May these Kasambagan professionals succeed

I had the opportunity to read the credentials of candidates from various barangays in Cebu vying for the different barangay positions. What I found gave me hope. There appears to be sincere professionals offering themselves for public service. This is especially true in our barangay, Kasambagan.

Honestly, I am biased in favor of candidates who finished college. They are, for me, better equipped to understand the problems of society and to find solutions. In our political history though, there have been exceptional leaders with less than salutary academic credentials, but they are few.

Judging from the many bio-data sheets of candidates from all over the city, I have ample basis to claim that our barangay has the most number of candidates who are college graduates. They come from diverse disciplines. If only they get the support of our fellow residents, I feel every major basic service that a barangay government delivers can be addressed by a professional. There are lawyers, engineers, a doctor, a nutritionist, and an architect. Initially, I wanted to keep their names under wraps but I felt an obligation to inform the voters of Barangay Kasambagan.

The youngest candidate for kagawad is a lady who passed the last Bar. For her pre-Law, she first finished BS Ed in Mathematics which, in my book, is a difficult course only bright students dare tackle, and another degree in Small Business Management. I am told that she works in the Legal Office of Mandaue City. Her name is Atty. Reswe Grace Colina.

Another woman running for kagawad is Dr. Lorna Embalzado. She also holds a Certificate of Professional Education from Cebu Normal University, a BS Nursing diploma likewise from CNU, a BS in Zoology from UP, and a Bachelor of Laws degree. Five college degrees to her name, an incredible feat.

Thanks to industrial engineers, the operational efficiency of some large manufacturing corporations is awesome. The operation of a barangay government may be structured along kindred patterns. I am glad to know that Joseph Moring, an industrial engineer, is running for kagawad in our barangay. I also learned that he is taking up Masters in Management Engineering.

In terms of educational attainment and experience in government affairs, the most impressive credentials among the candidates for kagawad I came across belongs to Jose Marie Poblete, a lawyer and civil engineer. He served the Cebu City government as city legal officer, city administrator, city engineer, and council secretary.

Filipinos working abroad are both admired for their dedication to duty and respected for their academic and/or technical knowledge. We have in Barangay Kasambagan Rolly Lequigan, a holder of Bachelor of Science in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, a former OFW running for kagawad.

When my lady, Carmen, first joined politics, she got the pole position. The councilor next to her, the late Jun Lim, eventually became our barangay captain. Jun’s widow, Letty Lim, who finished her BS in Accountancy, is now running for captain. Her stint as a former chapter president of an international civic club prepared her for leadership.

This batch of professionals who offer their time and dedication to serve our barangay is awe inspiring. As they bring hope of an enlightened leadership, I am sure they will try to get elected on the strength of their credentials, programs of government, and sincerity.