Election Day 2016: Your vote is your dignity

Everybody’s happy, to say the least.  Most of you, er, them know we have our own “share” as money is the talk of the town in Bohol province days before Monday’s elections.

Last night, Vidal (not his real name), a registered voter in Booy, was visiting houses to give “gifts.” He was not Santa but he had presents for all.

He said vote-buying still exists in Bohol and that aside from cash, candidates are also giving away assorted goods.

Vote buying is observed in the hotly contested mayoral contests in Tagbilaran City and the towns of Panglao, Trinidad, Loay, Albur, Loboc, Guindulman and Candijay.

READ HERE INQUIRER STORY ON VOTE-BUYING IN BOHOL. 

***

While visiting a mall in Tagbilaran City yesterday, by coincidence, I bumped into Madame Susie Castaño, one of the outrageously flamboyant barangay officials in the city. I asked her some political updates for tomorrow’s Election Day.

“If kinsay mudaog, mao na ang gihatag sa Ginoo (Whoever will win, s/he is given by God),” she said.

Bu she said our vote can make a difference.

Susie Castaño: ‘By voting, you are making your voice heard 

and registering your opinion on how you think the 

government should operate...’ Leo Udtohan/Chronicle

“Voting is a fundamental process that keeps our system of government working,” said Madame Susie.

She added, “Fulfill your action tomorrow. By voting, you are making your voice heard and registering your opinion on how you think the government should operate.”

Tomorrow, we are set to decide who will get the chance to lead the country for the next six years.

Tomorrow, we will decide who will run our province for the next three years.  

Your vote is your dignity.

Meanwhile, here are the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV)’s 10 commandments for Responsible Voting (and reminders that vote buying is an evil act from Jagna Movement for Good Governance or JaMGGo):

1. Vote according to the dictates of your conscience.

2. Respect the decision of others in choosing their candidates.

Qualified leaders are hard to find. Vote wisely. Contributed Photos: Comelec

3. Seek to know the moral integrity, capabilities, and other personal qualities of the candidates you will vote for.

4. Strive to understand the issues, platform, and programs of candidates and parties campaigning for your vote.

5. Do not sell your vote.

 

6. Do not vote for candidates using guns, goons, gold, and glitter.

7. Do not vote for candidates tainted with graft and corruption.

8. Do not vote for candidates simply because of “utang na loob” (debt of gratitude), popularity, good looks, or “pakikisama” (peer pressure).

9. Do not vote for candidates living an immoral life.

10. Always put the welfare of the country as top priority in choosing the candidate you will vote for.

VRS wants to hear from you. Tell me what you thought about the election! You can e-mail me at leoudtohan@yahoo.com.

***

So long, Mayor Tom

For me, former Danao mayor Louis Thomas “Mayor Tom” Gonzaga was one of the coolest and unassuming public servants in the province.

I’d interviewed him several times even at his farm in Barangay Magtangtang in Danao town; he was very welcoming. He was one of those people with whom you could share just about anything. He was very unassuming; not intimidating at all.

The last time I met him was during the visit of Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. last month.

Mayor Louis Thomas Gonzaga

There were times that the visits of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard-bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay to Bohol were off limits to media. However, I bombarded Mayor Tom with endless text messages and calls asking the whereabouts of Binay. I knew he gave up due to my unlimited “kakulitan” that I was able to do some exclusive stories for GMA News and Inquirer.

That was Mayor Tom. He never lost his temper, at least not in public.

Shock waves rippled through the political arena last Friday as news surfaced that Mayor Tom passed away last Thursday night, two days after he was found unconscious inside his house on Peñaflor street in Tagbilaran City on Tuesday, He was 46.

The family has yet to release a statement on the cause of his death but I learned from his close friends that the stress of the campaign and the heat may have taken a toll on his death.

According to Boy Pernia, a family friend of the Gonzagas, the former mayor may have given into stress and the extreme heat.

Although he was running unopposed for mayor under the UNA, Gonzaga, who is the party’s regional deputy coordinator in Bohol, was actively campaigning for Binay.

In 2010, Gonzaga helped Binay score a resounding victory in Danao with 4,618 votes against his then vice presidential rival, Mar Roxas, who got 1,742.

Pernia said Gonzaga attended meetings on Monday.

When he reached home late that night, he told his housemaid to wake him up at around 8 a.m. because he had to attend a political rally in Danao town, at least 92 kilometers from Tagbilaran.

But on Tuesday morning, the housemaid found him unconscious, prompting them to bring him to Ramiro Community Hospital (RCH) in Tagbilaran City.

Gonzaga was supposed attend UNA’s grand rally on Tuesday, said Danao Councilor Lirio Vitor, Gonzaga’s running mate.

He was admitted to the RCH’s intensive care unit where doctors were able to stabilize his condition. He, however, died at 11:51 p.m. on Thursday, four days before the May 9 elections.

“We lost a great leader who had a big vision for Danao,” said Vitor in a phone interview.

Bohol Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, Gonzaga’s friend and ally, was also saddened by his death.

“I deeply mourn the passing of a friend and brother. Mayor Tom was the epitome of transparent and selfless service not receiving even a cent from his salary and instead gave this amount to the needy. The second district leadership assures the people of Danao of my unwavering support to make your lives a little better,” said Aumentado.

Several supporters and friends of the former mayor have expressed their sympathies on social media.

Edik Dolotina posted on Facebook, “Rest in peace Mayor Tom Gonzaga of Danao, Bohol. You were one of the people who brought ecotourism in Bohol into the limelight with your E.A.T. Danao...”

 “U are not gone, ur just ahead of us... (Roomate, boss tom,mayor tom, tompax, masto, idol) sa sunod natong panagtagbo... Salamat sa tanan... Ur d man..,” said Dominic “Dobap” Aparicio on Instagram.

Gonzaga, UNA’s vice chairman in Central Visayas, was Danao mayor from June 2004 to June 2013. He also served as vice mayor to his mother, Natividad Gonzaga, in 2013. He was also  an active member of APO-Zeta Omega 1987A .

Gonzaga, one of the most accomplished and experienced public servants, created the Danao Extreme Adventure Park which put the town on the tourism map.

Danao, a fourth class municipality with 17 barangays (villages), was the headquarters of Francisco Dagohoy’s rebellion.

READ HERE INQUIRER STORY OF MAYOR TOM GONZAGA. 

*   *   *

Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.

Same faces running in Bohol in 2016; Bohol marks 2nd anniversary of quake

Same faces, familiar surnames and a mix of the old and the new, the hardened and the neophytes, in Bohol politics have thrown their hats into the 2016 ring, filing their certificates of candidacy (COCs) last week.

 

Friday’s deadline of filing of COC drew more and more people seeking posts in the 2016 elections.

 

Provincial Election supervisor lawyer Eliseo Labaria said he was pleased with how the filing, which started on Monday, turned out because orderliness was maintained.

 

As of July 20, Bohol has 757,144 registered voters, said Lourdes Cempron of the provincial Comelec office.

 

Reelectionist Bohol Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado
is holding a copy of his certificate of candidacy (COC),
 the first to file in Bohol on Monday with provincial
election officer lawyer Eliseo Labaria and some
mayors. Photo by Leo Udtohan

He urged the public to register before the Oct. 31 deadline.

 

Comelec will release the official list of candidates for next year’s polls on Dec. 10.

 

On Monday, only reelectionist Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado was the first candidate in the province to file his COC.  

 

Aumentado, who is running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) in the province’s second district, filed his COC at 1:55 p.m. He was accompanied with his wife, Vanessa, mom Greenie, some family members and some mayors and supporters.

 

He said he is seeking re-election to finish some of his projects, including a submarine cable project to bring power to island-barangays and the construction of Ubay Airport which will start in January

 

“We have lots of programs to accomplish,” said Aumentado. 

READ INQUIRER ON AUMENTADO'S FILING OF COC

 

Labaria said he didn’t expect surge of candidates on Monday’s filing of COCs.

 

Reelectionist Rep. Art Yap (2^nd district) says
 he is running to continue his unfinished projects
 that will benefit the barangays. Photo by Leo Udtohan

On Tuesday, Former Agriculture Secretary and Bohol Rep. Art Yap has filed his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) provincial office here on Tuesday

 

Yap, who is seeking re-election in the province’s third district under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), was the second candidate who filed his COC at 10:30 a.m.  He was accompanied by his wife, Carolyne Varquez Gow-Yap, some mayors and supporters from the third district.

 

Yap said he is running to continue his unfinished projects.  

 

“Work is not yet done,” Yap said. He also said there are legislations to file as a representative that will benefit the barangays.

READ INQUIRER NEWS ABOUT YAP'S FILING OF COC

 

He also cleared that he has no involvement in the alleged misuse of pork barrel funds amounting to P163.2 million while he was Agriculture secretary during the Arroyo administration. But he is expecting that his possible opponent will use the issue during election campaign.

 

Former Carmen Mayor Che Toribio-Delos Reyes,
Loay Mayor Rose Marie Imboy, Board Member
Dionisio Balite and Godofreda Tirol file their COCs
on Thursday. –Photo by Leo Udtohan

 “They can always do that. That’s politics. It’s not only in the Philippines but all over the world.   The important thing is I don’t have cases at Sandiganbayan. I have a certification from Sandiganbayan that I am not facing a single criminal case. Just don’t listen to it.  The most important is people can see my performance,” he said. 

 

On Thursday, incumbent Loay Mayor Rosemarie Lim-Imboy, former Carmen Mayor Conchita “Che Che” Toribio-Delos Reyes and board members Dionisio Balite and Godofreda Tirol filed their COCs under PDP-Laban. They arrived 11:30 a.m. accompanied by their families, some mayors and supporters.

 

Imboy will run for governor, while her running mate Balite will run for vice governor.   

 

She will run against incumbent Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto, while Balite will run against incumbent Vice Governor Conching Lim.

 

Imboy's daughter Loay councilor Rochelle Brigitte Imboy also filed her COC for mayor, while her husband incumbent board member Brigido Imboy will seek re-election. 

 

Yap, who was uncontested in 2010 and 2013 elections, has found his match. De Los Reyes filed her candidacy for representative in the third district of Bohol.

 

Delos Reyes said she was not afraid to face Yap.

 

“Definitely no,” she said, “I am confident.”

 

Delos Reyes, who runs the international beauty soap “Beauche,” run for governor against Chatto in 2013 but she lost.  Chatto is the currently the provincial LP chairman.

 

Should she win a seat in Congress, Delos Reyes said she would file bills for health, education, livelihood and agriculture.

 

“The reason why I joined is for the poor people. Number one is health. We have poor people who can’t go to hospital because they don’t have money. Second is education. Then livelihood and support to our farmers,” she said.

 

Imboy said that at first she was hesitant to run against Chatto.

 

“It’s really scary, you know he has good track records,” she said. “But upon hearing support and comments from the people that they need a new governor, they need a change, my fear was gone. If God is with us, who can be against us?”

 

On Friday, the last day of the filing, provincial and city Liberal Party’s hopefuls filed their COCs.

 

Before filing their COCs, they attended mass at the St. Joseph Cathedral, joined by their families and fellow LP members.

 

Chatto, the party’s provincial chair, filed his COC along with Rene Relampagos who is seeking reelection of the province’s first district and Vice Governor Lim, their vice gubernational candidate.

 

In Tagbilaran City, reelectionist Mayor John Gesnell Yap filed his COC at the city Comelec Office. Along with Yap were reelectionist Vice Mayor Toto Veloso and their ten councilor aspirants.

 

Aumentado said that he is praying for peaceful elections especially that some of the towns in the second district are considered hot-spots during election time.

 

“We are all aware that there was tension and election related violence in the province, I pray for peaceful and successful general elections in 2016,” he said.

 

Labaria said he was expecting that the next elections is contested in the province. He also said that he will evaluate the critical set-up in the province.

 

“We will do our best that no election relate violence will happen again,” he said.

 

 

***

Bohol marks 2^nd anniversary of quake

 

Church bells rang in Bohol for 33 seconds on Tursday to commemorate the second anniversary of the devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake that brought Bohol to its knees.

 

A holy mass was held at the Saint Joseph Cathedral officiated by Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso. It was attended by provincial and city officials, mostly from the Liberal Party.

 

Rodel Barace visits the site where four members of his
 family were swallowed by a giant crack. -LPU

After the mass, a photo exhibit was formally opened after the holy mass to demonstrate the post-earthquake recovery.It will run until Oct. 27 at the Bohol Cultural Center

 

But for others, last Thursday’s commemoration was a painful reminder of loved ones lost.

 

Those loved ones who were killed by the quake; they grieved and remembered the people who passed away.

 

“We will always remember them in our hearts,” said Rodel Barace of Antequera who lost four members of his family who were swallowed by a giant crack in Antequera.

 

The Barace family visited the cemetery and brought flowers and offered prayers.

READ INQUIRER ON THE 2ND YEAR COMMEMORATION OF THE BOHOL EARTHQUAKE

 

Booy Barangay Kagawad also visited the cemetery to offer prayers to his mother Linda who died during the quake due to myocardial infarction aggravated by the quake.

 

“My heart breaks for anyone who loses their mom,” said Lofranco.  He also said that her mother was also his best friend.

 

Linda was the former top-seller Individual Group Supervisor of Tupperware  Brand – Bohol  (formerly Saralee Direct Selling).

 

“I thank you God for giving me the most priceless of all treasures, help my Lord to keep alive her memory here forever,” said Clement.

Will Mayor Evasco, Tessie run in 2016?

Wake-upper:

Nestor Pestelos is Rappler’s
 Enterprise Mover. Photo Courtesy: Alecs Ongcal/Rappler

Scene:  Poet and community organizer Nestor Pestelos is Rappler’s The Enterprise Mover awardee. As president of the Bohol Local Development Foundation, he launched the Bohol Quake Assistance Fund Drive to help families who were homeless by the strong earthquake. "This award will inspire our young volunteers and fieldworkers to work harder to expand our current work," he told Rappler after accepting the award on Sept 26 at the World Resorts Manila. The Move Awards is Rappler’s first effort to celebrate those who actively campaign and move for social change.

 

***

Barely eight days to the deadline of COC (Certificate Of Candidacy) this month, Tessie Labunog-Sumampong is pestered with the question…is she really running for  councilor of Loboc?

 

 “I’m not sure,” Tessie told VRS.

 

She was offered to run for councilor in the past elections, confessed Tessie, “but I still have to think. Basically, ’m not interested. I’m not into politics.”

Tessie Labunog –Sumampong (with hubby Libby) of Cuisina ni
Tisay  is not giving any last word to run for councilor in Loboc.
 Contributed Photo

 

Neither is Tessie saying if her hubby Libby will run for councilor in 2016, but if he does, Tessie said that she will support him all the way.

 

She also said she is busy for Cuisina ni Tisay (inside the Chocolate Hills Adventure Park in Carmen town), which offers authentic Boholano cuisines.

 

 In the meantime, Tessie said she doesn’t let herself be distracted by the 2016 to-do.

 

Meanwhile, amidst the noise about his being drafted or invited to run for Governor or Representative, Maribojoc Mayor Leoncio Evasco, Jr remains, believe it or not, un-flattered, unmoved and unaffected.

 

Now on his third and last term as Maribojoc mayor, Evasco has no ample time to decide whether to file his COC for a higher position.

 

“Mudagon ko governor sa Lion’s Club,” he said with a laugh.

Maribojoc Mayor Leoncio Evasco, Jr to run for a higher position?
Only time can tell.-LPU

 

Lower or higher position?

 

“Lower house,” he laughed again.

 

Only time can tell.

 

***

Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter /Facebook.