By Nora Soriño
ILIGAN City ― “Oi, lawmaker, lawbreakers!”
“No social distancing!”
These were some of the statements which I heard that afternoon of Friday, October 8, the last day of filing of the certificates of candidacy for the elections next year.
The “pulahan” or the “red” team led by Mayor Celso G. Regencia were filing their Certificates of Candidacy ― with all the sound and attention they could muster. Hence those remarks as they passed through major city streets here. Pandemic or no pandemic, they’ve got to have a show of force!
So there they were all dressed in red in four-wheeled vehicles, huddled together, some even sitting in red laps. No, I don’t mean the laps were red too but on second thought many laps had become red I guess for all those weights that they had to support!
Not to be outdone, the two-wheeled motor vehicles carried extra weights too, for all the back riders numbering two or more. I saw that it was “or more.” Hence those comments.
I heard those from the window of the office where I looked out to see that darn spectacle. The comments came from onlookers from another window.
Anyway, along the streets were onlookers too who didn’t observe social distancing either. Who cared about that when there were, “along the streets, a blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums rode the…the…” Well, we’re not doing any counting when there’s an obvious show of force.
Trouble is, I couldn’t help agreeing with those who made those comments at another window. Even if I can’t determine specifically how a job order casual should look. Maybe it was just my suspicious mind at work? Among the riders, I could see Councilor Noli Pardillo giving the thumbs-up sign. The onlookers gave him that sign too but some also thumbs downed him.
I did not see the other candidates, like CGR now a congressional wannabe, Vice Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz, or Councilor Ian Uy vice mayor candidate, the mayor, and vice mayor wannabes, respectively.
Naturally, they received so much flak the day after, on-air and on social media. The latter medium had their pics on them with comments like: “I’ll volunteer my ‘tuob’ services for them!” Another said: “Me too.” Another said, “maybe they’re all fully vaccinated!”
People just didn’t believe the official line that the supporters couldn’t be ‘contained.’ They just couldn’t help their gesture of support for the team.
One critic “revealed” that the job order casuals were ordered to make a “half-day” so they can join the motorcade! And there’s the “or else!” that came with the order.
Another one also said that when one person was asked what RVU on his redshirt mean, the answer was “I don't know.” So the ”revealer” said that the person being asked and who couldn’t answer was not from this city.
But from Lanao Norte, CGR to note is from that place. By the way, RVU means Regencia, Vera Cruz, Uy.
But the surprise of surprise. As of press time, it seems this Covid thing didn’t grow in numbers! Per data from the IATF, in spite of that red-letter day afternoon.
Maybe it was true that they were all vaccinated? Or, maybe the report was “edited” as some suspected? Or maybe “Covid is not real” as cynics see it? Maybe, I’m just overthinking. And it’s not good they say, to overthink.
So for now, let’s just leave it at that.
(Email: norasorino2@gmail.com)
