Honoring Klarex for Kikang

CHANGE and continuity are textbook themes in an election.

The opposition party or candidate would always advocate for change against the incumbent. On the other hand, the incumbent or his successor pushes for continuity.

Change or continuity has to be substantiated. These themes are dynamic and not simply templates. Voters ask what changes, why changes, and so forth.

A candidate in the biggest barangay of Cagayan de Oro says he wants to change the political leadership of the barangay. We ask for why and what makes him competent to call and even institute for change.

If, at all, his family shows any competence, it is in patronage politics and copycat epalism. The son, the incumbent congressman, was an average city councilor. His claim to fame, perhaps, was getting away with alleged junkets while sitting in our city’s august hall. Now, if ever he did introduce something new, it is the proliferation of so many posters – tarpaulins, we call it, claiming this and that to be his projects.

Years ago, tarpaulins or their lack was a distinguishing factor in Cagayan de Oro’s first and second district. Then 1st district congressman Klarex Uy was so timid in placing his name in his projects or projects he, as congressman, had facilitated. The opposite is in the 2nd district.

It was not a case of fewer projects in the 1st district, it was a case of so little tarpaulins. In the second district, it was, and may still be, a case of so many tarpaulins. Now, the only difference between Districts 1 and 2 is blue and orange-colored tarpaulins.

The brand of politics is also so different. Take for example their statements about the alleged arson with homicide in barangay Indahag recently. The congressman blandly and rhetorically called for justice. Mayor Klarex Uy on the other hand comforted the grieving family personally and assisted them in their time of bereavement.

When Mayor Klarex Uy ran against the deteriorating Emano administration in 2010, he ran for genuine change. He would have won if not for the destroyed voting machine CF cards that turned up at the city’s garbage dump.

The Suans on the other hand missed the train of change, not just in 2010, but when it ripened after Sendong in 2013. What they did was suck it up with the diminishing political clout of the Emanos in the city.

Now that the change the city needs has transformed into continuity. Those calling for change indubitably face the difficult challenge of substantiating their proposition. Sans a substantial reason for the change, their efforts translate to just a power grab. And for what, more tarpaulins?

Rizal wrote in Noli mi Tangere, through the character of Protacio: “I honor the father in his son, not the son in his father.” In this context, people honor Mayor Klarex Uy for raising his son Kikang Uy to become a humble, competent, and hard working public servant.

Ambot lang sa pikas tampi.