Her name is Donabel....

"She is one of the campus beauties during my college days....."

The author, Gerard Reyes...at 27.

I was in the office, last May 24 in the morning when I needed the telephone number of the new PACCI manager. I dialed 338-2000 in Bayantel-Palompon hoping to get some info from the said office. I did not get the number, but surprisingly, the voice of the operator on the other line is very familiar.

Later on, I knew her to be Donabel Omega, she is one of the campus beauties during my college days in PIT, way back 5 years ago. I was already a 3^rd year student then while working also a municipal employee in Palompon, while she is a sweet freshmen student. During the Intramurals last September 2002, she was the muse of the College of Technology, while I was also the unit head of the College of Education team. I can remember her as a friendly, charming, and lovely cute little girl (chubby, I mean…) . Now she’s already 21 years old, she said, and will be turning 22 this December, I told myself that I am getting older by now.

Before, when I was only 16 years old, I can see her as a little girl playing like other children did. She did not even mind what she’s doing (wearing a mini skirt) at the age of 9, if my memory serves me right. Now she’s already a lady.

This time, I enjoy everytime I talked with her on the phone. She’s still the very friendly Donabel that I knew some years ago. The same Donabel, that flashes her electrifying smile to her friends and acquaintances, or even to a stranger like me….

Why the mayor was defeated?

The following were analysis made by some Palomponganon politicos, barangay officials, market vendors, students, and other ordinary electorates in this town. It is an attempt to understand on the defeat of the incumbent mayor of this town during last May 14, 2007 elections.

• Most of the people of Palompon are clamoring for change (kausaban), and is tired already of “too much politicking”.
• Palomponganons consider the expulsion of Vice Mayor Constantino “Tantin” Tupa as political manuevering of those who want to remove him for his post. Political bickerings among elected local officials was made known by many, and this hampered the development of this town
• The development of this town was hampered by the blocking of the incumbent municipal officials to some projects of Congressman Codilla to the barangays. The people needs this project but the mayor tried to prevent this projects to be implemented. This was evidenced by the passage of Municipal Development Council resolutions and municipal resolutions, requiring the congressman to ask permission from the MDC or the municipal council upon the implementation of projects to the barangays, where in fact other towns did not block these projects like Isabel, Merida, and Albuera.
• Some of the barangay officials and leaders were slighted when the mayor berated them in front of some municipal employees and clientile at the mayor’s office
• The mayor is sensitive to humors and intrigues againts him, and whenever he heard such comments and criticisms, “kaluoy sa tawo nga mosaway” kasab-an gyod ug insakto.
• The second term of the outgoing mayor was marked by bickerings among municipal employees, among them are department heads themselves engaging to verbal tussle and personal attacks. Mun. Treasurer VS. Mun. Accountant, etc.
• Some of the municipal employees are abusive. You know why? A barangay captain was told “paluma-luma man kag kapitan, dili man ka kamao” the municipal accountant told the capt. Then she threw the papers to the brgy. officials. It was however, settled later on.
• Some of the disgruntled employees did not vote for the outgoing mayor. Among them are those who have some gripes and sentiments related to their job and assignments.
• In hiring new employees and promoting employees, (palakasay lang) Ah! Ila na man lang tanan….panghatag pod sa lain oi! Paryentehay man lagi. A daughter of an officials is a dept. head, a sister in law of a Dept. head, a husband and wife, (Kakuyaw ani!)
• One of the iron lady is a relation to the municipal official, Siya ang nagbuot kun kinsa ang I-regular og I-permanent sa position
• Other are disgruntled loyal supporters, like those connected in the municipality that was not rewarded by the present administration. Some of them are working hard supporting the mayor’s candidacy but instead that they will be elevated to regular position, new and “malakas” employees themselves were promoted.
• Many of the loyal supporters of the incumbent mayor are now seen in the other camp like Arnel Villarente, a disgruntled market collector who was their campaign coordinator of the in 1998, 2001 and 2004 elections. Some other municipal employees resigned. Also some others who are very much identified with them before are no longer with them.
• The mismanagement of CBRMP funds was discovered by DOF during one of its audit, the controversy involved more than P 1Million. When campaign started, the camp of the outgoing mayor failed to inform the public about such accusations.
• Provincial Board Member Herville V. Pajaron drop bombshells during the Lakas CMD (Kausaban) rallies in Palompon, denouncing the anomalies of the present administrations, their allegations were supported by facts thru video presentations, thus convincing the electorates that the present administration has its lapses.
• Having Mr. dela Gente as their emcee was disastrous. His speeches are not acceptable to educated electorates and the masa, but it is accepted only in the streets and even in cockpits and peryahan. His personal attacks to Mr. Pajaron was “ not advisable” for the people will are not that dumbed. It is not advisable also for dignified candidates like them, who are mostly incumbent municipal officials to have such kind of Emcee.
• Most of their candidates engaged to personal attacks againts Tupa, Pajaron and Congressman Codilla. Instead of campaigning and winning the hearts of the electorates their campaign speeches instead defeat the purpose.
• They did not avoid “bad” words in their speeches, they were not careful enough and they did not consider the Palomponganon electorates as wise and intelligent. Even candidates are heard saying taboo words such as “kayat” “gi-jerjer” etc, which is offensive and scandalous to those educated persons who are around.
• The NPC party are not careful in selecting their candidates, one reason that they lose the election.
• The mayor’s sipsips composed of municipal employees vying for Regular and Permanent Positions (Item), Barangay officials and leaders, Campaign coordinators, Speakers bureaus etc. are sowing intrigues that Mr. So---and---So are no longer their supporters, whom the mayor also believed without verification, since they marked such electorate “nga tua na kuno sa pikas”, the said individual “nahiubos” and instead to gain the support of such voters ---wala na hinuon, sayang.
• Their own supporters were being suspected as “tua sa pikas” by their campaign coordinators, so instead of gaining support from these people, nawala na hinuon kay nahiubos na man tu siya nga gipasanginlan. Instead of addition, what happened is subtraction of supporters.
• Those person who paste “Be Honest” stickers of BCBP were suspected as supporters of Tupa, even if they are municipal officials.
• Oppositions and its supporters were subjected to harrassment like what happened to Vic Rufin of Cangcosme, Rosie Reuma of Lomonon, Chedna Romero, Turibio Piñon, a vendor in terminal named Fredo, etc.
• Because of what happened to them, many of the Palomponganons who wants to ventilate his views about the Municipality and the present administration is afraid to criticize the town officials even if it is a ‘constructive criticisms”
• Barangay captains defected from the camps of the mayor, among them are Feliciano Rodado of San Roque, Necerita Omega of Tinago, etc.