by Atty. Ferdinand L. Quintos
Right after Mayor Ricardo M. Camacho and his teammates have filed their certificates of candidacy and all through the hustings, some local political pundits called them a “cocktail” party.
When asked what they meant, they told me to refer to a lexicon. Webster says “cocktail” is “a drink of liquor mixed with others or with various flavorings.”
Where is the logic?
The Camacho team last May 10 election was composed of himself, Vice Mayor Mylvin T. Junio, incumbent Councilors Crisostomo M. Bato, Alan D. de Vera, Angelito C. de Vera, Levin N. Uy, Gerardo D. Flores, Junie J. Angeles, Victorino S. Payomo, and sophomore campaigner Francis Domalanta.
In the 2007 elections, Camacho romped away with the mayoral plum, but his running mate lost. Only one of his council bets --- Crisostomo M. Bato --- survived.
Junio won as vice mayor, but his partner lost. Three of their council aspirants --- Ruben Bato, Alan D. de Vera, and Uy --- won.
Angelito C. de Vera and Angeles won as independents.
Payomo and Flores were their party’s only winners.
The result was a mayor and a vice mayor from opposite camps and the Sangguniang Bayan had no pronounced majority with a 1-2-3-2 distribution of the chamber’s seats.
The mixture, if it were a drink, appeared thin but, in no time, proved pleasing to the public palate.
While maintaining their independence, Mayor Camacho, Vice Mayor Junio, and the SB members struck a formula of cooperation and unity that contributed much to the town’s progress.
Under the watch of Mayor Camacho and the SB led by Vice Mayor Junio, projects involving the economy, public health, education, and infrastructure projects were launched and completed.
A shining jewel in the about-to-end administration’s crown is the construction of the two-storey municipal hall annex (see front page story). Its construction, at an estimated cost of P28 million, according to the municipal engineer, was started in August 2007. It is the first major improvement in the local seat of power since the presidencia was constructed in 1937 under the administration of the Municipal President Enrique M. Roldan.
The spirit of cooperation that bound them did not escape the attention of the Bayambangueños who threw in their solid support.
Out of it emerged a political phenomenon, the first in the political history of Bayambang. It proved to be a centripetal force that drew them into a common slate that had a common platform of continuing what they had begun for the people. The council lineup would have been intact, were it not for the fact that Ruben Bato was on the last of his three three-year term. Domalanta got his slot.
Their certificates of candidacy show the Camacho team members have been nominated by one party. Said party, however, can only be likened to a mixing vat where they maintain their respective distinctive flavors.
The “cocktail” had a very good mixture of “political flavorings.” Admirers predicted a sweep in the May 10 elections.
Drink connoisseurs, however, have their own taste. So did the voters in the last election. Enough number of them put in their own preference by electing Gerardo C. de Vera (second place) and Raul R. Sabangan (third place). To their credit Gerardo C. de Vera and Sabangan, and with due respect to the two they dislodged in the Camacho team, were good choices. The first was a former SB member. The second is a chip off a good block—his father was a fomer ABC president and ex officio SB member. He is an incumbent Kagawad of Barangay Magsaysay.
As with the first Camacho term, however, only time will tell if this new political “cocktail” will measure up to the Bayambangueňos’ discriminating taste. The time starts July 1.*
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