By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
A HISTORIC first, perhaps, for the entire Western Visayas police organization, thus commendable from all angles.
I’m referring to the “mascots for a cause” initiative of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO). I am immensely amazed by the ingenuity of BCPO Chief, Police Colonel Noel Aliño, for introducing this creative approach aimed at sustaining peace and order advocacy in the “City of Smiles”.
It’s hard to imagine seeing these two mascots – “Patrolman Inasal” and “Patrolman MassKara” – a first for the BCPO and Bacolod. Intrigued, I took time to sit down with Colonel Aliño and discuss his “brainchild.”
Despite a few elements of whimsy to consider, the rationale behind this kind of gimmickry is quite superb. According to Colonel Aliño, the two police mascots symbolize strengthened police-community relations.
Spread Happiness
Delving deeper, I learned that the primary goal of these “mascots for a cause” is to spread happiness in the Bacolod community. Through their friendly gestures and interactions, Colonel Aliño explained, the mascots aim to bring joy.
Furthermore, the BCPO chief emphasized that “Patrolman Inasal” and “Patrolman MassKara” aim to cheer up underprivileged children in Bacolod.
“We really aim to bring smiles to the faces of the children in Bacolod through these two mascots,” he stressed.
The mascots represent BCPO’s tangible commitment to bringing joy and fostering peace in the community and especially among children. What a noble mission!
Free for Birthday Parties
Interestingly, Colonel Aliño declared that the mascots can be hired for free during birthday or children’s parties.
“This initiative not only creates memorable experiences for the children but also strengthens the relationship between the police and the community,” he added.
Indeed, the inclusion of “Patrolman Inasal” and “Patrolman MassKara” in BCPO’s initiatives is expected to uplift children’s spirits, making them joyful at all times.
Moreover, since the mascots’ names are inspired by Bacolod’s famous yearly festivals, Inasal and MassKara, Colonel Aliño noted that the BCPO fosters a sense of pride and unity within the community through cultural heritage.
The mascots, he clarified, are BCPO’s friendly representatives, promoting trust and a positive image for law enforcers in Bacolod.
‘Nice Redemption’
It’s public knowledge that Colonel Aliño’s arrival in Bacolod earlier this year was met with controversies. He faced challenges right from his initial days, marked by infamous local issues.
However, there seems to be a flawless transition lately. BCPO was named the best in the nation for its anti-drug and anti-criminality operations, consistently making headlines.
Colonel Aliño’s seven-month accomplishments, released last week, highlighted BCPO’s commendable anti-illegal-drugs operations.
From April to November this year, the BCPO conducted 272 operations, netting 326 individuals and confiscating substantial amounts of illegal substances. And now, the introduction of the two lovable police mascots is gradually endearing them to the people of Bacolod. This can be seen as a positive turnaround for the Colonel.
For Solid Branding
The mascots, though not grandiose, remind us of the real essence of a mascot: to connect people and ideas for solid branding. With this initiative, the BCPO and Colonel Aliño have effectively hit the ground running.
By prioritizing children and advancing their welfare through these mascots, I am deeply impressed with this initiative. Children are innocent and vulnerable, and Aliño’s continued focus on showing love and concern for them, especially in depressed communities in Bacolod, deserves high praise.
After all, as the great American boxer and activist Muhammad Ali once said: “Kids make you want to start over.”
This seems to be a fitting catchphrase for Colonel Aliño’s journey at the BCPO. Once viewed skeptically, he is now surely paving an excellent path towards greatness with the Bacolod kids by his side./PN
