I would have thought that Art Yap would defend his being a “Boholano” kunohay by raising the issue as a “no-issue” because he has already won 3 terms as representative of the 3rd district of Bohol and nobody has since filed an objection before the courts over his residency qualification.
Yes, that legal question should have been raised when he filed his COC before the Comelec when he ran and won the congressional seat.
Of course, he sought the help of a former Comelec official to tell his friends not to object.
I know of one former Bohol official who got Art Yap’s request to “not object” and just support his congressional bid that time.
Anyway, that time should have been the prudent time to question his residency.
* * *
Why are we raising this?
Because it’s election time and things like this seem to spiral on its own as one election issue.
So the question – Bol-anon ba si Art Yap?
When he was sworn in as governor, almost 3 years back, he admitted being not a native of Bohol. He said he was a Boholano by choice (because he married a Boholana) but not a Boholano by origin.
* * *
When he ran for governor against former Maribojoc Mayor Toloy Evasco, the issue of residency was raised.
And in fact, Toloy Evasco boasted that he could easily beat Art Yap.
How, by raising his not being a Boholano, he told me.
So that was the mantra then.
Did it stick?
Did it give Toloy Evasco the championship ring as Governor of Bohol?
Well, the effort failed because Art Yap defeated Toloy Evasco, even when it was claimed earlier that he was responsible kunohay for the victory of PRRD, being the campaign manager.
* * *
Many would have wanted to believe then that Toloy Evasco was invincible and “super strong,” owing to his closeness to PRRD.
In fact, when he gave his “briefing” to the Bohol Mayors about his job as Cabinet Secretary, the message was very clear – he was powerful and very influential, even among cabinet members.
He explained that he prepared the agenda of the cabinet meeting, presided by PRRD. In other words, he was the one who prepared the issues to be tackled by PRRD and the cabinet.
Di maapil sa agenda ang mga issues sa usa ka cabinet secretary kon di moagi ni Toloy. So it was expected that cabinet secretaries would flock towards Toloy Evasco so that their issues and concerns would be included in PRRD’s agenda.
He was like that, strong and influential.
* * *
That was the image of the man and naturally, he was the most sought-after guest in every occasion. He was mobbed for pictures and autographs. He got invited to almost all occasions, from Aparri to Jolo.
So naturally when he ran for governor, his image was that of a superman.
Strong, powerful and very popular.
So why did he lose and why did Art Yap win?
Nganong napildi man si Toloy, ug nganong nidaog man si Art Yap, nga diha pa man gani ang issue ni Art Yap of his being not from Bohol?
Ah, dakong storyahonon na.
* * *
Anyway, tininuod ba ang claim ni Art Yap nga Bol-anon by choice siya?
Well, I would say that it would have been believable if he started claiming being a Boholano at the time he got married to his wife.
And that was many, many years ago.
But he didn’t.
He only started his claim when he set his political sights in Bohol, and that was when he ran for congressman of the 3rd district.
Prior to that, he was a resident of Manila, he never, ever, claimed that he was a Boholano, by choice.
Pasabot, moryo-moryo lang nang iyang claim nga Bol-anon by choice siya.
* * *
Every opportunity he gets, he lavishly trumpets his grand plan for food production in Bohol.
Makalingaw tan-awon ang iyang mga plano, kompleto pa sa mga pictures and figures. Bola-bola lang ang baba og storya nga nindot ug init kaayo ang iyang concern sa mga mag-uuma ug mga mangingisda.
Kon di ka suheto, shot gyod ka’s bulsa. Kon sa minaro pa, front seat gyod dayon ka kon maminaw lang ka niya nga mo-diskurso bahin sa iyang plano nga mahamugaway ang pagkaon sa Bohol.
Pero, taymsa.
Dis-a ra man nang mga planoha sa dihang siya pa ang Secretary sa Department of Agriculture?
Nganong wa man na niya buhata kanang mga nindot kaayo niyang mga plano adtong panahona nga siya man unta ang nagbuot sa tanang panghitabo sa Department of Agriculture? Siya gyod ang hawod sa DA adtong panahona. Mahimo kaayo niya kon gustohon gyod. Pero wala man siyay gihimo.
Di pa diay siya Bol-anon adtong panahona?
Wa pa diay siyay pagbati nga moserbisyo sa Bohol ug sa mga Bol-anon adtong panahona?
Timing-timing ra diay nang iyang pagka-Bol-anon kunohay?
* * *
There was a time when he got several cabinet secretaries to mimic honeyed words and praises to his brilliance and competence. And these were posted or highlighted in his FB page.
Mora kintahay og ni-believe kaayo ning mga cabinet officials sa kahanas ug ka maayong laki ni Art Yap.
Whatever their motives, I shall refrain from discussing them.
But let us tackle it with his mantra nga “buhat ang pasultion” as yardstick (pardon the pun but somebody told me the original of the “buhat ang pasultion” thing is Gov Gwen Garcia).
I really don’t know og kinsa gyod ang nangopya or kinsa gyod ang original, basta para nako, ang una nga migamit maoy original.
And as far as I know, I saw it first in Cebu and widely used in Cebu every time Gov Gwen Garcia attends some public functions.
* * *
So, back to the maayong laki thing.
Unsa man kahay gibasehan sa maong mga opisyal nga modayeg ni Art Yap?
Wa pod ko kabalo.
But “kon buhat ang pasultion” ang basehan, naapil ba si Art Yap sa mga gobernador nga gi-koronahan nga maayong laki? Duna ba siyay nadawat nga award sama kanila ni Gov Gwen Garcia?
Unsay nabuhat ni Art Yap sa Bohol o sa mga Bol-anon nga makasulti nga maayong laki gyod siya nga pagka-leader?
Kanang mangutang left and right?
Kanang paanhion ang mga Army sa Bohol aron kunohay mapugngan ang posible nga looting o pangawat nga mahitabo human sa Odette?
Kanang mamalit sa mga bugas humay didtos layong dapit nga naa man untay mapalit diri sa Bohol?
Kanang mamalit og mga mais nga semilya nga ubos kaayo og germination rate nga di na dawaton sa mga mag-uuma kay lugi sila kon ilang itanom?
Di na lang nato usa-usahon kay perteng taasa.
But kon duna may tubag sa mga pangutana nako, ako pod i-publish diri para fair.
Sigi kuno beh.
Para mapahimuslan gyod nang “buhat ang pasultion.”
