YES, it’s a privilege to be back in Panay News, the paper where I had been writing for 10 full years from 2001 to 2010. The late Danny “DF” Fajardo welcomed me to write when I first met him in Bacolod City. I introduced myself and offered to write for this paper. He gladly welcomed me and my first column appeared on Valentine’s Day of my first year.
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Missing my passion for writing, I obliged to seek the nod of PN COO Dan Fajardo II in a luncheon in Iloilo and he welcomed me back. Thank you, boss COO.
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As PN is read in the entire Western Visayas region, it would be an opportunity for me to spread messages on business, politics, government, civic works, tourism, transport, environment and more.
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Today’s main recipe in coffee talks is, of course, the election fever around the country and in our own region. Though not yet in the campaign dates as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) tells all, it is clear that all the moves of local candidates for all local positions are beginning to swarm all parts of communities. Those tarpaulins you see are part of their campaign strategies already. For as long as there is no word “vote” nothing could yet be declared illegal.
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Iloilo City is seeing a battle of the “bilas” as Cong. Jerry and Mayor Joe III battle it out as to who is the next mayor. In Bacolod City, old-timer Mayor Bing is being challenged by a former active city lady councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue in her quest to give Bacoleños a chance for change.
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The province of Negros Occidental is already a done. Incumbent Vice Gov. Bong Lacson is unopposed as next governor; former congressman Jeffrey Ferrer is coming in as the province’s vice governor. Jeffrey is the man to beat in case someone ever dared enter the scene of politics against him.
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Be around to read my column regularly here in PN, your favorite regional newspaper. And this column greets friends like Harold Geronimo, Natalie Lim, Kim Jimenez, Francis Chu, Jane Javellana, Red Sarabia and Mae Tamayo-Panes./PN
