Gold fishing

“Nothing is politically right which is morally wrong.” – Daniel O’Connell

TODAY in Palawan and in Gensan, it is tuna fishing season. But elsewhere in the country, including our own city which celebrated the other day its charter day, it’s gold-fishing––not mining––time.

Mining gold, especially small-scale, is as dangerous if not, more than small-scale tuna fishing because they put their lives everytime they are at work.

And to them, there is no day or night as one can only expect a good harvest by making the days nights, vice versa. This is what I know. I’ve been in small-scale mining, and now in small-scale tuna fishing.

That’s how difficult it is. But the easiest business past time in our country is gold-fishing, not mining gold.

Let me just show you one of the countless ways. In Monday’s Gold Star Daily, the front page showed incumbent Mayor Oscar Moreno and Congressman Rufus Rodriguez hoisting a giant Philippines Flag on the occasion of the so-called 117th Philippines Independence Day celebration.

And the “gold-fishing” question is: where is the gold and the fishing in that scene?
I made a few calls and visits in the nearby barangays of the 1st District of the city.

And there and then, I came to know the answer to the question in the picture showing two stalwarts in our city.

The spin doctors were busy at work. And the result is what I call “gold-fishing” in next year’s local elections.

By making it appear that the BBL- Bahin-Bahin-Lang is for lasting peace in our dear Mindanao, both Moreno and Rodriguez would be awarded with gold come 2016 elections.

But having been around in many political skirmishes for decades in our country, I have no doubt whatsoever, such posturing would boomerang on them.

And the reason is simple. No amount of media hype can change the truth about the true intentions of the arrogant MILF-BIFF conjoined twins.

But before I get crucified by peace-loving Muslims, let it be of record that I love Muslims as I love the other religions.

But the MILF-BIFF conjoined twins want to lord it over the entire Mindanao with their guns, munitions and our hard-earned money.

We have been told that the MILF-BIFF is the largest group of armed rebels in Mindanao but in the so-called “decommissioning rites” they are only retiring 75 high powered firearms. Wa mo kyapi!

This does not even include the fact that they have not yet returned the high-powered guns and materiel that they heinously snatched from our brutally massacred 44 SAF commandoes.

Not only that, these arrogant armed rebels have adamantly refused to surrender their armed members named as responsible for the slaughter of our heroes––the 44 SAF commandos.

So I suggest both incumbent Mayor Moreno and Congressman Rodriguez to put their pockets where their mouths are by signing a covenant now and placing the same in a bank vault that they shall personally set aside at least a million-peso aid to the families for every Christian and Lumad ruthlessly murdered by these arrogant armed rebels who would certainly be the rulers in the so-called Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.How about it?
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“A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman, of the next generation.” ––James Freeman Clarke

The picture of Moreno and Rodriguez holding on to the string of the giant Philippine Flag about to be raised coupled with the “quid pro quo” statements from both were
certainly designed to create the impression that both are still on.

Considering, however, that in politics there are no permanent allies but only vested interests, the scene of the former President GMA dancing then with the now multi-millionaire Dinky Soliman and holding hands to the tune of “We hold on together” is to my humble mind, the best-ever “gold-fishing” extravaganza.

But wait a minute. A bigger “gold-fishing” act is brewing with a Sendong effect: the staunch leaders of Congressman Klarex Uy are trying their ultimate best to convince their congressman to run for Mayor in tandem with Bebot Roriguez against incumbent Mayor Moreno and former mayor Dongkoy Emano.
Tsada di ba?
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“In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can to do me.” –Psalms LVI. 11
Thank you Lord for everything. And Lord God, kindly teach our leaders to practice honesty, humility and transparency in their solemn task as our servants-leaders because those who have less in life are the sovereign and very source of their borrowed power and wealth.

Finally, Lord, please make our leaders see the glaring light that greed is a flawed way of life. For truly, there is more profit in giving than in taking. For it is in giving that we receive. Truly, love begets love. Amen!

(Call or text 09188030197, e-mail to bagabuyos@yahoo.com, and check out the blog iluvmindanao.net)