ANO BANG NAGAWA NI KRISTINE BALMES?

Ang ipinagsasabi ng mga pabor sa pagpapatuloy ng Dinastiyang Dimacuha  ay hindi pa karapat-dapat maging Mayor si Kristine Balmes dahil wala raw itong nagawa. WALA NGA BA? Pwede po ninyong i-click upang palakihin ang mga larawan ng pagkukumpara sa ibaba. Ang nakapulang letra, ibig sabihin, dagdag pahirap - bayarin man o taripa, o pagrerepaso ng mga pahirap na ordinansa at resolusyon lalo na ang sa pagpasok sa mga kontrata at pangungutang ng pamahalaang lokal kung saan dehado ang mamamayan.

Marami pa akong ganito na mula pa taong 2011 hanggang ngayon, kung hindi pa rin kumbinsido ang mga tuta ng dinastiya at YES KONSEHALES. Sa susunod, malamang isa-isahin ko ang "performance of greed" ng mga ONSEHAL na ito.

KAYA SA DARATING NA HALALAN 2016, KAILANGAN NG MATALINONG PAGPILI. 

Millennials: what future awaits you under the Dimacuha political dynasty?

This post is dedicated to the millennial voters of Batangas City and other places in similar situation.

For 28 years, the Dimacuhas of Batangas City, headed by patriarch Eduardo, have been in power since 1988. After his first 3 terms as mayor (1988-1998) he was succeeded by son, Angelito "Dondon" Dimacuha (1998–2001), then again Eduardo B. Dimacuha, made a comeback in 2001–2010/ Then wife, Vilma A. Dimacuha succeeded him from 2010-2013, and again Eduardo B. Dimacuha came back since 2013, and now running again for 2016 elections.

Obviously, the Dimacuhas have felt a sense of over confidence and self-entitlement to rule the city, having won all elections since 1988. Emboldened by their staying power, the family has treated the affairs of the City Government as their own, similar to a family business. With the cooperation and conspiracy of the YES KONSEHALES (so-called because they will say yes to anything Dimacuha asks), the tyranny of the majority has ruled the Sangguniang Panlungsod. Treating Batangas City as a family corporation resulted to complacence and even disregard to people’s sensibilities. Impunity reigns where utter disregard to decency, legality and even respect for human rights and life were set aside, albeit systematically.

Dimacuha is very skillful at using his not so secret weapon – the tyranny of the majority (and he is the majority stockholder so to speak). With his YES Konsehales, he has had always his way of getting resolutions and ordinances favorable to him, including unbridled spending and borrowing, making Batangas City as a potentially bankrupt local government in 5 years.

He seems unstoppable - at taking advantage of his position of power and influence. But nature has her way of slowing down the ageing Dimacuha. Nahimatay na nga sa isang flag ceremony, bukod sa halatang halata na ang panghihina ng katawan kaya bihira nang humarap sa tao.

So shameless that even his son-in-law, Marvey Marino, is running for the lone congressional seat!

So the rage of the people starts to manifest in 2013, with the modern technology used as the jumping board, because it is safer for the opposition to be incognito in the face of a fierce dictator. Readers began to search for the truth, shared information using pseudonym and aliases, while the others who get the information pass the stories through whispers and sarcastic jokes.

In 2013, despite running under the opposition and thought to be shooting for the star with uncertainty, the former wife of Dondon Dimacuha, Kristine Balmes ran, and along with another opposition member, won by the hairline. The election results was marred by deception, cheating, manipulation and vote buying. But Dimacuha did not expect his former daughter-in-law to win.

It proved to be the turning point for the opposition,  when about two years ago, a new group formed a page in facebook, called Reject RPT 20 Movement was formed and slowly gathered steam where Kristine Balmes slowly became the rallying point. It was initially composed of ragtag opposition politicians and disillusioned businessmen and laymen.

Issues expanded from the original outcry against the imposition of unreasonable real property taxes, to environmental issues, and developing the informal group as a watchdog of the governance of the city. Members grew dramatically, as the Church has become involved in the issues the group espoused.

Realizing it was not enough to criticize or make public discourse over pressing issues, the group decided to turn itself into a loose and informal political group and launched the candidacy of Kristine Balmes for Mayor, Carlito Bisa for congressman, and others. Matter of fact, it has a complete slate of candidates for Councilors.

People looked at 2013 elections as the best way to repudiate the Dimacuhas. Unfortunately, he managed to buy most voters and manipulate even the results. Joe Tolentino had no money to contest the manipulations. And so the unfortunate extension of the dynasty until now.

This 2016, all the odds are against the visibly ailing Dimacuha who can no longer afford to bear the rigors of the campaign. Second, while he has the largess of a campaign kitty and an arsenal to mobilize a private army, they may not be enough to match the discontent, hate and contempt of the people of Batangas City. Neither his traditional parochial distribution of money and goods, charged to the city fund, can placate the anger of so many Batanguenos he has skillfully  manipulated all these years.

65% of voters are young people, aged 18-34. Majority of them are the so-called millennials or born between the years 1980 - 2000. These are the young ones who have access to the information age, and while seemingly carefree, they know what is going on. These are the same generation who will look forward and ask themselves WHAT WILL BE THEIR FUTURE IF OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE ONLY IN THE HANDS OF THE FEW?

Si Kristine Balmes, kapamilya pa nga ba ng Dinastiya?

Ngayong malinaw  na kung sino ang kalaban ng Dinastiya na tumatayo para manindigan  at wakasan ang 28 taon ng paghahari ng iisang pamilya, marami na ang lasong ipinakakalat sa hangin upang sirain ang isang single mom na tanging naglakas-loob na pangunahan  ang laban  ng Batangueno.

Halimbawa,  kung dati raw manugang yan,  eh di  kapamilya  din pala ng nakaupo?

Mali, dahil si Kristine ay may 12 taon nang hiwalay  kay Dondon Dimacuha, at halos 10  taon nang annulled o  napawalang-bisa  ang kanilang kasal.   Samakatwid, certified single na ang future Mayor na  ito.

Ang 12 taon ay napakahaba  ng panahon  para masabi natin na halos  wala na siyang kaugnayan  sa  pamilya ng dating biyenan, maliban  sa hindi maitatangging kadugo  nila ang apo  nila kay Kristine. Si Dondon naman ay matagal nang may sariling pamilya, at ang tanging ugnayan sa anak, sa aking pagkabalita,  ay ang  pagsuporta sa  pag-aaral ng bata, at ang maalala ito sa mga okasyon ng birthday o Pasko.

Ibig sabihin lang nito,  malayo  sa  isang family affair  o away biyenan  at manugang gaya ng gustong ipang-intriga ng ilan.

Sa totoo  lang,  malayo na  sana ang narating ng karera sa pulitika ni Kristine. Alalahanin  natin na nahalal  sya na  1^st o topnotcher Councilor noong 1998  (kaya nga yata niligawan agad eh baka makalaban pa?). Nasa  kanya  ang lahat ng pagkakataon para ituloy  ang kanyang paglilingkod  sa  bayan, pero nabalitaan ko  rin na pinigilan sya noon na muling kumandidato sa mga taong 2001, 2004, 2007 at 2010, at bilang respeto sa dating biyenan,  maski noong hiwalay na sila  noon pa mang May 2003, ay hindi sya  kumandidato.

Ang hamon, dahil nagtrabaho  si Kristine sa mga development organizations or NGOs,  mulat ang isipan nya sa kalagayang pampulitika kanyang sinilangang Lungsod. Kaya sa paghimok na rin ng marami, at sa pag-asang maski paano sya ay pakikinggan, kumandidato sya noong 2013. Pero ginawa syang isang “malungkot na tinig” at “reklamador”  sa Sangguniang Panglungsod. Hindi  pinapakinggan maski may batayan  ang mga isyu na  kanyang inihahayag sa konseho.

Yan na rin ang malaking dahilan na nahamon syang manindigan na at kumandidato bilang Mayor upang ituwid ang mga nakita nyang mali  sa  pamamahala sa Lungsod, kabilang na ang pagtapos sa paghahari ng dinastiya. Kung hindi nya ito gagawin,  malamang walang kalaban o un-opposed  na naman  ang dinastiya.

Kung hindi natin wawakasan ito ngayon, malamang abutin nga tayo ng 30 - 50  taon

Hindi lang usapin ng dinastiya  ang laban ni Kristine, kungdi usapin  ng kasalukuyang nakakalunos  na  kalagayan ng Lungsod na pinatatakbo ng mga hindi  halal at maaaring kaylanman ay hindi  mahalal (un-elected and un-electable)  bilang proxy ng matanda, mahina  na at may sakit na  punong lungsod.  Higit pa riyan  ang mga iregularidad  sa pamamahala  at lantarang pag-abuso  sa  kapangyarihan. 

Sino nga bang matinong tao  ang  nais mangunsinti  ng mali, maski  pa  yan  ay  dati  mong kapamilya?

Sa isang babaeng may kunsensya, at 12 taong nanahimik,  nakapagtataka  pa ba  na si Kristine ay  nagising at nakahandang tanggapin  ang hamon ng pagbabago, upang hindi  mapag-iwanan  ang Lungsod ng Batangas  sa kaunlaran, kaayusan, kapayapaan  at katarungan?

My long history of infatuation with the Balmes Mother and Daughter – Why I trust Kristine Balmes

Looking at the FB  family picture of the Balmes clan today after the mass dedicating Mayor Kristine Balmes’  filing  of her Certificate of Candidacy for Mayor of Batangas City suddenly made flashbacks of my long history of infatuation with the Balmes mother and daughter (oh don’t get me wrong, nothing romantic, but read on, it’s  my side of  the story).

Kristine and I have been facebook friends since Nov 2010, but I am sure she hardly knew me. Her mother, Madam Yolie does.

In 1987 I was a student leader in Lyceum of Batangas, famously or infamously known as the irrepressible and incorrigible Nomer Macalalad. I led the first, biggest and longest running student mass actions back then. Dr. Yolinda Gonda-Balmes was Executive Vice President and Peter Laurel was Asst. Vice President (but was calling the shots as the Laurel family owns the university). Madam Yolie held office at the ground floor of the main building and Peter Laurel at the Penthouse (3^rd, just below the residence).

The  Fashionable  Mdme   Yolie  Balmes

 I was fierce and irreverent, and surely gave Madam Yolie some sleepless nights as she would come to office very early in the morning (to avoid being blocked by student barricades?) I remember meeting her with darkening eye bags, and obviously stressful days (haha).  But she was always as beautiful, a fashionista in her own right.

When the Laurels dropped my scholarship in retaliation, and Registrar Fe Medina would not allow me to re-enroll nor release my transcript,  I remember storming Peter Laurel’s office and telling him strongly to “release my record and I will be out of your school.” True enough, a few storeys and minutes below, I went straight to the Registrar’s office  and my transcript was ready,  no request or clearance required   (they were avoiding an altercation with me and Peter must have called them to simply acquiesce to this incorrigible rebel’s demand).

Later on, I became a local journalist, and one of my favorite interviewees was madam Yolie’s father, the late Bokal Ding Gonda. I sympathized with his lonely opposition stance against the Mayo administration which at times seemed to have dismissed him as just one grumpy old man in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (back then the Governor presided over SP sessions).  But before anyone misunderstands my reference to ex-Governor Enteng Mayo, I would like to say that he was a very nice person. It was in his presence when I was offered to start a career as a radio commentator by my  mentor (lucky me to have used to have coffee with Governors.  I also did as a youth leader with ex-Gov. Joey Laurel in his last days in office so I was already familiar with the Mansion as early as 1987).

I think it was in 1998 when Kristine Balmes ran for the first time as Councilor. And Madam  Yolie  came  to my  former  house  in  Tingga Labac and gave  me  a  wall  clock.  Of   course, I voted for  Kristine  not because of  that wall  clock  but because of her mom (still  infatuated  with her   after all those Lyceum   days!) The rest is history and I have written about Kristine  being swooned to her  feet  by Dondon  Dimacuha, etc. The break-up, Kristine’s transformation   after her election  in  2013  (although I  am very   sure that her  activism   is  basically brought about  by her NGO  work  prior   to that) are  all part of  my writings about her in 2013.

Now Kristine is up to the task. She is my choice for  Mayor because  I trust her. Yes she is quite  young  (a  little bit  younger than   me),  arguably naïve  in dirty  politics  and  a   dreamer. But isn’t that what we need?   One friend  asked me, why support    her   when  she  is the mother of  a Dimacuha  child  who  will later revive the dynasty   (wow, that’s   too  futuristic), but I said she  is our only chance  at the moment. And  honestly,  she  doesn’t  have the pedigree of  a dynast,  but  of  a  decent leader like   her late Lolo  Ding.

My support is voluntary. And  believe it or  not, we argue a lot  on facebook  messenger, as she  would naturally  disagree  at times   on  what I write or post  (not just about her, but about anything else). But I trust her to be our only hope  to  end the  tyrannical  dynasty.  I trust her to be the only person who can bring back the pride and glory of Batangas City because she has a vision, a complete contrast to what the Dimacuha dynasty has systematically put in place in the last 28  years.   Bacause Kristine’s conviction is for good and democratic governance. In short, SHE IS THE (WO)MAN OF THE TIME.

But I also assure you, the irreverent, irrepressible and incorrigible me will always be here to watch her govern. Privately (I hope she doesn’t cut our communication line when she gets elected), or publicly, I will still tell her what I think on matters  of public concern.

Drawing the lines between Good and Evil in Batangas: The Tale of 3 candidates: a missed leader, a self-confessed politically-naïve single mom beating the odds of a well-entrenched dynasty and former in-laws, and a persistent knight against a political monster

In the next weeks and months, we will be bombarded with all sorts of political propaganda.  Candidates  will  do  everything to  win our votes, and those with personal  axes  to  grind  will  surely come  up with  all  sorts  of issues  against candidates, while the sycophants will heap empty praises  to their  candidates with an  expectation  to get favors  once their  bets  win. Realistically that is what election seasons bring about - an artificial euphoria of sorts. Then when the elections smoke is gone, we are confronted with the reality that we voted into office idiots, incompetents, corrupt and undeserving people.

As   an independent writer/observer, it is my distinct advantage of being free from any political or personal affiliations with these candidates. I can say what I want, express what I observe and give personal judgement.  Though I have also taken it as my duty as a citizen to share my thoughts. In the first place, I am a graduate of Political Science at the University of Batangas (though I have doubts that it even recognizes me as an alumnus).

Kaya maaga pa po, ibinabahagi ko na  ang sa aking palagay  ay mga  natatanging kandidato na may dalang magandang kinabukasan sa bayan:

Batangas Province

Dodo MANDANAS

Umpisahan  natin  kay dating Gob. Hermilando  “Dodo” I. Mandanas or HIM for short. Hindi Ito Magnanakaw, Hindi Ito Mamamatay-tao, and lalong Hindi Ito Magkakandili ng droga.

Kumakandidatong mag-isa (walang partido at walang bitbit na ibang kandidato), sinabi nya na mas mabuti na ang hindi makasama ng mga may bahid dungis na partido.

Hindi malilimutan ng marami ang kanyang mga programa na pinakinabangan ng libu-libong mag-aaral sa kanyang scholarship program. Maski  sa pribadong kapasidad, matagal na nagsilbi  ang kanyang Batangas Social Development Foundation (BSDF) na nakabase noon sa Aplaya, Bauan.  Dinayo ng marami ang kanyang lumang bahay sa Aplaya, kumita maski maliliit na tindahan sa mga bisita. Sa mismong Aplaya, nagpagawa sya ng mga  silid-aralan, pinakamalaking covered court, ipinaayos ang mga kalsada, nagpagawa ng sea wall, at mga medical missions.

Bilang Gobernador, pinakikinabangan pa ng Lalawigan ang mga programang pangkaunlarang kanyang nasimulan, mga development master plans na patuloy na nagpapatatag sa economic foundation ng Lalawigan. Ang mga pagawaing-bayan na nanatiling nagbibigay ginhawa   sa mga liblib   na lugar, at ang mga hinahanap-hanap na mga serbisyong medikal at panlipunan  na bukas sa lahat ng tao. (Naaalala nyo pa ang People’s Day at the Capitol  tuwing Lunes?) Maraming ang naghahanap ng ganyang pagkalinga mula sa isang puno ng lalawigan – yung lider na personal mong nakakaharap, di man magawang pagbigyan ang lahat ng kahilingan.

Ang campaign  tagline ni Ka  Dodo ay  “Walang Kurap, walang mahirap. Pag ang puno ay kurap, mamamayan maghihirap.”

Pero  marami ang may  mga saloobin laban kay  Ka Dodo, subalit  kung  pakikinggan  mukhang nagmumula sa  mga personal na pabor na hindi  napagbigyan.  Ngunit  tanungin mo, kung  may masama  bang nagawa sa bayan, wala namang maituro. 

Kung  pansarili  ko  lang, pwede ko  na ring  sabihing may  rin sama ako ng loob sa kanya. Hindi dahil may hiningi  akong hindi naibigay,  kungdi  sama   ng loob  na sya ay nagpalaki  at tumulong  sa  mga  taong  walang  utang na loob, kagaya  ni  Rep. Raneo Abu  (wala namang mararating yan kung hindi itinaya  ni Ka Dodo ang  kanyang  pangalan sa kanya). Subalit ngayon nasaan  na si  Abu  at ilang tauhan  ni Ka Dodo? Ang balita  ko pinagpaplanuhan  pang ilaglag  sya sa sariling tinubuang barangay sa Aplaya, Bauan. Bunga  ito  ng pikit  matang  pagsuporta  ni Abu  sa Dinastiyang  Dolor ng Bauan kung saan sya ay manugang sa pamangkin.

Batangas City

Kristine  BALMES

Si Maria Kristine Josefina G. Balmes, dating manugang ng puno ng Dinastiyang Dimacuha, ina ng nag-iisang anak kay Barangay Captain Dondon Dimacuha (dating Mayor at Konsehal, ngayon ay ABC President kaya ex-officio Konsehal ulit dahil patuloy na nirere-recycle ng dinastiya), pagkatapos humiwalay sa kanyang asawa at magising sa sitwasyong panlipunan at pampulitika ng Lungsod, tumakbo at nanalong Konsehal noong 2013 (ikalawang pagbabalik, dahil konsehala din sya noong masungkit ni Dondon).

Nagsisilbing de facto leader ng oposisyon, pinatunayan ang liderato sa pamamagitan ng pagsusulong ng mga pagbabago at pagkiling sa mga usaping maliwanag na taliwas sa lahat ng gusto ng dinastiya, kagaya ng pagtutol sa mga kwestyunableng paglulubog sa utang sa pamahalaang lungsod para umano sa mga proyektong kaduda-duda, mga kontratang malinaw na “disadvantageous” o argabyado  ang mamamayan gaya ng PPP sa terminal sa Balagtas, likong pamamahala (by proxy, maling priorities, may pansariling interes gaya ng EBD cards gamit ay pondo ng gobyerno, atbp), mga karahasang nagaganap sa Lungsod kabilang na ang pagpatay sa mga kalaban at kritiko ng dinastiya (personal na nakiramay at nagsalita si Kristine sa libing ni Mei Magsino, mahigpit na kritiko ni Dimacuha), mga usapin ngn pagkiling sa mga kumpanyang sumisira sa kalikasan at hindi nagbabayad ng buwis gaya ng JG Summit Petrochem at pagtatayo nito ng plantang gagamit ng uling (coal).

Tatakbo bilang Mayor, isang babae, walang masasabing 3G’s (gold, guns and gold), subalit naniniwalang ito na ang PANAHON NG PAGBABAGO.

In the guise of Private-Public Partnership (PPP), it now now turns out to be Punyetang Pamemera sa Pamamahala

Ang plataporma ni Kristine, malinaw na pagtalikod sa nakakasuka nang landas na tinahak ng Lungsod sa loob ng 28 taon – “will center on pursuing political and development reforms through the active participation of our citizen and by establishing inclusive growth. My goal is to create more jobs and offer sustainable livelihood projects for our people, help provide education to all deserving students, establish a universal health care program, more suitable for our constituents, and conceptualize a master plan that will address issues on urban planning and development. I would also like to promote a more transparent, red tape free and God-fearing government that respects the environment, natural resources and our people. Tourism will also be greatly improved. And lastly, restore the discipline, respect for others and care for humanity among our people.”

Bauan, Batangas

Former councilor and vicemayor, opposition  leader Atty. Juan “Johnny”  Magboo will make another attempt to unseat the Dolor  dynasty.

Ang kanyang ibangon ang Bauan upang MAGBOO  ng panibagong bukas sa nalugmok  na dating 1^st class na  bayan ng Bauan ay isang malaking hamon. Hawak ng dinastiyang Dolor ang Bauan sa  mahigit 18 taon, na  inumpisahan ng ama na si ex-Mayor  Hermie Dolor (ngayon  ay ex-officio Bokal bilang Pangulo ng Association of Barangay Councils ng Lalawigan). Kasalukuyang nakaupo ang kanyang  anak na si Ryanh bilang mayor na nasa huling termino na.   Kaya  kagaya  ng gawain  ng alinmang dinastiya,  magre-recycle ulit ng basura, at ngayon muling lalaban   ang dynasty founder na  si  Hermie Dolor, bilang Mayor.

Johnny  MAGBOO

The Dolor dynasty is characterized by  a typical story of political abuse that  should have no place in a modern democracy.  Nakapagtatakang  ito ay  hindi napapansin ng  media gayong napakalapit lamang sa  kabihasnan. Maging mga mamamayan  ay natatakot magsalita, at mangilan-ngilan  lamang ang naglalakas-loob, kabilang  na si Johnny Magboo.

Ilan sa mga usaping matagal  na  nyang tinawag  ang pansin  ng publiko  ay ang mga sumusunod:

• 1.    Ang pag-utang ng Pamahalaang Bayan ng P150 million sa Comnet Management Inc.
• 2.    Ang pagsasanla sa Pamilihang Bayan sa Comnet Management Inc.
• 3.    Ang pagsira sa plaza at pagpayag na gawing commercial building (Bauan Plaza  Hotel)  ang bahagi nito ng Comnet Management Inc.
• 4.    Ang planong gibain ang Bauan East Central School para gawing terminal sa  pamamahala ng Comnet Management Inc.
• 5.    Ang pagbenta ng Bauan Waterworks System sa Aquadata na nagresulta sa mataas na singil
• 6.    Ang pagbenta sa Bauan Electric System sa First Bay Power Corp.
• 7.    Ang 5 taon nang sinirang munisipyo na bagama’t may plano na  raw pasinayaan  (timing sa halalan) ay  kakatwa  sapagkat ang Bauan  na  isang maunlad na bayan ay natatanging walang sariling munisipyo

Bukod pa dyan  ang  maraming samut-saring isyu tulad ng laganap na patayan na halos hindi nababalita, mga alegasyon ng katiwalian sa mga transakyon ng pamahalaang bayan, alegasyon ng pagpapayaman sa sarili  (pagbili  ng rest house, bahay at mamahaling sasakyan) ng pamilya ng namumuno,  at pag-abuso  sa mga  tao  (pananakot,   pagmumura at pagtutungayaw).

Ayon  sa Commission on Audit Report na isinalin  sa wikang Filipino ni G. Chito Mandanas  (dating kaalyado  ng mga Dolor):

“Ang pagkabenta Bauan Waterworks system at lahat ng mga pag-aari nito sa Aquadata Incorporated ay taliwas sa isinasaad ng Section 379 & 380 ng Republic Act 7160, at hindi ito makakabuti sa interes ng Bayan. Habang nakabinbin pa ang patakaran ng COA Head Office sa legalidad ng kontrata ng bentahan ay inerekomenda ng Audit team, na ang Mayor ng Bauan ay dapat hihingi muna ng pagsang-ayon ng COA sa bawat bentahan ng kahit anong pag-aari ng Munisipyo sa mga susunod na pagkakataon para masiguro na hindi agrabyado ang mga mamamayan, manapa'y kapakipakinabang dapat para maprotektahan ang interes at kapakanan ng mga Bauangueño.

Ang kontrata sa kasunduan sa pagitan ng Bayan ng Bauan at Comnet Management Corporation para sa pagpapaupa ng 1,734 metro kuwadrado na lupa na pag-aari ng Bauan ay lumabag sa "Section 198 of the Rules and Regulations on Supply & Property Management in the Local Government" na nakasaad sa ilalim ng "COA Circular No. 92-386" na may petsang Oktubre 20, 1992. Napag-alaman din na ang mga kundisyones na nakasaad sa kasunduan ay hindi naaayon sa interes o' kapakanan ng Bauan kung saan pwedeng may nakaambang pagkawala ng napakahalagang lupa ng Bayan na maaaring magbunga ng katampalasanan sa sambayanang Bauangueño.”

Magboo, like   Kristine, is a symbol of  CHANGE. They are both up  against  well-entrenched, powerful  and at times, violent politicians.  Ka  Dodo, meanwhile  is up against  traditional politics,  where parties  and machineries work to  place their  people  and  own   kind  and  perpetuate  a  political system that makes people powerless,  and enriches  those  in power.

AASA NA LAMANG TAYO NA ANG TAUMBAYAN,  bagama’t saklot ng takot  ay  MANININDIGAN SA BALOTA.