Talisay recall: An exercise in stupidity!

For tonight’s special presentation on Straight from the Sky, we bring you two pillars of our Tourism Industry: Undersecretary for Tourism Mr. Phineas Alburo and DOT Regional Director-7 Ms. Patria Aurora “Dawnee” Roa. They will discuss the International Forum that Cebu is privileged to host this week - the 6th International Tourism Forum for Parliamentarians and Local Authorities this Oct.21-25 at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa. This is sponsored by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

That once again Cebu is in the Tourism limelight is due to the support of Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) who wanted this event to be held right here in Cebu, the heartland of the President’s backbone program for Tourism. If there is anyone who knows Cebu’s tourism growth and development, it is our two guests who have seen our tourism from its infancy to its maturity. Tonight we will learn more about current trends or problems plaguing the tourism industry and what we can expect from this coming International Tourism forum. Watch this show on SkyCable’s channel 15 at 8pm tonight.

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Last Thursday evening, friends of Mayor Tomas and Margot Osmeña got a lot of forwarded texts asking for prayers for the successful operation of Mayor Tom in Boston, Massachusetts. He was operated around 1am Friday. But as of late Friday evening, I received the following text:

“Just spoke to Tommy and Margot. Although they will not know until Tuesday the subsequent treatment that is still needed, the surgery was successful. They are in good spirits. They thank everyone for their concern and prayers. They feel very blessed that they do not only have the opportunity of getting the best doctors and hospitals, they also have the love of the Cebuano people.” My faith always told me that his surgery would be successful.

I’ve been asking many of my friends who are doctors about this type of cancer and most of them tell me that this type is easier to handle than most other cancers. Of course we shouldn’t discount the prayers of many Cebuanos who want to see their Mayor hurdle this medical setback. We hope for more good news to come from the USA about our Mayor’s state of health. We thank Margot Osmeña for her transparency and for always updating us about what’s going on with them in the US.

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When this news broke out last week about the plan to recall Talisay City Mayor Soc Fernandez, I didn’t think that this was serious especially that Mr. Crisologo Saavedra doesn’t come from Talisay. But apparently he is hell-bent on ousting Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez by using former Barangay Captain Avelino Labajo to bring their signature drive for the recall of the Talisay Mayor. This is an exercise in stupidity because we’ve only got 18 months more to go before the 2010 elections.

I knew that this plan was hatched a few weeks ago when Mr. Saavedra had lunch in SunBurst Chicken in SM with someone who “promised” him support for as long as he would assure that the media would publicize it. Of course Mr. Saavedra promised the support of DyAB, whom he bragged was “ours”. Does he own DyAB? Yes, he was within an earshot of a friend who told me what he heard; after all, Mr. Saavedra wasn’t whispering.

Mr. Saavedra probably believes that he has become so popular these days he now wants to play the role of kingmaker! Maybe the fellow promised him fat and juicy contracts if they succeed in their bid to oust Mayor Fernandez.

Sure, Mayor Soc have family problems, which has tainted his leadership in Talisay City. But I don’t blame him for loving his adopted son despite what the latter has done to embarrass him. But this is no reason to have him recalled, because the people who voted for Mayor Soc still has faith in him.

Of course, Mr. Saavedra advertises himself that his plan doesn’t have any political color. Mr. Saavedra probably thinks that we Cebuanos are so stupid we cannot see that he is using a has-been politician, former barangay captain of Barangay Jaclupan from 1989 to 1992, whose brother Placido lost in last years election? No political color he says. Perhaps he should tell his yarn to the Marines! Mr. Saavedra plans to gather some 30,000 to 40,000 signatures all in one month! I gathered that this figure is even bigger than the 25,000 votes that Mayor Fernandez bagged in the last elections!