CDP-Padayon-Abamin: A coalition for unity and strength

Renato Tibon

“The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” – Plato

DOES a political coalition work?

Coalition means working together to achieve a common objective. Political coalition signifies a temporary alliance of groups or parties for purposes of winning an election although sometimes it doesn’t work due to divergent selfish interests that later collide head-on. Candidly, I look at coalition in contrast to the way some people look at a glass filled half-way with water. The pessimists will say it’s half-empty while the optimists assuredly tell us, based on reason, logic and experience that it’s half-full waiting to be fully filled-up. The former would be harping on why an aggrupation have a tendency to implode, why it won’t work while I agree with the latter group, the opportunity of coming together, filling up the need to achieve the greater good, in spite of the varying forces that beg recognition and importance is the raison d’ etre for its existence. Will the present coalition of CDP and Padayon Pilipino succeed? Like most alliances, I fully believe it’s a work in progress. There were contrasting statements made in the past but the openness to dialogue and work on each strengths, ostensibly demonstrated by the leaders of both camps, will win the day. Ultimately, it will be the City of Cagayan de Oro, variously called the City of Golden Friendship, the City of Gold and the Gateway to Mindanao which will benefit from performance of their leaders. The coalition of CDP-Padayon Pilipino and Abamin represents the best choices of leaders that Kagayanons can have.

Who comprised this coalition?

This article will attempt to describe each candidate of the coalition to help voters make an informed choice of their public officials and representatives this coming May elections.

Congressman District 2: Rufus Bautista Rodriguez – A consistent academic achiever, recipient of numerous awards and a competent and exprienced lawmaker, he served as Cagayan de Oro Representive for District 2 of Cagayan de Oro who authored and passed the most number of laws in the 14th, 15th, and 16th Congress.

Congressman District 1: Caesar Ian Enerio Acenas – He started his political career as SK President and was subsequently elected as City Councilor, and former Vice Mayor of Cagayan de Oro City who authored several major legislations and city ordinances.

Congressman-nominee Abamin: Mary Grace “Jing” Tiukinhuy Rodriguez – She graduated BS Sociology at Silliman University and finished Master in Public Administration at Xavier University. She has been in Government service for more than 10 years working with Civil Service Commission and GSIS.

Mayor: Jose Gabriel “Pompee” La Viña – A native-born Kagayanon, he was Duterte’s Social Media Director and was appointed Commissioner of SSS and Undersecretary at DA and DOST; he graduated valedictorian at Xavier University and awarded Magna Cum Laude upon finishing B.A. in Philosophy at Ateneo de Manila University.

Vice-Mayor: Vicente “Dongkoy” Yap Emano – He was former Governor of Misamis Oriental and Mayor of Cagayan de Oro City, serving the city for more than 3 decades. Acclaimed as a Peace Maker and Living Legend, a champion for the poor, he is the founding father of the Padayon Pilipino party.

The candidates for District 2 Councilors:

Dometilo “Jun” Cuarto Acenas Jr.

Atty. Leo Du Manganop Gan Jr.

Alexander Sabana Dacer

Atty. Adonis Arc Pimentel Gumahad

Atty. James Kiunisala Judith II

Agnes Paulita “Nanette” Rabago Roa

Jocelyn “Bebot” Rodriguez

Atty. Ramon “Monching” Tabor

The candidates for District 1 Councilors:

Atty. Jose Pepe Sealana Abbu Jr.

Ronaldo Enerio Acenas

Alden Dacanay Bacal

Atty. Adrian “Addie” Ligamon Barba

Al Pabilona Legaspi Sr.

Dr. Meneleo “Loloy” Rodriguez Navarro

Dr. Dante Betonio Pajo

Atty. Lordan Gualberto Suan

Some of these candidates are successful legal practitioners which will be a boon towards crafting vital legislations and ordinances for the city while others are re-electionists who have served their terms well. The rest is an admixture of competent candidates who have served their respective sectors and would be of  great assistance in the passage of laws that concern their respective areas of competence.

A democratic government presupposes a knowledgeable and politically educated people who have a freehand in selecting their leaders without manipulation and not contrary to their will. As the final authority in the decision-making process, people have the responsibility to take matter in their own hands and elect their public officials or as Plato warned, “be ruled by evil men”.

Tom Steyer, an American philanthophist said, “Voting is our right, but it is also our responsibility because if we don’t take the next step and elect leaders who are committed to building a better future for our kids, other rights – our rights to clean air, clean water, health and prosperity – are placed directly in harm’s way.

(Renato Gica Tibon is a fellow of the Fellowship of the 300, an elite organization under Centrist Democracy Political Institute  [CDPI] with focus on political technocracy. He holds both position as political action officer and program manager of the Institute. He is the former regional chairman for Region 10 and vice president for Mindanao of the Centrist Democratic Party of the Philippines [CDP].)