Choices and Voices – Bohol
LOY M. PALAPOS
The Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) is spearheading an encounter with the local candidates for Governor, Congressman of the First District, and City Mayor. Dubbed “Choices and Voice – Bohol,” the forum is scheduled in the Holy Name University Gymnasium at 4:00 to 6:00 PM on March 5, 2010 (Saturday). The activity is co-sponsored by the HNU Central Student Government, headed by its President, Joey Eduard Arabejo, a graduating student in Philosophy.
The public is invited to the activity, subject to the availability of seats. Questions are raised from the audience, but made in writing (official forms are to be distributed for the questions to write on), to be screened by a Committee of Three. Preferred questions are those that could be answered by all invited candidates, not those intended to humiliate any of them. A follow-up question may be made verbally.
The project is inspired by the forum of Presidentiables at the Cebu City International Convention Center (CCIC) held last January 22, 2010, where the most expected deposed Prez was a no show for his Eraptions. In the said confrontation, Gibo Teodoro scored high. In the local version, it is nobody’s game yet. It would be more than interesting to see and hear our local politicians worm themselves into the voters’ consciousness through platforms, logic, and eloquence.
This would be an opportune time to witness personally how individual bets perform in front of the public, in neutral ground and without the trimmings of partisanship. If by elected officials for top positions we mean an exemplary ability to communicate and persuade as a necessity, then we need to listen to them and realize their extent of prowess in their responsibility to represent us. These posts we are harping at are not for dumb bells, not for megalomaniacs enslaved by their own perceived self-worth, but for brilliant achievers who have carved their own names in the hierarchy of governance.
Not only in the presidential race do we have misfits which, for lack of bravado and for euphemistic polishing, Comelec call nuisance candidates. Even the local scene could be dominated by ill-meaning nincompoops disguised as geniuses. This is a loophole that causes our fear of electing the braggart.
“Choices and Voices – Bohol” is an attempt to enhance the wisdom of the voters, so they can identify the competent from the ill-equipped, the true leader from the camouflaged opportunist, the true gem from true trash. He who measures his affiliation through the money thrown at his doorstep deserves to hanged upside down.
Through this column, I wish to thank the officers and members of the BCCI who have painstakingly labored to make the forum the success the Bohol Chamber wants it to be: Incumbent President Marietta Gasatan (PRU LIFE UK), Past President Norris Oculam (Fely’s Jewelry and Pawnshop), Executive Vice President Lucas Nunag (Amarela Resort Corporation), Internal Vice President Argeo Melisimo (First Consolidated Bank), External Vice President Pureza Chatto (1st Flower Avenue), Secretary Dinah Ramiro (Ramiro Community Hospital), Treasurer Helena Antonieta Veloso (Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation), Auditor Albert Uy (Bohol People’s Lumber Corporation), and Trustees Obdulio Caturza, Jr. (JJ’s Seafoods Village), Carlito Responte (DYTR), Fortunato Lim (Fortune Enterprises), John Yap (Bohol Tropics Resort), Warren Yap (Wrenley’s Appliance Center), Raymond Roldan (Save N’ Earn Sales), Reginald Ong (Bohol Quality Corporation), and Peter Dejaresco (DYRD/Bohol Chronicle).
To the administration of Holy Name University, through Father President Francisco Estepa, SVD, we are very grateful for the use of the HNU Gym without asking even a single centavo from the Bohol Chamber. Our SVD Fathers know a noble project when they see one. My special appreciation for the efforts of Joey Eduard Arabejo, President of the HNU Central Student Government, and his staff, for our constant coordination to make the project a success we want it to be.
Don’t forget “ Choices and Voices – Bohol,” HNU Gym, 4:00 PM, March 5 (Friday); sponsored by the Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, co-sponsored by the HNU Central Student Government. See you there.
Tags: bcci, comelec, congressman, governor, Teodoro
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