Four Maasin Mediamen Win Barangay Posts

Four Maasin Mediamen Win Barangay Posts

By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Four media practitioners here: three broadcast media and one print media have won in the recently concluded Barangay-SK elections without spending money to buy votes.

This was the essence of an interview during a gathering of some media practitioners held in one of the beach resorts in barangay Pugaling.

Frank Mendoza Bandibas, Jr, 46, married, a first timer who ran for the position of Barangay Councilor, has emerged as the number one Councilor in brgy. Asuncion.

The Asuncion-born guy confided that he’s being a radio broadcaster in a local radio station, as lay minister in Asuncion and as President of Alumni Association of Asuncion Elementary School were the contributing factors of his overwhelming winning streak.

However, at the start of the campaign period a protest was lodged against Bandibas by somebody for moving to brgy.Mantahan where his mother-in-law was residing.

He said he explained to the protesters about the reason why he moved to another barangay.That is his wife’s mother wanted them to live with her so that she can have some companions.

Most probably, he said, they (protesters) and the COMELEC might have given more weight to his being a lay minister in barangay Asuncion where he was born and grew up into an adult. His being the President of the Asuncion Elementary School Alumni Association has also boosted his legitimacy to run for such a position he aspired for.

One of the reasons why he don’t have to spend money to buy votes unlike some of those who ran for the same position, was that during his campaign period, aside from promising to be the voice of the people in his barangay,he said, he also would be proposing some resolutions for the development of barangay Asuncion.

Besides, he also quoted some biblical verses that would enlightened the local voters not to be greedy on getting money by selling their votes particularly during elections, but to be contented of the blessings and grace that they’ve received from the Almighty Lord.

He said he only spent P500 plus for his leaflets, while other leaflets he has had were from some of his friends and relatives.

PDI Correspondent Jani Carbonilla Arnaiz, also a newcomer posted as number four Councilor in brgy.Mambajao in his bid for the position. Earlier he had lost for his first and second straight run while still residing in brgy.Mantahan.But now he’s already a resident of brgy.Mambajao in his third try.

As a beginner Arnaiz,who is also a GMA stringer, will in his initial efforts as new Councilor, will only focus on one platform, that would butt for the creation of livelihood projects for the Mambajao folks. For the upgrading also of the already existing livelihood organizations in his area of responsibility, he said.

Ramon Amora Buyser, 50, married, Field Reporter and radio Commentator, emerged as the number four Councilor now in his second term. But in his first term, he said, he was number two.

Buyser like Bandibas also attributed his being in the broadcast media which led to his re-election bid.However,he also credited his project in brgy.Mambajao of materializing his proposed ordinance that help in the controlling of flood occurring in sitio Acacia by digging a drainage canal.

He said aside from it, he also initiated for the cementing of a pathway which would turned muddy during heavily rains. He also stressed that in his current re-election win he will be doing similar move for sitio Mabugo, NACOCO which is perennially frequented with floods during rainy days.

Another broadcast media practitioner who still won in the recent Barangay-SK elections for the third time is Nick Lanugon, 51, married, of brgy. Rizal. He disclosed he won landslide in both sitios Monte Cueva and Basak, but is number two in the overall results.

Lanugon also informed he did not spend money to buy votes just to win.He divulged his projects were constructing bridges in sitios, installation of water system in the area, the arresting of people involved in the “tigbakay”(a Cebuano term referring to illegal cockfighting done outside the designated dates of festivity like a fiesta)that were strongly carried out with the help of some barangay officials, he said. He also initiated for the strict imposition of curfew hours in brgy.Rizal for both young and adults.

He said the curfew hours in his place are from 10:00 p.m. up to 4:00a.m.for the teenagers and from 12:00pm. up to 4:00 p.m. for adults. He intimated that many young people have opposed but the parents were happy and have supported his move because it would make their children safe.

The third termer mediaman further confided he also initiated for the construction of a public toilet at Monte Cueva for the arriving pilgrimage coming from faraway places that have to answer the call of nature.

Regular Garbage collections in his area have likewise achieved 95% with the services of the city’s garbage truck that always include his barangay on schedule basis, he said. To aid in the proper collection of garbage and wastes in his vicinity, he said, he requested Congressman Roger Mercado for five huge bins, two of which were placed in Monte Cueva and three in sitio Basak.

Furthermore, he implied that the imposition of curfew hours for both young and adults will continue in his term. He hope that this project will be retained and those projects that he has accomplished during his terms will also be maintained by the incoming officials when he is no longer in the position.

Lanugon moreover emphasized that if a barangay official is near with the administration, it would be easier for him/her to ask for assistance for important projects beneficial to the barrio folks.

Also present during the media gathering were: Sportswriter/ reporteronline columnist Mayor Maloney Samaco,Southern Leyte Times Editor-In-Chief Antonio Mendoza Reyes and encoder Angelina Book, Marcelo “Bong” Pedalino with wife Elvira and Loloy Salazar of Philippine Information Agency,Vitaliano Orais and his young wife, environmentalist Arthur Siga and his wife Minching,DYDM Program Director/newscaster Jade Nombrado,DYDM Station Manager Rev. Amil Borromeo,Ruel Mercedez, Joel Barte,DYSL newscaster (now a councilor in Bontoc)Fe Villareal-Cañon and local guest singer Carmelo Mendoza.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)