BY TOOTS JIMENEZ JR.
THE YEAR 2024 ended with a loud bang, and here comes 2025, promising new opportunities for everyone. Greetings of a fruitful 2025 to all, and to our beloved Panay News publication, a legacy of my dear friend, the late Danny “DF” Fajardo, who founded it in Western Visayas.
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As always, coffee talks remain a staple of everyday life, especially in this generation of coffee shops, cafés, coffee bars, and similar spaces. These informal gatherings continue to invite us to be listeners in the lively debates and sharing of opinions over coffee.
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“We are very impressed with this Iloilo City mayor who has the political will to take a stand on what must be done and what should happen for the good of his city. This is a rare quality in today’s political world, as most politicians, if I may say so, are afraid of their constituents,” began a businessman during a conversation. “I am a businessman, but if I do wrong, I wouldn’t mind being reprimanded by the city leader as long as his actions are reasonable,” he added.
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“This mayor is strong-willed enough to call out even private companies for their wrongdoings, and Ilonggos should be proud of him,” chimed in a professor. “I am reminded of mayors like Dick Gordon, Bayani Fernando, Rodrigo Duterte, Ed Hagedorn, and others — they all governed their respective cities with political will and determination,” he continued.
“Richard Gordon, for instance, instilled discipline in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone during his tenure. Everyone followed the rules under his leadership,” recalled an engineer.
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“In Marikina, the late Mayor Bayani Fernando was very strict about cleanliness. There were no trash bins along roadsides, not even in subdivisions. Residents were expected to keep their trash until the garbage trucks arrived. Collection was extremely efficient under his leadership, and this discipline carried over during his wife Marides’ term as mayor. You wouldn’t see barbecue stands or sugba-sugba cooking along the streets, nor residents lounging outside in their undershirts,” the engineer added.
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“In the case of Tatay Digong, smoking was strictly prohibited in Davao City. Liquor could only be served until midnight, and firecrackers were banned during celebrations, including New Year’s Eve. Hospital services and ambulance amenities were also free. Imagine the positive impact a strong-willed mayor can have on his residents,” remarked a priest while sipping his black coffee.
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“If personal interest isn’t a leader’s priority, city governance will always thrive,” the professor noted. In the words of the late MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando: ‘Wag kayong matakot na ipatupad ang batas; hindi kayo mawawalan ng boto; lalong madadagdagan ang inyong boto.’ (Do not be afraid to enforce the law; you won’t lose votes —. on the contrary, you’ll gain more votes.)/PN
