A CANDIDATE’S CAMPAIGN SIDELIGHTS: A ‘WOW, MALI!’ WHICH TURNED OUT RIGHT

A funny incident, which later ended in a tearful reunion, happened shortly after my Nicaan, Libungan mini-rally yesterday.

While I was delivering my campaign pitch before a crowd of about 300 people in the Nicaan market yesterday, I noticed a group of young people who cheered continuously as I talked about education and job generation.

They cheered my tirades including my criticism of the “Green Multi-cab Governance” of the incumbent Governor which I said only contributed to the financial difficulties of the recipient-barangays who have to use their funds for fuel and maintenance.

The young girls and boys and a chubby woman in her 30s were inside a yard and separated from the rally site by a bamboo fence.

As I walked back to my vehicle after the rally and passed by a small entrance in the bamboo fence, they invited me to get inside their house for lunch.

I obliged and proceeded to enter the house through the kitchen. Inside, they offered me food but I told them I only wanted a glass of Coke.

There was a discernible feeling of excitement as I exchanged jokes with them. Later, they brought me to the porch of the house right in front of the highway.

It was there when I noticed that in the parking area of the relatively huge house, a green multi-cab like those being distributed by the provincial government to the barangays was parked.

“Nganong naa man moy green nga multi-cab diri?” I asked them. (Why do you have a green multicab here.)

They all laughed as they told me I was in the house of the barangay chairman of Nicaan, Libungan and they were his daughters, nieces and nephews.

I almost fell off my seat but they assured me that while the house had posters of my political opponent, many of them in the family were die-hard “Pinol supporters” and one of them explained why.

The daughter of the barangay chairman, Lablab Melca, told me that when I was Governor, she and her father, now the barangay chairman of Nicaan, came to my office and sought help in availing of the Jobs for Economic Enhancement Program (JEEP).

The JEEP, which I established in 2000, set up a P20-M fund from which an applicant for jobs abroad could borrow from to pay for the placement fees of up to P80,000 payable in installment without interest.

The program, which was recognized and awarded by the Dept. of Labor and Employment as the Most Outstanding Jobs Program all over the country, was able to help almost 1,000 workers.

(The program has been dismantled by the incumbent Governor along with the other award-winning innovations like the Children of Peace (Galing Pook Award) and the Cotabato Health Insurance Program, a Dept. of Health Awardee.)

“You received us well in your office and you were able to help me,” Lablab told me as tears welled up in her eyes.

She was able to work abroad for three years she said because of the program.

“I cannot forget you and that is why my father will understand that while he will be supporting the incumbent Governor, I and my siblings will vote for Manny Pinol,” Lablab told me.

I left the Melca home feeling both happy and sad. I was happy that Lablab Melca showed appreciation for the program that helped her by supporting the Governor who initiated it.

But at the same time I was sad because I know that her decision to defy the wishes of her father will get the barangay chairman in trouble with the incumbent Governor.

I felt sorry for the trouble I may have caused the family.

(Photo caption: The Melcas family pose for a picture with me. Behind me is the shy Lablab Melcas, a beneficiary of the JEEP jobs program which I initiated.)