8 days before Election Day

 It isn’t going to be Christmas Day eight days from today, but it feels like it, what with the hustle and bustle, the tingling sensation about who and what gifts to give, about coffers boiling over and running dry.  Those  of us who have not yet given up on electing people to public office, can’t wait to cast our votes, even as we go to the polls with questioning minds  over the accuracy of PCOS machines in receiving votes  and transmitting election results, over the possible victory of candidates we want to win, and the winning of those we feel should never be elected to office.

 I’ve written stories about candidates of my choice and  those not my choice but simply to accommodate the requests of friends. But I’ve written about some who had not been in my list of to-vote-for candidates, but who, upon listening to them at forums  or at  a simple merienda at The Aristocrat,  convinced us that they are  morally and mentally qualified to become what we call “honorable members” of  the 16th Congress to make our lives better.

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One senatorial candidate who impressed a Bulong Pulungan audience was Sen.  Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV, who is seeking reelection on May 13 under the Team PNoy banner. He confessed to not having funds to mount an expensive media and advertising campaign; his guesting at the Bulong session was sponsored by a close friend who just paid for the lunch, with only a wristband as giveaway.

Trillanes, a 1995 graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, was then a Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade  when he and some 300 junior officers and enlisted men of the Armed Forces of the Philippines took over the Oakwood Towers in Makati in 2003 as protest for alleged rampant corruption in the Philippine government and the AFP in particular. The protesters were incarcerated,  but while in prison, he ran for senator and won  in the 2007 election. He was the first Philippine senator to be elected while in jail, with more than 11 million people voting him to office on a strong anti-corruption advocacy.

 Shortly after his election, on Nov.  29, 2007, Trillanes, together with the soldiers facing coup d’état charges in connection with the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, marched out of the courtroom while attending a hearing towards the Peninsula Manila hotel in Makati City, to reiterate their call  for the ouster of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

On Dec. 20, 2010, he was given provisional freedom pending the recognition of the court’s amnesty declaration of President Benigno Aquino III.

Early this year, Trillanes had a run-in with Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile on the issue of his appointment by President Aquino to do back channeling work with the Chinese government.

Trillanes, 41, is running under  the Team Pnoy  ticket in the next week’s midterm  election.  Those of us who doubted his motives as a rabble-rouser out to demolish democratically-elected governors, are now impressed by his record as a lawmaker. First of all, while in prison, he was able to finish his master’s  in public policy and program management under the distance learning program of the University of the Philippines (2002-2005). Earlier, he  finished the bachelor of science degree in electronics engineering at De la Salle University in 1991, and the BS naval systems engineering course at the PMA in 1995.

Trillanes first joined the Philippine Navy as junior billet/sea duty assignments, and ended up procurement officer and instructor on naval education and training command. His bio-data shows that he was one of the Navy personnel who risked their lives to secure 32 persons during a daring search and rescue operation for the survivors of the ill-fated M/V Princess of the Orient at the height of a super typhoon in 1998. He was involved in numerous naval operations in support of ground operations directed against the Abu Sayyaf and other lawless elements. As a procurement officer of the Philippine Navy, he reformed the procurement system, which resulted in the accumulated savings of millions of pesos in favor of the government.

As a senator, Trillanes is the fourth most productive senator in terms of the number of bills and resolutions filed, totaling 734 bills and resolutions, 31 of which have been passed into law.

Understandably, among his priority bills when reelected are on reforms and good governance.

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Of the multitude of Party List contenders for a seat in the 16th Congress, one that draws our attention is Abante Ka, which is No. 3 in the ballot. The party works for the advancement of the rights of indigenous Filipinos, says Prof Hezel P. Gacutan,  No. 3  of the party nominees (the others being Atty. Hermenegildo C. Dumlao, No. 1 nominee,  and Prof. Teodorico P. Calica, No. 2).

There are more than 14 million indigenous Filipinos, but, says Gacutan, most are marginalized and live in poverty, not benefiting from the mines and other natural resources found in their ancestral domain which big shots do.  The party list’s aim is to unite and show the strength of these Indigenous Filipinos and  work for the full and comprehensive implementation of their rights under the Constitution and the Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA).

Gacutan told us at a chance meeting that if Abante Ka wins, it will use funds, including CDF  and pork  barrel, for projects that will strengthen and directly benefit indigenous Filipinos. These projects will include livelihood programs, education and health. Gacutan, by the way, is  a former Senate Secretary for four terms, and Undersecretary who was designated as executive director of the Consultation Commission on Charter Change and the Advocacy Commission on Charter Change.

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My  Paris-based lawyer friend, Jun Opena (who was also my contemporary at Silliman University in Dumaguete City), who, upon observing current goings-on in Cebu,  wrote: “The political landscape of vote-rich Cebu is about to change with the imminent election of Jun-Jun Davide, as governor, and Agnes Magpale, as vice-governor. Both of Team Pinoy, their election will  end the Garcia family’s dominance of politics in the province  for 18  years.”

The Liberal Party will be holding its miting de avance in Argao, Cebu, the Davide family’s hometown, tomorrow evening.

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It seems strange that many of our colleagues and friends are passing away one by one.  In my circle of friends alone, I lost three friends during the last two weeks. One was Ely Cifra, who left behind her husband, Ben Cifra Jr.,  and three kids – Benjamin III, Mariel, and John.  The Cifras are from Malabon.

A surprise guest at Ely’s wake was Vice-President Jojo Binay, who is an Apo Fraternity brod of Ben. I must say that VP Binay denied the “black propaganda” (so prevalent these days with demolition experts preying on candidates) being circulated that he is undergoing dialysis for kidney trouble.  He asked us to press his arm, which we did, and feel for vibrations, which we did not feel. Present at the wake were some members of my barkada --  Orly  and Inday Salientes, Jess and Luming Mesena, Doming and Didi Ramos, and Rene and Irene Cruz.

Engr. Sofonio Pabiona, has gone – leaving behind his wife, the former Minda Pallugna, an outstanding educator, and my Gingoog townmate. The Pabionas’ son, Larry, gave up a successful medical practice to devote his time to Christ’s ministry; he is the senior pastor at Greenhills Christian Fellowship.

My young friend, Vanessa,  of  Dasmarinas, Cavite, 29, died of bone cancer just the other day.  Her grieving mother, Eunice Villela, is my kumare and partner in real estate brokering.

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