No ‘paikot-ikot’ for energy

Netnet Camomot

 FORMER Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho “Icot” Petilla has this rare talent of making energy sound interesting. If that’s the only trait you look for in a political candidate, then vote for him for he’s joining the fun run towards the Senate next year.

And if the other trait you consider as crucial for a senator is good looks, then Petilla is definitely your man. I have to make a confession. I went to his talk at the Pryce Plaza last Friday night because he always looks good in his photos and TV interviews. Could photogenic be the only reason?

To see is to believe, as the saying goes, thus, when Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro president Cris Parojinog invited us, I cancelled all my Friday appointments and rushed to the venue. Wait, I had no other appointments, but still, it’s cute to pretend I had to give up many things so I could see and believe.

Imagine having Manny Pacquiao in that Senate. O my gas. And if you have had enough of actors who probably treat the Senate as one more acting workshop they have to grudgingly take, then of course you’d rather have Petilla––good speaker, handsome, with a sense of humor. He said that his neighbor is a great source of wind energy––mahangin at 3,000 megawatts. That kind of humor.

It’s that time of year when political candidates are starting to have a meet-and-greet with their future constituents. How to know who’s sincere in his intentions, that’s the question. But still, we listen to each of them unless they’re bad speakers and we have to grin-and-bear-it in addition to meet-and-greet.

These political candidates have been there, done that, otherwise they won’t dare run for any seat in the national election. As for the local election, well, you could be sitting around doing nothing, and the next day, you’re already campaigning!

There’s one local candidate who may end up occupying the second highest seat in the city. We listened to him speak months ago and his extemporaneous speech was 1,001 in a cringe-factor scale of 10. Yes, 10. And yes, 1,001. His English was so bad, the kind that could make the audience hide under the table until after his speech was over.

He should have used Cebuano instead and admitted that he’s not good in English to save us all from the trouble of listening to his carabao English. Besides, humility is the best policy––simply say you’re not an English speaker, ask the audience if they can all understand Cebuano, then speak from the heart. That’s it. A speech is there to express, not to impress.

Nothing wrong with Cebuano––that’s our dialect. So, why use English if it would simply reveal your lack of talent in that department? Now, imagine him using English while presiding over a city council meeting. Unless that city council is already used to carabao English in its sessions.

Now, I wonder if the candidate who wants him to be his vice is aware of this.

He won’t have any problem winning in the local election, though, despite his English because “what is essential is invisible to the eye”? Ah, hehe. His surname is a sure-na. That. Is. Why.

Anyway, public service is not about your English, it’s about your sincerity in serving the public. What good is your English if you’re stealing from the local treasury or even the national treasury if you can somehow get your hands in there, too? Better vote for a sincere public servant rather than an English-speaking politician whose sincerity factor is way below zero.

But there are occasions that may require English so it’s advisable for the English-challenged speaker to have a prepared speech for him to read, or he may use Cebuano provided there are subtitles.

But be careful with the speech, make sure you own it otherwise it won’t sound like you at all. It’s better to edit it according to your voice, but since you don’t know your English, how to find that voice? Whew.

But don’t worry, be happy. Actions speak louder than words. Honesty is the best policy. If there are other sayings I can add here, please tell me. Hehe.

There will be political candidates campaigning from their prison cells or hospital suites. Even if their English is good, will any Pinoy still vote for them? Unfortunately, the answer to that is yes, and it has nothing to do with English. Blame their victory on name recall. Revilla, Estrada, Arroyo, etc.––if they run and win in 2016, that’s again one more proof of how easy it is to fool the heart of the Pinoy voter.

A friend loves the song “Foolish Heart” which he heartily dedicates to his ex-girlfriend. I don’t know if to him she’s the one who got away. You be the judge: “Foolish heart, hear me calling/Stop before you start falling/Foolish heart, heed my warning/You’ve been wrong before/Don’t be wrong any more.”

Well, the hearts of those who listened to Petilla last Friday are probably wishing he will win. Better him than some wannabe who can’t make energy sound interesting.