Stay away from City Hall politicians

By Alex P. Vidal

“The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.”—H. L. Mencken

IT is time for some newly elected village officials to distance themselves from City Hall politicians and serve their local constituents with fervor and independence as what most of them had promised during the campaign period for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) held on October 30, 2023.

By being independent does not mean they would severe their ties with City Hall politicians or antagonize them without any justification.

They can still work hand and hand or through a critical collaboration with City Hall, but not to the point of becoming outright lackeys and entirely subservients.

We are making this reminder anew after it was reported that some City Hall politicians appeared to be claiming credits for the victories of some punong barangay especially in the hotly contested villages.

Some of these politicians had really openly campaigned for these winners—and even financially went all the way for them—but after the BSKE, these politicians should not have bragged about the role that they had played in the winners’ election success.

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These BSKE winners also have dignities to preserve and reputations as public servants to protect, which will altogether be mangled once the constituents of these BSKE winners will realize their newly elected barangay leaders are only at the beck and call—and at the mercy—of City Hall politicians.

Unless these politicians are sending a curt message of a quid pro quo relationship or “I have scratched your back, it’s your turn to scratch my back in the next mayoral and congressional elections.”

The newly elected BSKE winners have nothing to worry about. They will now have to serve their full terms with or without any alliance with some politicians.

George Will once said, “Voters don’t decide issues, they decide who will decide issues.”

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WE laud the Iloilo City Government for its efforts to rehabilitate the different plazas all over the city. So far, Jaro Plaza has undergone a massive facelifting with some of the lampposts now equipped with modern lighting and the walkways have been improved.

Jaro plaza is one of the most historic plazas in the Philippines owing to the presence of the Jaro Belfry, one of the few belfries in the country that stood apart from the church where it belonged.

La Paz Plaza is now reportedly undergoing an overhaul and repair. According to Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Trenas’ social media account, “Lapaz Plaza is the biggest plaza in our city that has a huge football field, lawn tennis court, basketball court, amphitheater, garden view, and koi fish pond.”

“More shared spaces for everyone to enjoy,” added Trenas.

Meanwhile, Saint Anne Parish Church’s Gothic style façade and vibrant environment makes Molo Plaza a cut above the rest when it comes to charm and artistry.

Since it is one of the most visited places for tourists who come to Iloilo City, there is a need to also maintain its beauty and elegance with the help of the Department of Tourism.

Also expected to undergo a well-deserved beautification are the astonishing Arevalo and Bo. Obrero Plazas—and even the breathtaking and historic Plaza Libertad in the City Proper.

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OPEN EYES. Fifty percent of men keep their eyes open when kissing a male or female companion. (Source: Brigitte).

SWIMMING SPERM. It takes a sperm one hour to swim in 7 inches. It has no chance to participate in the Olympics swimming.

BLOOD IN SEMEN. One in 100 men experience this condition known as “hematospermia”, and it’s usually nothing to worry about as it’s a routine plumbing problem. Ejaculating at least once a week improves our urologic health, decreasing the chances of prostate cancer and hematospermia. (Source: Dr. Judd Moul, Duke University Medical Center)

HUMAN BONES. There are 206 bones in the adult human body, but 300 in children (some of the bones fuse together as a child grows).

DEAD WIFE’S CLOTHES. The Roman Emperor Nero used to dress up young boys in his dead wife’s clothes and make love to them.

SEXUALITY. Good sex education is safe sex education. Helping kids to be aware of their bodies and of their feelings about sexuality can only make them better able to practice safe and egalitarian sex in what could be history’s most honest chapter of sexual relations.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)