Time for us to have a world class politician!

On our special presentation on Straight from the Sky, we have a non-government organization (NGO) that is not known to most Cebuanos, but they are very close to the people of Inayawan, Pardo. They are called “Glory Reborn”. What is remarkable with this organization is that, since 2004 they have delivered 1,800 healthy babies in an environment where child mortality is quite high. They have proven to us that if there is a will then there is a way!

Even more remarkable than this story is that, Glory Reborn is run by a lovely but very young and industrious American couple, Mr. and Mrs. David and Hilary Overton who are only 28 years old. These young couple came from El Paso, Texas, just by the US border where the Mexican City of Juarez is across the river. They could have done their great work in Juarez, but by God’s grace and mercy, they came into our shores. Now, they have proven to Cebuanos that quality child care even in the poorest of places is possible.

To be honest about it, I’m ashamed that this work is being done by Americans in our own city. But perhaps this is God’s way of pointing to us Cebuanos that, this is something our young should be doing for the least of our brethren! I’m not going to steal their story in this column, so please watch this very heart-rending story of a young American couple who made it their life’s decision not to work and become rich in their own land, but to work where God wants them to be and that’s right here in Cebu City. Watch this show on SkyCable’s channel 15 at 8:00 pm tonight. God bless this young couple!

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Last Saturday, the One Cebu Party has officially become a political party. In their convention at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) they elected incumbent Gov. Gwen F. Garcia as Party President. After the oathtaking by the massive crowd representing all of the municipalities and cities of the Province of Cebu, Gov. Gwen declared the support of One Cebu Party for former Defense Sec. Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., which is a huge booster for his Presidential bid. Cebu, after all, delivers solid votes!

However, the decision which Vice-Presidential candidate to support has been put on hold. As to who shall be the running mate of Gov. Gwen, I’m sure that this decision will also be out today as this is the last day for candidates to file their certificates of candidacy. So all eyes are now at the Comelec for any “nth” comers to this political race!

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While we already got the news report that our very own Efren Peñaflorida bagged CNN’s 2009 Hero of the Year Awards for his “School Cariton” at least the airing of this event in CNN was shown last Saturday evening. Knowing about the worldwide audience that CNN gathers, it rekindled the hope of Filipinos all over the world that after the ugly and nauseating news of the massacred in Maguindanao, we Filipinos do have real heroes, not just blood-thirsty politicians and the whole world has taken notice.

As Efren said in his very short thank you speech, “We have heroes living within our midst.” One such hero is the great Andres Bonifacio whom we honor today. He showed courage and exhorted is fellowmen to fight for freedom from Spanish oppression. He would have been a great leader, but unfortunately, even before we became a free country, ugly and bloodthirsty politics already existed in the hearts of politicians.

Threatened by Bonifacio’s popularity, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo had Bonifacio arrested on trump up charges and tried by a kangaroo court and sentenced to death. Today we commemorate the man who died fighting for his country. While Gen. Aguinaldo (they even call him the first President of this country; he might as well declared himself king!) will always be remembered as the man who killed his political opponent.

This kind of ugly politics still exist today. The massacre in Mindanao caused by two warring families, the Ampatuans and the Magundadatus are merely a continuation of the ugly saga of Philippine politics, which we proudly claim as “Asia’s First Democracy” which in reality should be read “Demo-crazy!” This is why I’ve been pushing for political reforms. Our kind of politics is bringing our nation and our people down!

In the last decade, we Filipinos have seen the emergence of a great Filipino with Manny Pacquiao dubbed as the Greatest Boxer of all time, while Efren Peñaflorida’s valiant efforts to teach poor children made him a CNN World Hero. This includes Mr. Tony Meloto of Gawad Kalinga (GK) who has done better than the Philippine government in putting a roof on top of the heads of the poor and the homeless. There is no question that the private sector has proven to be world-class citizens. So don’t you think that it is time for us to produce a world class politician? I’m sure we can, but it can only happen if and when we pursue political reforms ASAP!

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