Clark airport dev’t powers
Mayor Boking’s nth rerun
MABALACAT CITY – This time, it
is the full development of the Clark International Airport.Thus, Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales anchored his “first” re-election bid as city mayor on the country’s future premier international gateway.
“In 2010, Mabalacat cityhood served as our campaign platform which we
delivered – by the grace of God and the sovereign will of our people – in 2012,”
Morales said at a press conference following the filing of his certificate of
candidacy last Friday.
“In our 2013 campaign, it was our city primed as ‘Makati North of Manila’ which is now gaining ground with the influx of investments not only in the Clark Freeport, but in our city itself,” the mayor furthered, taking special care to mention that the freeport lies within the territorial jurisdiction of Mabalacat which the Americans “took from us but now we have taken back.”
Mayor since 1995, Morales cited the “substantial increase in territory from the
Clark reverted lands” as one of the qualifications “legalizing” his re-election bid.
“With the expanded territory, our status as a city and promise as the next Makati, the next step can only be the full operation of Clark airport for the fullness of the potential of our beloved Mabalacat as premium engine of regional, if not national, development,” expressed the bullish Morales.
“And we are in the best position to catalyse that development,” he hastened,
vowing to “lobby, to push for the Clark airport wherever it would take.”
Out to derail Morales’ umpteenth bid for the mayorship are Pampanga 1st District Board Member Crisostomo Garbo, former Mabalacat City Vice-Mayor Noel Castro, businesswoman Pyra Lucas and two virtual unknowns, Mario Suba and Willy Feliciano.
Last week, Garbo appealed to Morales not to seek re-election “as a matter of
conscience,” citing his two-decades at the mayor’s seat as “already too long, that he should give way to the younger generation.”
Morales invoked the truism “the voice of the people is the voice of God,” noting that it is “not by (his) power that he remains mayor but by the power of the people.”
Political observers here said with five other candidates for mayor, Morales “is
already assured of victory.”
“The fight is reduced to second place, as Boking’s vote will hold sway against the anti-Morales votes that would be divided into three at the least, for the known contenders,” said a local college professor who asked for anonymity.
ALAS, IT was not meant to be.
Four days after filing his COC, Morales himself wrote kaput to his umpteenth re-election bid: “I’m withdrawing my candidacy for city mayor. My wife Niña has filed her COC after I submitted my withdrawal from the mayoralty race. I already served my cabalens for the past 21 years with humility and dignity and I want to thank the people of Mabalacat for giving me the opportunity to serve them.”
Vox Dei finding manifestation here?
Behold, then, Morales – humbled and ennobled by his long years of service to his constituents – coming to the blessed embrace of some epiphany mayhaps even akin to Saul’s at Damascus’ Gate. Wow!
Said he more: “To smooth out everything, I agreed to what the party wanted. Like they say: Nung eka biyasang mamintu kareng matwa keka, pota mapapa ka, yaku eku bisang mapapa (If you don’t want to follow the wishes of your elders, you might be damned, I don’t want to be damned).”
Indeed, an epiphanized Morales there invoking Exodus 20:12 – “Honor thy father and thy mother that thou may have a long life in the land that Yahweh has given thou.”
As well, Ephesians 6:2-3 – “Honor thy father and thy mother. And this is the first commandment that has promise: that thou may be happy and enjoy long life in the land.” Wow! Wow!
But, didn’t he say he acceded to “…what the party wanted”?
Ayayay, can’t help but sense the voice of some lesser god there. And see not so much a beatific Morales as one Boking Agonistes.
Or do I need to pray harder?
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