‘White Castle’ no more?
ILOILO CITY has the Jerry Treñas - J am- J am Baronda sudden “political divorce”. Will Bacolod City have the same political thing happening soon?
Bacolod City’s Mayor Albee Benitez and Cong. Greg Gasataya are perceived to have a “cold” relationship right now.
Are Bacolodnons ready for The Rattle, The Puzzle, and The Rumble?
THE RATTLE
Albee just recently changed his spokesman. From beauty queen Carmela Arcolas- Gamboa, he got Punong Barangay Caesar Distrito of Barangay Singcang-Airport, but in the barangay captain’s “personal capacity”.
Some view this change as a sign that the sitting mayor is “panicking” and that he needs someone who could burnish his administration and image.
And this is the task added to Distrito’s being an incumbent village chief.
THE PUZZLE
On Saturday, March 16, Mayor
Albee had a press conference where he narrated several possibilities regarding this political career in Bacolod. These include the following: * to retire
* to seek for a higher position
* to stay put as mayor
* to swap with Congressman Gasataya
* to accept a Cabinet position It seems that the mayor i s unsure of what to do with seven months left before the filing of certificates of candidacy ( COC) for the 2025 midterm elections. Why? Perhaps he f eels t he disappointment of the Bacolodnons over his promised change during the 2022 election campaign?
THE RUMBLE
Albee says his relationship with Cong. Greg, a formidable political ally, remains cordial.
The solon, on the other hand, remains silent – a nice political strategy. No one can fathom his thoughts for now.
In the 2022 elections, Albee and Greg were like “honey and bread”.
They built a “White Castle” (Grupo Puti-an) from the “ashes” of the “Red Warriors” of Bing Leonardia’s Grupo Progreso.
Lo and behold, before the “White Castle” reached its first anniversary in 2023, “cracks” were spotted. Worse, is the castle leaning now?
On other hand, Greg’s Team Orange is making great waves in the community, demonstrating dynamism.
‘POOR’ VS BILLIONAIRE?
Some keen political observers are asking: Will there be an imminent Albee versus Greg battle for mayor?
This could be the most exciting political scenario in the “City of Smiles”. A classic story of a “poor” boy picking a fight with a billionaire.
Greg is l iterally poor being the son of a jeepney driver in Mansilingan but rose from the rubbles of poverty by becoming a radio broadcaster to now a wellentrenched political figure i n Bacolod. His life story is relatable. Albee, on the other hand, is born in privilege, and made good as a businessman who later entered politics and government service.
But quite frankly, Bacolodnons are more interested not in their backgrounds but on what they have done or contributed to the city’s progress and residents.
Where’s the promised change, they ask.
Worl d - renowned German biographer Immanuel Kant once stressed: “We are not rich by what we possess but by what we can do without.”
What did Kant mean?
To live simply has its own reward!