Fighting for relevance

THE League of Filipino Students (LFS), like its mother organization the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, was quick in reacting to statements attributed to Mayor Oscar Moreno on his openness to the idea of using the Lumbia airport by the US military under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca).

The Supreme Court recently ruled the constitutionality of the Edca in a case filed by activist groups like Bayan.

Nothing is new in the rhetorics of Bayan and groups like the LFS, condemning anyone who disagrees with their stand. But first, they ought to realize that they have been given their day in court. And the Supreme Court just disagreed with them that the Edca violates Philippine sovereignty.

If they cannot agree with the decision of the highest court of the land, why in the first place did they seek refuge in it to correct what it wrongly perceived as unconstitutional?

The LFS, in its predictable response to Moreno’s stand, also did not say anything new, except perhaps repeating some lines from the popular fictional movie “Heneral Luna.” Good sound bytes, but hardly proving anything.

Moreno’s openness on the use of the Lumbia airport for Edca was premised on one thing–that whatever use by under Edca of the defunct domestic airport, it should not compromise the planned city expansion to that area under the Achieving Sustainable Urban Development (Asud) program made with the help of the UN Habitat.

The stand of Moreno is pragmatic. Even if he opposes the use by the US under Edca the Lumbia facility–to the satisfaction of the militants, can he really or can a local government really stop a move by the national government on national security? No.

What is imperative now is to support Moreno’s program of developing the upland of Cagayan de Oro under the Asud. –Robby Guanzon, robby.guanzon@gmail.com

Hay Naku!

WITH the start of the local elections fast approaching, people have started to ask some others for whom their votes will be. I became specifically interested in a reply that said, “Kang **** gyud ko kay nakatabang na siya sa ako” or “Kang **** ko kay nahatagan ko niya ug hamon” or “Kang **** ko kay iyang gibutangan ug footpath padulong sa among balay.”

I don’t blame voters who decide based on what a certain candidate has done to help them with their personal problems because that is how the electorate has been taught to think by nasty and traditional politicians. Neither should we blame voters who are for a certain candidate because of some personal gains they have received.

If only the voters will come to think and really think what certain politicians have done for the common good which is supposed to be the ultimate goal of those in the public service, then probably we will be able to get the kind of government that we truly deserve.

Giving more weight to one’s personal gain received from a politician or candidate in making the crucial decision that’s translated into one vote may bring our community down into deeper $#!t.

If this prevails, candidates for elective offices need not even have the competence or even the heart to manage a community because all they need to do is distribute goodies to the members of the community. By doing so, they will be assured of more votes than their adversaries. They do not actually win elections.

Little do those in the margins realize that a public official who manages the community well will also bring about progress to its inhabitants.

It may take longer than desired before we hear voters say, “Kang **** ko kay daghan iyang nahimo para sa kaayuhan sa kadaghanan bisag wala ko niya kuhaa nga empleyado” or “Kang **** ko kay siya naglantaw sa pagpalambo sa komyunidad dili lang sa pipila ka pilanabi” or “Kang **** ko kay ang iyang tumong ang kaayohan sa tanan bisag wala ko kadawat ug hamon gikan sa iya.”

Hay, naku!–Liberato Publico, liberatopublico@gmail.com