 |
| DIOS MAMAJES! |
| Dios mamajes!
To friends and foes alike: Thank you! From the vanquished to the victors: Congratulations! |
 |
| NEWS |
 |
 |
 |
| NON-PARTISAN TO THE CORE! |
|
|
| Our C4C First Cousin! |
| ESCAPE FROM THE TOWNS! |
| It was in Malacañang that we met where she worked in the Legal Office of the Office of the President of the Philippines. She was a soldier’s daughter (her father was survivor of the Bataan Death March, civil engineer and colonel in the defunct Philippine Constabulary, now the PNP). She has no more family in the Philippines like me. She grew up in the city but bear she did the bare necessities of country life in Imnajbu (Basco was better, she said, of course). |
|
|
|
| VIEWPOINTS |
| BEHIND THE NEWS |
| OTHER STORIES |
|
| ARCHIVES |
| The realist sees the evil in all of us which is the Devil and the real world which is Hell. |
| The idealist sees the good in all of us which is God and the ideal world which is Heaven. |
 |
| PLAY BALL! |
| I told the athletes that their picture shall be online, and in keeping with those words and sports as character development, I have to break the general pattern in politics of saying one thing and doing another! |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| MY WAY And now, the end is near; And so I face the final curtain. My friend, I'll say it clear, I'll state my case, of which I'm certain. I've lived a life that's full. I've traveled each and ev'ry highway; But more, much more than this, I did it my way. Regrets, I've had a few; But then again, too few to mention. I did what I had to do And saw it through without exemption. I planned each charted course; Each careful step along the byway, But more, much more than this, I did it my way. |
| Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew. But through it all, when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit it out. I faced it all and I stood tall; And did it my way. I've loved, I've laughed and cried. I've had my fill; my share of losing. And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing. To think I did all that; And may I say - not in a shy way, "No, oh no not me, I did it my way". For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught. To say the things he truly feels; And not the words of one who kneels. The record shows I took the blows - And did it my way! |
| Nu racuh su capamahemahes dinio atavu du sidung nio auri du cakey auri a maysirbi du cavahayan tauri! - Victor Caballero, Toronto, May 2010 |
| TORONTO - I entered the exercise based on my initial trip in July to determine whether there was a chance to win and serve, or I’m not going to waste my time, much as I like to serve.
On that trip, I was encouraged as known leaders and the people were supportive, and I believed them and I trusted them. I was wrong! As we all know in the wheeling and dealing of politics, when it comes crunch time, the same leaders and the same people that we thought we can count on can turn their back on us . . . and RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY they did, many of them! Results impressive! Honestly, the results were impressive given that I was Independent and with no organization, and that at the end I was practically by myself. This reminds me of Henrik Ibsen’s quote: The strongest man in the world is he who stands alone. As I wrote in a previous story (Off to the races/Gone racing, January 2010): If people believe in me, they’ll surely support me no matter what, and if they don’t believe in me, they’ll surely reject me no matter what. And that . . . loyal supporters will always be there and will always have a thousand and more reasons to support me; on the other hand, non-loyal supporters and non-supporters will equally have as many a thousand and more reasons not to support me. Ain't no prophet but prophecy fulfilled! So the bottom line was that more people didn’t believe in me as those who did believe in me. I also didn't know the leaders and the people as much as they didn't know me. _________________________ _________________________ In the same story I also wrote: Didn’t I always say that I value loyalty more than victory? Surely, I like to win but not by any means and not at all costs for there are parameters along the way. Prophecy fulfilled! In another story (Part-time mayors, April 2009) I wrote: If it's a "go" for me, then I'm going Independent (with municipal line-up, if possible) knowing fully well that the odds are against me, but more than a test of whether an Independent can make it against established parties, I want to see the chances at helping in my own small way the people in the muncipality. Ain't no prophet but pophecy fulfilled! In the same story I also wote: My concern is whether the people pay much attention to these programs. Will their attention be on medium or long-term programs with no immediate benefits, or they would rather opt for the immediate satisfaction or need of temporary employmenr or hornal? If it's the former, then I may have a chance, but if it's the latter, then there's no chance in hell that I'll make it. _________________________ _________________________ Nevertheless, I understand if the people opt for hornal because of the high unemployment. Hornal I cannot provide them and surely I'll lose, but let there be no mistake that I have the highest regard for the machihornal. Nothing happening in nation-building without the machihornal. Prophecy fulfilled! In the same story I also wrote: I know politics in Batanes is not only on issues but also on family and friendship. There are instances when the issues are of less importance compared to the importance of politicians who can - to family and friends - wave their hands the most and those who can smile the widest, grinning from ear to ear. Nothing wrong about that but of equal importance are the issues and the programs that address them. Ain't no prophet but pophecy fulfilled! In the same story I also wrote: Very soon the battle lines will be drawn, but who the victors are, they're beyond the control of the contestants, or shall I say, the wannabees. It's the people who have the final decision - the final arbiters - and may they decide with wisdom and intellect. I have every reason to believe they will. Victorious or vanquished, win or lose, if I run, I can then say before God and humankind that I did try at seeking the chances of helping in my own small way the people in the municipality. Prophecy fulfilled! _________________________ Sad to see treachery or duplicity as very much a part of life but not surprising for it has always been with us even from before recorded history and through the ages BC to biblical times and to this day. I believe it’s part of our humanity. Sadder still that I’ll never serve (the way I can) the municipality which was the mission (and now a failed mission), but if we are to see through or beyond the failure, or if we are to see the positive from the negative as we all must, glad that I was spared the realities of life in Batanes and of life in politics. A place is not a home! We all see things differently, but I see staying there (it’s a different place now peopled by different people and I don’t have family there now) for long periods of time as a sacrifice not only for myself but also for my family. In fact, she was not keen on coming with me, but then did oblige knowing how much I care for the place. _________________________ _________________________ You always think of them, she often says, whenever I see and comment on the wastefulness in this land and stuff that could be of use in the lesser place of the island (where I came from) because of people’s resourcefulness. Sacrifice it could be for us, but a sacrifice we were willing to take. I often say to her, if we win, it’s only 36 months (for easier digestion, not 3 years), for the mission was to see if there is something that could be started, to change if necessary the policy direction of the municipality. The platform or plan of government has its long-term component as all plans are or must be, but it was never the intention to stay for long. It was not smooth sailing from the very start. Knowing that the house in Imnajbu was unlivable, and knowing that we’ll not be there for a long period, and knowing that the family and the children have no plans of staying in Batanes for long periods of time, improving the house (much less building a house) and staying in Imnajbu was never an option till the end. So we opted to rent a livable house in Centro but we never stayed there due to many factors but most important due to lack of WATER*. So we decided to band-aid the house in Imnajbu, but meanwhile we have to stay in Basco till less than a month to the elections. Life in Basco was not that bad, but in Imnajbu, lack of transportation (I have to buy a van that’s now sold to Max Babalo of Sabtang) and no communications (for cell phone we have to visit Signal Hill overlooking the old USCG Lorsta a kilometer away). _________________________ * The Dapodas water system was built during the watch of my grandfather (early 60s). Prior to that Uyugan Centro was served by the Ivana system. The Dapodas was made possible through taxpayers money (obviously) in close collaboration with then Congressman Manuel Agudo. Back then, the water supply more than meets the demand, with a population of around 500 or so, not much different from today’s population. Then why lack of WATER today? The short answer was changed lifestyle, or most importantly, changed work ethics. In those days people go to the fields and worked hard; today people take it easy and stay at home not doing much except . . . (fill in the blank), and with it the increased water demand. In retrospect, it’s good I didn’t win for I have a hidden agenda. People asked about my employment program and all I can tell them was that it’s not going to be “hornal” or “whorenal” unless tied to programs that if we spend today, we can still see the results tomorrow without further spending. Full employment was my hidden agenda and this includes some incentives for going back to the fields. No hunger and no shortage of work in Batanes if we’re willing to soil our hands. Farmwork! Yes, even for college grads who cannot find work in their field but the field! I did that (mainly pasturing the cows or mapawal) when after my studies I returned to Batanes and no employment opportunities. What else? Leave the province (I did that, too) if we cannot find work, instead of just staying there sitting on our rear-ends and making . . . (fill in the blank). [I mean labour force growth (hungry mouth to feed) beyond the capacity of the local labour market.] Why does Basco today has some of the worst housing comparable to some blighted areas in Manila? It was government policy with focus on employment growth (mainly unproductive) without looking at the underlying infrastructure to support the population growth (natural increase and migration) as a result. _________________________ I entered the exercise knowing fully well that I’m not good at public relations, but better in public policy, based on my experience in government, both domestic and foreign. This was the reason I tried to wage a foreign-style campaign knowing fully well that it was another place and the trick may not work - and work it didn’t. The emphasis was a campaign based on programs and priorities and not on personality. Apparently, many understood (the intellectuals), but still many more didn’t (the less lettered among us). In keeping with my personality, I believed, and I still believe, that I could be isolated and yet be able to serve the people well Nobodys who believe they're somebodys That’s the truth, to me anyway, but before that, I know one must go through that process or ritual of walking down through those alleys and meeting all kinds of people (drunks, talkative, quiet, intellectual, ignorant, smart or they believe they're, no read no write, studious, lazy, good, bad, ugly, pretty, crazy, humble, solitary, industrious, nobodys who believe they're somebodys, etc.), unknown as I was. It’s safe to write that majority of my support came from the lettered It’s safe to write that majority of my support came from the lettered; people who never expressed their support for me or who never openly came to my support, but did support me implicitly or quietly because of their belief in me. People also asked why no political party? The reason was that I’m a non-politician politician, and non-partisan to the core. Although my plan was based solely on municipal finance, I did think of funding beyond that. My plan was to help the municipality without the help of politicians, but through the bureaucracy if at all possible. I once worked in the Philippine bureaucracy and 3 decades later I still have some colleagues about to retire in government. So I thought networking was the name of the game. I also worked in a foreign bureaucracy with colleagues connected to CIDA, but not that Philippine-style networking will be practiced. It was in Malacañang that we met She also worked in the Philippine bureaucracy, she with the legal office of the Office of the President of the Philippines, while I was with the budget office. It was in Malacañang that we met. She was a soldier’s daughter (her father was survivor of the Bataan Death March, civil engineer and colonel in the defunct Philippine Constabulary, now the PNP). She has no more family in the Philippines like me. She grew up in the city but bear she did the bare necessities of country life in Imnajbu (Basco was better, she said, of course). I always say to her then many times that if we stayed there (in Malacañang) we could have helped Batanes. She answers what would our life be? I could not answer. I guess, it was destiny that we didn’t stay then, and it was destiny that we didn’t make it this time. Actually, we thought, we still have some colleagues in those offices and we can network with them to help the municipality. Shall I return? Only to visit my cows; good enough reason to say: I shall return. Incidentally, when my father passed away, all my cows were stolen, taken to Manila or sold (pinawlok) in Batanes, that accordingly I fired my father’s caretaker. I could have filed charges before a court of law, and surely if I did, he would have been behind bars deep inside the walls of Muntinlupa (the National Penitentiary or the New Bilibid Prison) today. The white Brahmans were gone, but I’m starting to grow my own cows now, one cow at a time. One is brown and the other black in colour, believe it or not. I have a new caretaker but how trustworthy, who knows. Only time can tell. I never wanted much in life, but now back to everything at your finger tips, well, what more could we ask . . . this is life! – vbyssey@gmail.com, May 2010 _________________________ Character Development in Sports _________________________ Sport programs, both formal and informal, have the power to promote the development of sportsmanlike behaviors, ethical decision-making skills, and provide a social environment to acquire personal and social values and behaviors contributing to good character and good citizenship. Two types of character values exist and are evident in sport: social and moral. Typical social character values include loyalty, dedication, sacrifice, teamwork, and good citizenship, while moral values include honesty, fairness, fair play, justice, and responsibility. The development of character through sport can be systematic or non-systematic and involve formal and/or informal processes, but for sport programs to succeed, athletes need both thinking and reasoning programs, role models, a supportive environment, and the strong moral/philosophical commitment of community members, parents, coaches, teachers, students, etc. _________________________________________________ Victor B. Caballero, now Part-time Farmer (Farm Specialist?) in Uyugan, Batanes, was Budget Analyst in the Budget Commission (now the Department of Budget and Management) in Manila and Demographic Specialist and Economist in the Ministry of Finance in Toronto. |