Let’s hear it from Ted Failon - FUNFARE by Ricardo F. Lo

A few issues ago, Funfare headlined the complaints of Cristina Gonzales, wife of Leyte Rep. Alfred Romualdez, and printed excerpts from her letter she sent to Funfare a day after a brief phone chat. The (unnamed) object of Cristina/Kring Kring’s complaints ("Cristina G. cries Foul!") was former ABS-CBN TV-host Ted Failon who promptly sent Funfare his own side of the story. Ted is running against Alfred, a reelectionist.

In the spirit of fair play, Funfare is putting out Ted’s letter, with a few lines edited out like I did with Kring Kring’s letter. Here it is:

I am reacting to your column dated 19 April. In fairness, can I respectfully ask that you publish in whole and with the same prominence my reaction to these allegations of Mrs. Cristina Romualdez.

Mrs. Kringkring’s (supposed to be) letter alleged that I have repeatedly and hysterically resorted to the dirtiest and most malicious pronouncements against Alfred and her person. She even called my campaigning "below the belt".

I am sacrificing so hard in this campaign to win, not because of MONEY but because of my platform for the first district of Leyte. I sleep at 2 a.m. and wake up at 5:30 a.m., almost everyday. I traverse ricefields from town to town amidst the scorching heat, consult coconut and rice farmers regarding their plight. Ito lang ang puhunan ko ngayong eleksyon: Pagod at Sakripisyo. Let me ask you, sir, and Ms. Kringkring, ano po ang puhunan ni Alfred?

I have realized that the real value of campaigning (i.e., honest-to-goodness campaigning) is for candidates to feel the plight of his constituents. For you to know how hard their lives are, you have to see them face to face and talk to them. You have to pass through all of these dilapidated roads so you’ll know how hard it is for these farmers and their families to transport their produce to the poblacion, how much sacrifice these children have to share just to reach school. Mr. Lo, the Romualdezes are paranoid because I have been touching the lives of the Leyteños. Hindi pa ako kandidato, tumutulong na ako sa mga tao.

In our rallies, I deliver passionate speeches against vote buying. Warning people on the evils of the deed. But I never call my opponents names nor resort to any below the belt remarks. Mr. Lo, alayon pag-uli ngadi ngan pamati ha akon. I challenge Mr. Alfred Romualdez to debate on how to solve the problem of the continuous fall of the price of copra, how to provide these hundreds of thousands of Leyteños with alternative means of livelihood. I challenge the incumbent congressman to a debate on how to improve the economy of Tacloban. I am challenging him every single night that I do my speeches in our rallies.

To my mind, Mr. and Mrs. Romualdez are getting more insecure because I always raise the issue of the ignorance of the congressman to speak the vernacular. This I think is issue number one in this campaign. How can Cong. Romualdez truly represent the people of Leyte when he doesn’t know how to speak our dialect? Ingles at Pilipino nga ang salita sa Kongreso, pero sa Leyte ang salita ay Waray.

Her allegations regarding those supposed to be bold pictures, please have it on record that I haven’t seen one of them yet, though I have heard of it from so many friends here in the province.

If I make it this election WITHOUT BUYING VOTES, then that is the true will of the people... then that will be history!... that is people power III, not happening in EDSA but in Leyte!

– Yours in public service,
TED FAILON

Cita’s winsome posters

If you go around the fifth district of Manila, you will be greeted by a widely-smiling Cita Astals from street and house walls, from every space imaginable and available. Yes, Cita’s posters are among the most appealing and most winsome and they should help Cita in her bid for reelection as councilor of the city.

Probably one of Cita’s more lasting achievements as a public official is her pet project, the Manila’s Millennium Compilation of Ordinances which also has a CD version (Mokong’s Guide to Manila’s City Ordinances). The book and CD are a comprehensive collection of all Manila city ordinances from 1927 up to the present.

The National Library was quick to laud and congratulate Cita for her Herculean endeavor. The unique book and CD, according to the National Library, is the first publication of its kind in the entire country – a pioneering endeavor that should be emulated by other cities nationwide.

The launching of the Compilation was a resounding success, attended by Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, Chief Prosecutor Ramon Garcia, Monsignor David, and other leaders from City Hall, the public school system and the different barangays of Manila.

Cita was praised by Mayor Atienza for the Compilation which serves as a bridge toward effective governance, greater public participation in law-making, and the promulgation of more relevant, effective and enforceable city ordinances.

Although Cita is basically a comedienne, she is serious and no-nonsense when it comes to public service. As her campaign slogan so boldly states: "Pag may kailangang Cita-hin, si Astals ang tawagin."