YOU HAVE to admit there’s a nice ring to it. The segue from Councilor Joshua Alim to Congressman Joshua Alim seems effortless enough, almost natural. As if it is really meant to be.
It was one of those days the news room usually calls a “slow news day” and the double espresso didn’t seem to work. So pondering whether to get something a bit stronger, say a couple of shots of Tequila Cuervo Añejo or Colt 45 – maybe both – moi decided to walk around a bit in the mall.
Who knows, something or someone interesting enough for a column might pop up?
Lo and behold who do I bumped into but the “devil himself”, I mean the “handsome devil” Councilor Joshua Alim looking dapper and still very much the “ladies man” I knew from the early days.
The man has aged gracefully like fine expensive Chablis. He seems fit except for the obvious “six pack” protected by layers of fat.
It was no surprise that former journalist Joji Tiongco had this “giggling teenage crush” on Joshua back in the early days. Back then we were covering the Provincial Capitol beat. Joshua was a reporter for Bombo Radyo, Joji was writing for Panay News and I was managing editor for the Visayan Monitor.
The governor then was Sim Griño, the city mayor was Roding Ganzon and Tita Pearl Zulueta was a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Yup that long ago.
Joshua literally re-invented himself. From media man he became a lawyer. The next thing I knew after coming back to Iloilo several decades after, he’s now a politician.
He became a councilor and is now on his last term so he’s been a public servant for nine years; take note that I use the term “public servant” here loosely. Joshua might not agree with me but I certainly hope he does.
There are people elected to public office who feel entitled and that the natives owe them and not the other way around. Speaking of that, I suddenly remember dismissed “I Am Iloilo City” mayor Jed Mabilog.
And we segue back to Joshua Alim…he’s at the end of the road as far as being a city councilor is concerned and he has several options. One is to wait it out for a term which is three years (this is what most politicians do) then run in the next elections for his former office. Two, he can run for a different position i.e. mayor, vice mayor or congressman. Third, he can forget politics, do private practice or the academe.
Lastly if he really wants to run then he can train and compete in the Milo Marathon. This last option might do him a lot of good as along the way he can lose all that protective layer of fat and bring out the hidden six-pack underneath.
Joshua, my man, if you do this the sexy ladies will be forming a queue just to have a date with the “sexier” you!
And back to that run into (pun intended) with Joshua…after the usual pleasantries he said he will definitely run for congressman of the lone district of “I Am Iloilo City.”
So “the game is afoot” and is rather interesting for the moment. Other than Joshua Alim the only person I know seriously contemplating joining the congressional race for the lone district of “I Am Iloilo City” is Councilor Jam-jam Baronda.
No, Councilor Jam-jam Baronda did not tell me personally; I just happened to read it somewhere in Panay News.
I really do not know nor have met Councilor Jam-jam Baronda; I could not tell the difference between Councilor Jam-jam Baronda and strawberry jam.
Seriously if she (I’m just assuming Jam-jam is a she) walks in Starbucks while I’m having my usual caffeine fix, unless announced I most probably would not notice her.
But I do find the name or pet name Jam-jam quite cute. Perhaps quaint but I’m pretty sure the good councilor has a very serious and official-sounding Christian name not often exposed for public viewing.
And back to Joshua now, that’s a very biblical-sounding name. Somebody said, and I loosely translate it to English: “Joshua Alim is good but he has no money.”
Well…well, he may not be filthy rich as Rommel Ynion but he’s not poor either considering that he has seriously set his sights on being the next congressman of the lone district of “I Am Iloilo City” and he’s no fool.
I’m pretty sure the “war chest” is substantial enough, perhaps even more than enough. (brotherlouie16@gmail.com/PN)
