Did Edi Borja Run Away from a Good Fight?
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The latest PCL (Philippine Councilors League) – Bohol Chapter election a couple
of weeks ago was no different from the other gatherings to select Representatives to the
Legislative Body of the Province. A most devastating scenario was seen several years
back when a sickly chain-smoking alcoholic prided himself with being elected because of
his money; and he stated this stark reality to the supposedly august body he represented.
Of course, the said august body voted for him. This despite the insult blatantly hurled on
their faces.
True to tradition or practice, right after the May 10 election, there were already
talks about more elections to follow: seats for the Chairman or President of the ABC
(Association of Barangay Captains), the Councilors League, the (SK) Sangguniang
Kabataan, and the LMP (League of Municipalities of the Philippines).
The very recent LMP showdown turned out to be a battle-royale between the
incumbent Governor and Congressman of the Second District. Tha grapevine was ripe
with expectations that the PCL would be another show of political forces. A week before
the showdown, the name of a Councilor from Carmen and that of a Councilor from
Tagbilaran City grabbed the local papers’ headlines. Political kibitzers and media-men,
aware of the poltical backgrounds of the protagonists, painted their canvasses bloody red,
in preparatioin for a big confrontation, but not between the Councilors, but the powers
widely circulated to be backing each one.
More jovial were the Coucilors themselves, many of them starting to speculate
and count the dough expected to insue from the big battle. Only one side was accurate
with the amount, with option to add more when the opposite camp jacked up the stake.
Meaning…the moneyed side would fight to the end of the depth of their pockets. Did
Edi Borja have such pocket? The answer is NO.
Wednesday before the Friday election, I heard that the City Councilor was not
necessarily interested for the coveted position, but he was submitting his name to
justify the term election. (How could there be an election if there is only one nominee?)
Knowing Edi and his sense of humor, I thought the prevailing story was very plausible.
On the day of the election, Friday, I met Councilor Borja at City Hall. It was
noontime, and the venue of the PCL affair, the Bohol Tropics Resort, was filling up.
The two radio stations were blurting out nuggets of information to the public while
monitoring the proceedings. But Edi B was at City Hall, not with his fellow legislators
all over the 47 towns and one city of Bohol. A colleague of his nudged him to rush to the
election venue to shake hands pat backs, engage his colleagues in casual banter, make
obvious his desire to preside the PCL.But aside from his trade-mark boyish smile and
innocuous repartee with his friends, he did not move an inch.
Was he doing what a candidate should have done? Staying with nonchalance away
from the place where he was most needed at that time?
I still have to see Edi B so I can deduce right from the horse’s mouth the reason, or
reasons, for his actuations that afternoon of the PCL election. I only heard the following
day after the election that he did not push through with the challenge for the PCL
Presidency. Knowing Edi, I am quite certain he is never the type of a guy who runs away
from a GOOD fight. And knowing what kinds of elections we have, with the third G of
the three election Gs the most prominent, I am inclined to believe, he did not run away.
He knew the flow of the tide, and which side of the bread is buttered. He just laughed it
off.
*******
Who U?
The following are text messages I received the past week. I already know the texter
with the most number of messges sent. He is a gifted writer and journalist, a real friend.
To whom I am grateful for his nuggets of wisdom.
o-o-o-o-o
Always make the future bigger than the past; contribution bigger than reward;
gratitude greater than success. (09177002760)
o-o-o-o –o
Brain cells come and go, but fat cells live forever. Age doesn’t always bring
wisdom, sometimes it comes alone. Life not only begins at 40, it also begins to slow.
(09177002760)
o-o-o-o-o
Rhe real art of conversation is not always to say the right thing at te right time, but to
leave unsaid thr wrong thing at the tempting moment.
o-o-o-o-o
Even if you’re on d right track, you’ll get run-over if you’ll just sit there.
(091770022760)
o-o-o-o-o
Today will just be yesterday in 24 hours…so be happy each day.(09177002760)
o-o-o-o-o
I was shocked, confused, bewildered as I entered Heaven’s door. Not by the beauty
of it all, not the lights or its décor. But it was the folks in eaven who made me sputter
ang gasp – the thieves, the liars, the sinners, the alcoholics, the trash. There stood the
kid from seventh grade who swiped my lunch many times. Next to him was my old
neighbor who never said anything nice. Herb, who I always thought was rotting away I
hell, was setting pretty in cloud nine looking incredibly well. I nudged Jesus. ‘Wat’s the
deal? I would love to hear your tale. How’d all these sinners get up here? God must’ve
made a mistake! And why’s everyone so quiet, so sober? Give me a clue.’ ‘Hush. Child,’
He said,’they’re all in shock. No one thought they’d be seeing you too! JUDGE NOT.
Every saint as a past…Every Sinner has a Future. Jesus Christ makes all the difference.
(09177002760)
o-o-o-o-o
Everything that you lose has its own way of returning back to you. The funny thing is
that it is not always in the manner you expect. Sometimes it is even more. (09177002760)
o-o-o-o-o
Loy, I just retired when reached 65 last year, and after working for more than 35
years. How about you? I think you are older than most of us, your friends who are now
enjoying our golden years. (09176543567)
KINILAW: Is there a need for a man to stop doing what he has been loving for 47
years?
o-o-o-o-o
(Text your jokes/messages/quotes to this column.)
