Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Entrepreneurial Farmer


Ambrosio R. Villorente

Congratulations! To Taxpayers
Aklan Gov. Carlito S. Marquez, in his message delivered during the 110th anniversary of the XIX Martyrs of Aklan, congratulated the provincial assessor, Mrs. Jane A. Rebaldo because of the huge increase of real estate taxes collected.
Some tax payers reacted thus: "Governor Marquez congratulated the tax assessor but not the taxpayers who paid the taxes, not even the tax collectors are recognized.
When the reaction was transmitted to him, Governor Marquez assured, the taxpayers will be properly recognized during the Tax Day Celebration. Is there a schedule for tax day celebration?

NEPHEW TO UNCLE

During the press conference of Tibyog Akean, a question was addressed to Kalibo Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo as to the effect of the candidacy of his uncle Atty. Anthony Acevedo for congressman of the lone district of Aklan. Mayor Rebaldo gave indirect answer and finally told the audience he has no idea as he has yet to meet his uncle Tony.
Many found Mayor Rebaldo’s response "so strange" and quite near to incredible. The Acevedo – Rebaldo family is one of the most prominent families in Aklan especially in Kalibo. It is known that Atty. Acevedo is very close to the Rebaldo family and a very important factor in the educational and political progresses of his nephews, particularly Mayor Rebaldo.
Shall we believe that Mayor Rebaldo has not given his "welcome to Kalibo to his Uncle Tony?" Is he deprived in the use of "information technology" to say "Hello Uncle Tony" on his arrival or several days after his arrival to Kalibo? Mayor Rebaldo should have been an ungrateful nephew if it is true what he said, "we have not crossed our path since his arrival in Kalibo."
With that question, Mayor Rebaldo was really placed in the hot seat so that his answers reached his audience as warm white lies."

ZARZUELA IN IBAJAY

Ibajay is the second biggest town of Aklan as far as voting population is concerned. It is located in the western part of Aklan.
Aklan is represented to the House of Representatives by an Ibajaynon, Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores who is a three-termer provincial governor of Aklan. After his third term as governor, Miraflores ran for congressman and won in the 2004 election.
In the Sangguniang Panlalwigan of Aklan, two members of the 10 – member SP come from Ibajay. They are Hon. Pedro Garcia and Hon. Ramon Gelito. Hon Pedro Garcia has a brother, Hon. Roberto Garcia, Jr., the present mayor of Ibajay. His wife is Mrs. Mabeth Mobo Garcia, a professional banker.
The Garcias are not happy to serve the Ibajaynons as Mayor of Ibajay and the people of Aklan as member of the SP. They want to occupy more elective positions. Is this public service? Is this greed for power? Are the Garcias the brightest and the best of Aklanons? This is one way to deprive some one half million Aklanons access to public service.
Mrs. Mabeth Mobo Garcia, wife of Mayor Garcia, resigned her position as a bank branch manager and now a candidate for governor of Aklan. Their brother Victor is also a candidate for Sangguniang Bayan member of Ibajay. This is making politics a way of life of the Garcias.

FAMILY VERSUS FAMILY

In Ibajay, it is Garcia family versus Miraflores family. Mayor Roberto Garcia, Jr. could have won his re-election hands down, without any opponent on the May 14 election. However, despite of all his efforts to stop his loving wife, Mabeth, from becoming a candidate for Provincial Governor of Aklan, Mabeth persisted and filed her certificate of candidacy just before the deadline elapsed.
Mabeth’s becoming a candidate for governor of Aklan and with the support of her husband Jun Garcia, Congressman Miraflores was constraint to field his wife Lourdes "Lulu" Martin – Miraflores as rival of re-electionist Mayor Jun Garcia.
"This is one of the difficult decisions in my political career," declared Miraflores in an interview. The decision was reached after Maria Bettina "Mabeth" Mobo Garcia filed her candidacy for Aklan Governor," Miraflores added.
Mabeth’s husband, Mayor Jun Garcia is the nephew of Congressman Joeben T. Miraflores. Mabeth is now contesting for governor two women and the re reelectionist governor Carlito S. Marquez.

EMBARASSMENT

Whoever wins in the May 14 election for Mayor of Ibajay will bring great embarrassment to either the Miraflores family or Mobo – Garcia family. Will it bring happiness to Mobo – Garcia family if Roberto Garcia, Jr. is re elected? On the other hand, will it bring joy to the Miraflores family if Ms. Lulu Miraflores is elected?
This Lulu – Jun fight for Mayor of Ibajay is a blue litmus paper test to prove who is most loved between the two clans by the Ibajaynons.
Congressman Joeben’s mobility in Aklan to campaign for Tibyog Akean candidates and for himself will be greatly hampered. He cannot just leave his beloved wife traveling alone in the wide rolling hills traversed by rivers with cascading waters of Ibajay.
Is Lulu’s candidacy sustainable? Is Mabeth’s candidacy sustainable? Can the two reach the finish line and wait for the Ibajaynons’ votes counted? Or will they just fade away by the roadside so that both families will burry each candidacy to the records to stand and the two families be reunited for a happy ending? Let it be a lesson learned to Akeanons and for everyone. /MP

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello,

I think it is a duty of the Aklan press to ask the candidates (maybe limit it to Governor and Representative) to have a 10 point doables if they win the election. The doables should SMART (Simple, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timebound meaning it can be achieve in 3 years). These 10 doables should then be posted in all public places for voters to read. It should also be discussed in the media so that voters in Aklan will know about it.

With the doables, the voters can evaluate the candidates as to:

1. How the candidates understand the needs of the province.
2. Who has the right skills and tools to respond to those needs
3. The proper experience and resources to answer those needs
4. Who are just blueskying the voters and do not know any better

Let us help our candidates and our voters away from the usual political rhetoric which do not result into anything meaningful to understand how the candidates will affect our people when the candidates win.

The 10 doables will serve as a road map for the winning candidate and be a guide for the voters to evaluate him or her come next election in 2010.

Regards,
Elmar M. Gomez
elmarmgomez2003@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

This a greedy political situation, they should serve the province of Aklan an honest,a truly servant to the citizens,not on dynasty world of politics.the congressman should show he's achievement,mission,not on personal interest,we don't see any improvement in the Province of Aklan.Been a Governor for 3 terms
is a frustrations to all Aklanon, now as Representative to a second term? we need a new face, a new breed of young and intelligent person who has the ability to make Aklan a new Province......