My Valentine week

VALENTINE week is exciting as the week prior! Oh yes, it is! Pre-valentine week was jampacked with a flurry of activities that left me breathless, haha! No pun intended.

The week before Valentine was devoted to a four-hour public speaking training session for the Philippine Coast Guard-General Santos City; visits to Barangays Katangawan, Tinagacan, and Upper Labay, all of General Santos City – meet and greet with Barangay officials and personnel except for Barangay Tinagacan where we had an engaging conversation with Punong Barangay Jeoffrey Salanio, the TESDA Ambassador in these parts for nearly an hour; writing my newspaper column, and on Saturday – capping the full week – my virtual public speaking engagement with the Rotaract Club of Uptown Iligan, and hosting presidential aspirant, SPOX Ernie Abella in my hour-long talk show: Woman Talk with Belinda Sales Canlas over 98.3 Home Radio General Santos and via my FB Page of the same name. Whew! When it rains, it pours!

After a full week, we had to travel to Davao City by Sunday for a family member’s professional activities.

Valentine week is similarly delightful highlighted by post-valentine lunch and dinner dates! Lunch was shared with NGCP-Government Relations and Regional Affairs Lead Specialist for Davao Region, Milfrance “Bambi” Capulong, a power industry colleague, at a cozy venue overlooking Samal Island. It was our first time to reunite since I guested her in Insights over Brigada News TV in 2017!

That’s like ages ago but you know when friends reunite, it’s like you never lost touch. You just pick up from where you left off. Just like that and everything else is a breeze. What a beautiful experience this friendship is! One of God’s greatest treasures.

Meanwhile, post-valentine dinner was hosted by CG ENS Julie Pearl “July” Jubelag, daughter of my very loyal friend, my big brother in General Santos City before he passed, John Paul Jubelag. With her were CG ENS Deanne Geturbos and CG ASN Christian Ace Barredo. We had tasty food, enjoyable conversation, and a fun ride. Of course, these two events were properly documented, haha!

***

Since I am interested to run for public office, I researched on the different committees that comprised the Sangguniang Panlungsod of General Santos City. This is educational and informative for our readers.

The following are the Committees held by our city councilors or legislators:

Consumer Welfare; Human Rights; Education; Health and Sanitation; City Land use, Urban Planning and Development; Cleanliness and Physical Enhancement; The Elderly, Differently-abled Persons and Social Services; Public Order and Safety; Laws, Rules and Review of Barangay Ordinances and Executive Orders; Agriculture; Fisheries, Marine Life and Aquatic Resources; Trade, Commerce and Industry; Games and Amusements; Recognizance; Cooperatives, Livelihood, People Empowerment and Participation; Local Government Unit and Proprietary Real Properties; Blue Ribbon and Anti-Graft; Transportation; Climate Change, Adaptation and Environment; Sister City and Internal Relations; Tourism, Culture and the Arts; Muslim Affairs; Economic Enterprises; Appointments and Government Reorganization; Urban Poor Affairs; Public Utilities; Public Affairs and Information; Finance, Ways and Means and Appropriations; Labor and Overseas Employment; Gender Equality, Family and Children’s Welfare and Population Management; Barangay Affairs; Public Works and Infrastructure; Youth Affairs, Sports Development and Physical Fitness; and Indigenous People. Quite a number, huh!

Among these committees, I would like to actively involve myself in Consumer Welfare; Human Rights; Education; City Land use, Urban Planning and Development; Cleanliness and Physical Enhancement; The Elderly, Differently-abled Persons and Social Services; Public Order and Safety; Agriculture; Fisheries, Marine Life and Aquatic Resources; Trade, Commerce and Industry; Cooperatives, Livelihood, People Empowerment and Participation; Climate Change, Adaptation and Environment; Sister City and Internal Relations; Tourism, Culture and the Arts; Muslim Affairs; Economic Enterprises; Urban Poor Affairs; Public Utilities; Public Affairs and Information; Gender Equality, Family and Children’s Welfare and Population Management; and Barangay Affairs.

The solid experience, varied trainings, and extensive exposures that I have accumulated and sharpened over the years of my professional career in the government service, private sector, training institution, journalism and media, and non-government organizations have prepared me to serve my fellow Generals through the Sangguniang Panlungsod of General Santos. Help me serve you.

***

While writing this column, my eyes take pleasure in the scenery – green and healthy plants that soothe the senses. Potted, they stand unbent with their leaves and branches dancing with the breeze. The music is all-instrumental, so calming and comforting. What separates me from the green is a clear, thick glass wall. Now, what could be more quietening than that!
Thus, let us savor the good moments and develop amnesia for the bad, haha!
I love you ALL.

***

Writer can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN