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