We got two surprises of our life the other day. And what surprises these were since never did we expect that we would experience the same.
The first one was our unexpected receipt of a message from a former Davao media man turned diplomat – Ambassador Bhanarim Guinomla. Ambassador Bhanarim had a stint at the University of Mindanao Broadcasting Network (UMBN) with the late Editor Tony Ajero as his boss.
The Ambassador who had been posted by the Philippine government in several countries mostly in the Middle East, he being a Muslim, told us he is already retired but staying in the Capital Region.
The diplomat friend asked us how we are now where we readily answered that we too, are also retired from Davao Light but still writes a daily column with this paper, a sister media establishment of UMBN. But of course we humbly admitted to the Ambassador that age is fast catching up with us though we are still up and around with slower and calculated movements already.
We told the diplomat that our contemporaries Tony and Jimmy Torres had already gone to the great beyond. He expressed deep sadness and a sense of loss for their demise.
Bhanarim says he hopes to meet his aging media friends when he can have time when he visits Davao City.
We are certain that your plan is most welcome among our friends like then Publisher now businessman Nilo Claudio, Publisher-Editor Jun Ledesma, retired PTV Manager Ricky Jimenez and some others whose names we cannot anymore recall.
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And here comes this other surprise in our life. Last Tuesday we had to go to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to attend to certain transaction that needs our physical presence.
And to our amazement the transport regulatory body’s new office building – a 3-storey structure – is built in a spacious compound in Puan, Talomo District. So spacious that there is enough area for vehicles that need to be inspected by the agency’s personnel. The same compound, unlike the previous one rented to serve as LTFRB’s regional office in Balusong, Bangkal, also has enough space for parking of clients’ vehicles.
But what we can say as the biggest of the surprise it gave us, was the cleanliness of the entire building including the administrative and operations offices, the comfort rooms, the lobby. The way clients are very well-treated is a far cry from what we observed years back. Chairs for those having business both on the ground floor offices and in the third floor where the hearings are conducted, are provided adequately and well-arranged. Even employees go out of their way to check if a client is attended to.
And the agency’s regional director, a third generation scion of the famous Llanos family in Digos City, Davao del Sur, effectively shows his service-oriented attitude. We saw him moved around and talk to his subordinates and the clients, ask them if they are attended to as per their expectation. Of course Director Llanos is just living the mantra posted on the office where Red Tape is a no-no.
The only thing that put some bar to our full appreciation of the said office is the non-operational elevator which according to some insiders, have been on that situation for some time already. We were further told that the non-operation started when the elevator got stuck up with some passengers inside. We assume that it could have taken hours to have the lift operate again and have the trapped persons rescujed.
Of course it is normal that in any operated device or equipment there will happen some glitches every now and then. And the LTFRB elevator is no exception.
However, we believe the agency should have immediately called the attention of the supplier of the lift and those who installed it.
We are certain that there is warranty on both the unit and the installation work. The supplier of the elevator and the installer – if they are not the same – should answer for the glitch and the consequences that result from it.
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Now Davao City voters will have more candidates to choose from in the May 2025 midterm elections for Mayor and Vice Mayor, and Congress representatives as well.
There are those candidates who hail from long well-known political families in the city to choose from. There are newcomers as well, and perennial candidates who could also lead the city if given the opportunity by the citizens.
This election season however, the ruling political family will have a real challenge. And the group where the challengers are aligned could possibly be able to generate equal if not even bigger resources to run a city-wide campaign against the local government ruling clan. The challengers too, could approximate the name recall of the ruling political officials.
In other words, this time the Dutertes who have four members fielded in various elective posts to include that of City Mayor, Vice Mayor, Congressmen and City Councilor, may not anymore be so confident as they were in the previous local elections.
And why is that so? Well, there are realignment of forces with political families having substantial followings previously allied with the ruling clan now with the Party of incumbent President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., certainly the nemesis of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, the come-backing mayor aspirant in Davao City.
There are the Garcias known for their hold of the second district in the city. The family have gained foothold in that vote-rich district. Then there are the Lopez family of the late Davao City Mayor Elias Lopez with lawyer Ruy Elias running for third district congressman against incumbent and Duterte supporter Sid Ungab. The latest big family to estrange themselves from the Dutertes are the Al-ags. Dr. Bernie, a first district councilor who filed his certificate of candidacy for city vice mayor, is the likely running mate of Karlo Nograles. Third district alderman Wilberto “Nonoy” Al-ag is running for congressman to challenge incumbent Ungab in district 3. And of course there are the Dolors of Toril, and many others who could not afford to come out in the open for one reason or another. Certainly they are forces to reckon with in the coming polls.
Of course the Dutertes with their political tacticians, are no stranger to such threats to the pedestal they are now perched. Experience will tell anyone that they have what it takes to confront whatever challenges come their way.
