ILIGAN City ― I would like to think that city mayor Celso G. Regencia has risen to the occasion. This is during the time of Odette.

Hours before her fury, there was that E.O 315. Which provided, among others that there would be “no work in both public and private establishments” on December 16 and 17. So that, people here could concentrate on their safety.

A proactive move, So people did that. It helped that there were the sad memories of Sendong ten years ago. Which fell on the same days of December then.

And then the “praise boys” of CGR said that he was going from one barangay to another to do the monitoring.

But then the “anti-CGR” boys remembered something. That years ago, during the time of another typhoon when he was already the mayor, he was reported to do the monitoring in several barangays.

But the good mayor was seen on national TV as one of those who had a hard time crossing from Lanao Norte because the bridge at Napo, a barangay in LDN got damaged.

So, the mayor or maybe his supporters then were telling a lie! He wasn't in this city then. Could this be just a “repeat” history? His detractors thought so,

And it didn’t help too that Vice Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz was seen at a bridge here pointing to some barangay, wearing immaculate white shirt and shoes, a big umbrella over him carried by a “tig.”

This was posted on FB with an arrow pointing to the bearer of the umbrella as somebody who was a “Job Order” casual!

Needless to say, even during typhoons politics is still at work,

The “praise boys” of the “red” team of CGR and Vera Cruz were quick to point out that a prominent “blue” team member in the person of Cong. Frederick Siao was missing in action during Odette’s time, where was he?

He was reported to have gone to America long before Odette’s unwelcome coming, but he had his staff to take care of what’s there to take care of, the “blue” ones said.

In the national scene, presidentiable Manny Pacquiao in the immediate aftermath of Odette’s fury was seen on national TV enjoining other wannabes to “set aside” politics for the moment and just join forces and resources to come to the aid of those who suffered the fury of Odette.

VP Leni answered positively.

Presidentiable Ping Lacson however, gave a mouthful, saying it would have been good if Manny did not say it in public, And he would have answered him not in public too,

As it is, he had seen it as “calamity politics” or something like that.

Another presidential wannabe called BBM was seen on TV and in social media giving aid to people in Pampanga.

What? Detractors said, Odette ravaged the Visayas and Mindanao.

And not Pampanga.

Not to be outdone in the talking area, PRRD said “the country has no more money.”

This was taken both negatively and positively depending upon where your inclinations are.

Now I think I’ve made my point, And to all those who are reading this piece and even those who are not. “Merry Christmas!”

(Email: norasorino2@gmail.com)