BRIEFLY YOURS

By Joel Son Panti

A leadership in disarray

"Binaboy yong TOCA," was what many people said of the prestigious annual "The Outstanding Catandunganon Award" given during the culminating activities of the province's founding anniversary.

The October 24 yearly TOCA awards night could have been more solemn and fitting rather than ordinary and unimportant if the provincial government did not come up with another funny and ludicrous award, the so called "Exemplary Recognition" (sic) Award.

That night should have been exclusively for the TOCA. But it turned out naagawan ng eksena dahil sa katawa-tawang "Exemplary Recognition". Or, if ever, this award should have been given on a separate occasion.

Whoever conceived and implemented this self-serving form of award must be out of his mind. Besides, the name of the award itself defies logic and grammar. What is meant by "Exemplary Recognition"?

Exemplary means commendable or serving as a model. Is there such a thing as commendable recognition? Recognition means formal acknowledgement. Is there such thing as exemplary formal acknowledgement?

The name of the award itself is funny; the awardees themselves look funny. And so with the giver of the award.

"Recognition for Exemplary Performance" should have been more appropriate, logical and grammatical.

*******

Again, the awards night should have been a joyous celebration, a night of merriment, a night of camaraderie and of brotherhood.

But no, the father of the province have made the momentous occasion a forum for lambasting his political foes and critics in the media.

He talked about "black propaganda" and "fabricated allegations" in local newspapers. He said that these are the causes of his administration's miseries.

He conveniently forgot that the press is just like a mirror. "You cannot blame the mirror for the blemishes on your face. When newspapers, radio or TV report that there is a plane crash, they cannot be blamed for the plane crash", Sen. Roco once declared.

But of course, one has to find a scapegoat by pointing to an alleged scapegrace to evade responsibility and answerability.

That is pure and simple escapism!

*******

It is safe to assume that third-termer Verceles will rejoin Lakas-NUCD, the party umbrella he was under when he won his third and last term.

In that case, Gov. Sanchez and Verceles will be running under the same party, which is not possible unless Catanduanes is declared a free zone by the opposition party.
Since Verceles and the Africas (Natsy's family) have close ties and clout with the powers-that-be in the opposition party than Sanchez, it is more likely that the graduating solon will be the party's standard bearer in the province.

What happens with the governor?

Since Pres. Erap's popularity have nosedived tremendously, what would happen to Bro. Rene Velarde's dream of becoming a congressman?

In the case of NTC Commissioner Joseph Santiago, he is never affected by this development because he once declared that "with or without Erap's blessings", he will definitely run for congress.

Perhaps, two weeks from today, political realignment would crystallize.

*******

Ex-governor Sev Alcantara hit the head of the nail when he declared in a speech that the provincial leadership is in disarray.

In his "Echoes from a Catandunganon" speech during the TOCA awards night, he said that the real problem is on leadership.

Alcantara said that some alleged leaders obviously do not have the guts or brain. Or if they do have, they fail to use them.

Since leaders are clothed with power and authority, they should use them to their advantage and that of the province, he said.

Alcantara was obviously referring to the present leadership who wasted almost three years on petty political bickerings.

The former governor was one of the speakers in the TOCA awards night where the vice govenor and majority of the PBMs were absent.

Vice Gov. Al Aquino was originally scheduled to deliver the welcome address but his participation was removed upon orders of the governor.

How petty! How childish!

*******

Virac SPO1 Venerando V. Mendoza has been sued by his wife, Marichu Panti-Mendoza for non-support and abandonment of his family.

The case for Grave Misconduct has been filed directly with the office of the PNP Chief Gen. Ping Lacson in Camp Crame.

The law enforcer is the law breaker. Mendoza is a perfect example of a scalawag in uniform.