Kudos to
Dr. Erlinda de los Reyes

It’s been a long time I have not heard much about Dr. Erlinda de los Reyes. I am glad that she was awarded as anesthesiologist by her peers in the Visayas.

Shows only that one just can’t keep one’s head down when she deserves to be recognized by her peers.

Linda, congrats.

***

For the first time, I found the city government exercising political will when it ordered the demolition of “ukay-ukay” stalls at the Bacolod City Public Plaza.

But I hope that acting Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson does not extend the time limit for them to dismantle their structures and goods today until Christmas.

That’s the usual excuse by the city officials. They don’t want to ruin the spirit of Christmas by insisting on the grantees their compliance with the agreement with the city for their temporary use of the plaza.

This time, the vendors had to contend with Moises de la Cruz, secretary of City Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

I was taken aback when De La Cruz told me about his decision to compel the vendors to vacate the plaza if they could not comply with what they had agreed with city officials.

De la Cruz is not an elective official and therefore, was not beholden to the awardees for their votes. Thus, he was stern insofar as enforcing the rules of the agreement.

The kiosk owners who had been given until today to dismantle their structure removed their wares and failed to comply with their order by the city mayor.

“You know, Moises, the city government never had shown political will in enforcing its laws and insisting on compliance with agreements,” I remarked.

Only, the acting secretary to the mayor stressed that he was just complying with his mandate under the law and that the city mayor is supposed to follow his recommendation.

Christmas, however, does not mean that the city government relaxes the strict rule that compliance must be given the city government by the vendors.

***

Another wonder boy is City Administrator Johnny Orola. He has already set his eyes on projects designed to upgrade what the city government had repeatedly failed to do for supposed political reasons.

Like that unused market just beside the SM Mart in downtown Bacolod at the Bredco area.

Simply because it was the project of former City Mayor Luzviminda Valdez, the city allowed it to be unused. An ugly specter.

The place could have been used instead of the plaza repeatedly being marred by eyesores. True, the plaza is the easiest place to sell something. But it must be remembered it is intended for the recreation and enjoyment of city folks, and not for it to be converted into a commercial area.

Instead, over the years, the market was padlocked and allowed to rot. Until Johnny Orola finally discovered it and started tinkering with the idea of resurrecting its use to earn for the city money that it needs.

So also with the second storey of the Libertad Market. Only Johnny could have thoughts up of how to convert it into an earning venture for the city instead of what it is now – unused and left for the pests and rats to enjoy.

Perhaps, that’s one reason why Orola was never picked by the city mayor as city administrator. He could have undercut the mayor with his fertile brains and visions of what could be done for the good of the city.

John, if you succeed in your various enterprises, Bacolod will have to thank you for using your creative talents to summon new and brilliant ideas.

***

Something strange. It’s not only the unlettered that had been victimized by an alleged syndicate who had victimized some 2,000 Negrenses, including many teachers, in return for instant cash return for investments that they had made.

This time, the reports said the police under Chief Ricardo de la Paz had filed charges for syndicated estafa and use of false treasure notes against Altres de Dios, 33, of Manganvaca Zambalawes, Eustquito Majo Jr, 38, of Barrio Bareto, Olongapo City. They are the president and vice president for treasury of the organization respectively.

The funny thing was the reports also said, that De Dios told them that his father (name not mentioned) will be proclaimed as New King of the Philippines at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Dec. 23.

De Dios would then be the new prince and President Benigno Aquino will be the country’s prime minister.

How people could believe the story is something strange. Unless they are ignorant of what is going on in the country. But teachers? Strange that even supposed to be educated members of the citizenry could succumb to such ploy.

But then they did and do. In short, we must all be aware that there are a lot of scam peddlers. And that they still manage to convince people to fall for their tall tales.*

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