A time for ‘Epal’

Nora Soriño .

ILIGAN City–The “epal” was very much accepted. It was otherwise known as “campaign.” But has it ever really left us? Read on.

There was a time when during the celebration of the country’s independence on a June 12, as  I passed the city public plaza, I would see three big faces hanging on a tarpaulin. They were the faces of then-mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz, then-vice mayor Henry Dy and then-congressman Vicente “Varf” Belmonte Jr. I couldn’t help but get pissed off by those faces because it seemed that we were celebrating those faces instead of the country’s independence. And the words “Independence Day” were also there but to me and maybe to many people except maybe their ah, “rabid”  supporters, “Independence Day” was only a background of the faces.

Of course, the three faces were lookers. Cruz is another version of Tom Cruise, Dy reminds me of Roger Moore and Belmonte, well, a Tom Rodriguez. But… well you can supply the words.

And then during graduation, the “epals” of then-vice mayor Ruderic Marzo, as acting mayor wished the graduates well.  Not to be outdone, Celso G. Regencia (CGR) mayor who was then “not around” but still “just around” due to some legal issues, had  his too. All wishing the graduates well. Lest the public forget…

With the just-concluded campaign period, the “epal” became legal. And candidates had a grand  time pasting their faces on strategic places to remind the voters.

The Comelec said there were specific faces, err, places for these “epal” — I mean, campaign materials.

Never mind the “specific areas.” Nay, any area will do. As long as they can get away with it. So, we saw the “epals” on trees, on posts, on walls, on T-shirts, wherever, whenever, whatever.

Aside from that, we saw them suddenly materializing in person in our front yards, their faces pasted with smiles that reach up to the ears.

Not very long ago, there was a councilor who authored an ordinance called “anti-epal ordinance.” Was it Councilor Noli Pardilo? I’m not so sure. Basta.

“Epal” comes from the word “papel.” Paper. It has since then connotes negativity. And to many people, the word has stuck. Like that of “tokhang.” Which to a maker of a Bisaya dictionary which I came across recently, “tokhang” has made it to his list of words. I am wondering if “epal” is making it to the dictionary too — it did not occur to me to ask. Somebody asked then if  the words, “asenso” would tantamount to “epal.” Which is being “owned” by a politician here. Direct to the point: by Rep. Frederick Siao. But it has a family name of Iliganon. As in “Asenso Iliganon.” So if a billboard says some project, with the bold words, “Asenso Iliganon,” one can readily know who that refers to.

Then there’s “Lambo Iligan.” That’s owned then by the other party, that of CGR. “Asenso” and “Lambo” are of course, synonymous. Which means, by today’s lingo, “level up.”

Yes, they’re the same. And different. Ask Siao and CGR.

I still have several things to say about these “epals.” But there’s somebody asking where’s the way to the toilet.

I point to that direction: “This way to the comfort room. A message from Councilor…”

Wait, another “epal?” So, how can we forget!