Striking a wacky pose, the convenors of the KAABAG and their partners for life finally reveal themselves in a show of force, sending the message that they’ve had it with what’s happening in Ormoc and will start walking the talk.
By Lalaine M. Jimenea
• “I want to make a stand. I want to make a change. I want to make a difference” – Boy de Loyola
IT’S OUT. The Kalihukan Alang sa Bag-ong Ormoc or KAABAG, the acronym which basically stands for co-helpers or supporting each other akin to the “bayanihan” spirit, has launched their “political movement” this week at the Sal’s Bar and Restaurant in the late afternoon of October 30, Friday.
The launching bared to all and sundry the personalities involved in what is said to be a the group that might present a strong opposition to the incumbent. Present during the launch were more than 100 invited guests, representative of the various sectors of Ormoc society.
Businessman Lito Rodriguez started the affair with a brief introduction of the group, saying they were a group of committed Ormocanons “nagpangga saOrmoc ug nagpakabana na karon” (people who love Ormoc and are now aware of what is happening), adding they have had enough already of just fence-sitting and staying at the sidelines as Ormoc’s fate spiral in the hands of the present leadership.
Edgar “Boy” de Loyola, a respected member of the lay community hereabouts, served as moderator. In between the discussion, he revealed that he decided to join KAABAG because he was also fed up with the status quo. Now in his 60’s, he said, it was time to get involved to give a better Ormoc to the future generation.
“I want to make a stand. I want to make a change. I want to make a difference”, said de Loyola.
It was learned from the members later on that there were 23 “convenors” of KAABAG, mostly professionals and businessmen.
A PowerPoint presentationof the group’s vision and mission followed. The group said they were advocating for “core values” to the acronym of L-I-G-H-T. L for Love of God, family and fellowmen, I for Integrity, G for Good Governance, H for Honesty, and T for Transparency.
Occupying the panel of reactors were Atty. Bennet Pongos, Atty. Sammy Aviles, Roy Pangilinan, Roy Fiel, Dr. Gueto Yrastorza and Joel Brazil.
The reactors, however, skirted saying categorically if they would be the candidates to be endorsed by KAABAG for city positions but they are the ones strongly rumored to be so. Accordingly, lawyer Roy Fiel, a friend of incumbent mayor Eric Codilla would run for mayor. However, they said that they would be endorsing candidates, those that pass their “criteria”.
During the presentation, KAABAG alluded that they feel that Ormoc “once full of promise”, is now falling into a dark pitfall. As such, it is their dream to bring “LIGHT” into the city, turn it around, make it prosperous both in the rural and urban areas because that way, it would mean more jobs and employment, which generates income for many, then leading to prosperity.
They also dream of an administration that does not neglect small businesses, one that is transparent, and prudent in its expenditures and not given to excesses. As backdrop to these motherhood statements were the newly purchased vehicles intended to service city councilors.
KAABAG apparently was alluding that giving councilors a service vehicle each was excessive as they’ve made do with having none in more than a decade.
Meanwhile, the KAABAG reactors said they seek to introduce a new and nobler kind of politics – one that is poles apart from traditional politics. Atty. Sammy Aviles said that they will not go for vote-buying, but will take pains in explaining to voters that the moment they sell their votes, the people they vote for do not have a debt of gratitude to them.
De Loyola said that all that tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people to keep silent.
With KAABAG endorsed candidates, they said, Ormocanons can be sure that they will not sell them out because the group works as a collegial body and they’ve taken an oath to police their ranks.
Aviles said that sadly, most politicians buy votes because they cannot offer a genuine solution to the problems besetting society.
On the other hand, when asked whether there is a possibility of a merger between KAABAG and the opposition city slate led by Marcos “Macoy” Larrazabal and Richard Gomez for congressman, lawyer Roy Fiel said that they are not closing their doors to the possibility but that would entirely depend on the group decision, following the criteria they set of the candidates worth endorsing.
The group also emphasized that while people are training their eyes on the 2010 elections, they are looking beyond it. In a previous interview with Roy Fiel, he said that KAABAG wants to become a “watchdog”, one that would take a pro-active stance in the city’s affairs and decisions. They would also take steps to bring perceived excesses and waste of public funds to the proper agencies, if warranted.
He said that it was now time for Ormocanons, known to be passive, to stand up for their rights and to demand for the right treatment of the taxes that the city is extracting from them.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
mura ug kusog ang oposisyon wish the two can work together as a group and choose the right candidates to run for the upcoming election. We do not care if they have degrees, licensed proffesionals or successful businessmen. those who are close to the hearts of the people, humble and MAKATAO. Not the babaeros, arrogant, mga liko ug binuhatan ug uban pa nga mga kadautan. Someone who is not PASIKAT lang and then later mura na lang ug itoy magsunod sunod unsay gusto sa AMO.
You have to be the example to the people of ORMOC if liko ang imo bihutanan how will you convince the people to vote for you.
WE DONT ONLY WANT A CHANGE ON HOW ORMOC SHOULD BE GOVERNED BUT WE ALSO WANT A CHANGE IN THE KIND OF PEOPLE who RUNS it.
SO ARE you the ONE!?!
Naa tuod koy pangutana, unsa man ang inyo plataporma?
Nagtakas na mi anang puro generalized nga mga plataporma like MORE JOBS, MORE business, more infrastructure, more concrete roads, more more more ETC!!!
kang pagbago, kinsa man ang babaero, si macoy ba? diba duha man iya asawa?unya unsa man diay nga we want change ang inyo gusto, kung ako sa inyo tumakbo na lang din kayo, para malaman ninyo kung paano magpatakbo ng isang siyudad, oposisyon candidates nangangamoy talo!goma, mag isip-isip ka na…
Oist…. kadali lang murag another party naman pud ni sya KAABAG tininuod na jud ni ang inyo noh, well kung mag tukod gani mo ug party list or anything na mu sulti na non government sector na mga organization or unsa pa man bahin niaanang pang extra curicullar activity na maka ingon na walay nag pa likod kanuhay pero ga talikod lang ang nag pa luyo, huna hunaa usa kung maka tabang ba kaha mo puhon…. tagaan ta mo example ha… kung tinuod man kaha na ang inyo na makatabang sa taw cgurado ba mu maduolan kung naay kalamidad, maka duol ba mi kung mangayo me tambal or discount kay walay ika bayad sa ospital kana daw sa unaha dili kay mag sige tukod kontra politika dayon kung kamo pa tindugon maka barug ba kaha mu…. kanang gropu na masaligan sa kataw han ug na duolan dayon ug tabang…. sabot na mu…. pag tsure mo oi kay tamblingan dayon na nato…. dia gamay na twist diba ang GABRIELA, ANAK BAYAN, BAYAN MUNA mga party list na nga nanguna ug daug sa election karun pag duol sa mga nangayo ug tabang walay ika tubag heheheh sample lang na….. maypa ang AN WARAY kay tagaan ko tambal sa kidney nya naa pa jud discount sa tambal ug ospital hehehe may pagka para hubog man gud ko…..
mura ra man sila ug mga nag get together party, unya picture-picture dayun,unya ingnaun na nga sila na dyud and savior sa katauhan sa ato dakbayan, hilas man kaayo paminawon, especially kadtong bugo na nag ingun na kusog ang opposisyon, nganung karun pa man lang mu nang butho, nga hapit na ang eleksiyon, nganung kadtung time na inyo gi ingun na walay paglambo ang ato lugar, nganu man lagi wala mo nagpaka kita, or nanabang, sige man lang mo ug bira sa administrasyon, huna hunaa daw ninyo na ang inyo gidaut na administrasyon karon, nabutang sa ila ila posisyon tungod sa inyo, kay wala’y paglambo sa ni agi nga administrasyon, sa mga L, nahimo pa man gani issue kay asata ang comelec ila gibayaran para lang maka lingkod lang sila, para madayon ang ila kahayahay, unya kadto nga time, naa ba ninyo ang ni sukol sa ila, para sa inyo gi ingon na katawahan?wala man siguro, kay puro man mo mga datu, isa ra gyud ang pamilya na nakahimo ana, walay lain kundi ang mga codilla, mau nga dili na lang ta sige ug himo ug istorya nga sa karon wala nahimo ang administrasyon, kay dili gyud perpekto ang tao, pero ang importante naay tinuod na nahimo.
yes! it’s time for a change. and this is the change that we have all been waiting for.
i believe in the vision of these people who are only trying to do what is right, just, moral and God serving. put politics on the sidelines first and maybe we can forge Ormoc into a city that we dreamed of having.
hope and idealism AND translating these into actions are still far better than making snide comments and not doing anything about it
Gi-pangutana ko diri kung naka ila ba ko niana ni boy de loyola. Ako sila gi-tubag, sadto pa. So i
ask them why. Candidato daw pagka consehal sa Ormoc, i told them i know nothing it. So they said
go to the internet and check what’s going on with our beloved city.
Nahasuod ko niining KAABAG unya nabasahan naku ang imo gi-quote.
Naunsa naman diay ang atong pinalanggang ciudad?
ior iov