By Joe Espiritu
Columnist
Bohol Sunday Post
We wish we could name names but since the persons involved would deny the story anyway, we have to print some of these as blind items. There is an intense jockeying for an advantageous position in the local Federated SK election. The handlers are campaigning actively for their charges. One candidate had been favored by some with political agendas. To think that they are using children for their own ends is quite disheartening. It seems as if the slate for the local posts had been made up. The outs had not yet made up their minds.
There are many graduating SB kagawads. Some may run for a higher post, some may take a three-year sabbatical. Those with higher ambitions, those who are not sure of their political clout may try to influence the election of ABC president and SK president. That would be a good political capital. It would be the case of mutual back scratching.
We hope that those kids will be left alone. Let them choose among themselves, who will be their representative to the SB. Let us not pollute their minds with all the trickery, vote buying, horse trading and general mayhem. Let us teach them statesmanship this early. Let us not defile young minds just for the sake of our selfish desires. If we have to introduce them to a political career, let us train them right. They are the hope of the country.
We wonder who will oppose Andrew Tadena for the ABC presidency. Mamerts had lost although all his kagawads had won. He should have been a good candidate for the ABC post. He can con national politicians to fund him for the position. Now we are casting around for some nut to give Andrew a run for his money. Ludy Sajulga would be another good material. However, he too lost like Mamerts. Why do we always back losers?
Long time ago, there were political conventions. Leaders from all barrios were asked to choose candidates for the local posts. Now we do not see any convention. A group of supposedly influential people merely decides whom to field.
They would choose who has the most logistics. This is no longer democracy. This is oligarchy. If one has no money, they cannot win an elective post. The opposition party in the past election decided not to splurge and they were clobbered for their pains. Perhaps they did not expect to win. Maybe just for the fund of it.
At any rate, 2010 is still a long way off but it helps to prepare. Hey Mac, there are those who never stopped campaigning even if he has hardly warmed his seat. The only fun in this political life is campaigning and receiving salary or honoraria or whatever one may call it. Now that Christmas season is about to start, there is an open season for politicians. They have to shell out donations and to get a part of their money back, they attend Christmas parties. What happens afterward is most of them are overweight though lacking in sleep.
Back to the SK. Please leave them alone. Their handlers should keep their hands off. We will give you the ABC to play around with but not whose minds are still tender. If we keep tampering with their world, we will never acquire politicians who love their country more than their pockets or their egos. That is not too much to ask.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=7101.0
