29/04/2019
CITY OF KORONADAL: AT THE CROSSROADS
- Atty. RENE BILLONES JUMILLA
I am not really an avid FB user. It was only very recently that I started browsing my FB page which was created for me by my daughters – although I am only limited to clicking “like” or “share” interesting posts.
So, this is the first time that I will be writing and sharing my thoughts using this platform.
I always respect everyone’s opinion and choices; thus, it is my fondest hope that mine will also be accorded with the same courtesy.
THREE DECADES OF PUBLIC SERVICE ABOVE SELF
For more than 3 decades that I devoted myself to Public and Community Service, I had the opportunity and the rare privilege to work with ALL of our key political leaders in the Province of South Cotabato and our beloved City of Koronadal.
I took, my oath as KB Chairman of Zone III in 1985 before the late Dr. SERGIO MORALES, SR., then Provincial Governor of South Cotabato which still included Sarangani, former Governor MIKE SUENO was Mayor of then Municipality of Koronadal.
The former Governor and Congressman LARRY DE PEDRO III and former Mayor FERNANDO MIGUEL were appointed OIC-Mayor and OIC-Vice Mayor, respectively, after the 1986 People Power, while I joined the Sangguniang Bayan of Koronadal as Youth Sectoral Representative in 1987.
I continued to serve as Councilor of Koronadal from 1992-2001 with then Municipal Mayor FERNANDO MIGUEL, and then Vice-Mayors NENITA MILLAN-TAN and MARCELITA “BENG” LUCIDO. In 1998, ROSE DIDELES and I assumed office as Mayor and Vice Mayor, respectively, by way of succession. Together with other elective and appointive municipal officials, I led the campaign for the cityhood of Koronadal until its full realization in October 2000.
Vice Governor VICENTE DE JESUS became the first City Mayor, while former VICE MAYOR JOSE LEDDA, JR., became the first City Vice Mayor. Then deputy Speaker, now incumbent Governor DAISY FUENTES, sponsored the House Bill in Congress for the conversion of Koronadal into a City.
For 6 years, from 1995 to 2001, I simultaneously served as Ex-Officio Member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of South Cotabato in my capacity as Federation President of the Philippine Councilors League of South Cotabato.
I worked with then Board Members ELIORDO OGENA and ARTHUR DODO PINGOY JR., who both joined politics in 1995.
As Provincial Board Member of South Cotabato, I was also able to work with DODO PINGOY when he became Vice Governor in 1998-2001, and with BEBOT OGENA when the latter also served as Vice Governor in 2001-2010.
In 2010, I was the running mate of FERDINAND HERNANDEZ for the top posts in the Province. While both of us did not make it at that time, CONG. DINAND, who is already on his third term, has fully vindicated himself as a hardworking and prolific Representative of the 2nd District of South Cotabato, and Deputy Speaker of 17th Congress.
CREATING A DIFFERENCE EVEN WITHOUT TITLE
I will be forever grateful to our people for giving me the chance to serve you and our beloved City. But, after more than 30 years of selfless and dedicated service, I decided NOT to run for any position in the 2019 Local Elections, and instead focus on my family, our business, and our lifetime goals.
Nonetheless, while I am no longer holding any position in the government, I believe that I can still make a big difference by doing my moral duty as an ordinary citizen to enlighten our people to choose the best leaders toward a better, bigger and brighter Koronadal.
DODO IS MY FRIEND BUT BEBOT IS MY MAYOR
Both BEBOT OGENA and DODO PINGOY are my friends, but I believe that public service and governance should be beyond friendship.
Just like BEBOT OGENA, Dodo Pingoy has made significant contributions to the province, but I believe that BEBOT OGENA is the kind of leader that Koronadalenos need…
SIMPLE
MABINULIGON kag MADALI PALAPITAN
MAPAINUBUSON apang MAPAG-ON ang
PANINDUGAN…
May RESPETO kag BALATYAGON gid para sa tagsa-
tagsa.
BEBOT OGENA may not be perfect, just like everyone of us, pero ang klaro kag sigurado sa aton katawhan nga sa kalawigon ni BEBOT OGENA sa serbisyo WALA siya ISYU sang PAG-ABUSO sa PODER o mga KASO sang KORUPSYON. Gani makasalig gid kita nga si BEBOT OGENA magaserbisyo gid sa aton sang tampad kay ginpreparar niya ang iya kaugalingon sang siyam ka tuig bilang Bise Mayor para sa mas daku nga responsibilidad bilang Bag-o nga Lider kag Amay sang Ciudad sang Koronadal.
Kapoy na sa kapigaduhon kag puro promisa ang kadamuan sang aton mga pumuluyo. Sa madamo nga problema nga gina-atubang sang Koronadal, ako nagapati nga si BEBOT OGENA ang kinahanglan sang katwhan ta… MABUOT apang may POLITICAL WILL… NAGAPAMATI sa mga opinion sang iban apang GOAL kag RESULT ORIENTED man (nga nagaresulta sa Kabugwason-Paglaum Scholarship Program, Purok Empowerment Ordinance of South Cotabato kag Environment Code of South Cotabato sa iya pagpanguna samtang siya Bise Gobernador pa kag subong na-institutionalized kag napuslan na sang bug-os nga Probinsya).
Si BEBOT OGENA NAKAHANGOP SA MATUOD-TUOD NGA SITWASYON kag may KLARO nga VISION kag PLANO (10-Point Development Agenda) para sa inclusive nga pag-asenso sang aton Ciudad kag sang aton katawhan.
Panahon na! BAGONG KORONADAL . . . . . Subong na!
ONE KORONADAL
I LOVE KORONADAL! We only have one. Gani ano man ang resulta sang eleksyon nga ini, gina-awhag ko gid ang tanan nga buligan naton ang bag-o nga liderato kag administrasyon.
Mag-isa na kita tanan, magbinuligay kita para sa palangga ta nga Koronadal, kay ang kadalag-an sang aton Ciudad, kadalag-an man naton tanan.
KAYANG-KAYA kung Sama Sama!
BETTER BRIGHTER FUTURE
SOUTH COTABATO
KORONADAL
KONG MAHAL
— with Charene Roselle Carcel Jumilla and Charene Icelle Jumilla.
