Sportsmanship in Politics

JULY is supposed to be the start of the assumption to office of all elected national and local officials who were elected last May 21 local and senatorial elections after their oath-taking last month. It is unfortunate, however, that we have heard television and other broadcast media reports that there were losing incumbent local officials like mayors and governors who dismantled their offices, thus leaving the offices practically bare. One example is the reported case in the local government of Sipocot where the incoming mayor had to scout for his own table as the Mayor’s Office was practically laid bare by its outgoing former occupant. Incidents like this are indeed unfortunate as they smack of lack of sportsmanship. We are happy to note, however, that in Naga City the turn-over and assumption to office of Mayor Nelson Legacion and Vice-Mayor Nene de Asis and all the elected Municipal Councilors including the lone independent councilor Jess Albeus was smooth and seamless. We have noted however, that outgoing Mayor John Bongat was not around although we learned that he left earlier for abroad on official business. Be that as it may, we look forward for a more dynamic City of Naga as our new officials rolled up their sleeves for the next three years of their administration.

TRIVIA:

Congratulations to my godson Atty. Gilbert Morandarte who will be celebrating his Nth birth anniversary today, July 4, with a dinner-fellowship with his friends and acquaintances at this residence here in Naga.

Hi also to RTC Judge Soliman M. Santos, Jr. who has been designated by the Supreme Court as Acting Executive Judge for RTC Naga in lieu of RTC Executive Judge Edwin Ferrer who is on vacation leave and is in Las Vegas sojourning with his family.

Hi also to Mr. Edgardo Pasion who heads the Senior Citizens Office Affairs (OSCA) of Naga. This writer chanced upon him at SM Naga and congratulated this writer on his last column in this paper about VP Leni. He said he is a regular and constant reader of this column.

Belated congratulations to members of USI high school batch ‘55 who recently met at the Wok Restaurant for a luncheon-fellowship to welcome their batchmate Belen Llamas who recently arrived from her long sojourn in USA.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

“LET US THEN BE UP AND DOING WITH A HEART FOR ANY FATE; STILL ACHIEVING, STILL PURSUING, LEARN TO LABOR AND TO WAIT” LONGFELLOW FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE:

“THE LORD IS A GOD OF KNOWLEDGE AND BY HIM ACTIONS ARE WEIGHED.” 1 SAM 11:3