UNSOLICITED SUGGESTIONS TO THE INCOMING LOCAL OFFICIALS OF BORBON

I am one of the thousands of Borbonanons who voted during the recent local election.  And comparing my codigo to the list of winners for local posts, I would say that my research had never gone astray. Though there were deserving candidates who didn’t make it to the race (not to mention), however, the only consolation I could give to the non-winning candidates in order to pacify the situation is… better luck next time or perhaps more preparation in 2013 then.

Anyway, considering the multifarious issues that our local leaders will expect to confront, the elected local officials certainly need the assistance and cooperation of every Borbonanon in order to succeed something during their term of office.

In this regard, let me offer you my unsolicited suggestions as follows:

1. Reconciliation – now that the election is over, it’s time for the elected officials to extend their hands of reconciliation to their rivals and its supporters.  It’s time to cooperate and help one another and look forward to a better future for our municipality. It’s time to forget and forgive. Concordia res parvae crescent or work together to accomplish more.

2. Voluntarism – I strongly recommend that the elected local officials should welcome the assistance of some NGO’s that offer better programs for the town and not to subject them with malice and criticisms.   After all, many of the NGOs, spent their personal funds and resources without any expectation in return from the LGU’s end, except perhaps for the local officials to provide those NGOs the necessary support to help deliver their diminutive assistance to the underprivileged beneficiaries of Borbon. There are many ways in which the local officials can utilize the NGOs to help them in their administration, and I am sure that many are more than willing to help in all the LGUs undertakings that will redound to the general welfare of the people of Borbon.   And I would like to commend some NGO’s like Taga-Borbon Organization for their unyielding and obstinate assistance to some Borbonanons.

3. Fulfilling the dreams of some Baryonahon – As outlined in my previous post (re: a challenge to our local politicians). Some of them are as follows:

Education Program:

Conducive school facilities in some barangay or national high schools. The local government unit must have to conduct their own research concerning the dire need of modern facilities and equipment in our national or barangay high schools in order to suffice the students with in-depth knowledge on modern technology to make them competitive when they graduate.  This I will address to the attention of the Education Committee of the Sanguniang Bayan members (whoever will be).

Health Care Program:

Proper health care program for women, children and senior citizens who cannot afford to go the centers. The LGU must provide program that would bring assistance to the mountain barangays by sending some health care professionals to conduct free medical clinic. Daghan pa gayud sa atong mga kaigsoonan nga dili maka-afford ug lugsong sa mga health centers para magpa-check kay walay ikabayad sa habal-habal.  Kong naa man gani kwarta gamay, they will set it aside to buy staple foods for the family.  Pagkaluoy gayud. So, I want to address this to the chairman of the Health Committee.

Agricultural Program:

I read it from the news last year that Borbon agriculture department had been commended for the program in organic farming. I think our municipality has been setting benchmark for this beneficial program.  So, it’s better to continue this one and think forward for enhancement to our agriculture sector.

Infrastructure Projects:

Please a suitable road going to my barrio para dili na intawon magkalapok ang akong Nike Air nga sapatos inig-tungas nako didto sa amoa puhon.

Development of our natural resources:

Yet, some of the mountain barrios in our municipality explodes with so much natural beauty, natural resources, it’s been a while that we ignore its potentials which, if we develop, with respect to the environment – it will create enormous local economic activity to help our barrio folks. Maybe it’s time for our LGU to set their eyes on creating better programs to develop tourisms in our town.

To the incoming local officials, thank you very much for accepting the challenge to be our local leaders.  We will put our faith in you that you will lead our town to progress.  We are always praying to San Sebastian for the success of our local officials and of our town.

God bless you all!  And God bless my beloved Borbon!

WHERE ARE WE HEADING NEXT?

Despite the frustrations for some voters due to heat and long lines encountered during the first automated election in our town, the result essentially says it all.  The 2010 National and Local election is now finally over.

This leads us to the question: Where are we heading next? 

Borbon electorate has finally chosen the bunch of local ‘honorables’ to run the affairs of our local government unit.  As of this writing, I can already conjure clear winners even if some clustered precincts did not yield their election returns yet.

What will I say is that, CONGRATULATIONS in advance to all candidates especially the winners to-be… from Mayor, Vice-Mayor down to the Sanguniang Bayan members. 

The conventional thinking will probably still be around for a while for those candidates who did not make it in this political race.  So, for those who did not make it (as reflected in the ongoing unofficial count of election returns from clustered precincts of upland and lowland barangays), my decent advice is for you concede na lang.  You have done your best to deliver your message to the people of Borbon, however it would still be the electorate to decide at the very end.

I want to continue my appeal to all candidates (winning) that it is time to focus on a much larger picture.  The time to materialize the platforms and programs that you have had envisioned for our town during the campaign period. 

CONCORDIA RES PARVAE CRESCENT … the very same message mentioned by other Borbonanon and that, I also want to sustain.  WE, as BORBONANON should work together to accomplish more… especially that election is over.

And I am hoping that our newly-elected local officials will deliver their promise to bring prosperity and development to our beloved town of Borbon.

HELPFUL REMINDERS FOR VOTERS ON ELECTION DAY

Here are some helpful reminders to remember on Election Day. Please take a few minutes to read it and share with your family and friends.  Note that some steps outlined herein are for some precincts using automated PCOS machines.  Pero sa mga presinto nga nahimutang sa halayong bungtod like my Sitio Kaligdag-Bugon, the traditional casting of votes will apply as follows:

TRADITIONAL VOTING PROCEDURES (PARA NAMONG TAGA-REMOTE AREAS OF BORBON)

1.)    Kinahanglan momata’g sayo sa buntag ug maligo.

2.)    Ayaw kalimot ug pamainit o pamahaw para presko ang panghuna-huna sa pagpili ug mga kandidato sa National ug Local nga posisyon.

3.)    Sakay ug habal-habal padulong sa presinto diin nakalista ang imong pangalan.

4.)    Ayaw kalimot pagdala sa imong kodigo.

5.)    Kong makita na nimo ang imong pangalan sa ‘official voters list’, pangayo-a ang imong balota sa Board of Election Inspector.

6.)    Siguradoha nga nasulat ug tarong ang pangalan sa kandidato nga imong gibutaran para dili maglibog ang mobasa atol sa official counting.

7.)    Kong nagdali ka, sakay ug balik ug habal-habal pauli sa bungtod.  Ug kon wala, pwede usab nga maniid sa dagan sa botasyon. 

8.)    Kon adunay mga binuang nga nahitabo sa imong lugar diin nagpadayon ang eleksyon, isumbong kini sa awtoridad ug kon walay aksyon nga gibuhat sa mga gisumbungan, itext o itawag kini dayon sa BMPM (Boto Mo, Ipatrol Mo)… hahaha.

9.)    Ang botasyon magsugod sa alas syete sa buntag ug mosira sa alas says sa hapon.

NEW PROCEDURE FOR AUTOMATED ELECTIONS

1.) Know your precinct number.

Know your precinct number before the actual election. Ask your local Comelec or go to Comelec’s Precinct Finder at http://www.comelec.gov.ph/precinctfinder/precinctfinder.aspx

2.) Prepare your codigo.

Prepare your codigo. Prepare a list of candidates of choice before going to your precinct to make the voting process faster

3.) Polls open at exactly 7:00am on May 10 and close at 6:00pm

Polls open at exactly 7:00am on May 10 and close at 6:00pm. Try to be there before opening in case there’s a line. Remember since automated election is new, you should expect a lot of confusion and longer voting time so VOTE EARLY.

4.) Inspect ballot provided by the Board of Election Inspector

Make a visual inspection of the ballot provided by the Board of Election Inspector (BEI). Make sure the ballot is clean and free of marks before accepting it from the BEI. Do not accept ballots with marks or dirt because the PCOS machines may be unable to read them. You get ONE CHANCE to ask for a change of ballot.

5.) Use only BEI provided pen.

Use only the pen provided by the BEI in shading.

6.) Make sure you fully shade the ovals

Make sure you fully shade the ovals, or the machine might reject your ballot for having “ambiguous marks.” DO NOT check, line, cross, dot or half-shade. Make an effort to shade within the outline of the oval.

7.) Do not over-vote

Do not over-vote, otherwise the PCOS machine will not read the votes for that position. Vote only for the number of candidates allowed per position. The allowable number will be stipulated in your ballot. You may, however, vote for less than the required number.

8.) Do not fold the ballot.

Do not fold the ballot.

9.) Only one ballot per voter.

Only one ballot per voter. You will not be given another ballot if you make a mistake while voting.

10.) Make sure you line up at the correct machine.

Your ballot will only be read by one specific PCOS Unit to which it was pre-registered. Make sure you line up at the correct machine.

11.) You get FOUR tries to feed the ballot ONLY.

You get FOUR tries to feed the ballot through the PCOS Unit. You can put it in forward, backward, right side up or back side up so relax and make sure you get the ballot through in four tries.

12.) Wait for the read out to see if your ballot was successfully scanned.

After inserting your ballot into the PCOS Unit, wait for the read out to see if your ballot was successfully scanned. It should read: “Congratulations! Your ballot has been scanned.”

13.) If precinct runs out of ballot, you can cast at next nearest precinct.

If a precinct runs out of ballots, a voter can still cast his vote in the next nearest precinct. The BEI should accompany the voter after giving the latter a certification.

14.) Only the BEI can hand out ballots.

Only the BEI can hand out ballots. Not even local officials, Comelec personnel and Smartmatic technicians can interfere. Also, no one should tinker with the PCOS machines during voting time.

15.) Voters should makes sure they sign the voters’ list at the start

Voters should makes sure they sign the voters’ list at the start, and have their fingernail marked with indelible ink at the end. This is one safeguard against “flying voters”.

16.) Affix your signature and thumbprints

Make sure you affix your signature and thumbprints in the necessary forms.

17.) At end of voting period, watch the screen for voter count

At the end of the voting period, the PCOS Unit will print out the vote count on a paper, similar to a cash register receipt. The print out will be put in a sealed box and sent to Comelec for proper disposition. The machine will also count the number of voters based on ballots inserted into each PCOS Unit. Make sure to watch the screen for voter count as well as other important messages it may display.

18.) Remember, allotted voting time is from 7am to 6pm

The allotted voting time is from 7am to 6pm. Voters who are within 30 meters from the precinct or are still in line after 6pm can still vote. They should have their names listed down by the BEI. Voting should continue until everyone within 30 meters of the precinct or in line has voted.

19.) People barred from the polling precinct.

Armed police, military, para-military forces, security guards, barangay officials, armed goons and supporters of politicians who are campaigning are barred from the polling precinct. The BEI should send them out.

WHO YOU WILL GONNA VOTE THIS COMING LOCAL ELECTION?

As a sequel to my previous blog, I want to share my personal view on choosing the future local leaders of our town on Monday, 10^th of May 2010. 

Actually there is a plethora of attributes that a good local leader should possess.  Local or even national leadership is an enduring requisite especially that our political landscape is mandated by an electoral and democratic process.   But before I’ll go on further, please take a look at the four most important leadership qualities that I think we must consider in voting for our own local leaders (from Mayor – Vice Mayor down to Sangguniang Bayan Members). 

Please note that in choosing our future leaders, it is necessary I believe that we must ensure to pick someone who will…  LEAD, MOTIVATE, WORK AND INSPIRE OUR FELLOW BORBONANONS.  It is essential and crucial at this point that we must choose local leaders who could live up to their promises and those who could definitely bring progress to our town. 

So here’s my take.

ELECTION HINT 101: ON CHOOSING GOOD LOCAL LEADERS OF BORBON

1.)  KANANG “RISK TAKER” BA:  Kinahanglan nato ang mga lider nga moatobang sa risgo sa pagdumala sa usa ka lungsod ug lider nga molihok para sa kalamboan ug kaayuhan sa tanan.   Leaders who could stand on making bold programs and project even if entails considerable financial risks and burdens “like developing the tourism sector, for one” or any other programs that would bring lasting productivity to the municipality of Borbon and the town folks.

It is claimed that higher the risk, higher is the gain. A local leader should not be living in a comfortable zone and being happy with whatever they have achieved… “kanang dili lang magyampungad sa balay lungsod ba ug magpasinaw ba hinuon sa lingkoranan sa konseho” They should not rest on past laurels. Such leaders soon lose their position and the time wave removes them from the peoples’ mind. The constant urge for innovation is one of the most important leadership qualities. It helps the leader to be in tune with the modern times and help them to face new challenges much more effectively. Local leaders’ doesn’t accept society’s definition of what is possible, they make their own outlines. Good leaders refuse to allow the norms and limits defined by society to guide their actions or plans. They are characterized by lack of acceptance for what you see as reality. They just don’t see the world the same way as others. Everything is possible for them despite the arduous and bumpy road to getting there.

2.)  THE ONE WITH MENTAL TOUGHNESS: Kinahanglan nato ang mga lider nga ligdong ang panghuna-huna, adunay kredibilidad ug baruganan sa ilang kaugalingon.  Kanang dili masuko kon adunay kritiko sa ilang mga pamaagi sa pagdumala, hinuon mga lider nga kahibalo maminaw ug motimbang-timbang sa sitwasyon.

We need leaders who are mentally tough. No one can lead without being criticized or without facing tough situations. Tough-minded leaders see things as they are and will pay the price for it. Leadership creates a certain separation from one’s peers which comes from carrying responsibility that only the leaders are able to carry. Local leaders must be able to keep their own counsel until the proper time. Local leaders should possess the ability to live with criticism and not be affected by it. It is not possible for leaders to please everyone. Leaders are able to limit the impact of stress on their lives. Good local leaders should thrive on the energy of stressful situations not the negativity. They should assume control even when they don’t have it thus eliminating the stress of not having control. Good leaders should have a self-esteem and self-confidence to ride out of any tough situation.

3.)  THE ONE WITH GOOD AND DELIBERATIVE SKILLS IN DEALING WITH FELLOW BORBONANONS REGARDLESS OF STATUS:  Kinahanglan nato ang mga lider nga makahibalo mokiglantugi sa ideya ug opinion sa katilingban.  Lider nga katuhuan sa ilang mga pulong… local leaders who can walk the talk.  Kanang dili mamili ug atubangon… mapobre man o madato.

Effective leadership necessitates good listening skills. Local leaders need to create a system of communication for their constituents. Good leaders possess superior skills to be able to communicate clearly the objectives and procedures required for their program of governance. They need to be good “if not excellent” in dealing their constituents and the public.  Leaders have to be open to constructive feedback (pareho aning akong mga gipangbatbat karon, hinaot unta nga walay maglagot.) They should have the ability to convince others and also communicate their vision to the Local Government Unit and deliver it into actions. They should be endowed with the ability to inspire others to work more productively through their speech or words.

4.)  AND THE ONE WHO CAN GO THE EXTRA MILE:  We need leaders who will think out of the box ug kanang maghuna-huna sa kaayuhan sa kinabag-an ug dili kaayuhan lang sa ilang kaugalingong panudlanan.

Good leaders should always put more effort than the LGU expects from them. They should do activities that the majority won’t do. Where most leaders quit they should persevere. This serves as an excellent example to their LGU team which then strives to achieve much more.  Good leaders do not just order things; they will do it themselves so that others can do it too. They should not only motivate themselves in personal development but also motivate those around them. Good leaders should perform what is necessary to upgrade their knowledge and skills and be on the cutting edge in their field.

I don’t know if you will share the same level of expectations and anticipations I have for our future local leaders.  For me, I have used these parameters to measure each and every aspiring local leader that we have right now, para inig sulod nako sa presinto puhon, dili nako maglibog ug pili ba. 

Anyway, I do have my personal choice sa atong mga local nga kandidato.  From the list of wannabes and aspirants for the local positions in the Municipality of Borbon, I would say that I was actually making my own personal evaluation according to an “unprejudiced review’ on the candidate’s qualities and attributes.   Though I don’t have much acquaintance with the few (not to mention) but I am applying my very own ‘non-commissioned query’ direct from the candidates’ constituency and thru’ casual talks as narrated by the neighbors of those candidates.   Gipaagi na lang nako ug ‘word of the mouth inquiry’ ba, kay mas ninot baya ning tsika sa silingan… hahaha.   

Yes that’s right… I am actually doing my rounds visiting the place of those candidates and checking some facts about the integrity and veracity of our aspiring local leaders.  But please don’t quote me wrong coz’ I am just doing this with the very intent of keeping my sacred vote useful come election day.  Besides, it’s my right to know how credible those candidates are and how willing they could perform their duties if they will be elected.  So when those candidates that I have picked in advance will fail to deliver what they had promised, then, I will use the same parameters to slap those very words they have uttered ‘sa pagpangampanya pa lang nila’ right through their faces.  Tan-awon ta lagi ug dili ni sila ma-uwaw.

Mao nga paabuton na lang nato ang resulta puhon sa local nga eleksyon ug hinaot nga dili unta kita magmahay sa mga napili natong mga lider sa lungsod sa Borbon.  

BISITA IGLESYA

What’s Visita Iglesia?

Well, according to some people who can narrate theology while snoring, this is a very old tradition dating back to those times when Christians would visit the seven great basilicas in Rome for adoration of the blessed sacrament after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. The sacramentary, the official altar book of the Church, says that after this Mass, “The faithful should be encouraged to continue adoration before the blessed sacrament for a suitable period of time during the night, according to local circumstances, but there should be no solemn adoration after midnight.“

Last year, Good Friday, we did our own thing and that was my very first Visita Iglesia experience. That year, we intended to visit 14 churches. We never made it. We’ve only managed to visit 7. This is the 2nd year me and my friends did the Visita Iglesia. Well, our Visita Iglesia is not about the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, rather, it’s about contemplation of the 14 Station of the Cross.

OUR VISITA IGLESIA ITINERARY:

First Stop:  Our first stop was the San Isidro Labrador Church of Tabogon, Cebu

Second Stop:  San Vicente Ferrer Parish Church of Bogo City

Third Stop:  St. James Parish Church of Sogod, Cebu

Fourth Stop:  San Guillermo el Ermitano Parish Church of Catmon, Cebu

Fifth Stop:  St. Augustine Parish Church of Carmen, Cebu

Sixth Stop:  Sto. Thomas de Villanueva Parish Church of Danao City

Last Stop:  Our visita iglesia itinerary ended at St. James the Apostle Parish Church of Compostela, Cebu; then we decided to travel back home and pay a quick visit at our very own St. Sebastian Church.

Hope we can do it again next year.

HOYOYOY SA KAUDTOHON UG ANG TAGHOY SA MGA SILOY

Dili ko gayud hikalimtan ang pagdalikyat pauli sa among tugkaran kong panahon na sa semana santa.  Nahimo ko na kining panaad didto sa akong mga ginikanan para usab makahimamat sa akong mga kaliwatan didto sa bungtod. 

Sigurado ko nga mabolit sa pangutana ang akong mama kong sa higayon mapakyas ko pagtungas didto sa among baryo.  Mao nga sa halayo pa lang ang adlaw sa bakasyon, sulti-an ko gidayon ang akong mga ginikanan para aduna sab silay ika-istorya sa mga kaliwat nga perming modalikyat didto sa amoa.

Magsakay pa lang ug pampasayro-ang sakyanan, mora ug bation ko dayon ang tumang kahinangop.  Kahinangop nga makita ko na usab ang akong alaot apan hapsay nga baryo sa bukiran nga bahin sa Borbon.  Apan ang labing makapahinangop kanako pag-ayo, mao ang hoyoyoy sa kaudtuhon samtang magbaktas sa hagunuyan nga dalan nga dinuyogan sa makapadaning taghoy sa mga siloy.

Mora ug gisugo sa Ginoo ang mobulig ang mga langgam siloy namong mga baryohanong nagtungas sa halayong bungtod para pagwagtang sa among kakapoy.

Kanus-a pa kaha masumpayan ug tarong nga dalan paingon sa among lugar, para sayon na lang pagtungas sa mga habal-habal puhon.

LABOR CONTAINS PLEASURE

For how can we deprive our fellow Borbonanon with the delight of getting a decent work? 

What happened in our town lately is a piece of good fortune that every Borbonanon and our neighbors must look forward to (sooner or later). 

The latest oil exploration activity in our municipal waters is being perceived by most locals, as the preeminent rupture that answers the supplication of many impoverished and unemployed populace of Borbon.

I come to think of the following possibilities— granting that oil, gas or any other precious minerals are actually sighted and discovered in our place, for sure, it will result to tremendous and countless opportunities or leeway.

First, Borbon will transform and escalate its place from rags to riches.  Along with its transformation, its people— if given priorities by our local government leaders— will benefit by the sudden surge and development.  More works will be generated to all sectors of the society.  Marginalized sector like farmers, fishermen, and others can also gain subsidy through local programs that would maintain the equilibrium in our community.  Not necessarily that they will shift the line of occupations they have into oil workers, but something that the government must tend, to protect the interest of a balanced and harmonious society.

But the question is, “How confident the Department of Energy (DOE), the foreign explorers sans surveyors and our local government unit for the possibility and discovery of oil in our municipal waters?”

Perhaps, a blueprint has already been presented first-hand to the national agency and our local government unit, enough to justify their rush actions without conducting preliminary public hearings at the outset.

 Maybe or maybe not.

SO THAT BORBONANONS WILL KNOW!

What is the effect of sonar or seismic survey?

It’s in the news and in fact, the talk of the town.  It’s a growing sensation among Borbonanons and my information tells that there is an Australian Mining Firm conducting a seismic survey and oil exploration activity in our municipal waters. 

Bet this one brings a promise for enormous economic activity in our place.  And who will benefit — the unemployed sectors of Borbon, small businesses (for sure it will sprout like mushrooms) and of course the Internal Revenue of our municipality… which will eventually augment— add of course the other sectors in our society.  Domino effect, kuno!

As a valid vindication to the latest happening in our peaceful little town, I see reasons why every Borbonanon must put some wary over this matter.

Will this be an answer to our every prayer, to cut-off massive unemployment rate in our town?

Will this oil exploration brings lasting jobs to Borbonanons without threatening the balance of our marine ecosystem and of human lives in general?

In anticipation to what is happening next, a group of directly affected sector, “which is our fisherfolk”, rallies to impede the later.

Cebu Daily News reported that, “several Borbon fisherfolk fear will disrupt their sea catch and destroy fish pens even as the DOE assured that the survey, which uses sound waves to test for possible gas and oil reserves, would not harm marine life”.  — CDN

Not that I am a fisherman by profession but I just feel the same worries as our fisherfolks.  Notwithstanding the prospect of job generation to most of the Borbonanons but due to the fact the oil exploration activities will potentially disturb or maybe worst— damage our marine ecosystem in the long run.

For this reason, I manage my own research about the environmental impact of Sonar Survey and Oil Exploration in our municipal waters, so that Borbonanons may be aware of its potential effects.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Based on the study of Dr. Bernd Würsig, a professor for marine biology at Texas A&M University in Galveston, Texas states that the main environmental concern for marine surveys is the capability of seismic sources to disturb animal life, especially cetaceans such as whales, porpoises, dolphins and other marine mammals.  Sonar surveys involves towing an array of 15-45 pneumatic air guns below the ocean surface behind the researching vessel and emit sound pulses of a “predominantly low frequency (10-300Hz), high intensity (215-250 dB).  These animals have sensitive hearing, and some scientists believe the underwater sound waves created by sonar surveys (pneumatic air guns) might disturb the animals or even damage the ears.  Seismic surveying can damage the reproductive processes, auditory functions and other damaging effects to highly lucrative marine species (lobster, crabs) and it poses potentially fatal effects to marine mammals.  Seismic testing is not fully responsible for whales running ashore or becoming stranded but there is evidence that it plays a major role.  Studies of seismic effects on several marine species indicated substantial effects in behavior, feeding and diving patterns.  Dr. Würsig also states that seismic surveys will result marine mammals to avoid its migratory and feeding grounds by >30 km in areas of seismic testing.  Similarly the breathing of these marine mammals (the big ones) was shown to be more rapid, indicating discomfort and panic.  It is evidence such as this that has led researchers to believe that the avoidance and panic is responsible for increased whale and other marine mammal beachings.  The other marine species have similar effects and discomfort in areas of seismic testing.  Research is ongoing into these questions. END. 

The Department of Energy has assured that the survey will not harm marine life.  However, a different constructive view from the environmental economic professor of the University of San Carlos, Lourdes Montenegro states that the government should now compute the damage wrought on the seas when evaluating the cost of development projects like oil drilling and the loss of livelihood of fisherfolks.  Ecology lawyers said the project grossly violated the country’s laws and the people’s rights to “life, health and a healthy environment”.

Being a Borbonanon, if you will be given the privilege to make your choice for the latest OIL EXPLORATION CHURVA in our town, what would that be?

1. Go, Go, Go — Oportunidad Na Ni Sa Trabaho!
2. No, No, No  — Kuyaw Kay Madaot Ang Kadagatan!

It’s your choice anyway!  Have your say now!

DARE TO FULFILL YOUR PROMISES

I have nothing personal against our local politicians of Borbon (whoever wins local seat this coming election, fine with me) but I will just say more of my personal contentions and observations.  Since freedom of expression is a constitutional right, therefore I have reason to believe that I am entitled to the same. 

I’ll briefly add a few more blogs hoping that this time around I can touch the conscience of our politicos; for them to follow what is due to their promises and satisfy the cry of their mundane constituents especially in far, far barrio like ours— Kaligdag Bugon!

Well, it’s rather true that only election season we’ve been visited by prominent and not-so prominent personalities in town.   Even how far they have traversed the winding hagunoyan road going to our barrio, yet it doesn’t stop them.  Many would end up knocking at our door, distributing stuffs with printed infomercial of their candidacies, shaking hands to the poorest among the poor and leaving all of us with promises that would elevate sympathy among my barrio folks.  Most of these politicians even tend to portray that they grasp our destitution, shows propensity for change and even dole out something that would make everyone in my barrio smiles— the violet color of politics— pwede na!

Political landscape—nah! I won’t dare to discuss it here in my blog as I know that even the smartest political thinkers in our country couldn’t alter the fate of Philippine politics— from local to national level.

What I want to imply is for Borbonanons to take into account what our future local leaders had promised us before May 10^th Election.  So if they will start to function as one, we can start assessing their performance based from their own political platforms.

And hopefully after 2010 election, all our local candidates for LGU posts will find reconciliation among each other. 

Then elected officials will start to work to their promises coz’ if they’re not — I will summon my minions to hunt them down and collect what is due to the people of Borbon— Hahaha! Lol!

Paligdan gyud ta mo ug Bugon.

A CHALLENGE TO OUR LOCAL POLITICIANS

Long and forgotten, far barrios and sitios are most often forgotten. Some can even associate the remote sitios in the mountain areas as history. It’s as if, some barrios in our municipality are just nothing but milked cows. Wala koy gipasabot ha! Battlecry of the poor… WHERE ARE OUR LEADERS!

Now that election is coming, I just want to share my sentiments and I advised every reader not to unravel my expressions as politically motivated — kay dili ra ba gyud! Ganahan lang ko mohatag sa akong opinion through this blog hoping that our future leaders ‘if they happen to read my blog’ will consider and include these in their agendas. And I want to discuss mainly the forgotten remote barrios of the Municipality of Borbon. This I want to share to our future leaders… “Yet, some of the mountain barrios in our municipality explodes with so much natural beauty, natural resources, it’s been a while that we ignore its potentials which, if we develop, with respect to the environment – it will create enormous local economic activity to help our barrio folks”. — Borbon Folk

Looking back to the pictures I saw in the www.borboncebu.com and to the places I knew… the Nonoc Cave, the Silmugi River, Dao Reforestation, Lunas Mountain View and some unexplored scenery in Bagacay and going as far as Bili, Clavera & San Jose, etc.

Yeah, I do sound like one politician campaigning for my political agenda this coming May, 2010 Election, but nah? I am just an ordinary citizen who wishes to make amend with our incoming local leaders now that the heat of the election is felt…to please consider giving priorities to our barrio folks para mahatagan sad tawn sila ug gamay nga panginabuhian. Pastilan jud! Anyway, I am not talking about giving them fish… but to lead them to the fishing ground where fishes are abundant, as an old saying goes… mora ug lahi man siguro to nga panultihon!

Sa atong mga umaabot nga haligi sa lungsod, I am appealing in behalf of the barrio folks to allocate some budget for the development and promotion of our natural beauties para mamahimo kining tourist destinations which would somehow generate livelihood (local jobs) in the process.  Ug para dili na manglangyaw sa siyudad o halayong dapit ang mga Borbonanon para pagpanimpad.

To give you a tour of my experiences at the barrio, please allow me to take you back down memory lane.

Let me bring you to my beautiful Barrio Kaligdag Bugon – the land of the kamuting-kahoy and home of the takyong (tree snail)…lol. Enjoy!

My barrio is in a far, far mountain area in the Municipality of Borbon. To go there, you need to ride all types of public transpo available – from bus to jeep to tricycle. The long journey to my barrio will end with this habal-habal ride……traversing the long and winding hagunoyan barangay road. In fairness ha, the last time I visited my barrio was that I noticed a “putol-putol” nga construction of cemented road but reaching as far as eskina sa lumboy only… but doesn’t even reach half the stretch of lubak-lubak nga dalan padulong sa among plaza. In my barrio, there’s plenty of bahay kubo (read: poverty). But God has always spared my place from any calamities. His blessing to my barrio is never-ending. Naks… He blessed us with plenty of coconut trees to make copra…hahaha… and overflowing with the bounty of harvest time, kamunggay, agbate, okra ug uban pa.

LIVELIHOOD IN KALIGDAG-BUGON

 Gathering of tuba (coconut wine), coming from the coconut trees are typical jobs in my barrio. Farming and the old-school sabong kada Domingo is also classical… hahaha

THE LIFESTYLE

I remember our usual gimikan will be at the ‘bungtod ug kakahuyan’ where your voice will reverberate even as you speak with your barkadas. Our playground was at the katubhan and we play all sorts of games during our youth. And the water system stem from the spring… mag sag-ub lang ug tubig para imnon ug ilung-ag… didn’t even know the more conservative consumption of mineral water coming from France (Evian or Volvic) in my old days. And our typical cocina was the classic clay pot — or we used to call ‘kon’ and we’ll gather dry woods to create fire.

LEISURE AND ACTIVITIES

Beach bumming, picnic, stroll sa kabukiran and sleep under the shades of mammoth mahogany trees.

THE PATRON

Patron (fiesta) is the most celebrated event each year. Young and old gather together in the barangay plaza for the disco. Even if we are far from the mainland, we still find time to scout a habal-habal para lang gyud makalugsong. Modern music and classical ballrooms… cha-cha to the tune of GIKUMOT-KUMOT …and watch the annual ms. barangay beauty pageant. Life in the barrio is soo hirap but people there are always happy.

Today, my barrio is still the barrio I used to know 15 years ago. No changes and seem like forgotten by our leaders who had promised for various development in every political campaigns and in every elections ‘to come’. Each year, there are millions of pesos allocated for municipal projects like road widening, repairs and infrastructures but only to the selected fews. Pastilan jud!

Anyway, I still believe time will come that our leaders will start to focus their attention sa atong mga taga-barrio. I have reason to believe that Borbon has so much to offer for tourism programs. We’re rich in natural resources… we have unexplored caves, white beaches, subterranean rivers, rock formations, waterfalls and diving sites.

Hellooo DOT (Department of Tourism) where are you? Hellooo local leaders, wake up!

I have high dreams for my barrio (and for every barrio in the Municipality of Borbon too) – conducive school facilities, health care for everyone, stable supply of electricity, access to clean water, computers and access to internet at por Diyos por Santo!!! And a suitable road going to my barrio… para dili na intawon magkalapok akong sapatos pagtungas nako didto sa amoa puhon.

I hope you enjoy a quick trip to my barrio Kaligdag-Bugon, I shall visit the place next summer, if you wish to join, let me know, KKB tayo.

Bottom line: WAKE UP EVERYONE!