Team Unity wipes out opposing candidates

By Hernor De Asis and

Charmaine Sanchez

Elected Public Officials along with COMELEC Board of canvassers during the Proclamation Ceremony held at SP Session Hall last May 14, 20013.

Election Officer III, Acting City Election Officer- Atty. Ma. Liza Tubera-Sy proclaimed the newly elected San Carlos City Officials last May 14, 2013at the SP Session Hall.

Mayor Gerardo P. Valmayor Jr., Vice-Mayor Edgardo Quisumbing along with the eight incumbent city councilors will remain in their office for another three years of public service.

Noli Baguioro and Engr. Clint Mansueto also coming from Team Unity completed the circle of city councilors.

June 30, 2013, San Carlos City 53rd Charter Day will be the scheduled Oath Taking Ceremony of the Newly Elected officials.

In unity there is strength

                With a total of 37, 891 voters in the city who voted last Midterm Elections, all the electoral candidates from Team Unity got the highest votes against the opposing candidates.

                Their 17-0 battle cry surmounted the howl of change based on San Carlos City total number of votes.

                Candidate for Governor, Hon. Genaro Alvarez also surpassed Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. with 66.30 % of votes in San Carlos City (comelec.gov.ph/2013electionResults).

                Nonetheless, Marañon garnered 59.43% in whole Negros Occidental against Alvarez and then proclaimed Governor of the Province.

Congressman Jules Ledesma won over Dela Cruz, Librando, and Sua with 61.26 % of votes in First Legislative District.

During the Election: PCOS Problems

Some PCOS machines from a total of 34 polling centers all over San Carlos City experienced paper jam on election day which gave an additional burden to the board of election inspectors and the support staff who already had problems in controlling the crowd of voters.  Ballots from precincts that experienced paper jam were collected and scanned in the nearby room that had an available PCOS machine. “Di man na pwede! Right man na namu nga kami mu pa-scan sa among balota. Asa diay ang technical support?” says one of the voters who got upset about the system the teachers brought up. When it came to the voting process, most precincts started giving away numbers, so voters who came early got to vote first. However, those who received numbers from 200-500 went home and decided to come back in the afternoon.

Since most voters took a break from waiting for their turn, when their numbers were called by noontime they were no longer there. So the staff decided to change the protocol and let the voters form a line.

The conflict happened at noon and in the afternoon where the voters came back with their numbers thinking they would be prioritized. But the ‘Line System’ was to be followed. This caused the heated exchange of conversations between the voters and the staff.

A peaceful election

According to the Police Station’s information office, no election-related crimes were reported to have happened before and on the election period.

Sancarlosenios were very thankful to have a peaceful election, unlike neighboring municipalities where some citizens were reported harmed and even shot. Most are hypothesizing that whoever was behind this desperately tried to scare people hoping they’d get votes on Election Day.

Soldier’s Pen   

By BGen. Alexander Cabales (Ret.)

The day after

The smoke of battle has cleared and the dust of combat has settled.  The vanquished are now licking their wounds while the victors are assessing how much their victory has caused them probably in terms of damaged relations and expenses.  They have fought that long hard drawn battle in this democratic exercise we call elections.  This is the morning after and we can now put that thing behind us because it is the time to mend our fences, heal the wounds and prepare for our long march to progress.

San Carlos City is luckier than many parts of the country which were marred by massive vote buying and violence.  Except for instances of mudslinging involving one or two candidates, it was almost devoid of blows that were below the belt. There were no instances of serious election related violence either.  We stuck with political issues and never with personal circumstances except on matters of qualifications. Our local candidates remained as professional as ever and they deserved our congratulations.

The results of the local elections were not surprising because many expected its most possible outcome.  However, during the election fever, a few still ventured into expressing their own choices and betting for a “duck” even if they knew from the very beginning that their candidates of choice had no chance of victory.  This is the real essence of a democracy in progress in our beloved City of San Carlos where everyone is free to choose without fear of possible repercussions.   

The message is now loud and clear.  Giving the administration ticket a fresh mandate meant that the Carlosians are happy with the present dispensation and that they feel that there is no need for “change”.  “Change” in this context is literally used to mean “changing” the present crop of local leaders and legislators.  Let me point out however, that change has several meanings and implications which I used and have amply illustrated in previous articles.  

The losing candidates (the local opposition) despite their routing defeat deserved our appreciation for helping demonstrate the dynamics of a true democracy.  For how can we say that there is a democracy when we stifle opposition?  The opposition group is to be commended in fact for daring to venture into an arena armed only with the strong conviction (moral courage?) that it can slay the Goliath of an opponent.  

Summarizing, the several election related articles published earlier, we can come up with a few valuable lessons if one should ever run for public office.  In order to prepare for “battle” they must first analyze the “battlefield”, its characters, conditions, peculiarities and potentials, among others.  In this case, they need a thorough study of San Carlos City in order to identify the issues the better for them to devise their battle plans and courses of action and equip them with the “armaments” to wage a credible campaign.

If anyone runs on a platform of change, he should be able to convince the electorate that there exist some issues that need to be addressed, that the incumbent officials are either incompetent or insincere in solving these problems and that he is the better alternative than the one presently performing the position that he is aspiring.

San Carlos City is not a Shangri-La where everything is expected to be perfect.  It is therefore, not difficult to find issues that we cannot harp about.  Hence, our incumbent officials only need to be constantly sensitive in order to become aware of these inadequacies.  Situations such as these make change continuously relevant. 

Yet, change may be done from within the system rather change the whole system itself.  Adjustments may be needed; minor changes can be instituted or necessary improvements may be made just to make the system work more efficiently. 

We don’t change a car that is running fairly well just because its headlights are busted.  We can simply change or improve a part of it!  Buying another car may be more risky because it may turn out that you bought something that is worse than what you already have.

Friendly Observer 

By Arthur Keefe

After the event

The elections ended with a predictable clean sweep for the incumbents. What if anything can we learn from this year’s outcome? Firstly, that Filipinos love a party! No, not a political party, but a real ‘knees up’ with plenty of music and dancing. The final rallies were well attended, thanks partly to well organized convoys from the outlying areas.

They were more entertainment than political, and seemed to go down well with the public- especially the grand finale of fireworks. Those of us who follow politics closely may have been disappointed, but the crowds were certainly not.

Secondly, that vote buying is not an explanation for victory. Money was certainly offered, but people have become wise to the fact that they can take the cash, but still vote as they chose. No doubt most felt obligated to follow the sample ballot from those transporting, feeding, and paying them, but in all likelihood the main impact is to produce a high turn out rather than the changing of voting intentions.

Thirdly, we must thank and respect the opposition candidates and the single independent here in the city. They knew from the start their chances were slim, but they put huge time and energy into their campaign, and in so doing, they provided people with a real alternative. The thousands who supported them did not waste their vote, as they showed elected office has to be earned, not grabbed.

Despite the sharp divisions, there was no violence here (although regrettably people still died elsewhere) and no real dirty politics. Both sides played the peculiar style of Philippine politics (including the use of ‘controlled votes’ and denying each other access to their villages), but within the local customs, they both played fairly.

I regret that this ‘fair play’ may not extend beyond the election, where patronage is still likely to deny fairness to those considered politically hostile.

Fourthly, despite the frequent carping about the actions of their elected members it is clear that a large majority of people have given a vote of confidence to the incumbents at all levels. It may be that I am overstating this, but at the very least, this majority found no cause to charge the present arrangements.

Democracy is not simply voting once every few years. Real democracy requires those elected to continue a dialogue with those they govern.

It requires those elected to be sensitive and responsive to the views and wishes of the electorate throughout their term. Election confers the responsibility of stewardship, not the powers of the autocrat. A good politician is one who serves all the people, not just himself and the vested interests which supported him.

The agenda for those with a renewed mandate is a formidable one. Good governance and maintaining what is good in San Carlos is something the public have recognized by their vote. There are solid improvements behind this, not least the new hospital and the new University College.

However, San Carlos is a quiet backwater. It’s great for retired people or those who like a quiet life, but it offers very little to young people, most of whom leave as soon as they seek work outside of low paid and low skilled occupations.

Initiatives such as the Legarda call centre do not thrive, and few outsiders consider investing here. Even local businessmen often look to Cebu or Bacolod for new opportunities.

Economic development is hard to achieve, but desperately needed if San Carlos is not to become the City of the aged!

As an agricultural area, food processing is one obvious option. With a large coastline and an excellent port, marine activity is a possibility. Ideas come but quickly go.

We must all wish the elected representatives well as they take up their responsibilities.

The election has shown people are interested in how they are governed. This capital (including the opposition groups) must be exploited through a form of participatory democracy in which the elected and the electors work together to move the City forward.

Just a thought, nothing more!

By Hernor M. De Asis

The New Look of Fifty Cents: Candy & Band-aid

Here is an amusing circumstance. There was a middle-aged tutor who taught the concept of money to a four-year old, sharp-eyed kid.

At the sala…

Tutor: If I bought a piece of mango at five pesos, and I had a ten-peso coin, how much would be the change?

Kid: The change would be five, Sir!

Tutor: Very good!

(The tutor thought of another problem that will give this young kid a hard time.)

Tutor: How about Mrs. Lope who wants to buy an eraser at two pesos, and fifty cents, and her money is a five peso coin, how much would be her change?

Kid: Very easy, a two-peso coin and a band-aid!

Tutor: What? 

And, the teacher’s jaw dropped!

            Well, I can’t’ help but laugh every time I remember how that kid unflappably answered the tutor’s question. What do you think is the kid’s answered so?

            Due to my curiosity, I asked the boy, and he said, “Because that’s what the lady cashier gave to my mom when she bought me a sharpener in a store and I found Mrs. Lope’s money concept situation very similar to the incident that happened with my mom and the lady cashier.”

            Aha! So, the case was closed. It’s a funny thing here in San Carlos City. We have this unique kind of “changing system” (some stores in various cities also use the system as a means for business strategy.) What is this system?  I know all of us experienced this kind of business scheme in most stores in the city, where instead of having 50 cents as change we end up receiving candies or strips of band-aid.

Now, what if a certain customer lacked 50 cents to pay the bill and he happened to have a candy in his pocket, can he give his candy to cover the short?

            Truly, many believe that 50 cents seem only a diminutive amount and it won’t take all of your riches away if traded with little sweets and band-aid. Nonetheless, did it ever cross your mind that you can never arrive at a million pesos without that 50-cent coin?

            Some customers are starting to get irritated with this kind of trade, since we are facing a great financial crisis. Even centavos are already a big help in our daily expenses at times when moms are burning their eyebrows every night just to make the family’s budget work.

            Most banks and standardized malls and grocery stores in the country do not allow this kind of method since they are very particular in the cash outflows of their business and it is indeed imperative to the liquidation and inventory processes of the business to have equal and balance results in their financial statements. It would be a mocking part for store owners if the accountant laid down all the financial monthly reports with the balance of P 486,000; 1,566 candies; and 1,300 strips of band-aid. 

From our local store owners, I have collected 80 candies and 20 strips of band-aid from the change I received; I assume its monetary equivalent is P 50. Can I do my shopping now with these?

P.S. I’m limiting my sugar intake because I’m afraid to have diabetes.  It killed my Dad! 

Sunset

By Charmaine C. Sanchez

 

After hitting the last line of the final song, the center stage will have to close. Every member of the audience has to go home after enjoying a ticket. A musician would have to keep his guitar after taping a cracked finger.

On the outside, even the ocean would have to lose its daytime sparkle for it to become a dark, silver blanket waiting for the moon’s peep. And the angels would have to slowly hide the day giving the world another priceless sunset.

As we all get to watch that giant ball of fire set its radiant glow, we all know it’s that time where the day reached its finish line. I am one of the millions that enjoy seeing this daily natural phenomenon.

Not just because of the beauty I see in yellow diamonds that align the afternoon horizon, but also because of the things I get to think of behind every sunset (that I’m sure had already knocked on your head too).

As I see the sunset, I usually have a flood of random thoughts. Things like darkness, second chances, separation, failure, more failure, and a new day waiting. Like how the daylight slowly leaves the world, lovers also have to be far from each other. Parents lose children like the sky eventually loses its radiant king for a few hours (figuratively speaking). The world’s most famous pop star can even lose his glory like how the ocean gets to lose its sparkle as it becomes a mirror of the nighttime world. And that’s what makes this beautiful. Behind all these are lessons that we should be learning over and over again.

When we get to lose sight of the light, it’s where we get to appreciate what’s left in the dark. Stars. Fireflies. Even that petroleum lamp your neighbor has lit. In times of nothingness, we force our vision’s length just to look for something out there we can hold on to. We get to think things a lot. We get to consider trying again and somehow we get to fix broken hearts, broken spirits, broken savings, a broken leg, and everything else that might be worrying you right now.

What usually happens at night? We sleep and prepare for the next day right? If we read beyond the lines, it’s like someone who falls get to think about accepting failure and getting up.

Wherever people may have failed- on elections, during the last board exams, or in working a thesis that resulted to a postponed graduation, you can either try again or have a different way of starting over. In every failure is a stream of choices and smart options you can use in dusting yourself off from a bad fall.

Accepting defeat isn’t always one of the easy things for us. Especially when we start with high hopes and we work hard for our goals. However, just because we are capable of failing does not mean we are not capable of succeeding.

 In life, we have our golden ages and days that are painted in gray. That’s just how it is and it keeps you well trained on how you work on your balance. Yes, medals and all sorts of glitter can keep your head up, but challenges will be in the way to make sure your feet stay on the ground.

A day ends just to start over again. Sometimes, we have to lose in order to win. All we have to do is wait for the right battle. Wait for the right triumph.

Fate has its own way of training us in our individual battlefields. It has its own way in rewarding what’s rightful for us too. So enjoy your life with or without sunshine.

“Everything has its reasons. Even the worst day of our life has a purpose.

 All it takes is the art of looking beyond the ugly things in life. And you’ll see…they’re not that ugly at all.”

Food for Tooth

By Otto George I. Weber

Flash in the

(Cooking) Pan

Opening with a bang, Chef Nitoy’s Grille &Restaurant immediately captivated a lot of patrons with its good food and swift service in a relaxing courtyard setting.

Many times did we enjoy the sizzling sisig, marlin and tuna while the kids favored the grilled chicken/liempo meals. Its ‘kansi’ was the tummy-warming order of choice before partaking of its signature ‘pancit canton’. The crispy ‘lumpia’ paired so well with the sub-zero beer. In short, it had all the makings of a preferred dining destination.

But that was then. Fast forward to the recent and our two visits ended up being disappointments. Changes were made, but not with the desired result. Its once-open courtyard is now paved over – thus losing a natural aspect of the place.

Moreover, a steel-trussed roof over it has caused a dampening effect on an otherwise bright portion. Just can’t help but feel that I’m in a basketball covered court. Additionally, the food quality has taken a dive while service has also followed the same route. Surprisingly, the ‘CR’s’ are still clean and functioning.

Sayang naman. After all, it is in one of the better spots on the city’s famous food avenue and has solid fundamentals.

Maybe professional make-over and management reform are needed to restore the luster of this once-rising star.