ILIGAN City ― These days there is so much political noise. We can describe many of them as brazen, vulgar, or irritating. Like what is coming out of the mouth of the VP in the course of these "serious" investigations. Like her saying that she will cause the "digging" of the remains of a former dictator and throw them into the West Philippine Sea. Or that she is willing to have the head of the son of that former dictator who is now the current president of this troubled country, be cut off.
OMG, what kind of language is that?
Even if we see that this is similar to the language of the father, like father, like daughter, still we are quite shocked. Or surprised. At least for many of us.
Yet here in our city, I must say that there's a politician here, though not necessarily in the category of the Dutertes, in the matter of noise or vulgarity or brazenness is noteworthy too.
I am talking about FMQ. So, who is he? He's no other than lawyer Franklin Macalisang Quijano.
I sort of became aware of his existence in the political firmament of this city in the early 90s when he ran for city councilor here as an independent.
As in nobody to depend on. But himself! Yet he won readily. And on the top of the heap yet of the elected councilors.
Emboldened by such a feat, Quijano went on to field himself as a candidate for city mayor. Against such an Iliganon and equally promising politician as Dr Alejo A. Yanez. The latter though won only by several breaths away. By a little over 200 votes the proclamation was delayed. Because there was a recount.
So, the next elections, saw FMQ again running for the same post. But this time, the gap became wider. So, maybe FMQ's earlier victory or 'near victory" was just some fluke? As in "sulagma"?
Dr Yanez was seen as a good mayor. Among his strategies was the putting up of a sign in Buhanginan Hills where most of the city officials hold office, which was the slogan: "Yes, Iligan Can.'' Meaning, that this city could realize anything that it aspires to, towards "greatness." And it helped too that there was still that crown jewel of this city called National Steel Corporation. But the "Yes, Iligan Can" was twisted by those in the opposite camp of the city mayor as, "Yes, Iligan Clan." Which to many, interpreted as to mean that only the "clans" of Yanez were…oh, you can get your interpretation to that. And it didn't help too that this crown of a jewel called NSC was "rumored" to be on the verge of collapse. Though this isn't the fault of the mayor, is it?
In the next elections, Quijano again ran for mayor. This time he won! That was in 1993. So, the constituents gave him another term as mayor. During his incumbency, the NSC closed. As this says in some song lyrics, "Some good things never last."
There was a parade of those erstwhile NSC employees and concerned people, that culminated in the city public plaza. Whereby the good mayor Quiuano made some heart-rending speech. Quijano, to note, per his biography was an honor student and he took up first, the course of Economics at the University of San Carlos in Cebu City. Whereby after graduating from that course, he is said to have taught at said University, in Economics classes, before he pursued a law course where he eventually became a lawyer.
That's why maybe, he had such a stirring speech.
Quijano though became mayor for only two terms. He did not win his third. Maybe, partly because someone had accused him of "owning" some mansions somewhere in Cagayan de Oro City and even as far as Cebu City. Complete with video clips placed inside some container like some song albums.
Although, FMQ said that this was all a lie. I knew the guy who spread all that, but I won't name him. And in one presscon which Quijano held and he saw "the guy" responsible for all that, he drove the guy away.
Then Quijano got on with his life and served in whatever way he seemed fit. Like being the CEO of the Phividec Industrial Authority, 2018 located in Tagoloan, and Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. This is said to be an over 3,000-hectare zone housing several structures like Government Controlled Corporations and several structures, public and private ones to advance the economic and financial status of the area and nearby and even the whole country.
In June 2019, something gripping happened to his personal life. On the 27th of that month, his wife, Salma Theresa Gerona-Quyjano went missing. After a month of searching, it was learned that she had drowned in the nearby Mandulog River, which was near the couple's home in Gerona. Earlier, there was a woman who had drowned in said river about 2 days from the day she disappeared. Shs wasn't the one, by the looks of it. Yet after weeks of facing some blank walls, they retraced their steps and exhumed the dead woman as she did not have any claimant.
It was found, through dentures and autopsy that she was FMQ's wife indeed. Only that earlier she was not recognized by Quijano or other members of the family and near relatives, like Franklin's brother Roberto for the body had become so bloated. And the jeans that the woman was wearing, were a tattered one And she did not resemble his wife.
After that incident when I came across him once, I asked him how was he. He answered: "Well, here am i, getting thinner and thinner and thinner. Like you. "
I thought that such was an indirect way of saying that he hadn't completely moved on from that sad episode in his life.
Anyway, I saw him from a distance that he had really moved on from that, getting more and more busy with that Phividec thing. It helped that he was one of those among the Duterte boys. as many people here perceive him Soon we saw him being seen on the national scene. Being the National Commissioner of the Senior Citizens or NCSC.
Meaning, he was good. And now a national figure. And we see him occasionally on TV screens on the national level, saying that, saying this. In connection with the NCSC.
And then, the last time we looked at the national scene in connection with that job, he was suspended. For 90 days.
To the dismay of many people here, some even interpreted it as "being a Duterte appointee." But such is the characteristic of our politics here especially with the change of leadership specifically the presidency. Though think that's only a perception. As in make FPRFD and those who are associated with him look bad.
What's more, there is also a plan to investigate the Phividec affair. Which Quijano is there to be one of those to be investigated?
So, he's facing now several challenges on several fronts. He too has filed his COC for the post of mayor of this city.
Yet, I can now imagine Quijano saying in more or less a joking manner: "Nganong ni enter?"
Email: nora.lady@yahoo.com or contact 09073384874 | 09277983167
