POLITICAL CRISIS IN BASILAN By RC Montebon

IT IS A PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE that Isabela City became a newly created city in Zamboanga Peninsula Region following the approval of an executive order issued by Malacañang.

Isabela City was dubbed as Future Rising City in Southern Philippines based on the passage of resolution duly approved by the City Government of Isabela under the leadership of the first mayor, the late Mayor Luis Boboy Biel II, a source tells me.

In addition, source said that Isabela City was presently encountering political crisis after the death of Mayor Boboy Biel by an assassin in May 2005.

Political crisis in Isabela City has greatly affected its economic status as there are strong political rivalries/competitions of people who wanted to stay in power or take the reign of power in the city through electoral processes comes May 2007 elections.

As I interviewed some political leaders in Isabela City, they answered in different perspectives. One politician who don’t want to be identified, said that the political crisis that cause economic crisis in the city should be adequately addressed by saving Isabela City from incompetent, corrupt and immoral officials who continued to destroy the good image of the city. According to this politician, it is through Salva Isabela Movement that the city could be saved. The source said that the creation of Salva Isabela is a program of COMELEC- Isabela City that encourages every Isabeleño citizen to go out, register, and exercise their rights to vote comes 2007 elections.

The program was adopted by some concerned native-Isabeleños that includes civic, religious, and political leaders of the city, who then have the direct hand, by which the said COMELEC program became a movement, now called Salva Isabela Movement.

The movement has something to do of saving Isabela City with the three pillars: Competence, Performance, and Good Governance for efficient and effective implementation of developmental activities of the City Government of Isabela.

Organizers of the movement said that Isabeleños should unite and cooperate with each other to have continuous peace and development in Isabela City as being experience during the time of the late Mayor Boboy Biel.

Working together with COMELEC-Isabela City, the movement is calling the people of Isabela City to vote or choose the right candidates for various local positions in the executive and legislative levels for 2007 elections, especially the position of mayorship, that possesses the ability to unite people and managerial or administrative expertise to carry out the development mandates/priorities and programs of the city.

The source also said, aside from Salva Isabela Movement, another movement was created known as the Angelicus Party, which is composed of intelligent, honest, and God-fearing individuals who revealed that there are mayoralty aspirants for Isabela City who are not fitted for the requirements of such executive post due to lack or limited education, training, and experience in local governance, most especially in legal and economic aspects, the needed personal characteristic traits and values formation.

Angelicus Party added that without having these potentials of a good leader, for sure, a particular political aspirant will come out an incompetent one, non-performing asset, and therefore could never do the expected best performance results in terms of achieving quality governance/administration.

The source further said that analytical surveys were conducted by a research group from a prominent academe in Region IX, Zamboanga City, which came out that only one qualified candidate, out of the four aspirants for the mayoralty slit for Isabela City based on qualification standards.

Researchers said this one and only qualified candidate could be known later when proper time comes, source further stressed.

Survey results also revealed that a moneyed and powerful political aspirant could not be a sure factor of winning an election because the voting public becomes more aware, wise, and professional in choosing their future leaders as being influenced by the modern technological trends of times and also following the dictates of their conscience, vibrations, intellects, and emotions.

This report said that with the economic crisis we have, most voters will really ride on with dirty or money politics by receiving any offer from a political candidate in terms of money, gift, or in any kind to satisfy their daily needs, but he/she thinks or use his/her right to express his/her vote by writing the name(s) of his/her favored candidate(s) in the ballot sheet.

Proven guilty relative to giving of any remuneration or incentives in exchange of a vote in an election period is a gross violation of COMELEC rules and regulations and is ground for disqualification of any aspirant(s) for elective posts, report added.

At present, this report said that there are four aspirants for mayor in the city of Isabela, to exclude the incumbent Mayor Rodolfo “Rody” Tan, who became the second mayor of the young city in Basilan due to succession under the Local Government Code following the death of elected Mayor Luis Boboy Biel II.

For those who signified the intention to vie for the mayoralty post in Isabela City are as follows: Former Mayor, Governor, Congressman, Postmaster-General, PCGG Commissioner, DILG Undersecretary, and Basilan Task Force (BASTAF) Executive-Director, Atty. Alvin Dans, Former Councilor and ABC President, Teddy Barandino, Medical Practitioner and Neophyte in politics and the son of the late Mayor Biel, Richie Biel and Businesswoman and Neophyte in politics and the wife of Basilan Incumbent Gov. Ustadz Wahab Akbar, Cherilyn Akbar.

In an interview with Alvin Dans by one of the radio network in Zamboanga City, he said that among the political candidates for Isabela City mayorship, four are committed Christian faith believers and one who was ones a devoted Christian now a convert Muslim believer because of her marriage with a Muslim-yakan.

Dans added that with the present political situation in Isabela City, wherein two or more Christians are running for mayor, Mrs. Akbar definitely has an edge compared with the Christian candidates.

Dans further said that, it is not an intention to discriminate neither separate/segregate and or isolate in order not to give chance to a Muslim aspirant to hold key position(s) in a public office to serve their fellow-muslim populace since Muslim and Christian people in Isabela City, have been united, marrying each other, and working together for a common purpose for the welfare of their respective generations.

However, Dans further elaborated that with the present competition in politics due to new trends of global development, the forthcoming May 2006 elections becomes a free for all decisions or intentions by both Christians and Muslims considering that both opposite political rivalries or opponents have the capacities to launch a local campaign in Isabela City as well as political machineries to defeat an opponent.

Dans proposed for a unity team-building consultative meeting to be held in a neutral ground wherein every concerned Isabeleño(s) is/are invited to discuss issues and concerns confronting Isabela City’s political crisis situation.

Other sources said that if the truly dedicated Isabeleños loved Isabela City, only one qualified candidate in the Christian sector for mayor in Isabela City will run to solidify the votes of the Christian populace, including those other votes from Muslim groups rather than dividing the Christian votes against the solid Yakan votes represented by Mrs. Akbar for this coming 2007 polls. Plus, the other aspirants will give their full support to the one qualified candidate representing the Christian sector.

Dans had expressed his willingness to submit himself for a supreme sacrifice not to join for Isabela City’s mayoralty race and even to offer his full support, for as long as there will be only one qualified candidate to be picked-up and endorsed for the said mayoralty bit. Dans hopes other aspirants for mayor in Isabela City will do the same thing as what he did for the good of Isabeleño residents.

Political figures in Isabela City said that they are willing to sacrifice in the name of peace and unity for achieving development prosperity in Isabela City and in Basilan as a whole.
While other political aspirants for elective positions for the City Government of Isabela said that they are also willing to sacrifice their ambitions by not running in any public office for the city, provided only one qualified candidate be chosen to fill-up the executive chief position in Isabela City in the name of public service and for the good of the entire populace of Isabela City.

Report added that with the kind of circumstance that Isabela City is beset with, all political aspirants for Isabela City mayoralty and other local posts are suggested to convey for a convention or consensus-building to choose among themselves through internal ballot voting to be witnessed by various sectoral representatives from Isabela City. (Mindanao Examiner)

What Makes a Great President? By RC Montebon

According to the author, Professor Robert Dallek who earned his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Illinois and his master of arts and doctorate in history from Columbia University in New York City.

An author of numerous articles and books, including Flawed Giant: Lyndon Johnson and His Times (1961-73) and Hail to the Chief: The Making and Unmaking of American Presidents, said that many of us, perhaps are asking what are the elements of presidential greatness? Historian Robert Dallek argues that there are six key qualities in presidential success: activism, vision, pragmatism, charisma, consensus building, and credibility. Luck also plays a part, in Dallek’s view, but the country’s greatest presidents have managed to make their mark even when circumstances seemed to conspire against them.

Citing America’s situation, around forty-one people have served in the United States presidency. Every one of them wanted to be remembered as an outstanding, if not great, president. Even the most conservative or cautious of America’s chief executives, such as James Buchanan, Calvin Coolidge, and Ronald Reagan, wanted to be recalled as leaders who made a significant difference in the nation's life.

But presidents who espoused passivity or self-denying inhibitions in the use of presidential power generally have not won high standing from historians. Great presidents, for the most part, have been aggressive activists—leaders who asserted themselves in response to domestic and global crises. They have been the presidents who rallied the nation to meet large challenges and who found workable answers to big questions.

Some of the least memorable presidents were those who served in times free of social turmoil. These leaders were often content to be caretakers who saw the country as more in need of freedom from government interference in economic and social matters than federal intervention to reform existing ways of life. Thomas Jefferson, who served in the White House from 1801 to 1809, may have caught the spirit of this conservatism best when he said, "The government that governs least governs best." Ronald Reagan echoed the point in his 1981 inaugural address when he asserted, "Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem."

Yet Jefferson's and Reagan's claims to greatness as presidents rest not on their restraint but on their accomplishments. The 1803 Louisiana Purchase, which roughly doubled the size of the United States, stands as one of Jefferson’s greatest legacies. Likewise, Reagan's ranking as a president stems from his aggressive role as champion of tax cuts and from his commitment to a military buildup to confront the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) during the Cold War.
Activism is only one element in the mix of ingredients that make a great president. Throughout American history at least six other influences have been at work in contributing to success in the White House.

First, the country’s most highly regarded presidents have all been great visionaries who could imagine a new national future. This trait was balanced by a second important quality—pragmatism. This pragmatism meant that the visionary leaders could respond flexibly to changing public moods and political circumstances. Third, all of the country’s great presidents have had great personal charm or charisma. A fourth trait of great presidents has been their ability to earn and keep the trust of the public.

The great presidents used this trust to become consensus builders in domestic and international policies, the fifth important element in presidential greatness. The sixth element in making a great presidency has been simple luck or favorable circumstance, which has enabled the leaders to put their skills to work.

Vision is the first requirement of presidential leadership, 20th-century historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., asserts, "is to point the republic in one or another direction. This can be done only if the person in the White House possesses, or is possessed by, a vision of the ideal America." Franklin Delano Roosevelt may have stated it best when, borrowing from the Book of Proverbs in the Bible, he declared in his first inaugural speech in 1933: "Where there is no vision, the people perish."

Presidential vision has been especially compelling when it has concrete results, as was most notably true of George Washington's efforts to create a working national government, or Abraham Lincoln's determination to preserve the integrity of the Union during the American Civil War (1861-1865).

Similarly, Franklin Roosevelt offered the country a vision of America as a nation powerful enough to defeat Germany and Japan in World War II (1939-1945), but humane enough to improve living and working conditions for working-class Americans. Lyndon Johnson commanded public support with his commitment to end segregation in the South through the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act, and by promising affordable health care for the elderly through enactment of Medicare. Reagan galvanized the public with his determination to reduce the power and influence of government by promising to lower taxes and cut federal programs.

Vision alone is never enough to assure a president a place in the front rank of presidents. But a compelling set of achievable objectives is a superb start. For a president, the only thing worse than clinging to a failed vision is having no vision at all. The country’s least successful chief executives have been those who had no clear idea of where they wished to steer the ship of state, especially in domestic affairs. James Buchanan and Benjamin Harrison in the 19th century and William Howard Taft and Warren Harding in the 20th century all came to political grief over their inability to define and convey their goals.

In recent presidential history, George Bush fell victim to his indecisiveness when during his 1992 reelection campaign he belittled the notion of a strong domestic agenda as the "vision thing."

Pragmatism, although all great presidents have been visionaries, they have also served the office as sensible realists or instrumentalists, as leaders who understood that political accomplishments often required flexibility of means to reach desirable ends. In a nation composed of a vast array of competing interests, presidential success has always depended at least partially on compromise with determined opponents. The corollary to the proposition that presidents without vision will perish is that without the right balance of political give and take, little, if anything, can be achieved by a chief executive.

Successful presidents have always realized that they could not get very far without constantly accommodating to change—change in events, change in mood, change in ideas, change that offered opportunities to advance American interests. Nineteenth-century American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson may have captured this spirit best when he wrote "I simply experiment, an endless seeker, with no Past at my back."

Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt were surely two of America’s most successful pragmatic political leaders. In 1864, Lincoln wrote privately in regard to the Emancipation Proclamation, "I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me." Franklin Roosevelt was, in the words of his presidential predecessor Herbert Hoover, "a chameleon on plaid." His New Deal, as Roosevelt himself described it, was a series of experiments.

The minefield of national politics is strewn with presidents who were too ideological to bend and make concessions, such as Hoover and Andrew Johnson. Others were so lacking in political direction that their administrations faltered under the burden of their drift and lack of initiative. Examples include John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Rutherford B. Hayes, Taft, Harding, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter.

The leaders who survived and prospered in the White House have been those who had the keenest political sense. This sense required the presidents to combine a clear understanding of their goals with both a carefully judged assessment of what degree of change the country was ready to accept, and a strategic sense of when to accommodate themselves to opponents who were ready to yield on significant points. Without this skill, presidents have set their objectives too low, or expended all their political capital in hopeless battles.

Charisma is the most successful presidents have also been larger-than-life figures, actors on the stage of history with an uncommon capacity to bring drama to the office. "The media bring across the president," presidential scholar James David Barber says, "not as some neutral administrator or corporate executive to be assessed by his production, but as a special being with mysterious dimensions."

Presidents have succeeded and failed in proportion to their effectiveness in making strong use of this power to become popular figures. The most capable have been able to reduce the distance between themselves and the people by diminishing the impersonality of the office, or by using their personal appeal to excite public interest and affection.

Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt are excellent examples. As president, Lincoln was perceived as a kind of Christ figure, ready to sacrifice himself for the country. One commentator said that Lincoln accepts "the torments and moral burdens of a blundering and sinful people, suffers for them, and redeems them with hallowed Christian virtues." Preaching "malice toward none and charity for all" as the postwar plan for healing national wounds, he invoked the compassion of Christ's teachings, and by so doing lifted himself to a station far above the actions of ordinary presidents and politicians. But more than suffering tied Lincoln to his contemporaries. He was also distinguished by his ambition and his humble upbringing, which made him the quintessential self-made man.

Theodore Roosevelt was the first of the country’s 20th-century chiefs to achieve a degree of heroic status similar to that enjoyed by Washington, Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, and Lincoln. Roosevelt was the country’s first modern media president, and he used his talents as an early public-relations expert to fashion himself into one of the most popular leaders in U.S. history.
Unlike his heroic predecessors, however, Roosevelt’s public allure was not an expression of sacrifice, tragedy, or self-fulfillment. Instead, Roosevelt’s stature came from the popular fascination with his dynamic personality, which reignited national hopes for a unified America, from his articulation of common goals at home, and from his effective assertion of national ideals abroad.

Bill Clinton is an interesting example of how charisma serves a president. Despite his impeachment and trial for high crimes and misdemeanors, Clinton’s approval ratings remained as high as any two-term president this century. Clinton’s personality included personal failings that many Americans could identify with and forgive. With the American economy consistently expanding, Clinton maintained an extraordinary hold on the public. Unlike the Republican-dominated Congress, Clinton impressed most Americans as being on their side. To many, Clinton seemed to be a moderate spokesman for the national interest who was victimized by vindictive opponents.

Credibility and Trust, Successful presidential leadership has always depended on a presidential administration’s credibility and the public’s trust in a president's word. "Trust is the coin of the realm," said George Schultz, secretary of state during the Reagan administration. Presidents have lost their credibility in either of two ways: by breaking with accepted standards of national governance or by promising more than they could deliver. Indeed, observing traditional rules and fulfilling avowed goals have been crucial tests of presidential effectiveness.

Take the cases of Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon in the first category. Johnson's failure to openly consult the public on escalation of the Vietnam War joined with suspicions about his deviousness as a politician to create a "credibility gap." “How do you know when Lyndon Johnson is telling the truth?” comedians asked in the 1960s. “When he strokes his chin or tugs his ear lobe, he is telling the truth. When he moves his lips, you know he's lying.” Likewise, the Watergate break-in and cover-up in the early 1970s destroyed Nixon's ability to govern. The Watergate tapes demonstrated his involvement in "high crimes and misdemeanors" and forced his resignation. But his lost credibility with the public, as much as anything else, compelled him to leave office.

Presidents who make unrealizable promises also court political disaster. Woodrow Wilson moved Americans to accept huge military budgets and sacrifice their lives to fight World War I (1914-1918) by asserting that it would be the war to end all wars and that it would make the world safe for democracy. By 1919, however, it began to be clear that Wilson had set unreasonably high expectations. There was no way to achieve the sort of peace that would permanently end international strife and assure the future of global democracy. Americans lost confidence in Wilson’s judgment, and the U.S. Senate rejected his request to commit the country to involvement in the League of Nations, a world body designed to promote collective security and bring an end to war.

Bill Clinton is an interesting example of how the contemporary public differentiates between lying in a private matter and credibility in public service. By lying about his affair with Monica Lewinsky, Bill Clinton compromised his reputation. But the revelation that he had lied about his involvement with a 21-year-old White House intern did not shatter his presidential credibility. Because his domestic and foreign policies seemed effective, the public did not lose faith in his capabilities as a president. Despite impeachment charges against him for perjury and obstruction of justice, a majority of Americans discounted these alleged crimes as having little to do with his integrity as a public official.

Consensus Building, Vision, pragmatism, charisma, and trust have all been put in the service of building a national consensus for a president's leadership. America’s most astute presidents have understood how vital a broad consensus is to any far-reaching domestic or foreign policy. They have also appreciated how fickle and unreliable the public mood has been, and how difficult it can be to get the nation to support a presidential proposal, especially if it represented a departure from customary patterns. In the 1990s Bill Clinton's inability to win support for comprehensive national health-care reform is as good an example as one can find in recent presidential history to illustrate the point.

The best example of presidential success in consensus building is Franklin Roosevelt’s effective direction of national affairs in the early years of World War II, from 1939 to 1941. Roosevelt believed that the United States had no choice but to help the democracies defeat Nazi Germany, fascist Italy, and militaristic Japan. The mass of Americans, however, wished to avoid involvement in the conflict.

Roosevelt, understanding that the requirement of an effective policy abroad was a stable consensus for that policy at home, worked tirelessly to convince the public to shift ground. He deftly crafted programs that supported the Allied countries but did not exceed the public tolerance for involvement in the war. The lend-lease program, for example, gave American weapons to the Allies on generous financial terms. Roosevelt’s gradual expansion of American involvement combined with the intensification of the war to build national backing for participation in the war. The decision to fight, of course, was compelled by Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in December 1941. The attack was a genuine surprise and solidified public opinion behind the commitment to fight that Roosevelt had been urging for months.

Luck, Great presidents have come to their standing not simply by vision, pragmatism, charisma, trust, and consensus building, but also by lucky circumstances that favored their goals. The conditions surrounding the administrations of the nation’s most highly regarded presidents have been uniformly favorable to getting significant things done.

No one should put too much stock in circumstances, however. America’s most accomplished presidents have been their own best ally in achieving their high standing. Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, for example, both led the country during periods when there was economic stability and broad national support for social reform. Yet Theodore Roosevelt is remembered as at least a near great president, and Taft as essentially a failed chief. The contrast between Hoover’s lackluster record and Franklin Roosevelt’s spectacular success in dealing with the Great Depression underscores the point.

Even if it is true that all great American presidents have possessed these key traits-activism, vision, pragmatism, charisma, consensus building, credibility—these qualities cannot be simply wished into being. There is no substitute for presidential intuition or innate savvy as a foundation for tackling the world's most challenging job.

As regards to this writer’s opinion on presidential requirements for presidential success of a particular person is that he or she should carries the elements or potentials to become a good or effective president of a state or nation. Like what the author have mentioned an aspirant leader must have the six key qualities such as activism, vision, pragmatism, charisma, consensus building, and credibility and thrust. Without these qualities, an aspirant leader can never be a successful person in terms of his or her political career.

So, it is a requirement in America to run for public service that criteria must be followed before any person be considered as candidate of any political position. Unlike in the Philippines, anybody can just file his or her candidacy and run for public office without meeting or setting qualification requirements. For this reason, we have lots of nuisance candidates for a particular election. A nuisance candidate can just exercise his rights to join or compete in an electoral process/es without the benefit of having the needed machineries and competence.

In other words, we must take cognizance of the lessons in America’s electoral/political exercises in order for us to be properly guided of the requirements, if we have the intention to serve government. We must need not take for granted of said America’s lessons as this will give us the preparation on how to be an effective leader and better serve the people and government.

To end this, this writer will always say that our future lies on the kind of leaders we choose or we will be choosing for our country or our community, therefore we must choose the best, as this writer is always saying, “Let’s Go for Unity, Cooperation, and Development” to face the challenging time. (Mindanao Examiner)

PEOPLE MUST KNOW: By RC Montebon

Political Scenarios and Future Political Leaders and their Qualifications and Programs of Governance for the City of Isabela.

BASILAN Island, Philippines: It is a public clamor that Basilan Province needs good leaders to improve the economic lives of its people. But, the province for the past many years up to this present time has only experienced few of the elected officials who have really dedicated their lives, time, and effort in serving their parochial constituencies, especially those individuals from poor families, as well as those poor communities.

To mention one of those few officials/leaders who sincerely led in building Basilan from being a troubled place and poorest among the poor provinces in the Philippines in the line with the vision of providing quality lives to the people, good government, true peace and economic prosperity, especially in the performance of duty in utmost ability, knowledge, and character without condition and reservation, this writer is referring to Mr. LOUIE ALANO, the former Governor of Basilan and a Businessman by profession.

Likewise, a manager, a teacher, a civic and religious leader, and a good father of his family. Alano ran the government of Basilan toward a clear direction and policy, which is basically focused on development objectives, priorities, plans, and programs. Alano was never accuse of being abusive to the use of power just for any personal gain, e.g. in terms of protecting the reputation of family business/es, business/es of friends and other business-associates, masterminding illegal transactions to gain profit using government resources, and other forms of corruption activities.

In the aspect of dividing and balancing government powers through establishing autonomous government structures and strengthening/expanding the coverage of municipal/city/provincial territories/jurisdictions and responsibilities for accessible, relevant, and effective delivery of services/programs in Basilan, Isabela ones an old municipality was converted into a new city and some other municipalities were newly created.With this acceleration of engines of development in Basilan to achieve genuine peace and economic prosperity, Louie Alano is the right person who can stimulate the quicker-drive for pushing Isabela City’s developmental aspects and achieve the city’s vision dubbed as the future Rising City in Southern Mindanao, Philippines.

Certainly, because Alano has the superlative track records, which includes his training and education, work experiences, and multifarious achievements both in the private and public sectors, as well as in the community sector.

Alano’s intellectual and emotional desire to best serve Isabela City had been unsuccessful for quite sometimes when he ran for mayoralty race in the old Isabela municipality due to inadequate campaign fund to sustain his campaign activities and the lack of supporters/volunteers to watch his votes in counting places.

But, Alano did not loss hope that someday he will able to make use of the fruits of his labors and sacrifices and will see brighter opportunities for Isabeleños by means of achieving his imbued vision for a new and transformed Isabela City in the future’s to come.

Comes 2007 elections, again Alano was called upon by his intense dedication to serve his beloved Isabeleños, but this time not for mayor but for vice-mayor in Isabela City, not an independent candidate as he used to run before, but under a strong and prominent party-group of the late great-great first mayor of new and young city of Isabela, which is still recognized by the entire Isabeleño populace and by the people who believed in his leadership qualities by which this writer is referring to the Honorable Mayor Luis “Boboy” Biel II. Alano is hopeful for a positive consideration from Biel camp to be a party-mate and aspirant for Isabela City’s vice-mayoralty post.

In an interview by this writer in his column, “People Must Know”, straight from the food-for-thoughts of Louie Alano, Isabela City’s vice-mayor aspirant that he is willing to offer himself for a supreme sacrifice just to save Isabela City from the treat of tyrant government that would make the lives of the future generation of Isabeleños difficult.

Try Louie Alano for he is best for the people of Isabela City and the entire officialdom of the City Government of Isabela for it is seen through his character and competence that he can make a difference in the economic lives of the Isabeleños. Enthusiastically, this writer is calling the good citizens of Isabela City and Basilan to join hands to choose great leaders for building a GREAT ISABELA CITY AND BASILAN.

For other political aspirants for the officialdom of the City Government of Isabela, let’s choose the right aspirants whom we believe that can bring us to progress, peace, unity and greater heights of achieving our expectations, dreams and aspirations for a GREAT ISABELA CITY.This writer recommends people with calibers---highly trained and educated, morally and spiritually guided with the right values and characteristic traits, experiential in various work ethics and administrative aspects conducive to new trends of modern world’s technological advancement.

Example to this is the knowledge on the use of computers and modern techniques and methods in doing a particular work activity. This writer is referring to the following credible and qualified personalities for public office: ALVIN DANS who is a specialist on legal matters, as he is a lawyer by profession, graduate of Master in Security Administration, former local executive officer and legislator, sincere, and has a kind heart for the masses.

WAL PIOQUINTO, a tested public servant, protector of peace and law and order, defender of graft and corruption and immorality in government, committed, and man for the masses. REX MIRAVITE, a police officer and an awardee as top outstanding public servant, a governance expert, tested defender of injustices and protector of the masses.

This writer is sending the right signal to all Isabeleños to ride on the right vehicles for accelerating developments in Isabela City. This writer would say, let’s go for, LOUIE-ALVIN-WAL-REX onward to overwhelming victories in their chosen political field of endeavors.

OPINION: "STATE-OF-THE-CITY ADDRESS, ITS IMPLICATIONS TO PUBLIC SERVICE"
By: RC MONTEBON In Zamboanga City (Si Tiene Pasencia, Tiene Gracia)

A State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) has been a traditional expression of accomplishments by a head of state for the interest of the public or the nation. While, a President is mandated to deliver his or her presidential speech in the House of Representatives witnessed by lone district congressmen, senators, governors, mayors, and other public officials, including various sectors of society, a State-of-the-City Address (SOCA), State-of-the-Province Address (SOPA), and/or other official messages/speeches with the presence of various leaders of a society, on the other aspect is also doing the same mandate.

Doing such mandate or responsibility for public service is a noble expression of what has been accomplished by a public official in a particular situation. Like a head of an office, he or she is to report his or her accomplishments by monthly, quarterly, and/or annually basis. The principle involved in here is to have a grasp of list of information in terms of accomplishments, and to likewise assess the accomplishments based on the desired target/s vs. output/s, goal/s, and/or priority/ies of a particular government sector for public dissemination purpose/s and for the public to measure the weight of the services being delivered in exchange of the taxes paid by the public.

To situate this writer’s story on this year 2007 SOCA of the Chief Executive of the City Government of Zamboanga, in the person of Honorable Mayor Celso L. Lobregat, first and foremost, he started the day of his SOCA by setting the right tone/mood of the environment and the people listening in his city message/address at the newly-constructed edifice of the Honorable Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod here in Zamboanga City.

The SOCA of the mayor appropriately suits the timing of the day and the way the SOCA venue being arranged as well as the occasion itself, as there was no untoward interference or problem that had happened during the conduct of the event. Accommodating guests, visitors, and other spectators were well-facilitated making them comfortable in listening the SOCA. This shows only manifestation of strong leadership value in the organization.

Although the mayor responded candidly to criticisms against his administration while mentioning in his SOCA his positive accomplishments last 2006, and his on-going project implementations this year 2007, all things went smoothly. Thanks God.

The SOCA of the mayor this year continuously calling for Unity and Continuity in Public Service among our people and communities in Zamboanga City. He describes Unity as unionizing and harmonizing the relationship between the Zamboangueños and the City Government of Zamboanga to achieve quality lives. While Continuity, he describes it as the participation and support of Zamboangueños to all the undertakings of Zamboanga City Government in pursuing/meeting its mandated goals and objectives, vision, mission, and development directions.

The mayor was very objective in his SOCA as he firmly begins by mentioning the important aspect of his administration, which is the budget situation of the city. His budget report was presented with factual basis and in a detailed manner, as his report was supported with statistics like figures, numbers, and other information relating to a particular project accomplishment. The nice thing regarding the mayor’s report is the use of recent information technology to reach out the expectation, interest, and attention of a crowd. And this is through a computer power-point presentation.

The mayor also reported the good increase of Zamboanga City’s taxable assessed value of real properties, including the good standing of treasury/collection of city’s revenues. Other aspects of his report were also tacked such as, the services in health, social welfare, housing and resettlement, education, and sports that were respectively and effectively delivered by his administration.

The respective functions and services of various departments/offices of his administration, such as the City Human Resource Management Office, City Planning and Development Coordination Office, City Agriculture and Fishery Office, City Veterinary Services Office, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, City General Services Office, City Administration Services Office, City Tourism Office, Barangay Government and Development Services Offices, and City Council were also part of the mayor’s report. He also stressed out the Donations and Assistance, he received from various partners of his administration, particularly the foreign and private sector assisted-fund projects. He likewise mentioned how peace and order and public safety was administered in the city.

All these developmental activities of the city, according to Mayor Lobregat’s SOCA brings good tidings, goodwill to the welfare of every Zamboangueño’s lives, as he strongly emphasized the good results of the implementation of his projects since he took the reign of Zamboanga City Government that makes improve the social and economic well-being of his patronage constituents.

The mayor as a human being and sensitive to issues concerning reality versus fantasy in government/public service, accepted the challenge with candidness and positive mood, and treated his opponents in politics calmly but with accountability and authority just to ease/preempt or cool off possible occurrence of tensions in the session hall of Zamboanga City Council.

An overwhelming standing ovation was given to the mayor by the audience in the gallery of the Zamboanga City’s SP Complex for a job well-performed under his terms of office.

On the other hand, various interactions were voice-out by an ordinary individual person, groups of people, individual city councilor, and others were made based accordingly on further improving one person’s income and work productivity.

As to the comment, opinion, and suggestions of this writer based on the observation gathered form the public regarding the SOCA of Mayor Lobregat, it is a very impressive one as it manifest expression of Zamboanga City Government’s laudable accomplishments. It is likewise a direct, understandable, and detailed SOCA report.

However, it is suggested by this writer that hopefully the next SOCA of the mayor shall be done in a bigger space like the Zamboanga City Coliseum to allow/accommodate large number of people/audience, especially the students who are future leaders of our society/community, and who are the right people that should know how government works on them and how its affairs are being managed, and the other segments of our society, such as the agriculture, fishery, cooperative, and service sectors, and many others that played pivotal role in the transformation of our local economy.

It is also suggested that a SOCA report should be presented in a concise manner and in a bullet form wherein a presenter will just present the outlines of his or her report in order to shorten time resources and thus minimizes his/her talks, discussions, or readings for the audience to capture the interest of knowing the contents of the report. By doing so, the audience will definitely be encouraged and thus will give attention and time to internalize and evaluate the presented certain report for future improvements.

In solidarity and in the interest of service to the nation, we humbly and respectfully congratulate the successful SOCA of the mayor, and the never-ending and strong support of the City Councilors, Barangay Officials, Community Leaders, Private Individuals and other sectors to the programs of the City Government of Zamboanga.

To end this, this writer will always say, “Let’s Go for Unity, Cooperation, and Development” to face the challenging time.

Regarding the congressional city address or COCA of Hon. Congressman Erico Basilio “Erbie” A. Fabian during the SOCA of Mayor Celso Lobregat, it gives good impressions to public demand and service as it manifested his multifarious achievements under his congressional initiatives.

The good congressman of Zamboanga City emphasized in his report that to achieve something, a leader should be at service in perpetual motion in performing his/her duties and responsibilities.

Perpetual in motion means a desire or sincere commitment of a person or leader to deliver the best he/she could in the name of public interest.

Possessing this kind of work attitude in public service, makes a public official or servant to perpetually move in constant with time and resources to implement his/her activity. Thus, he/she shall make a difference or change, and or institute reforms in what he or she do or believe with plus factor of creativeness and quality in work performance in line with public service.

The good congressman delivered his congressional report or COCA fundamentally citing his various project accomplishments in perpetual motion akin to physical social, infrastructure, human development, and economic services.

This report of the good congressman symbolizes of an action-oriented character of a person or leader with a deep-seated consciousness and right working habits/values to public service.

As to this writer opinion, the congressional report or COCA of Hon. Cong. Erbie Fabian at the house of the legislators of the City Council of Zamboanga City Government is very impressive and professional. However, it is suggested by this writer as per observation gathered from the public that the report of the good congressman, if possible, should be separated from the SOCA report of the mayor to avoid distinction or comparison, who shall came out as the best or not.

This is because the SOCA report of the mayor is considered as the main event of the occasion. Separating the accomplishment report of the good congressman from the mayor’s report is considered as a best move in order to pave way for the public/audience to confine themselves on the basis of individual accomplishment report for properly analyzing or evaluating such accomplishment deliberation of a particular service/activity by a public officer/servant. Also, it is suggested that the report shall be done in a bigger area wherein a large number of people be in attendance and can carefully listen to such official activity.

It is further suggested that a report of a particular official should be concise, understandable to an ordinary person, specific using outlines and bullet presentation to minimize reading and shorten the use of time and resources, in a way to capture interest of the public/audience and also therefore encourage the public/audience to internalize and evaluate the presented certain accomplishment report for future improvements.