CANDIDATE’S DIARY DAY 3: THE WEEPING WOMEN OF MAHONGKOG

When I became Governor of North Cotabato, I heard of the sad state of life of people in Barangay Mahongkog in Magpet town, a mountain village whose main mode of transportation was the horse.

They led a pathetic existence walking for six hours through mountain trails to go to the market and cooking or salting the fresh fish they would buy before walking back to their village.

School children had to walk for six hours on Sunday afternoon to Magpet or Antipas and six hours back on Saturday morning just to be able to go to high school.

Their farm products had to be loaded on horseback to be brought to the markets of Magpet or Antipas and farmers paid P2 per kilo, eating up most of their earnings from marginal farming.

A road to their village was the first request of the people of Mahongkog when I met them in a consultation I held in Magpet town shortly after I became Governor.

The road was built and their lives changed. Farm products were brought to the market at 40 centavos per kilo, saving them P1.60, children rode motorcycles going to school in Magpet and Antipas reaching their destination in 30 minutes and most of all fresh fish was brought to their doorsteps by ambulant vendors on board jeeps blaring with music.

When I went up to Mahongkog shortly after the road was built, women showered me with petals of flowers and cried as they embraced me to thank me for the road, the school building and the water system which I built for them.

It was one of the most touching moments in my governance.

Following my loss in 2010, the road leading to Mahongkog fell into a sad state disrepair.

“It is now like a dried up river,” said one resident of Mahongkog.

Farmers are once again suffering because of the very bad condition of the roads.

Last night in Magpet, following the proclamation rally of the candidates for mayor, vice mayor and councilors, I met the women of Mahongkog once again.

I was dumbfounded when the women of Mahongkog rushed to me and embraced me crying as though they had once again seen the only hope for their salvation from their pitiful existence.

“Balik ka gid, balik ka gid,” they all told me as they hugged me tearfully. (You have to come back, You have to come back.)

When I walked away to proceed to another engagement last night, I suddenly realized that the sleeve of my white polo shirt was wet with the tears of the women of Mahongkog.

I remembered the day I went up to Mahongkog in 2000 when the road was just completed. My shirt was also wet with the tears of the women. But those were tears of joy and happiness.

Last night, they shed tears of sadness and longing for the love and attention of a leader who truly cares for them.