Friday, April 2, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
SIDUNGEN TA PA YAKEN ……
My thirty six years in the government service consisted of seven years as school teacher, two years as textbook writer, 17 years in the military and 10.4 years as punong barangay. All of these required close contact with people, both rich and poor, high and low, mighty and weak, not only here in Batanes, but in the entire country and in the United States of America.
My humble beginnings in life and modest existence as a family man are matters that have sharpened my awareness for the worsening peace and order, economic, social and political plight of Ivana today. I have strong feelings for change and reform through the forthcoming elections, if we have honorable existence, economic progress and development, greater social justice, more meaningful liberty, and peace and prosperity for all.
With a lot of circumspection, I have decided to run for Mayor. I have no political machinery to speak of. I have no financial resources. But I have the honor. I do have principles. I do have courage.
I believe I am ready, as ever, to take this new role. With your prayers and support, this dream of a better Ivana is not far-fetched. It takes the collective effort of every Ivaneo to make things improve for a better community in disarray (kung sinu-sino na lang may proyekto sa ating bayan na hindi na pinapaalam sa ating punong bayan o mayor, at walang pakialam ang mga ating pinuno)… a community that is being plundered by our municipal officials by giving themselves gargantuan salaries and allowances . . . a community whose hope is running dry.
All I can do, is to make the best effort possible to make Ivana better, stand by my principles for Good Government, and fight for what is right. There is hope for this community and us, Ivaneos. All we have to do is believe that we can change our town for the better.
These considerations have given me the courage to appeal for your support, without money or political patronage, in the coming elections. If elected as mayor of Ivana (not mayor of only those who will vote for me), I pledge a dedicated, objective, active conscientious leadership in the economic and social development of our community.
With your support, I will fight to win this election, so that together, we can chart a new and better future for our community.
Please vote for me! Hindi kayo magsisi!
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Captain Jack retired from the service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on 16 January 1995, after completing 26 years, six months and 21 days (nine years as a public school teacher and 17 years of military duty) of unblemished government service, without incurring any absence or tardiness. (Captain sa AFP, hindi sa barangay)
He was born on 24 May 1947, as Joaquin, Jr. to the late and former Mayor Joaquin Ceballos Castano and the former Ma. Salud Cabal Enego of Barangay Malakdang, Sabtang. He is the 9th of 11 children.
Jack worked his way thru college as a tailor and graduated from the University of the East in 1968, with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. He holds degrees in Master of Arts in Education, major in Administration and Supervision; Master of Arts in Teaching Social Studies; and Master of Education, major in Guidance and Counseling.
He started his government service on 07 July 1969 when he was appointed secondary school teacher at the then Batanes National High School. In succeeding years, he taught at the then Basco Elementary School, Mahatao Elementary School, San Vicente Barrio School and the Saint Dominic College. He was also a textbook writer in the Bureau of Public Schools.
MILITARY PROFESSION
He joined the military on 20 April 1977, when he was called to active duty training, by the Philippine Navy. In Oct. 1978, he underwent training with Rep. Bongbong Marcos, now a senatorial candidate, with the Philippine Marines. He holds the distinction of being the first Ivatan to become an officer in the elite force of the armed forces.
From May 1982 to Oct. 1983, he was assigned on board Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Northern Samar (LST 510), BRP Tawi-Tawi (LST 512), and BRP Mactan (TK 90, formerly the USS Kukuwe). He completed the required 36-month junior officer’s billet in a record time of 18 months. As First Lieutenant and Gunnery Officer of LST 510, he directed naval gunfire against gun enplacements of the Moro National Liberation Front in Southern Philippines. In particular, he served with distinction and gallantry in the Battle of Tongkil Island and Battle of Sacol Island.
As a public affairs and civil relations specialist, Jack served as Media Officer of the Philippine Navy in 1985. In the EDSA Revolution of 22-25 February 1986, he was the navy liaison officer between the Philippine Navy and the renegade group of Enrile-Ramos-Honasan. After the revolution he was assigned to the Naval Forces Southern Philippines (covering the entire Mindanao area), as Public Information Officer (PIO). From 1987 to 1989, he was the PIO of the AFP Logistics Command and of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operation, J7, in 1992-1993. He was also the Public Affairs Officer of the RP-US Balikatan Exercises in 1989, 1990 and 1994. He likewise served as the Media Officer and Spokesman of the 1994 RP-US Mutual Defense Board.
In May 1991, Jack was sent to the United States Army Defense Information School in Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, USA, to take the five-month Public Affairs Officers’ Course. He graduated number three in a class of 45 students and number one out of four foreign students. He crossed-trained at the US Army Finance School and US Army Support Institute, completing The Resource Management and Introductory Course; Planning, Programming, Evaluation and Budgeting Systems Course; and The Staff and Faculty Development Training Course. Jack was conferred as Honorary Citizen of the City of Indianapolis, for fostering a better relationship between the country and the US, after the Philippine Senate rejected the RP-US Friendship Treaty in 1991.
Earlier in 1984, he trained with the United States Ship (USS) Schenectady (LST 1185), while deployed with the US Seventh Fleet. He likewise trained on board the Australian Navy ship, Her Majesty’s Ship (HMS) Jervis Bay in 1990.
Jack took advantage of his position as Chief, Foreign Division and Local Training Division of the navy in 1989 to 1991, by helping some Ivatan navy personnel realize their dreams. Petty Officer Third Class Filomeno Gato was sent to the United States Navy Traning Center in Illinois and Virginia to pursue further studies in electronics engineering. Seaman Astidio Cabansay went to Maryland for security training.
As member of the Naval Officers’ Qualification Course Board, Commissionship Board and Call to Active Duty Board, Jack helped induct into the naval service our fellow Ivatans: Oscar and Nicanor Faeldon, Geronimo Carba and Ferdinand Gato. He helped intercede for Mr. Romulo Barona, the acceptance on board LST 504, his donation of the life-size Crucifix, now on display at the St. Dominic Cathedral in Basco. Earlier the ship captain had refused to accept it on board his ship. Countless other Ivatans in the military service and businessmen had at one time or another sought Jack’s help.
As a civil-military operator, he worked for the accommodation on board an airforce C-130 the Batanes Girl Scouts who attended the Girl Scouts of the Philippines Encampment in Zamboanga City in 1993. In the same year, he worked for the allocation and subsequent construction of four FVR School Buildings in Barangay San Antonio and San Joaquin in Basco; Hanib in Mahatao and here at the Ivana National High School.
The high point of Jack’s military career was his designation as the AFP Deputy Spokesman in 1994, a position that required the rank of lieutenant colonel. Although only a lieutenant commander at the time (major in the army), then AFP Chief of Staff, General Lisandro S. Abadia, entrusted to him the awesome task of projecting the best image of the armed forces --- a decision that was carried on by the new AFP Chief Gen. Arturo T. Enrile.
A veteran of the Mindanao conflict, the Marag Valley counter-insurgency campaign and various other AFP operations, Jack was decorated 20 times for gallantry in action and loyalty to the service. Among his decorations are two Distinguished Service Stars, seven Military Merit Medals, five Commendation Medals, the February 1986 Revolution Medal, Luzon Anti-Dissidence and Campaign Medal, Visayas Anti-Dissidence and Campaign Medal, Mindanao-Sulu Anti-Dissidence and Campaign Medal and the Disaster, Relief and Rehabilitation Medal. He is likewise the recipient of 18 Plaques of Appreciation and 48 Letters of Commendation.
POLITICAL CAREER
Jack started his political career on 01 June 1997 as Punong Barangay of Tuhel, when he was elected to the position in the May 1997 Barangay Elections. On 16 June 1997, he assumed his other position as Pangulo ng Liga ng mga Barangay that qualified him as an ex-officio member of the sangguniang bayan.
He was reelected as punong barangay on 15 July 2002 and assumed office on 15 August 2002 and as Liga president on 16 September 2002. As barangay representative in the sangguniang bayan, he must have authored the most number of resolutions and ordinances.
One of the outstanding contributions of Jack, while serving in the sangguniang bayan was his research in 2002 on the claim of Mahatao to 156.74 hectares of our territorial jurisdiction in Maludjang and its environs. He subsequently led the defense of our claim, that the area has always been part of our territory from time immemorial.
Unfortunately, after the sangguniang panlalawigan decided to declare a status quo on the disputed area, we have not done anything to pursue our claim for Mahatao to return to us the land it grabbed from us.
Article 18, Rule III on The Rules Implementing The Local Government Code, says:
“Maintenance of Status Quo. --- Pending final resolution of the dispute, the
status of the affected area prior to the dispute shall be maintained and
continued for all purposes.”
Clearly, we have plenty of funds that has been accumulated by Mahatao, by wrongfully keeping the realty taxes it had been collecting from property owners in Maludjang and its vicinity. We must recover these funds to finance Ivana’s development projects .
If Jack gets elected, he will see to it that within the three years of his term, the area shall be reverted to Ivana. This would be a great source of additional income.
Another research he made is that the alleged boundary dispute between Ivana and Uyugan had long been settled, thru Sangguniang Panlalawigan No. 32, dated 03 April 1986. Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 4-86 of Uyugan, asking for reconsideration of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan resolution was turned down by the same sangguniang. Thus, Uyugan has no more legal recourse to reopen the alleged. There is no more dispute between Ivana and Uyugan, because of the finality of the provincial board’s decision.
A resolution he sponsored and adopted by the Liga was Resolution No. 02, series 2005, requesting the mayor to consider the appointment of all qualified barangay kagawad as municipal casual or contractual employees. This is authorized thru Department of the Interior and Local Government Opinion Numbers 316, series 1992 and 154, series 1993, which says: “x x x Depending on the qualifications of the appointment, a barangay kagawad may be appointed as municipal casual or contractual employee.”
The then mayor never acted on the Liga request. The mayor did not even answer the resolution. Probably, he had thought that the four punong barangay of the municipality did not deserve the elementary courtesy of knowing what action he took on the said request, if any.
If Jack gets elected, he will be the one to give all qualified barangay kagawad the necessary appointment as municipal casual or contractual employees.
The most important piece of legislation sponsored by Jack in the sangguniang bayan was Ordinance No. 05-08, entitled: “The Ordinance Implementing the Registration of Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) Act of 2002.” This was ADOPTED and ENACTED on 30 August 2005. The Municipal Mayor APPROVED it on 02 September 2005 and POSTED in the barangay bulletin boards on 07 September 2005. It took effect on 13 September 2005. For reasons known only to our hard-working mayor, subject Ordinance has never been implemented.
The ordinance mandated almost all businesses, like sari-sari stores, in the barangay whose assets or capital is not more than Three Million Pesos (P3,000,000.00), to pay a Certificate of Authority fee of P100.00 every two years, and annual registration fee of P500.00. This will exempt business owners from paying income tax with the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
If implemented, the items we buy at the corner store would have been cheaper, since store owners will no longer adjust their prices every time they purchase their stocks and every time they go to the BIR. If the store lives for 10 years, 15 years, 20 years or more, the owner only paid P500.00.
Please do not ask Jack why the ordinance was never implemented. Ask another candidate!
In 2007, Jack was still qualified to run for a third term as punong barangay, but one of his barangay kagawad wanted also to serve as punong barangay. And so he gave way. Unfortunately, while he was in Mt. Makiling during the last day of filing of certificates of candidacy, another kagawad also filed her candidacy.
THE LAST BOY SCOUT
This is how Jack is often called. He started his life with the World Scout Movement when he became a scout master in 1969 at the then Batanes National High School. His life as a scout master took a rest after he was transferred to then Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports central office in 1976.
Following his return to our beloved Batanes, he was elected Council Chairman of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), Batanes Council on 04 July 2004. On 07 Nov. 2006, he assumed, in concurrent capacity, the position of OIC, Council Scout Executive. On 12 August 2008, he stepped down as chairman to concentrate on his work as Council Scout Executive, a position he holds to the present without any salary, allowance or financial emolument. His only chance of getting a monetary relief from the scout movement is if he gets injured, he is assured of P2,500.00 financial assistance. If he dies, he will be entitled to P5,000.00.
Jack has led the Batanes Contingents to the 2004 and 2007 National Scout Jamborees in Mt. Makiling, Los Banos, Laguna, on 27 Dec.2004-03 January 2005 and 21-27 October 2007 respectively. He also led the Batanes participants in the 2nd Ilocos and Northeastern Luzon Regional Scout Jamboree in Bucay, Abra on 06-10 Dec. 2006 and the 3rd IR/NERL Regional Scout Jamboree in Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya on 10-14 Dec. 2008.
He participated in the 2nd East Asia Growth Area (Urban) Scout Jamboree in Davao City on 26 May-02 June 2006. The jamboree was participated in by Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. He served as member of the International Service Team in the recent 26th Asia Pacific Regional Scout Jamboree at the Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Training Center, Los Banos, Laguna.
As Council operating chief, he represented the council in the 50th Annual National Council Meeting (ANCM), on 24-26 May 2006, in Davao City; 51st ANCM in Tacloban City on 23-25 May 2007; 52nd ANCM in Tagaytay City on 21-23 May 2008; 53rd ANCM, in Zamboanga City on 24-26 May 2009, and; 54th ANCM, on 04-06 March 2010 in Iloilo City. Except for the last meeting, all the other meetings were held during Jack’s birthday on 24 May, but rather than celebrating with his family, he preferred to represent the interests of all Batanes scouts in the annual meetings.
It was during the 52nd Annual National Council Meeting, that Jack was awarded the Boy Scouts of the Philippines’ 3rd highest award: The Bronze Usa Award.
As Council Scout Executive, Jack attended the 46th Annual National Scout Executives’ Conference (ANSEC)on 23-25 November 2006 in General Santos City; 48th ANSEC on 03-06 December 2007 in Baguio City; 49th ANSEC on 02-05 December 2008, in Mt. Makiling; and 50th ANSEC on 09-12 Nov. 2009 in Mt. Makiling.
In all these annual meetings, and regional, national and international jamborees, Jack paid for his expenses.
It was largely on the initiative and representation of Jack that the Council was able to bring here on 12-14 February 2009 the regional scout mobile training team to conduct the Basic Training Course for 136 Adult Leaders. The training was conducted at the Batanes National Science High School, Basco Central School and St. Dominic College. The training was graced by the presence of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines Secretary General Jose Rizal C. Pangilinan.
Similarly, Jack was able to bring here to our province on 14-15 March 2008 the world’s first three ASEAN women to traverse Mt. Everest, the world’s tallest mountain (29,035 feet high). The three: Janet Belarmino-Sardena, Carina Dayondon, and Noelle Wenceslao taught our scouts The Basic Mountaineering Course.
Ang meron at wala kay Jack
Walang:
1. Buwis sa tubig at basura.
2. Bayad sa illegal cable television.
3. Panibagong buwis.
4. Tamad sa atin bayan.
5. Casual sa munisipyo. Lahat ay permanente. Ang mga
nandiyan na, gagawin permanent employees.
Meron:
1. Trabaho sa lahat, 18 years and above for 3 years.
2. Pagkakataon umutang sa pondo ng pamahalaang lokal.
3. Monthly allowance sa mga senior citizens.
4. Budget para sa palaro, at mga paligsahan ng elementary and high school.
5. Budget sa mga kabataang pupunta ng regional and national contests.
6. Budget sa mga teachers para makadalo sa mga seminars sa ibang lugar.
7. Additional allowance ng mga elementary and secondary personnel.
8. Matitikman sa P18 million Internal Revenue Allotment o ang pondong
galing national government.
TRY NATIN SI PAPO JACK!!!
WHY I AM RUNNING IN THE 10 MAY ELECTIONS
After the May 2007 elections, I immediately decided to stop entertaining the idea of ever- running in another election. Politics here in our hometown is the monopoly of those who have money. Voters no longer consider the qualifications of the candidates’ educational background, record of public service, program of government, etc.
I spent 26 years, six months and 21 days in the government service without incurring a single day of absence or tardiness from work. For 17 years, while in the military service, I fought against the enemies of the state, as life in a democratic society is far more better than under a totalitarian government. I fought against Martial Law and was imprisoned as a political detainee in Basco from 05 October 1972 to 05 March 1973 – the longest detention in the province. I also fought against two abusive constabulary officers and one police officer here in our province, and succeeded in booting them out of the service. But as the old adage goes, “when I am right, no one remembers: when I am wrong, nobody forgets!”
On 12 August 2009, Gov. Telesforo F. Castillejos, dropped by noontime. Without the usual amenities, he asked me to run under his Lakas-Kampi-CMD Coalition. To cut the conversation short, I told him of the probability of my running: (1) If Mayor Ramon A. Elizondo runs for reelection, I’d go for the sangguniang panlalawigan (SP); (2) If the Mayor does not run, I’d go for mayor; and (3) If the mayor does not run, but the party gets another candidate, I would not run under his political party.
The next day, I visited the mayor and he said in part: “ x x x I am not running, as I have already told our political leaders. I will run instead for the sangguniang bayan.” I prodded him into running instead for vice mayor, since he was an incumbent mayor. I also told him that if he ran for the SB and he lost, that would not be too pleasant an experience for him. He said, the SB was the easy way to get to the provincial legislature. Besides, he said, he will never loss in the race for the SB. I told him that the governor does not yet know of his plans. And he retorted: “I have not told him because, you know, I have an agreement with Titong Barona that he would run instead next year (2010), so unless I hear from him, I cannot tell the governor.”
That afternoon, I went to see the governor and told him of my conversation with the mayor. The governor said that: “unless Monching tells me, that he will not run, I cannot support any other candidate for mayor.”
On 29 August 2010, the group of Rep. Diasnes, held a meeting at the outskirts of our town. Mr. Barona arrived that day from Cebu, where he resides, purposely for the meeting. In that meeting, he was reportedly introduced as the group’s candidate for vice mayor.
Early morning of 31 August, I visited again the mayor and asked him if he has any information about the rival group’s meeting two nights before. He said, he did not. So, I told him that his running mate in the 2007 elections, whom he said he has an understanding of running in his stead in the 2010 elections, has already aligned himself with Diasnes’ group. I asked him, to endorse me in his stead, if he is not running after all. He said, he cannot endorse me, but would leave it to the governor to choose his replacement.
On 02 September, with a group of supporters, the mayor declared his candidacy for the sangguniang bayan. A few days after, I went back to the governor and told him about the mayor’s declaration. Again the governor said, he wanted to hear it personally from the mayor. He however reluctantly told me that I could already start organizing my group in Ivana.
Returning home, I immediately consulted my family, and they were very enthusiastic about my candidacy under the governor’s slate. In the next few days, I also consulted with my known die-hard supporters and relatives. Not one of them discouraged me into running for mayor.
In the meeting of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD at the Batanes Resort on 21 October and in the presence of the governor, his vice gubernatorial and Congressional candidates, Mayor Ramon A. Elizondo, declared that he was NOT running for reelection! But the governor was not yet ready to give up on the “good” mayor. He accordingly advised the mayor to think about his decision again and that they would meet again for that purpose very soon.
The mayor said, he would not attend any further meeting, to which SB Anthony Barsana, a resident of Uyugan, but still makes pakialam in our locality, said: “x x x But even if you will not attend, you will accept whatever the outcome of the meeting will be?” The mayor reportedly said, he would attend but would come late.
And so on 28 October, in Barangay San Vicente, the final meeting was held. During that meeting, a party stalwart allegedly told all and sundry that it was only Ramon Elizondo who could be the party’s candidate and no one else. After saying that, and probably upon signal, the mayor suddenly appeared. He was told of the remarks and thus the mayor accepted the challenge for him to run for reelection.
Five reasons have encouraged me to continue with my quest for the mayorship.
1. The dominant opposition party, the Liberal Party, has been weakened by the split caused by Vice Mayor Leonardo Hostallero’s acceptance to lead the group of Rep. Diasnes in the next elections.
Former Mayor Anstacio A. Barsana, who is the LP candidate for mayor, and
Hostallero, were former party mates. Hostallero’s original supporters’
withdrawal of support for Barsana is a big blow to the latter.
2. Cheating in the forthcoming elections maybe minimized, with the onset of the automated elections. The old trick of distributing sample ballots (with identifying marks, names or symbols) will no longer work this time;
3. Without any means of checking or monitoring if a voter cast his vote for a particular candidate, the practice of vote-buying may also not work anymore;
4. I have die-hard supporters who are aware that I have no money to spend, much more pay for their votes, but they have always cast their votes for me. They are principled and they believe in my program of government.
5. I have a program of government: a program to alleviate the lives of our constituents. I am a candidate, because I want to serve and not to earn, so I will have money to support myself and family!
I am also running, because I want to interrupt the belief of my opponents that God anointed them to be the only ones to determine the future of our beloved Ivana. Akala nila, pinagkaloob sa kanila ng ating Mahal na Panginoon na sila-sila na lang ang magpatakbo ng ating pamayanan at habang buhay silang manunungkulan!
And because they believed that they are righteous, and the chosen two, they are the ones who tell us who would be the next person to govern us! Look at this:
Candidate Elizondo, as early as 2007, had said that his running mate was going to run for mayor in this year’s elections! After six years as mayor, what has he done to improve our lives? And yet, he has the temerity to run again and seek another three more years to misgovern us! His mother was mayor from 1972 to 1993.
Candidate Barsana has publicly told everybody, that he is good for only three more years and in the next elections, his vice mayoralty candidate will run in his stead! He has been our mayor for nine years. What has he done to improve our lives? And yet, he is asking for three more years. His reason is obvious. He has served the government for nine years as mayor, three years as vice mayor. He only needs three more years to qualify for retirement.
I appeal to everyone to give me the chance to serve you, the people of Ivana. I ask for only three years. Kung natiis na natin and siyam na taon at anim na taong sarili lamang nila ang inatupad, kaya naman natin siguro and tatlong taon paninilbihan ng isang may kakahayan at nagmamahal sa bayan at kapwa.
To become Mayor is not my obsession. Nanghihinayang lang ako sa malaking pondo na pinagkakaloob ng pamahalang national sa ating bayan sa pamamagitan ng Internal Revenue Allotment, na hindi nagagamit sa pagpapaunlad sa ating pamayanan.
Hindi ko hangad na maging punong bayan para kumita. Makatulong sa inyo ang pakay ko
With your support, I will fight to win this election, so that together, we can chart a new and better future for our community.
I spent 26 years, six months and 21 days in the government service without incurring a single day of absence or tardiness from work. For 17 years, while in the military service, I fought against the enemies of the state, as life in a democratic society is far more better than under a totalitarian government. I fought against Martial Law and was imprisoned as a political detainee in Basco from 05 October 1972 to 05 March 1973 – the longest detention in the province. I also fought against two abusive constabulary officers and one police officer here in our province, and succeeded in booting them out of the service. But as the old adage goes, “when I am right, no one remembers: when I am wrong, nobody forgets!”
On 12 August 2009, Gov. Telesforo F. Castillejos, dropped by noontime. Without the usual amenities, he asked me to run under his Lakas-Kampi-CMD Coalition. To cut the conversation short, I told him of the probability of my running: (1) If Mayor Ramon A. Elizondo runs for reelection, I’d go for the sangguniang panlalawigan (SP); (2) If the Mayor does not run, I’d go for mayor; and (3) If the mayor does not run, but the party gets another candidate, I would not run under his political party.
The next day, I visited the mayor and he said in part: “ x x x I am not running, as I have already told our political leaders. I will run instead for the sangguniang bayan.” I prodded him into running instead for vice mayor, since he was an incumbent mayor. I also told him that if he ran for the SB and he lost, that would not be too pleasant an experience for him. He said, the SB was the easy way to get to the provincial legislature. Besides, he said, he will never loss in the race for the SB. I told him that the governor does not yet know of his plans. And he retorted: “I have not told him because, you know, I have an agreement with Titong Barona that he would run instead next year (2010), so unless I hear from him, I cannot tell the governor.”
That afternoon, I went to see the governor and told him of my conversation with the mayor. The governor said that: “unless Monching tells me, that he will not run, I cannot support any other candidate for mayor.”
On 29 August 2010, the group of Rep. Diasnes, held a meeting at the outskirts of our town. Mr. Barona arrived that day from Cebu, where he resides, purposely for the meeting. In that meeting, he was reportedly introduced as the group’s candidate for vice mayor.
Early morning of 31 August, I visited again the mayor and asked him if he has any information about the rival group’s meeting two nights before. He said, he did not. So, I told him that his running mate in the 2007 elections, whom he said he has an understanding of running in his stead in the 2010 elections, has already aligned himself with Diasnes’ group. I asked him, to endorse me in his stead, if he is not running after all. He said, he cannot endorse me, but would leave it to the governor to choose his replacement.
Returning home, I immediately consulted my family, and they were very enthusiastic about my candidacy under the governor’s slate. In the next few days, I also consulted with my known die-hard supporters and relatives. Not one of them discouraged me into running for mayor.
In the meeting of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD at the Batanes Resort on 21 October and in the presence of the governor, his vice gubernatorial and Congressional candidates, Mayor Ramon A. Elizondo, declared that he was NOT running for reelection! But the governor was not yet ready to give up on the “good” mayor. He accordingly advised the mayor to think about his decision again and that they would meet again for that purpose very soon.
The mayor said, he would not attend any further meeting, to which SB Anthony Barsana, a resident of Uyugan, but still makes pakialam in our locality, said: “x x x But even if you will not attend, you will accept whatever the outcome of the meeting will be?” The mayor reportedly said, he would attend but would come late.
And so on 28 October, in Barangay San Vicente, the final meeting was held. During that meeting, a party stalwart allegedly told all and sundry that it was only Ramon Elizondo who could be the party’s candidate and no one else. After saying that, and probably upon signal, the mayor suddenly appeared. He was told of the remarks and thus the mayor accepted the challenge for him to run for reelection.
Five reasons have encouraged me to continue with my quest for the mayorship.
1. The dominant opposition party, the Liberal Party, has been weakened by the split caused by Vice Mayor Leonardo Hostallero’s acceptance to lead the group of Rep. Diasnes in the next elections.
Former Mayor Anstacio A. Barsana, who is the LP candidate for mayor, and
Hostallero, were former party mates. Hostallero’s original supporters’
withdrawal of support for Barsana is a big blow to the latter.
2. Cheating in the forthcoming elections maybe minimized, with the onset of the automated elections. The old trick of distributing sample ballots (with identifying marks, names or symbols) will no longer work this time;
3. Without any means of checking or monitoring if a voter cast his vote for a particular candidate, the practice of vote-buying may also not work anymore;
4. I have die-hard supporters who are aware that I have no money to spend, much more pay for their votes, but they have always cast their votes for me. They are principled and they believe in my program of government.
5. I have a program of government: a program to alleviate the lives of our constituents. I am a candidate, because I want to serve and not to earn, so I will have money to support myself and family!I am also running, because I want to interrupt the belief of my opponents that God anointed them to be the only ones to determine the future of our beloved Ivana. Akala nila, pinagkaloob sa kanila ng ating Mahal na Panginoon na sila-sila na lang ang magpatakbo ng ating pamayanan at habang buhay silang manunungkulan!
And because they believed that they are righteous, and the chosen two, they are the ones who tell us who would be the next person to govern us! Look at this:
Candidate Elizondo, as early as 2007, had said that his running mate was going to run for mayor in this year’s elections! After six years as mayor, what has he done to improve our lives? And yet, he has the temerity to run again and seek another three more years to misgovern us! His mother was mayor from 1972 to 1993.
Candidate Barsana has publicly told everybody, that he is good for only three more years and in the next elections, his vice mayoralty candidate will run in his stead! He has been our mayor for nine years. What has he done to improve our lives? And yet, he is asking for three more years. His reason is obvious. He has served the government for nine years as mayor, three years as vice mayor. He only needs three more years to qualify for retirement.
I appeal to everyone to give me the chance to serve you, the people of Ivana. I ask for only three years. Kung natiis na natin and siyam na taon at anim na taong sarili lamang nila ang inatupad, kaya naman natin siguro and tatlong taon paninilbihan ng isang may kakahayan at nagmamahal sa bayan at kapwa.
To become Mayor is not my obsession. Nanghihinayang lang ako sa malaking pondo na pinagkakaloob ng pamahalang national sa ating bayan sa pamamagitan ng Internal Revenue Allotment, na hindi nagagamit sa pagpapaunlad sa ating pamayanan.
Hindi ko hangad na maging punong bayan para kumita. Makatulong sa inyo ang pakay ko
With your support, I will fight to win this election, so that together, we can chart a new and better future for our community.
JACK E. CASTANO III - Sanay sa trabahong walang sweldo . . . . . . . . .
- President, Provincial Consultative Body, Indigenous Peoples of Batanes, 28 January 2005 to present;
- Chairman, Working Committee, Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development & Protection Plan, Ivana, Oct. 2007 to present;
- Member, Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), 08 Dec 2001-31 Dec 2006;
- Deputized Agent, Land Transportation Office (LTO), Nov 2001 to present;
- Chairman, Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), Batanes Council, 14 July 2004 to 12 August 2008;
- Council Scout Executive, BSP Batanes Council, 07 Nov. 2007 to present;
- Contingent Representative, 2nd East Asia Growth Area Scout Jamboree, Davao City, 26 May to 02 June 2006;
- Contingent Head, 2nd & 3rd Ilocos/Northeastern Luzon Regional Scout Jamboree, Bucay, Abra & Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya, 06-10 December 2006 and 10-14 Dec. 2008, respectvely;
- Contingent Head 12th and 14th Boy Scout National Jamboree, Mt. Makiling, Los Banos, Laguna, 27 Dec 2004 to 03 January 2005 and 21-27 October 2007, respectively; and
- Member, International Service Team, 26th Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Jamboree, Philippine Scouting Center for Asia and the Pacific, 28 Dec 2009 to 03 January 2010.
At kapag nahalal na punong bayan ng Ivana, maari pa rin libre ang serbisyo!
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