer, former President Joseph Estrada is hugging the headlines announcing his candidacy for the presidency and calling on all opposition candidates to unite, threatening them that if they don't unite, he will run himself.

A child rapist convict, former Congressman Romeo Jalosjos is also hugging the headlines for what he believes should be his pardon.

Are they not ashamed to have very bad adjectives preceding their names? For Estrada, he is called convicted economic plunderer. And for Jalosjos, convicted child rapist.

Stealing is not much. But being a rapist is worst. Only one with an animal instinct does that. A man will court a woman. An animal will force his way.

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Amando Doronila, highly respected columnist of The Philippine Daily Inquirer was here with his wife Lulu Silverio of Pontevedra the last two days. I interviewed him last night on television.

Doronila had a very good insight of the coups d'etat that our Presidents underwent. Why the others failed and future coup d'etat will fail is because the leaders have no commitment.

Doronila pointed out that if the Edsa Revolution succeeded, it was because both Juan Ponce Enrile and Fidel Ramos were not afraid to die. They were, as a matter of fact, ready to die.

He did not find this fearlessness of death in the present coup leaders.

Three issues will dominate the scenario now until 2010: corruption, economy, and strong leadership. It will be an interesting political fight, he said, with Erap being sidelined.*

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