Manila, Manila

The election campaign has really begun. Everywhere you look, you see tarpaulins with smiling faces of politicians some of them as my dad used to say looking so ancient and freighted with so many ancient sins, that they ought to have been consigned to the Glue Factory.

It seems that we cannot really get rid of these dreadful trapos who want to grab another chance to stuff themselves at the feeding trough. There are also those wannabes who hope to slide themselves through the door of the Senate by choosing a party that is sure to open the door to a lucrative political career for them.

Television networks have gone on-air with their respective programs that will hopefully help the electorate know more about the candidates. No holds barred discussions on TV between two aspiring candidates have sent viewers glued to their screens last week. I am glad COMELEC has made a move to regulate TV appearances and radio interviews of the candidates. Otherwise, it will be to the detriment of those who cannot afford to pay airtime.

As some politicians buried the hatchet and let bygones be bygones with some even becoming bedfellows for the 2013 polls, cutting remarks have also started to heat up even between erstwhile ‘friends’ turned adversaries.

Topping the list of interesting interviews that has turned into a word war both in print and television is the electoral fight for Manila’s mayoralty position between incumbent Mayor Fred Lim (“Dirty Harry”) and Joseph Estrada (“Asiong Salonga”).

Yes, truly, far from retiring, Erap is running for Mayor again. What contributes to Erap’s seeming over-confidence, aside from the praises of his courtiers and the name-droppers brigade being dinned into his ears, is the fact that – for all his setbacks – he remains popular among the masa and the mahirap in the countryside. But the question is, how long can he feed the adulating mahirap with speeches full of promises, cozy Jeep ni Erap radio and television assurances, winks, charming grins and slick one-liners?

Estrada’s platform will be urban renewal, job generation, livelihood and peace and order. He vows to go allout against police scalawags, hoodlums in uniform and declare an all-out war against kidnapping and carnapping. Sounds like remnants of the all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front when he was still president. He said that he has commissioned a University of the Philippines study on the urban renewal of Manila and plans to execute the findings if elected.

The issue between the two has gone beyond residency qualification. It has actually become personal with even Lim’s protégé, Isko Moreno and now the runningmate of Erap throwing vicious comments on his “white-haired” former mentor. Susmariosep!

Lim used to be the president of Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino Party. However, in 2008, the two had a falling-out that led to Lim’s ouster from the party.

Mayor Lim’s platform of government was aptly named LIM (Linisin, Ikarangal ang Maynila). His focus is twofold: addressing the city’s crime condition and improving the delivery of social welfare for the city’s residents. It has an 11-point agenda: 1) All-out war against criminality; 2) Fire Protection; 3) Health Security; 4) Improvement of Education; 5) Livelihood Opportunities and Job Creation; 6) Historical and Cultural Awakening; 7) Environmental Conservation and Preservation; 8) Urban Planning & Rehabilitation; 9) Bring City Hall closer to citizens; 10) Transparency and; 11) Enhance Senior Citizens.

In his own style of governance and quiet demeanor, Mayor Lim led the development of the city of Manila. He became known for his intensive campaign against crime, vices and immorality. What was unforgettable was his first order of office that closed down the “girlie bars” in Ermita which has become a haven of prostitution. He gained the monicker of “Dirty Harry” as reference to his background as a police officer and of course not to mention his being the director of the National Bureau of Investigation at one point. His reputation as being serious in reducing crime in the city was shown in controversial ways such as presenting criminals in front of the media or spray-painting houses of alleged criminals in order for them to be identified or driven away from the city.

“Dirty Harry” has also another side. Coming from a poor family in Tondo, he wants to give every Manileño access to social services such as education and health care. In 1995, he opened the City College of Manila to complement the Pamantasang Lungsod ng Maynila. He also ordered the scrapping of school fees in the city’s public schools and launched the building of more schools, hospitals, health centers, drug rehabilitation facilities and parks. He also spearheaded beautification and infrastructure projects to revive some parts of the city such as the Manila Zoo, Liwasang Bonifacio and Museo Pambata.

Today, Manila has 6 city-owned hospitals, 72 elementary schools, 32 highschools and 58 health centers and “Lying-In” clinics. Infrastructure projects such as roads and street lighting have been done. Manila now boasts of the Cityplace in Binondo, the San Lazaro Race Track development and the condominium projects in the university belt area.

Despite all these, Lim has not escaped issues and controversies as Mayor of Manila. Some of these are: the Vitas Slaughterhoouse Case in 2008; his apparent no-luck with his vice-mayors (both Atienza and Moreno turned out to be his rivals in office); reclaiming the city’s status as the country’s center for business and culture; attracting local and foreign investors; solving poverty and related issues, enhancing discipline (traffic, sidewalk vendors etc.); police brutality; closure of bars in the Baywalk area, the Pandacan Oil Depot issue, etc.

Just like the past Mayors of Manila, Mayor Lim has a lot to do. He is not just the leader of an ordinary city. Manila used to be the country’s seat of power and business. It used to be very clean and beautiful. Now, they call it a “dying city” with the presence of dilapidated buildings and tattered looking government offices not to mention the growing population of squatters.

I bet Mayor Lim never expected Erap to run against him in the City of Manila. I truly thought that he would retire in public service after this term but I guess when he heard that Erap was going to run, he changed his mind and was determined to continue the political race.

Both Erap and Lim were quite close to my late father. In fact, they are both my godparents (in marriage). I’m glad I don’t live in Manila or else I’ll be forced to choose who I like best between them. If my dad were alive today I’m pretty sure he would advice both of them to take the backseat and retire from politics. I can almost hear my dad saying: Both of you have done your best to serve our country for many years now. It’s time you step down and pass the torch to the younger generation. Manila needs a leader whose spirit is like that of a stallion with new blood and vigor. You’ve made your mark, allow others to make their mark as well.

The fate of Manila lies in the people of the city. How I wish there was a really qualified third candidate to ease the tension between the two and offer another option to the electorate.