BAAO.....BREWING POLITICAL WAR (OR CIRCUS) IN FACEBOOK

I was browsing Google Search this morning when I chanced upon a link about a Facebook account Titled " No to Lucy Buena 2010". When I clicked the linked I also found out that there is also an account titled "No to Mel Gaite 2010". I can't help but laugh after browsing on the comments in both sites. I guess the election in Baao is a hotly contested battle between Lucy Buena and the former mayor Mel Gaite. (with apologies to the current Mayor (Bongcayao)

I was very entertained with the discussions in those Facebook accounts that I lost track of the time, so I ended up getting late at work. The people that were involved in the friendly sometimes hostile discussion in that site were both passionate about their chosen candidates. It is very clear that all of them are very concerned about the future of their beloved town.

Being an Irigueno and a consumer of the Agricultural products of Baao (we own some ricefield in Baao), I can't help but say my little piece re: politics in Baao. I know I don't have any business meddling in Baao affairs being a non-Baaoeno but after reading and analyzing the comments in those sites, I decided to write my own opinion anyway.

According to Lucy Buena camp, Mel Gaite is a corrupt politician. It is easy to say and accuse somebody especially during election time. Politicians do these things to get sympathy and ultimate votes from voters. But the fact remains that there is no iota of evidence to back that accusations. We all know that Mayor Bongcayao is a political rival of Mayor Gaite and he hates Gaites guts . When he took over the Mayors office, he asked his people to investigate Mayor Gaite's projects for any anomalies. Did they found anything? You guess it right!!! None!!! The only thing that Mayor Bongcayao complained about is when Mayor Gaite took his Office table and furnishings. It was however proven that those furnitures and furnishings were purchased personally by the former Mayor (backed by receipts). We know that Lucy Buena is a close confidant of Mayor Bongcayao at that time, meaning she know that they don't have evidence at all to accuse Mel Gaite as a corrupt politician.

I've done some business with Mr. Gaite in the past. I had observed how their family worked hard everyday. They run their businesses personnally. While we are at home taking 2 days off every week, they are at work. Yes, they work 7 days a week/24 hours a day. That's probably the reason why they are very successful with their business. In my own opinion, The Gaites doesn't need to steal money from the government because what they earn from their business is more than enough for them to live lavishly.

According to one of the comments in the Facebook stated that Lucy Buena has not file a single resolution eversince she became a Kagawad. Wow!!! for 9 years she hasn't done her job as a Kagawad and now she wants to become a mayor?. Oh, my mistake acoording to one comment she did filed a resolution of commendation and Condolences. Is that accomplishment enough for her to be voted in the highest position in Baao? It's up to the People of Baao to decide.

Lucy Buena is a prototype of a Political butterfly. She started her political career with Gaite, then decided to switched to Bongcayao . As far as I know she and Bongcayao were still in good terms until after an invitation for her to run as Mayor was offered by L-ray Villafuerte thru Roger Peyra. After Gaite and Bongacayao took care of her she abandoned them in succession, to further her political ambition. That is political opportunism.

I do believe that new generation of leaders are needed to run our towns, cities, provinces and our country to have a better future. But in the case of Baao, they have to settle with the old guard and that is Mayor Mel Gaite. During his administration as Mayor, even Us non-Baaoenos , noticed the remarkable improvements in Baao. The transformation of Baao from a sleepy town to a prgressive town was pretty evident until after Mayor Bongcayao came in. Do we have to talk abt. Mayor Bongcayao?