Benhur’s Acquaintance Party

Fourth District Congressman Benhur L. Salimbangon, together with dear sister Mariquita Salimbangon Yeung, played host last week to some two hundred friends and constituents at a dinner held at Villa Mariquita. The get-together was a sort of “getting-to-know-you” affair since Benhur is a neophyte in the political scene and still has to know more about the officials in the district.

Seen were the mayors from the different towns: young and good-looking Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura with Mom Malou Loot, his Vice Mayor; Medellin Mayor Ricky Ramirez with his Vice Mayor Micmic Miranda; Bantayan Mayor Geraline Escario and her Vice Mayor Dale Escario; Madridejos Mayor Sally de la Fuente and her Vice Mayor Dorotheo Salazar; former Tabogon Mayor Armand Serafin, and some councilors.

Actually, the fourth district has eight towns and one city – Bogo City, Bantayan, Daanbantayan, San Remegio, Medellin, Madridejos, Sta. Fe, Tabogon and Tabuelan.

Special guest Gov. Gwen Garcia, a very popular figure with the public officials, approached everyone grinning. After the handshaking, she paused and made a brief speech saying, thus: “I recall that after I took my oath for my first term as governor, I attended the session of the Provincial Board. I shook the hands of every board member but failed to shake the hand of one person. Now that he is here with us, I will shake the hands of Medellin Vice Mayor Micmic Miranda.” But even before the governor could approach him, Micmic already stood up and extended his hand to the lady governor. All the guests were moved by the governor’s extraordinary gesture, and we noticed the ladies were misty-eyed.

What we saw in Gov. Gwen’s heart was her humility beyond measure. Despite the difference in their political affiliations, she came to Micmic and grasped his hands. Immediate healing took place, and for that beautiful unpretentious gesture of Gov. Gwen, she received a thunderous applause.

Congressman Benhur had a very good strat plan and his constituents whom he had some moments of chat are hoping he will fulfill his promise to finish the road construction from Dayhagon to Medellin, and also going to Bagay passing through Tindog, Bateria, Malbago and Calape.

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Balikbayan Jovita “Babbie” Manguerra Thayer spent a month or so in her hometown of Naga, Cebu, so she could finish her dreamhouse. But before the big house was fully completed, Babbie had to fly back to Victorville, C.A. Since her clients, mostly nurses, needed her most. Babbie is actually a tax preparer and does most of the paper work to file the income taxes of her clients.

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We would like to thank young couple, Ahoy and Belinda Wong, for the support they extended during the feeding of 300 children and adults last December 22 at our feeding station. May God bless you more each day as you extend help to the needy!