Political lollipop

BLOGISTA

By Cha Monforte

If a kid asks for candy and you give a lollipop and the kid likes it and asks for more, then in our Filipino culture our quick reaction is to give the kid more. We always find happiness out from our own good doing especially when we give one which easily gives immediate reaction of happiness to whom we are giving. It’s such happiness we feel during Yuletide season that is already smiling to us especially when we go to malls these days. By the Christmas music the mall owners like the Gaisanos are playing to actually drum up sales, we are reminded of the adage, “It’s better to give than to receive”.

So in this season at this early when the political teapot already starts to percolate, not at the city’s posh Miko’s Brew where erstwhile opposing politicians have been recently spotted talking, perhaps already plotting for 2010, we have seen 1^st District Congressman Anton Lagdameo, the pogi husband of beauteous actress Dawn Zulueta, already intruding in the 2^nd district on the pretext of his Barangayanihan program on the hallowed grounds being carved as the own political fiefdom of the Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario.

The jaded observers can easily suspect that when day care workers not from a congressman’s legislative district approach him and he makes accommodation to their requests there’s more on it than what meets the eye. To the jaded observers, this latest Anton’s foray to the Tagum City is already a sign of a possibly creeping but little political subterfuge that could endanger the long political career of a durable politician that Gob. Dolfo is.

But this little foray or, better still, call it as intrusion than little subterfuge to the legislative district that rightly belongs to Cong. Arrel Olano has raised many eyebrows of aspiring politicians,  so they could fly to be able to bite for their political career when they have two equally well-funded and well-oiled slates to choose from in the scenario of the having today’s Davao del Norte finally becoming the political powderkeg battleground of the Floirendos and Del Rosarios. The specter salivates DavNor politicians of lesser mortals.

But Gob. Dolfo remains yet to be a political titan and a player to national corridors of power, and for having still a brotherly right to plead in the name of family, whether by blood or marriage, he has still the ascendancy to rein in mere flickers and scattered splinters from what appears as a political shotgun approach in slaying the entrenched political leadership and influence of the man who once stood side by side with the Banana King and patrician Don Antonio O. Floirendo (AOF) Sr., both as bulwarks of strength, into building up the Fortress Tadeco as one of the biggest banana exporters in the Asia-Pacific region.

It is the banana tycoon and Gob. Dolfo’s mentor, AOF, who converted the swamps of Davao del Norte into one thriving banana plantation, building a community that has now expanded to the municipalities of Carmen, Sto. Tomas and B.E. Dujali, and the City of Panabo. And no one else except that AOF had then been helped on so much by his trusted right hand man and brother-in-law who carries a commoner’s name Dolfo. That, since when former Cong. Tonyboy was still so young.

Cong. Anton, for appearing to serve now like a loose feeder cannon ball of the Floirendos, given also that he’s the one incumbent while Tonyboy, the new political kingpin in District 2 fiefdom, is politically unemployed at the moment, is indeed the most vulnerable politician in the divided clan.

For that, Cong. Anton can be fed to bid to run for a position that requires an uphill battle with the Del Rosarios like the gubernatorial and even the vice gubernatorial post. But either of the position appears to be still no-no to him just yet. It’s not that either of the position is too rustic and provincial for one who has known of the silver spoon from a crème dela crème of the perfumed elite. Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez having also a flawless complexion like Cong Anton shows it all. But like Kiko Pangilinan- the senator who ran at Grand Menseng from the clutches of the kongko broadcasters to catch the last plane out to be with his Sharon as Gabby has already returned, in Manila showbiz, just to reminisce my past essay, Cong. Anton, too, has the pleasure of knowing the luster and fame, rough and tumble, tsismis of the showbiz world. And such world is near to the refurbished Batasang Pambansa.

If Cong. Anton means that the qualified one for the gubernatorial is his Tito Tonyboy then he’s correct as the latter is the only one in the province having the stature to meet head-on his Tito Dolfo in the political arena. Otherwise, such statement of the nephew, who is the youngest in the row, can be deciphered by jaded observers as the post he is alanganin to run for. Just now yet. “Trabaho muna, mamaya na yan ang politika…darating din yan,” he was recently quoted as saying.

But back to our lollipop story. Tonyboy must be apprised now that his nephew Anton is visibly enjoying serving as a congressman. He’s quite visibly happy in a post Tonyboy had given to him in a silver platter when the former met his term limit as Cong and got aborted of his plan of running for Gob since  his Tito Dolfo beat him to a draw. Really, in our culture, if the kids like lollipops, elders end up happily giving them more. Why take back Anton’s political lollipop, especially that a choice between an old tito and a young nephew can have the folks naturally prefer for the older, the veteran than the neophyte.

But it’s different story if the choice is between titos, an heir by blood and an appendage by marriage. In this case the folks, nay the voters would then have a hard time of choosing. If this is it by 2010, then Cong. Anton retains his political lollipop in his hand and aspiring politicians in both fiefdoms will be happy ever after an awaited news. (For online edition, visit my blog at: http://cha4t.wordpress.com, e-mail: ruralurbanews@yahoo.com)

Filed under: antonio floirendo sr, cong. anton lagdameo, tadeco, tonyboy floirendo, antonio floirendo sr, cong antonio lagdameo, tonyboy floirendo

NEWS: For congress again by 2010- Cong. Anton

“We’ll resolve our conflict inside the family” on running feud between Floirendos and Del Rosarios

Sept 13

Davao del Norte 2nd District Congressman Antonio Lagdameo said that if he is given another chance he will choose to run “as congressman” again than to any other positions in the province.

In an interview after the launching of his “Barangayanihan” TV program at Panabo Friday, Lagdameo said that since he still on his first term he has still a lot of things to do for his constituents and a lot of things to learn being a neophyte congressman.

Depending on the people while he will just concentrate serving his constituents but “afterwards I will run as congressman again,” said Lagdameo, who is apparently enjoying serving his first term in Congress.

He also said that as to the running family feud between the Floirendos and Gov. Rodolfo “Dolfo” del Rosario (RDR) “it is everybody’s concern in the family” adding that as much as possible they do not want that the feud would be brought further into the open to the public.

“We’ll resolve it inside the family,” he said.

Lagdameo’s statements on his reelection plan fuel speculations anew that former Cong. Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo Jr. is preparing grounds for the eventual fight with RDR, who had reportedly declared for his own reelection bid by 2010 during tha latter’s recent birthday instead of the running of his son former Vice Gov. Anthony G. Del Rosario (AGR).

This came a week before a lot of eyebrows were raised when Lagdameo and Floirendo made their presence felt in their non-bailiwick district, District 1 when Lagdameo appeared in a two-day forum with day care workers he sponsored in Tagum City.

The activity took place Monday last week during the visit of Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno.

Lagdameo, who was reported to be already in the city for the activity, was no-show in welcoming the Chief Justice.

District 2 of Davao del Norte has been known as the Floirendo Country for decades as politically represented by Gov. del Rosario, brother-in-law and erstwhile right hand man of Tadeco patriarch and banana tycoon Don Antonio O. “White Hair” Floirendo (AOF), and considered as one of the durable national political leaders tracing back to Con-Con days.

Political observers said that Lagdameo appears now to be enjoying serving in a coveted position of a congressman than if he were sitting in lower position as vice governor as has been bruited about by other reports, or at the latest for guvernorship which he shunted out saying there are more persons qualified for the position.

With the governor’s reelection declaration, AGR, on the other hand, has been reportedly positioned to run for the 1^st district congressional post, of the last-termer Cong. Arrel Olano.

Olano earlier confirmed to be eyeing to run against reelectionist Mayor Rey “Chiong” Uy or against reelectionist Victorio “Baby” Suaybaguio, who is but reported to be interested to take a crack at the first district congressional post, that is, if AGR is instead positioned for governorship should the current governor would opt for retirement as what former Davao del Norte governor and former congressman Prospero Amatong of  Compostela Valley did before the May 2007 polls.

But it is a farfetched scenario as Del Rosario remains to be one of the country’s top guns in the Lakas-CMD-Kampi coalition and presidential adviser, unless he eyes anew of Cabinet position, pundits said.

The Floirendos and Del Rosario tangled in family feud and business split late last year stemming from May 2007 electoral wranglings which had RDR emerged as the governor and put Tonyboy in his current political vacuum.

RDR is Tito (uncle) of Tonyboy by marriage, while Tonyboy is Tito of Anton and cousin of AGR.

Tonyboy reportedly counts support from influential Tagum City Mayor Uy in the District 1.

Sources said that whatever Lagdameo does is always suspected to be under the direction of Tonyboy, his Tito and chief of staff.

Under the present scenario of throwing Lagdameo to bid for other positions difficult for winning against the Del Rosarios than his easy congressional reelection, he becomes the most vulnerable, if not disposable among politicians in the divided clan as a scenario of Tonyboy comebacking to easily reclaim his old post can have the neophyte and youngest Lagdameo shoved out and picked as a uncertain, loose cannon ball of the Floirendos against the Del Rosarios, pundits added. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

Filed under: cong. anton lagdameo, tonyboy floirendo, cong. anton lagdameo, tonyboy floirendo