Pineda vs Hizon in Pampanga

Writing a column maybe easy for one like my cumpares Ram Mercado,

Bong Lacson, me and a few more others. Column articles are of course known to be opinionated. That’s why they are placed on op-ed pages. In short what you read on many articles written by opinion writers like me, are our own opinion. As it is said, everyone is entitled to his own opinion.

You either believe them or not. Or you can form your own opinion and send them to this paper, either to agree or dispute our observations. If sent to me I will be glad to print it.

Like this opinion which may be agreeable to many . It can be said cended into the capitol stairs and and written that under the watch and ushered inside the governor’s office care of Governor Lilia ‘Nanay Baby’ who was not attended. And that in Pineda there are no forgotten poor in several occasions it’s her personal the province. No sick person who as- money that she handed. (I also personally referred some sick persons to her office). And even local officials in every town of Pampanga made their own referrals in the past nine years that Nanay Baby presided over the capitol affairs. And it is this brand of service that will make it easy for her son Dennis to be welcome by most when hustings begin next year.

I remember asking this. I wrote, what’s next for Governor Pineda after capitol? Is she running for vice governor? Is she returning to her hometown of Lubao, or take a garden leave and just be a doting grandma to her apos? Early on whenever we met I kept asking her, what is next? She was not telling. And few days ago, it is now known to us that she is running in tandem with her son Dennis. And this paper yesterday, the headline said “Jomar to Face Delta In 2019.”

FIFTY TWO percent of Filipinos just self-rated themselves poor. Their condition is arguably the dire aftermath of political dynasties’heretofore unchallenged exclusive control of the country’s cultural, political and economic resources. Thus people clamored to no avail for the implementation of the 1987 Constitution’s ban on political dynasties. And now they hope the new federal charter would include a self-executing ban.

But what do fools in Congress do? (I am partial to Anton Chekhov’s definition of a fool as one who “knows everything and understands nothing.”) They propose having no term limits for lawmakers on the assumption that if a patriarch can run for office forever his heirs will never succeed to the throne and dynasty ends.

This is too idiotic to be anything but self-serving. The incumbent can always stop running and ask a wife, son or daughter to run instead. Also, a wife, son or daughter can always run for other positions in government. That is exactly what the Binays, the Tupazes and the Gullases, to name a few, are doing now.

That there is already a built-in limit because voters are free not to vote an incumbent to another term is just as idiotic and self-serving. Dynasty politicians know very well that they alone have the financial resources to entertain, cheat, intimidate and buy their way into the votes of an economically dependent electorate. There is no built-in limit when our (mock?) elections are won by a politician’s dirty money and not by any mature political choice of voters.

It is insulting of fools in Congress to think they can get away with noterm-limits for those two reasons. Yet sadly, they would be right because they know Filipinos have always been foolish enough not to break the chains of their bondage to fools in government who “revere the chains” of their greed for wealth and power.

If the left-right political opposition, the Catholic hierarchy, and mainstream media are silent, they too are fools. It proves that their anti-Duterte stance is for securing their vested interests and not the people’s welfare.

Even President Duterte would be a fool himself not to instruct his allies in congress to kill this proposal. Without a self-executing ban on political dynasties, or its equivalent (genuine party system and proportionate representation) shifting to federalism makes no sense at all.

Nelson Mandela once said, “Fools will multiply when the wise are silent.” We must oppose Arroyo’s folly or we are truly a nation of fools. Fools who “revere the chains” of economic bondage are ruled by fools (political patrons) who “revere the chains” of their greed and ambition.

Retro: There were talks then that 4th district Congressman Rimpy Bondoc may run for governor. And there was even a rumor that his pick for vice governor was Hizon. Then it seems Bondoc had a change of heart. He will just seek re-election in his district and maybe he will fulfill his dream of becoming the majority floor leader in the House of Representatives. It will be a walk in the park for Bondoc. More so now that he is politically allied with the Pinedas. ( There’s a photo in the inside page of this paper showing Dennis raising the hand of Bondoc while the latter displayed his certificate of candidacy).

Now that Nanay Baby decided to run in tandem with the son, Senior Board Member Ferdinand ‘Dinan’ Labung whose eyes has been moist for so long to become vice governor was cordial enough to step aside to give way to Nanay Baby. This Labung is a nice man. Since he came from a simple family and always obedient and abiding with family rules, he abandoned his ambition to be the second in command at the capitol. He will just seek re-election. Well anyway he is still young. There’s still hope for his family and friends to see him either to become vice governor or congressman in the third district. In not so distant future.

Meanwhile, up to now Fernandinos who are not pleased with Santiago’s style of governance called on former Mayor Oscar Rodriguez to do battle with Santiago in the city’s mayoral race. But Rodriguez seemingly has enough as of the moment. Is he hanging his political gloves permanently? Only time will tell. But there’s a lady who has ‘balls’who stood up and will face Santiago. Councilor Vilma Caluag is believed by many as a good option. Santiago may have the upper hand since he’s the incumbent and an unlimited campaign funds according to my sources. But Caluag has also enough logistical support. Her husband Melchor is a moneyed businessman. Suspense muna. But we don’t have to wait much longer now since time is flying so swiftly. Before you know it it’s already May 2019.