A Santa Claus for Tacloban HUC

By CHITO DELA TORRE
December 26, 2008

Former Leyte governor Benjamin ‘Kokoy’ Romualdez, last December 18, was noticeably not the serious type that Leyteños and Samareños knew him during the approximately two decades that he was in power.  He was the jolly good fellow when he entered his precinct on plebiscite day at Panalaron Elementary School in Tacloban City.  The young lady chairperson in that precinct found the grey, no, white haired elder brod of former 3-term Tacloban mayor Bejo Romualdez and younger sibling of former Philippine Republic first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos.

Kokoy walked his way into the premises of the school in the afternoon when voting was about to close.

Those who might have noticed and recognized him could have been elated to see him quite alone.  Yes, because he was not quite alone.  His bodyguards were at some distance.

Kokoy joked a lot, as though he were in his teens.  Yes, he seemed to want to make happy those who were surprised to see him.

For instance, he seemed to be invoking for guidance on what to vote for, to which the riposte of the precinct 600-B chief was that it was all for him to decide.  Then he seemed to plead for some clarification on the two sides of the issue on highly urbanized city which was the main subject in that plebiscite that was exclusively for Tacloban voters.  “Sir, tapos na an kampanya....”   When also jokingly advised  to go out of the voting center and ask in the neighborhood outside for answers to his queries, and then return to the precinct to vote, he asked “Kun yes, ano man?  Kun no, ano man?” (He wanted some guidance on what a yes or no vote would matter.

He also pretended to have tired walking the nearly 50 meters distance to his precinct from the school gate, that he asked to be allowed to rest first.  “Lagas na gud man ako.”  The beautiful chairperson and her members and the watchers inside the school room smiled, but it was obvious they were also repressing their urge to laugh.  Their faces sparkled when he enthused that were he still a teenager, he would be courting the chair lady.

Minutes later, the school principal appeared at the precinct.  She said there was no advance information that the former governor would be visiting her school.

After the brief talk with the principal, Kokoy left.  A tear of joy cascaded from the head marm’s eye, creating a vision that it was Santa Claus who had come to her school.  She was sure the Christmas spirit had been here much earlier. Kokoy told his staff to scribble on his executive book all that the help that she wished of him for her school that goes underwater during heavy rains and which, because being just an old school for the poor and the poorest yet growing yearly in number of enrolees, couldn’t provide much needed learning facilities (textbooks, computers, and improved classroom looks).  Kokoy, the erstwhile strongman of Leyte, still had more jokes coming as he listened to her plea.  After saying he’d tell his son - Leyte First District Representative Martin Romualdez, and his nephew - city mayor Alfred Romualdez to help the school soonest, he remarked, “Dapat it’ ak misis it’ imo aroan, kay under the saya la ako”.  This was followed by a prolonged laughter.

Kokoy’s brief visit to his precinct (assigned for barangay Libertad) surely cheered up everyone in the school and the 600-B (also 600-A) precinct chair (who also wished Kokoy could also help Kapangian school where she teaches and which also needs every conceivable help as Tacloban approaches its new status as a highly urbanized city) who never expected Santa Claus would be in Panalaron that early part of the Christmas Season.

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Two other Santa Claus figures were cheering up the poor people in Samar.

Acting governor Jesus B. Redaja had let the poor communities feel that the provincial government cares for them.  His emphasis has been on agriculture.  While looking after the needs of the working force inside the provincial capitol in Catbalogan, the seat of the provincial government of Samar, he continues to give his heart to every Samarnon who expects the best public service that he could muster for them.  One special thing: Gov. Redaja has restored the subscriptions of the Samar Provincial Library. PARCCOM-Samar landowner representative Serge Gabral (of Calbiga) is among those who admire Jess for that.  The provincial library can now have more new, fresh and updated reading materials for its clientele.

Suspended governor Mila Tan was in Basey to give cheers to barangay officials while spending Christmas moments with her favorite leader in the town, Alud, the ABC president, last December 23 evening.  I was among those who waited for her arrival, after I arranged for my schedule in barrio Villa Aurora for Dec. 24.  Fearing however that I would miss the last trip from Eastern Samar to Tacloban, I left at 6 p.m., missing Mila.

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For the good tidings that they brought to their own people this part of the year, may I say to Kokoy Romualdez, Jess Redaja, and Mila Tan, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!  May you do more wonderful things for everyone, even if it’s not Christmas time, with God’s blessings.

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Master Romeo Sanchez, founder of Modern Aikido, and his self-defense instructors and students will celebrate Christmas with a party on December 28 at about 6 p.m. at the Trojan Central gym in Apitong, Tacloban, together with invited guests.   Merry Christmas to you, too!

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To all www.samarnews.com users, and very especially to Engr. Ray P. Gaspay, MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS!
To Massey and Alma, and all in the Leyte Samar Daily Express family, as well as advertisers, news sources, subscribers and the general readership, may the spirit of Christmas continue to reign in your hearts and may God through Jesus Christ shower you with more blessings!
Thanks a million for caring for Eastern Visayas and its population.
You’re all great!
You inspire everyone.
That’s an invaluable gift from you all.