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 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.
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?
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