SOMETIMES the timing is “off”.
Worse, if it’s questionable.
May I refer this to the recent act of the Silay City government in giving cash assistance to Riah Angelica de Ocampo, the city’s bet to Miss Earth Philippines 2021. That, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine brouhaha, still Silay City published (through local dailies and Facebook) a photo release of De Ocampo presenting a check amounting to P100,000.
The caption: De Ocampo thanked Silay City Mayor Mark Golez for the financial aid she received from the city government.
Isn’t it inane? What’s (really) the rationale of such publicity? And who’s behind this “bright” idea?
Well, it’s quite “distasteful”. Several Silaynons already perished due COVID-19 and yet I haven’t seen any photo release that the city government of Silay was also handing a check with same amount to any bereaved family.
Thus, to give De Ocampo (P100,000) for her gowns, shoes and make-up at this time with matching grand publicity was nothing but a “second-rate” or “extraneous” move.
Yes, there’s no question that De Ocampo will bring pride and honor (to Silaynons) in the national stage of the said beauty tilt. She’s beautiful, radiant, gorgeous, and intelligent.
Question: Is Miss Earth essential amidst pandemic?
Others say Silaynons need “inspiration” to surmount tedious challenges nowadays. And De Ocampo’s inclusion to the Miss Earth as one among the finalists could be one. This probably compelled Mayor Golez to extend financial help so the candidate could sustain excellent performances all throughout the pageant’s various activities.
Isn’t it off-tangent?
Such amount could be meaningful to Silaynon kids who lost either their father or mother due to COVID-19. Or to others who were rendered jobless by the pandemic. Or to some micro0entrepreneurs in the city who were tremendously battered by COVID-19, too.
Though I am not in authority to influence the mayor’s decision, I just hope the mayor maybe wiser now in prioritizing things according to their “essence” in this (very) trying moment.
***
Meanwhile, for quite a month now, I’ve noticed, too, that Silay City Councilor-turned-ex-officio member of the Provincial Council of Negros Occidental Ryan Gamboa is busy with his barangay sorties.
His FB account (Ryan Gamboa-Salandigan) is always “humming” with posts that included chair distribution, share-a-meal program, etcetera. But what caught my attention is the “binoro” (salted fish) distribution in different villages.
Though “binoro” can be considered an essential at the height of the health pandemic, I cannot equate Ryan to this brand of public service.
Ryan could just give out “binoros” through the barangay officials sans publicity. But to have a ceremonial distribution and (immediate) posting on FB with caption bearing his name?
I can feel that Ryan’s intention is noble – to help feed the poor.
But the manner of documenting it is somehow “comical”.
Ryan is too young to be called “epal” or worse as “Mr. Binoro” of Silay.
Before succumbing to this kind of political gimmickry, Ryan should have consulted some of his elders in politics as to the implication(s) of such move.
First, he should have made an extensive research about “epal”, which is a Filipino term for scene-stealer or credit-grabber. Such is used to describe politicians who put their names on relief packs or use programs and projects funded by people’s taxes to aggrandize themselves.
In fact, we now have an Anti-Epal Law (House Bill No. 3952) courtesy of Surigao del Norte’s 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers. It prohibits the display or advertisement of government officials’ names and photos in all government projects, services and vehicles.
Moreover, Ryan should know that “binoro” is also dangerous to human health.
According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN), a survey with almost 80,000 men and women showed that salted food like salted fish roe were associated with a 15 percent increase in total cancer, while the high sodium intake was associated with a 20 percent increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
Ryan’s surname, physical attributes and background as former news presenter of ABS-CBN-Bacolod are more than enough to catapult him to power. No doubt that when he won as first councilor of Silay in 2019, people expect him to emulate the brand of leadership and public service rendered by former governor Lito Coscolluela and his dad, the late vice governor Roy Gamboa.
While others said Ryan could be the next Sen. Jose Corteza Locsin of Silay dubbed as the “Un Nome Serieux” or “Man of Substance and Direction”.
Hence, Silaynons are confident that Ryan, like the late senator, is also capable of crafting legislative pieces that could benefit the many.
Tagged as “Dungganon nga Silaynon”, Locsin in the Senate was noted for his legislative initiatives that benefited the sugarcane planters, plantation workers, Filipino industrialists, ordinary factory workers, farmers and public school teachers.
And being a doctor by profession, Locsin was instrumental in the establishment of a provincial hospital in NegOcc, which was also built in Silay.
But what made Locsin worthy of praise and emulation was when he refused the offer of the national government that Silay will be renamed after him before he expires.
What an honorable decision, making Locsin truly a rare kind of public servant that Silay is searching for anew.
Silaynons then thought Ryan could follow Locsin’s suit. Thus, being a sugar planter, Silaynons expect Ryan to craft resolution(s) and ordinance(s) to further protect, promote and advance the welfare of the sugar workers.
And also being in the media before, he’s expected, too, to pass legislative piece(s) that would benefit the “ill-fated” media sector amidst COVID-19.
But, for nearly three years, I heard nothing yet.
I do hope Ryan will use his “brains” wisely and smartly so to satisfy people’s expectations.
He should not let himself to be the very reason why former Interior and Local Government secretary Mar Roxas had wanted before – to create the Department of Common Sense (DCS).
Instead, Ryan should ponder what English author Alan Alexander Milne (author of Winnie-The-Pooh) has said: In doing certain things, “think it over, think it under.”
Or else, the late Sen. Mirriam Defensor-Santiago was right in saying that, “Kapag tumaas ang posisyon mo sa gobyerno, lumiit ang balls mo.”/PN
