At the crossroads again

WE are again at the crossroads when we are to make choices about the future of our city. More than a decade ago, we convened ourselves to discern who could best lead and direct our city to a state we have been longing for, a progressive and orderly city,  a prime agro-industrial and commercial hub in Northern Mindanao, where every Kagay-anon is healthy, secure and productive.

In 2013, we made a choice to support individuals whom we believed could best lead us in rebuilding the City after the disasters that hit us.  Not only were we concerned with rehabilitating communities, but also of our spirits as a people and as a community.  We became more critical to the kind of leadership our city needed.  We were more vocal with our disgust, sentiments and aspirations.  We were more involved.

The whole universe conspired with us when the national effort for inclusive and participatory development and good governance was the battle cry of the national administration.  It was not only congruent with our aspiration, but it provided for us an environment to constructively engage with our City government.

Our civil society and basic sector organizations were consulted more on poverty reduction programs.  More of us shed sweat in aching muscles in building new communities for displaced families.  More fora were facilitated to hear the people. More of our civic groups and organizations are involved in Special and Development Bodies.  We are actively engaging the city’s bureaucracy, in developing programs, critiquing its budget, and spearheading its instrumentalities and functionalities in promoting grassroots participation and building integrity in governance.

We have made the first few steps in making a more dynamic and participatory city government. And we shall pursue it further. Again, we need to bring our hearts, minds and spirits together, Mga Managsilingan, to lead the people of the city make the right decisions in 2016.

In this regard, let us meet and convene again [today], October 12, 2015 at 1:30 pm at the Patrick Cronin Hall, St. Augustine Cathedral Compound, Barangay 1, Cagayan de Oro City. ––Mitos Ortigas, Manag-Silingan Ta Movement; Manuel Valdehuesa Jr., convenor, Gising Barangay Movement; Most Rev. Antonio Ledesma, SJ., DD, Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro; Bishop Jollieh Petallo, convenor, Interfaith forum

Name-calling begins

THOSE who jumped ship from LP to CDP have called the mayor a liar for saying that the jumpers were offered money for their campaign expenses.  And because of this, they call Mayor Oca Moreno a liar.

The second district congressman is known for his spendings. It does not have to be the mayor to say that the congressman offered them money because the honorable representative is known for his deep pocket and quick-draw distribution of thousands of pesos to just about anybody.

Weren’t the jumpers given money by the congressman in 2013?  Secrets like this cannot be kept covered forever because in politics, allies now may be opponents later.  Remember that in politics there are only permanent personal interests, not allies.

The councilor with business interests in city hall and some trucks, big trucks, for his what else, but trucking business, and maybe, just maybe some mining or quarrying interests, may just be hungry for media attention.

Moreno may have offered the councilor some money to help him in his campaign.  And the congressman has not?  Oh, come on!

Even before the filing of COCs, the name-calling gamealready started. Moreno is called liar for saying what the public already knows.

We know that the councilor was once an avid fan of the master of deception.  Maybe, he has also mastered that art.  The master of deception and architect of mendicancy has mastered name-calling, and his hold over his supporters (read: puppets) is strengthened by threats of persecution of their dark past.

Yes, that could be it. ––Peter Clarete, peterclarete@gmail.com