BY ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
THIS POLITICAL season, people tend to be “choosy” as to who to vote for in next year’s polls.
After the filing of the certificates of candidacy (COCs), voters have started scrutinizing poll bets. They want know who really have the passion to serve in spite of being financially incapacitated.
Too, they listen carefully to every bit of political promise being tweeted by political wannabes in different platforms of social media (socmed).
Then, they decipher the essence(s) of these promises and weigh things to distinguish which of them are viable or hyperbole.
But at the end of the day, as a sideline observer, I can say that decency matters still. Cambridge Dictionary defines decency as a behavior that is good, moral and acceptable in society.
Yes, there’s no perfect politician.All of them have their respective flaw(s). Some are being questioned on their morality. But as what American feminist writer Rita Mae Brown had said, “Morals are private. Decency is public.”
Thus, former American president Theodore Roosevelt once enunciated: “The most practical kind of politics is the politics of decency.”
And, for me, Negros Occidental’s Gov. Bong Lacson is an epitome of Roosevelt’s political mantra.
In my 29 years as a media and public relations (PR) practitioner, I never had a chance to meet Gov. Lacson (face-to-face). But since he was mayor of San Carlos City and up to now, I won’t deny, I do admire him. For me, he’s a “rare breed” among the country’s politicos.
Seeing him on television and other news platforms, the governor is a “picture-perfect” prim and proper politico.
When he was vice governor and I am in Mindanao, I heard a lot of issues hounding him and his office. However, I always saw him both on TV and Facebook (FB) delivering his reason(s) in a very cool and behaved manner. His choice of words is superb coupled with gleaming facial expression, making him truly a decent politico.
My respect to the governor was (even) boosted when one of his challengers, Atty. John Orola, filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Oct. 8.
Just minutes after Atty. John completed his filing of COC, Gov. Lacson immediately issued a press statement welcoming the move of the former.
He said, “Atty. Orola has a right to run for public office. It’s part of a democracy.”
The statement reflected who Gov. Lacson is and what kind of politico he is. Acknowledging democracy as the main reason why Atty. John was running against him was a pronouncement of a true gentleman and of a pedigree politician. Such statement was also a manifestation of the governor’s highest respect not just for Atty. John, but for anybody (regardless of status), of course, who wants to challenge him.
What he did, therefore, was a sterling display of an utmost decency, of his being a person, and of the office he’s currently occupying.
And talking of decency, I remember then Charles Lane, an editorial writer and columnist for The Washington Post in America. Once, Lane wrote that former president Donald Trump’s missing factor in leading America was decency. I do agree! Trump, in terms of economic policies, political stances, among other leadership dispositions, was, indeed, great. But his act of always demeaning women, employment of foul language and being rascal in his speeches had probably contributed to his downfall.
Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte is also regarded as Trump’s junior. Chasing them is, perhaps, Manila City’s Mayor Isko Moreno.
Per personal observation, it’s undeniable that when Mayor Isko filed his COC for president he really made a nice take-off. Lately, however, many who “idolized” him, including myself, got embarrassed by the way he answers (on TV) certain political issues confronting his candidacy.
Yes, Mayor Isko is an eloquent speaker. He talks sense. But as if he’s “conceited” now. Others describe him as “going beyond borders”.
His “lack of decency” in confronting Vice President Leni Robredo on the drug war assessment and on dictator Ferdinand Marcos drastically “eroded” his political glamor.
Then, critical and progressive-minded individuals perceived Mayor Isko to be a “little bit dangerous” once he becomes president of the country. I do hope this is not the reason behind the reported “infighting” within his Aksyon Demokratiko party.
Just recently, former vice president and ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol news anchor Noli de Castro (who is running under Mayor Isko’s party) surprisingly withdrew his candidacy for senator.
And Cesar Chavez, Mayor Isko’s chief of staff, also resigned ahead of the intense campaign period.
Well, American politician, attorney and author Cory Anthony Booker had (always) reminded everyone, especially politicians: “Small acts of decency ripple in a way we could never imagine.”
Negros Occidental, therefore, is lucky to have Gov. Lacson. Everybody knows he’s not perfect. But his being a decent person, I think, is more than enough for Negrosanons to cherish and be proud of.
Though Atty. John is no ordinary foe, I am sure, he’ll gonna have a hard time “knocking out” Governor Lacson.
But what’s also good for Atty. John is his promise not to hurl invectives against the incumbent governor. Despite being candid and vociferous, still Atty. John vows to observe decency. He says he’ll campaign in a high-level manner sans hurting anyone.
But, as they say, the remaining six months prior to the May 9, 2022 elections are quite tedious. And it’s nobody’s ball game yet. So, both Governor Lacson and Atty. John still need to woo Negrosanons. They still have to present their viable plans and programs aimed at uplifting Negrosanons’ way of life.
Gov. Lacson, being the incumbent, is still promoting his 7-Point agenda under his battle cry “Abanse Negrense!” Such encompasses agriculture, education and culture, infrastructure, economic advancement, employment opportunities and public health.
It also dwells on sustainable environmental management, tourism development, sports, ICT (Information Communication and Technology), good governance and human management.
Atty. John, on the other hand, has this “Obra Obra Obra” or “Triple O” as battle cry. He stresses that with Triple O everything will spring eternal.
Moreover, Atty. John promises that once he’s elected, he’ll see to it that each of the six districts in the province will have a district hospital. In this time of pandemic, he underscores that it’s best for the province to have more hospitals to accommodate COVID-19-stricken Negrenses.
Well, both of them are qualified for the position of governor. They, too, have nice and exemplary vision(s) for Negros.
But I bet decency will be one of the determining factors for Negros’ voters.
American diplomat and author Caroline Kennedy once stressed: “As much as we need a prosperous economy, we also need prosperity of kindness and decency.”
So, good luck to both. May the best man win!/PN
