ILOILO — Ajuy’s Mayor Jett Rojas has vetoed the Sangguniang Bayan (SB)-approved Ordinance No. 2023-131 adopting as municipal hymn a composition that won the contest conducted for the town’s official hymn.
The winning composer, SB member Genesis Diesto suspected that the rejection may have something to do with local politics.
Diesto’s winning piece is titled “Ajuy Nagadayaw Kami sa Imo”. It bested other entries in the contest held last August 2023.
In a letter to the SB and its presiding officer, Vice Mayor Robert Villaruz, Mayor Rojas explained his veto. He emphasized the importance of fairness and non-partisanship in governance and public administration.
Here’s Mayor Rojas’ letter in full explaining his veto:
“Non-partisanship is often associated with neutrality, objectivity, and independence in decision-making processes especially in the context of governance and public administration.
“Non-partisanship is always important in good governance as it ensures that decisions and policy-making are made based on merit evidence, and the public interest rather than partisan agendas and personal interests. Public servants like us are often expected to carry out our duties in a non-partisan manner to maintain the integrity and impartiality of our office, promoting fairness and accountability.
“The Proposed Municipal Ordinance No. 2023-131 should consider this doctrine as it is crucial to maintain our credibility and trust of our people. I believe that crafting the Ajuy Municipal Hymn should be made in a balanced and impartial manner, so that we can deliver to our people the multiple perspectives without bias, enabling our constituents full support and cooperation of these meaningful values and aspirations.
“I am vetoing some provisions of this measure particularly the adoption of the lyrics and music of the composition of the Ajuy Municipal Hymn because I support the significance of non-partisanship and public trust as trust is essential for governance, and it is therefore necessary for government units to build it among its people.
“Local Government Units should also stress the role of its constituents in policy-making, mutually reinforcing, and reciprocal relationships. I strongly believe that we should involve the participation of the public, and the main proponent of the composition of our Ajuy Municipal Hymn should be given as a privilege to our local artists, musicians, and/or other professionals and not from any public servant as ethics will dictate that it would essentially be for the best interest of our Municipality and for our people.
“There are provisions in the proposed Municipal Ordinance that is not in line with the principles of trust and integrity as virtues of public ethics and public service. This veto seeks to promote justice and fairness for our people and to explore the possibility of engaging our local artists, musicians and/or other professionals as proponent(s) of our Ajuy Municipal Hymn and for us to formulate options for public review to address the opinions and ideas of our people.”
‘FAIR PROCESS’
SB Diesto, the composer, questioned Mayor Rojas’ veto explanation. He said the local government of Ajuy itself organized the hymn contest, thru the Municipal Tourism Office, in August 2023.
He defended the fairness of the process, noting that the contest was open to all bona fide residents of Ajuy and that the contest’s mechanics did not explicitly exclude elected officials from participating.
The other mechanics were:
* The composition must be originally written in Hiligaynnon, with no adaption of lyrics, tone and music from any other compositions.
* The time duration of the composition and interpretation of the Hymn must be at least three minutes and must not exceed five minutes.
* The composer may perform the composition or may identify artist who will interpret the composition.
Diesto said his entry met all the mechanics.
He suspected that his political leanings vis-à-vis the upcoming May 2025 midterm elections may be what prompted the veto.
He said he supports another candidate for mayor.
Diesto said he is considering filing a formal complaint against the mayor, noting that the local government of Ajuy spent to organize the hymn contest.
“Nag-agi kami sa proper committee hearings, dasun nag-contest gid para fair,” he stressed.
Diesto urged Rojas to be fair and respect the contest result.
Here’s the lyrics of the winning, composition, “Ajuy Nagadayaw Kami sa Imo”:
I
Banwang hamili nga ginmat-an
Ang gugma sa imo indi mapunggan
Banwang Ajuy, labaw sa tanan
Mapabugal bisan kay sin-o man
II
Ajuy tambobo sang kabugana-an
Talento, kaalam kag kinaadman
Ajuy sadsaran sang kadalag-an
Sa kadam-an ikaw gid makit-an
Chorus
Ajuy takus ikaw nga pasidunggan
Banwa nga naghatag sang kadayawan
Lugar sa Norte sang Dios ginpakamaayo
Banwang Ajuy nagadayaw kami sa imo
III
Pagbutlak sang adlaw imo makit-an
Malambo nga humay sa kaumahan
Preska nga isda sa kadagatan
Ginbugay sang Dios sa aton tanan
IV
Pagtunod sang adlaw sa kahapunanon
Sa tambobo mo Ajuy kami nagatipon
Mga tawo, pispis kag kasapatan
Sa imo Ajuy kami may katawhayan
Chorus
Ajuy takus ikaw nga pasidunggan
Banwa nga naghatag sang kadayawan
Lugar sa Norte sang Dios ginpakamaayo
Banwang Ajuy nagadayaw kami sa imo
Bridge
Ajuy Padayon kita padayon sa bulig sang Ginoo
Itib-ong Ajuy padulong sa pag-asenso
Banwang Ajuy nagadayaw kami sa imo.
Repeat chorus (2x)
Ajuy takus ikaw nga pasidunggan
Banwa nga naghatag sang kadayawan
Lugar sa Norte sang Dios ginpakamaayo
Banwang Ajuy nagadayaw kami sa imo./PN
