By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas

Every politician worth his salt knows the value of the mass media to his political career. On the more idealistic side, they also know the value of the mass media to society.
I was at the Baguio City Mayor’s Office one time a few years back and the conversation strayed to the request of a radio broadcaster which was unfortunately not acted upon by the staff there. The broadcaster was, and still, is very popular. Many people in the city listen to him every early morning. Hop in a cab and chances are the radio would be blaring country, or old songs, or Cordillera or Ilocano compositions in his program. If not these he would be cracking his witty jokes that can make your early morning.
Very popular that he was, it was almost a crime for a staff at the mayor’s office to have not acted upon his request or solicitation. That could have meant thousands of votes lost in the coming election had the broadcaster been vindictive. Apparently, he was not. For in the then coming campaign period, no problem was raised regarding that—not to us supporters of the mayor who were minding the media. So I forgot all about that especially considering that the conversation arose with some personalities who were very close to the mayor who could have (as anybody would have) blown his top for that omission. they could have apprised the mayor about the boboo and something must have been done about it.
Then came the ignoring of our solicitation for our anniversary issue just two weeks ago. The mayor never missed a bit regarding our anniversaries for more than two decades. So I answered an email from his staff last week who mistook my concern to be about Panagbenga ads saying that I was referring to our anniversary. I also said that as a supporter I don’t like the mayor missing the anniversaries of any media outfit, no matter how seemingly inconsequential, as it would make our job more difficult if we ever have to hit the campaign trail again.
I am not blaming any member of the mayor’s staff about that. Not even laziness or negligence, whether real or imagined, of anybody there. Lots of work perhaps or even confusion. Or somebody, in an effort to please, might have arrogated upon himself so many functions that turned out to be too much.
All of these might point to the need for better organization or allocation of duties or functions. Simple really but it is easier said than done. Sometimes it is due to breakdown in communication or the lack of it. The worst case would be when there is a petty and negative power play among members of the staff.
Nevertheless, as I said last week, the next elections are just around the corner. This period up to the campaign period is the last time for incumbents to show their efficiency in attending to the concerns of their constituents, particularly those who had proven to be loyal over the years.
On another matter, from the grapevine, former Congressman Nick Aliping is determined to try and recapture his former seat in Congress. Reportedly, many elders of their clan talked to him to stay out of the race as it appears that the city mayor will run for the same seat. But he was adamant. He said that he had considered the worst case scenario which is his losing and that he is young enough to rise from the rubble of such a disaster and then reinvents himself to be able to be victorious the next time around. Such a gamble, and might be the biggest gamble of his life.
It makes the coming congressional contest in Baguio City even more interesting.
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