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Putting Bilar on the map
By Atty. Aleckoy Lim

In next year’s election, attention is being focused on the third district slate for provincial board members.

This is due to the fact that of the four incumbents for the four seats allocated district, three are expected to be vacated. Board Member Dionisio Balite is expected to run for congressman while Board Members Concepcion Lim and Godofreda Tirol are no longer eligible for reelection.

This leaves only Board Member Ester Corazon Galbreath as the shoo-in winner for reelection. Galbreath however is not expected to be reelected simply because she is the only returning board member.

She has given a good account of herself in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in the two terms that she has served as board member.

It is not quite surprising for one who has been a public servant for the most part of her life.

Galbreath had been an educator who was known for her dedication. While others teach because it is what they are paid for, she was a teacher who loved what she did.

When she was elected as mayor, Galbreath showed the same dedication and hard work that she was known for when she was still a teacher. Although women mayors are not as rare as they used to be, she showed that she deserved to be one by being accessible to her constituents.

Other people who were suddenly given positions of importance were overwhelmed by their position, she remained the same soft-spoken and humble teacher that she was. This was one of the reasons why she was reelected until her term expired due to the constitutional prohibition beyond three terms.

As a board member, Galbreath is among those with near perfect attendance which is one indicator of her dedication to service. She not only comes in early and leaves only when the sessions are over, she also contributes significantly during the deliberations.

My sources tell me that she is also personally attends committee meetings unless there are conflicts in schedule. This is impressive because many board members send only their representatives to committee meetings when there are no reporters around.

There were stories that Galbreath is inclined to reclaim her old post as mayor but I personally do not believe this. One reason is of course the fact that incumbent Mayor Fanuel Cadeliña is her political ally who was her vice mayor.

Another reason is that she is doing well as a board member and deserves to remain especially since there will be new faces in the district after next year’s election. She is of course giving Bilar a good name by the quality of her service and I believe Bilar is better off with her in the SP.

Galbreath placed Bilar on the map as far as the SP records are concerned and she deserves to stay until she is prevented from seeking another term.

Published on Oct 22, 2006 by The Bohol Standard Newspaper

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