It's political season

It's political season. And my guests at Feedback tonight are three mayoralty candidates Joel Dojillo, Vic Ponteras, and Oca Verdeflor, in the order of the alphabet. How else shall one arrange the names except by the alphabet. Age as a basis might get me into trouble if one will not accept it. Neither will it be on the level of importance because they are all important.

I left out the two who, in the perception of many, are the major players, Bing Leonardia and Joy Valdez because they have been over-interviewed.

I may even admit the error of using the term "major players." No one of the three will admit he is not a major player. We believe in the proverb, the more the merrier. It gives us a wider basis of choice.

Let each of them speak of his respective merits. Just join me by phoning in your questions, or comments.

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I want to acknowledge an e-mail from Ms Phoebe Marie Rivera of La Salle's MassComm who wanted to encourage everybody to conserve water.

She said she agreed that if "Baciwa breaks down even just for a day, it would be a disaster because we can live for days even without food but not without water."

Many others told me, people must be made aware of the importance of water. Many have not yet realized it because water seems abundant everywhere.

So, I said support Baciwa. Join its chairman Pompey Querubin in his campaign for water conservation.

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The La Salle Community gave Brother Gus Boquer, University of St. La Salle president a testimonial dinner last night. Brother Gus has served USLS as president for many years and is leaving monuments to his hard work, dedication, and vision.

La Salle Brothers are like soldiers. After a tour of duty they get reassigned. He will be succeeded by Brother Rey Suplido. Brother Suplido is the son of former Provincial Health Director Dr. Rufino Suplido. Brother Gus succeeded Brother Rolly Dizon who also left many monuments for the university.

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We also want to congratulate a friend, businessman Edgar Sy for having been nominated District Governor of Rotary International District 3850 covering Western Visayas and Western Mindanao.

He will serve in Rotary Year 2009 - 2010. Edgar is from our Club, the Rotary Club of Bacolod, chartered June 16, 1937.

I hope we all learn from the way Rotary chooses its leaders. Unlike in some civic clubs where to be a District Governor one spends plenty of money, millions I was told, in Rotary it's different.

In Rotary a candidate for District Governor is nominated by a nominating committee composed of well respected Rotary leaders.

One is nominated on the basis of his record, giving points to what the candidate has done for Rotary and the community.

If the decision of the nominating committee is challenged, then there is the election done in every member Club in the District.

No candidate spends like dining, wining, and entertaining voters. If one does that, he will surely lose because Rotarians are not supposed to act that way.

If the nomination is not challenged, then the following year, he becomes a Governor-elect and sits as District Governor the following year, well prepared for the job.

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Even in Club elections, a candidate is nominated by a committee but subjected to a ratification by the body. If it is challenged then there is an election.

The elected President serves in the following year. In our Club, personally campaigning is disastrous. Usually one loses this way. We believe in the principle that it's the position that seeks the man and not the man seeking the position.

And there is no reelection.

Why can we not have our own national and local election patterned after the Rotary way? It calls for a new Constitution to do this. This way, we can have our leaders develop a culture of service, not power and money. When one is elected to a position in Rotary he is there for service and even spending his own money.

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Every time I talk about Rotary, I am asked, how about Joc-Joc Bolante with his P728 million fertilizer scam? Bolante, when he was accused, was treasurer of Rotary International with a good chance of becoming Rotary International president.

I have no answer to that. Rotarians just felt down-hearted over what Bolante was alleged to have done.

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But I would like to commend Metro Bacolod Rotary Club President Nonong de la Cruz for his award as Outstanding President. A cousin, Nonong is a very dedicated Rotarian.

A successful businessman, Nonong will make a good future District Governor.*

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