By: Ben Contreras
In any competition, there’s that saying that applies; The ball is round. It could go either way!
Such was what happened in the election in Misamis Oriental. One side was so confident, or was it over confident, that before the election, all indications point to their inevitable victory. They were said to be celebrating outside of the country, a pre-celebration that would turn out to be disastrous. The lost, not just the head but almost the entire body of the political line-up was unprecedented. What really happened?
Politics in Misamis Oriental has long been forgotten, at least to me. My interest was resurrected when I bought a piece of land in Sampatulog, Alubijid more than three years ago. We did our best to make the place livable. We planted fruit tree like mangoes, avocado, star-apple, macopa, lansones, coconut, bananas, atis, durian in small number. I added two mansanitas for shade purposes. We raise chicken, ducks, geese and turkeys, not for commercial but fun and later, consumption. I dream of a quiet place to spend my remaining years. I started quite well until, boom….LANGAW!
Initially, I tried to be civil and diplomatic by bringing our (the community) concern to every level of our provincial government and to concern government agencies. From the barangay to the municipal mayor, the governor’s office, the provincial sanitary office, DTI, DA, DENR, EMB, etc, I’ve been there.
Today, we, let me include the rest of the municipalities in MisOr, are still facing this problem without any sign of solution. I have practically become the evil one fighting for this cause. I went to radio stations, sought friends from the media, successfully had some media people visit a few poultries but the problems persisted.
I have nothing against poultry per se. They are needed to provide the people chicken meat and eggs. But that doesn’t give them the privilege to let the people suffer from “langaw”.
Recently, I got to know Rico Pacamalan, from Lourdes, Alubijid. Like me, he will carry the fight. We will be joined by others, soon.
The last election has a little something to do with this problem. The former governor was, to my late knowledge, called by the people “Langaw King” because he owns many poultries. In fact, he financed small scale poultries in the province.
Before the election, the signs in the province was already in her favor with a slight margin only. Perhaps, over confident was not accurate to describe the camp of the former governor. It was vengeance and a backlash against a business and the problem it caused.
“Siya ra man ang nabulahan sa ini nga negosyo.” We heard this from those the former governor financed. His “walang paki” attitude to the “langaw” problem took its toll in his bid for reelection. Perhaps, it’s not just these that caused his unexpected defeat. As the new governor found out soon enough, there are many questionable transactions and discoveries that should warrant a non-nonsense investigation.
This coming Monday, July 14, 2025, at 8:00 a.m., Rico Pacamalan and company will be our guest at Mellow Touch hosts by Mr. Ronnie Waniwan. We shall discuss the “langaw problem including what we plan to do in the next few days. Stay tune.
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The occurrence of accidents in the city involving motorcycles is getting too frequent for comfort. We have a tremendous increase in ownership and lacking in education. Let me put this in mixed English and Bisaya.
Many riders do not observe road courtesy and chances are, less knowledge of traffic rules and laws. The traffic signs are no longer respected (including four wheel motorists).
But motorcycles, musirit sa imong wala, musirit sa imong tuo, without regards of possible dire consequence. Mga Dodong ug Inday, usa ra ang atong kinabuhi. Naa pay gahulat kaninyo sa inyong panimalay. Amping kanunay. Likayi ang pagdali-dali ug pag-apura.
Relative to this, we are toying with the idea of reviving our traffic volunteer group, the Cagayan de Oro Campaigners for Road Courtesy and Discipline (CDO CRCD).
Once upon a time, our group was feared ore by the motorists because we were serious in our advocacy.
If time would favor us, you may soon find us in the streets again.
