
MANY politicians are happy that the SK and barangay elections in December 2025 will be moved to November 2026, with BBM affirming his intention to sign his approval of the bill filed in Congress.
Happy because the postponement would mean a corresponding postponement of their “obligation” to financially support the candidacy of their barangay leaders.
Susko, dakoa akong kalipay pagkahibalo nako nga i-postpone ang SK ug barangay elections, a city kagawad said.
Why, because he would be spared of the left and right nga pangayo sa mga barangay officials in the different barangays.
Di pod komedya akong ma-gasto kon madayon pa ang piniliay sa Disyembre this year, he explained. Tiaw bay pila ka mga kandidato sa barangay mag-ulos-ulos man lang og pangayo og hinabang para sa ilang kandidatora.
Alangan man og mohatag lang ka og 500 or 1,000, he added.
So there, if there is postponement, that’s a huge happiness and relief to local politicians.
* * *
I remember one barangay candidate, who was somehow convinced into running after repeatedly hearing “kay segurado lagi kang modaog” yarn from friends and relatives.
Initially, he was lukewarm to the idea, first because of the expenses involved and second, because his family was against it.
But like drops of rain boring through a solid rock, his resolve was eventually weakened when most of his friends thought he was winnable.
To make the story short, he thought of running and he eventually announced his candidacy, over and above the objection of his wife and children.
He ignored their common sentiment – ayaw lagi og lansad kay ga-gasto-gasto lang ka ana unya di man gyod na nimo ma-bawi nang imong ma-gasto sa kampanya. Maka-serbisyo ra man gihapon kas mga tawo bisan di ka kandidato, they chorused.
But he was deaf to all of these, because in his mind, the call to joining local politics was becoming louder and more pronounced. In fact, he could already imagine himself nga pustorawo kaayo in his new polo barong and slacks during barangay sessions.
The more he thought about it, the more he liked his mental image of himself as the new kagawad in the barangay.
Long before the campaign period, and as soon as the people in the barangay learned of his intentions, he right away experienced an automatic change of name – tawgon na siya og konsehal – and daghan na ang motimbaya niya bisan asa siya igkita.
Suddenly, he became like an “important” personality in the barangay. Many people would ask him for his programs, his crusade, what he would do in the barangay and all that.
Piti-piti pod ang iyang mga tubag like he really meant it, or even about things outside of the barangay jurisdiction.
It was like he suddenly became an expert in barangay planning and governance, like he suddenly knew what needed to be done.
And most of all, he became very charming, very friendly and his legendary “sapot” instantly evaporated on thin air.
And of course, every time he answers questions or consultations, what follows is the usual – Kons, morag uhaw man kaayo, basin dunay pang-tulak diha?” spiel.
Tomatik dayon kuot si Kons kay lami gyod kaayo ang iyang paminaw sa kaugalingon.
And it went on every day, and night, wherever he goes, like the people in the barangay really and actually expected him to dish out loads and wads of cash like ATM, until such time that he dreaded the coming of a new day and he has to go out for some errands.
Naghuna-huna na siya og likay kay nagkadako na man ang iyang gasto and the daily barrage of “tua na lagi, alig-alig man god og lansad,” from his children was beginning to stress his mental faculties.
There was one moment he thought of ending his plan to run but as told in local lingo, nauwanan na man, maligo na lang.
So he persevered, and incurred a growing stock of utang, left and right. Na-prenda na ang kabaw, hasta ang pusil nga tinagoan, apil pa ang ilang yuta.
Pag-ihap pa sa balota, siya ang pinaka—-ulahi. Hilabihang pildiha.
Sangko sa langit ang iyang pagmahay, mag-usob pa kunoy layog.