December 17, 2009

Patronage politics is something a lot of people dislike. It results to inefficiency, bad public service, dependency, warlord type scenarios, misplaced gratitude and awkward scenarios.

The thing with wanting to serve people in an official elected capacity in government is that you need the support of groups, sectors, politicians, political parties, individuals and organizations. This might lead to some deals, compromises or exchanges of favors. As such, this might affect the quality and level of governance and public service.

I am blessed to have run as the only UGYON candidate in the last 2007 elections who was eventually adopted as guest candidate by the Genuine Opposition. I must admit I have a political debt of gratitude but it is not to politicians or political parties but to the people of Iloilo City. My master is not a particular political personality or a political party but my bosses are the residents of the City. With this, I am given more leeway to move around and to have a much better perspective to decide well and independently on what is best for the City of Iloilo in terms of my legislative motions, my special programs and projects and on my stands regarding particular issues.

I would like to end with my usual spiel or battle cry, “Para sa kauswagan sang Syudad sang Iloilo, UGYON Kabataang Ilonggo, UGYON Iloilo”. Ilonggos are worth working and fighting for.

December 10, 2009

Not all are given continuous warm support and welcome by the people. Not all are recognized well and appreciated. Not all are supported by various groups, individuals and sectors regardless of their political affiliations. Thus, it is a great honor, privilege and a big blessing to be given and afforded such by the various political personalities, groups, sectors, communities, individuals and the residents of the City of Iloilo in general.

Just like when I filed my COC in the year 2007, I officially brought the banner of partido UGYON and I was also a Liberal Party member, the second time around I filed my Certificate of Candidacy (COC) using both nominations of the LP and the UGYON party. Moreover, I am guest candidate of the Trenas Group that heads the NP Iloilo City Chapter while being supported by the LP group headed by Vice Mayor Mabilog while still having my UGYON party group intact and it even grew. I also thank Councilor Perla Zulueta for being a great mentor and guide and more than that for being one of the few real friends in politics. I am thankful of the warm support of the women sector, elderly sector and most especially the youth sector. Furthermore, I am very much grateful of the partnership I have with the labor sector, civil society, academe, business sector, ethnic and religious communities, entrepreneurs, small and medium vendors, barangay officials, community and socio civic leaders and groups and to all the others who have been open to working for the best interest of the City of Iloilo.

Let us continue to work well and harmoniously. Let us move mountains. Let us make things possible. Let us do well for our beloved Iloilo City.

I would like to end with my usual spiel or battle cry, “Para sa kauswagan sang Syudad sang Iloilo, UGYON Kabataang Ilonggo, UGYON Iloilo”. Ilonggos are worth working and fighting for.

November 19, 2009

It has been my policy to put city first above self and above politics. Ako gapati nga nagdalagan ako kag ginbutang sa pwesto ka tawo indi bangud sa pinolitika o sa personal nga handum kundi para makaserbisyo sang tampad kag sincero sa tawo. Today, I ask you my family, closest friends and most ardent supporters to please have an open mind as I make my final political decision for the forthcoming elections public.

Una, gapasalamat gid ko sa Gino-o nga naghatag sang blessing sa akun nga makaserbisyo sa syudad sang Iloilo paagi sa mainit nga pagakomodar sa akun sang mga tagasyudad sang nagligad nga 2007 kag asta subong ara sa gihapon kag sa akun pamatyag, pagpati kag panulukan nagbaskog pa gid ang pagsuporta. Sa liwat, asta subong nga adlaw, wala untat ako gapasalamat sa inyo mga pumuluyo sang Syudad sang Iloilo sa pagsalig, kumpyansa kag suporta. The gratitude will always be present. Kung wala kamu, wala man si LEX Tupas sa pwesto. Kabalaslan ko ini sa inyo kag indi bangud sa kung sin-o man nga politiko or kung anu man nga partido. Ang pumuluyo sang syudad sang Iloilo ang akun partners kag kamu ang akun kapartido. Sang una, ginapustahan kita nga indi maging madinalag-on, ginagub-an, ginaubra ubrahan isturya, ginamulay kag ginapanubo pero apisar sina bangud sa inyo kag nagsalig ako sa pumuluyo sang Syudad nga indi madala, amu na kun ngaa ari na ako sa pwesto opisyal sa gobyerno nga makaserbisyo sa inyo. Pagkatapus sang eleksyon, si LEX Tupas amu kita sa gihapon mapaeleksyon man or indi, ang pagtrato ta sa tawo kag atun hulag wala gabag-o kag wala galain. Ang ginhambal ko gintuman ko. Amu na siguro bangud sang pagtinguha ta makapasar maayu nga mga legislative measures or ordinansa kag resolusyon pati pa pagubra sang mga special programs and projects kag dugang pa na ang consistent nga mga panindugan kag pagpakita sang inyo mabaskog nga tingog, amu na guro kun nga-a ginsturyahan nga pwede na kasaka sa mastaas taas nga pwesto si LEX Tupas. Nagumpisa sa kapehan, nagkadto sa kabaranggayan, naglibot sa distrito, ginaisturyahan sa media, sa pamalay kag bilog na nga Syudad sang Iloilo. Gusto ko gid klaruhon wala nagumpisa sa akun or sa mga kaupod ko ang ini nga isturya. Wala man planu si LEX Tupas magsaka sa pwesto sang una. Ang sa ulo ko ya serbisyo maayu kag pasalamatan ang tawo sa kumpyansa nga ginhatag sa akun sang 2007. Ang pamatyag ko daw bonus kag daku nga blessing na naman nga daw political twist of fate nga sa tawo naghalin kag tawo ang gahambal nga kaya na sang isa ka first termer kag pinakalamharun nga opisyal subong nga maging bise alkalde sang syudad sang Iloilo.

Ang matudtuod sadto nga mga tini-on abi ko daw ginakonsiderar lang kita asta sa wala naguntat kag nagbaskog ini nga tingog sang tawo nga pagpabalo sa akun nga may kumpyansa sila kay LEX Tupas. Kabalo ako nga ang pwesto sa gobyerno indi ang tag-iya sini ang gapungko nga politiko kundi ginpahulam lang ini sa amun sang tawo. Amu na kun nga-a bisan wala pa ko planu or wala pa gani ko gadeklarar or gahulag or gaorganizar, ginpamati-an ko ang tawo. Ang hambal ko kung anu ang gusto ka tawo, amu na ang akun pagasundon. Gapasalamat gid ako sa mga taw okay paagi sa various surveys conducted informal and formal, may 30-36% ka tawo sa Syudad nga apisar nga wala pa kita may ginaubra nga pagpakadto sa pagdalagan sa pagkabise alkalde nga gusto kita ang magapadalagan sa nasambit nga pwesto. We are actually in striking distance of a possible victory. It is very humbling to know that and I am overwhelmed by such an occurrence. I have done my listening tours and my consultations. I am overly ecstatic and emotional by the pledges of support for a possible LEX Tupas for a higher post candidacy.

Kung kaugalingon ko lang ginaisip ko kag may oportunidad nga ara sa atubangan ko, tani sadto pa ako nagdeklarar, tani ginkuwa ko na lang ang oportunidad kag wala na ginisip ang grupo or kung anu ang pinakamaayu para sa Syudad sang Iloilo. Wala galing ako ginpadako sang akun nanay kag tatay nga tanan nga oportunidad nga kwaun kundi magpili kag magisip man sa iban nga tawo, sa lugar ginaserbisyuhan kag sa pangkabilugan.

This was a very hard decision but a decision I had to make and it was made first week of November. With all humility, sincerity, honesty and love for the City, I am grateful to the people for your support and trust in me. Thank you for this opportunity but I already have come to a final decision. Indi ko gusto maguba ang grupo. Indi ko gusto nga bangud sa ambisyon o oportunidad nga basi ang handum namun nga makahatag pagbag-o sa Syudad maapektuhan. Pirmi ko ginahambal pagugyon or ugyon Iloilo kag ina gapatima-an nga gusto ko gabuligay, gaupdanay kag ayuhay. Even with a possible chance of victory for a higher post, kung may kilanglan magsakripisyo, kung may kilanglan magpa-iway, handa ako nga ubrahon ina para sa kaayuhan sang Syudad sang Iloilo. Ako ang mapaiway para sa pagbaskog sang grupo kag para sa paglab-ot sang handom nga pagbag-o, pagugyon kag kaayuhan sang Syudad sang Iloilo. Sa mga interisado magbise alkalde, tani tratuhon ninyo nga sagrado ang pwesto, kilanglan sang kinaalam, kaayu magdala sang konseho kag masaligan nga makasarang nga maging alkalde kung kinahanglan.

Sa akun pamilya, supporters, friends kag sa Syudad sang Iloilo, bata pa kita. Damu pa sa ulihi sang tsansa. Unahon ta ang syudad bag-o ang atun personal kag politikal nga interes. Indi kamu magkabalaka, kung anu si LEX Tupas sang una, amu ako sa gihapon kag tinguhaan ko masmaging maayu pa gid magserbisyo. Lexcellence is my policy in public service. Ang atun Master’s Degree in Public Management in Local Government Administration and ang atun recently naobtain nga Doctor of Management in Public Management Degree atun ini pagamiton sang maayu para sa pagpaayu pa gid sa akun serbisyo sa inyo kag indi ako da maguntat kundi masige pa gid ako training kag pagdevelop sang akun kaugalingon para maging excellent public servant ninyo. Indi man sekreto nga si Councilor LEX Tupas will settle down kag ako mangasawa na sa dali na lang nga tini-on kag magkapamilya nga akun sa ulihi. As my father said, a good public servant is a good family man. Masmakapahatag pa ini sa akun sang maayu nga eksperyensya nga magserbisyo pa gid sang maayu kag todo todo sa inyo. Rest assured Iloilo City nga pasigehun ko ang mga proyekto kag programa ko kag basi dugangan ko pa gid kag makapasa pa ta masdamu pa gid nga lokal nga layi para sa inyo kaayuhan. Manindugan ako sa kada Ilonggo. Maging kusog ninyo ako nga tagadampig labi na sa mga imul, kabataan, kababainhan kag katigulangan. Indi ta kamu pagpabay-an kag ara sa kamot ninyo kung ara man ta gihapon magapasige serbisyo sa inyo sa konseho sang Syudad sang Iloilo asta 2013. To those who support me and want me to go up the political ladder so that I could serve better, in a bigger and more influential capacity and in a more high impact manner, sometimes we have to let go of something so as to obtain something much bigger.

Salamat salamat gid sa suporta kag I hope you stand by me and stay with me as we hope, pray and wish for another chance to serve Iloilo City. Gapangayu gid ko sa pumuluyo nga mainitindihan ako kag gasalig ko nga maintindihan nila ang akun nga desisyon.

November 11, 2009

Love or real love is said to only happen once...
It apparently happens at a time one least expects it...
Dreams, wishes and prayers do come true...

The thing is one should have pure and sincere intentions...
If that is the case, love will be kept and it will last...
Real love is not about who or what the person is or what potential the person might have..
It is said to be about loving someone in spite and despite of...
It is about lasting and forever love..

True love is first, one and only, and last love...
It can happen...
It still happens...
Don't stop on believing...

November 2, 2009

Some people are emotional and it makes them say and do things that they do not mean. The problem with that is it hurts others and it affects the relationship. Words when said are hard to take back.

Harsh words cause emotional pains that when reminded of, it brings about pain to the person who got hurt before. One's respect and love for the person who brought him pain and hurt gets affected as well. Who would want to be with someone who brings them hurt and pain rather than smiles and laughs? Who would like being emotionally abused?

Let's think before we do or say anything. Let's be sensitive to others. Let us bring joy, love and fun to others especially to the people we love.

October 30, 2009

As they say, real friends are hard to find but it seems that in the political arena, real friends as well as real people are harder to find...

It is frustrating and disappointing to know that some people are just there for their own personal and political interests. They don't think about the best interest of the communities they serve and the group they belong to but what would be more politically expedient for them.

I always believe that there is good in each person and that people are respectable and trustworthy but apparently some exploit the goodness we give to them.

We should choose the right people to trust. We should know who are best to keep as friends, or just acquaintances or to distance ourselves from.

As they say, when the trust is gone, the respect, friendship and care will follow...

Thus, let us choose our friends well...Let us be careful because not all have good and great intentions..

October 25, 2009

I would like to share with you a little something from my Tito who got this somewhere...It's about lasting love that goes beyond a partner's lifetime..

Beyond the sunset forevermore

(Spoken)

Should you go first and I remain

To walk the road alone

I’ll live in memory’s garden, dear

When happy days we’re known.

In Spring I’ll watch the roses red

And shades of lilac blue

In early fall when the brown leaves fall

Then I’ll catch a glimpse of you.

Should you go first and I remain

To finish with the scroll

No lengthening shadows shall creep in

To make this life seem droll.

We’ve known so much of happiness

Yes, we’ve had our cup of joy

And memory is one gift of God

That death cannot destroy.

Should you go first and I remain

There’s one thing I’d have you do

Walk slowly down that long road

For soon I’ll follow you.

I want you to know each step I take

So that you may walk the same

For someday down that lonely road

I’ll hear you calling my name.

(Sang)

Beyond the sunset, oh glad reunion

With our dear loved ones who’ve gone before

In that fair homeland we’ll know no parting

Beyond the sunset forevermore…