Today is All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows, Day of All the Saints, Solemnity of All Saints, or Feast of All Saints, celebrated annually on Nov. 1st, and ending by midnight. It is the day before All Souls’ Day, a day associated with the appearance of “ghosts”, whether you believe in them or not. But to some Filipinos, the word “ghosts” has taken a different meaning when seen against the backdrop of the PDAF (Priority Assistance Development Fund) scams.
The origin of All Saints’ Day cannot be traced with certainty, and it is observed on various days in different places.
In the Philippines, it is variously called Undás (Halloween in Tagalog), Todos los Santos (All Saints in Spanish), Araw ng Patáy (Day of the Dead in Tagalog), which is traditionally observed by visiting the dead family loved ones to clean and repair their tombs. Offerings of prayers, flowers, candles, and even food are made, while Chinese-Filipinos additionally burn incense and kim.
Many also spend the day and ensuing night holding reunions at the graves, playing games and music, singing karaoke, and feasting. Cemeteries come alive with throngs of people trooping to do their annual duties to their dead.
However, most people associate this day with “ghosts” or “zombies”, with people donning horror costumes depicting scary dead characters.
Since it is six months before election 2016, the candidates for elective positions will be prominently rounding up the cemeteries and memorial parks, an occasion to take selfies and upload on social media, etc., in spite of all the warnings from Comelec against premature campaigning.
This time, the need to personally reach out to the voters is necessary in the local levels because the political coalitions are confusing.
For example in Dumaguete City, Mayor Chiquiting Sagabarria is running for the position of Congressman of the 2nd District.
For those who are familiar with the public service record of Chiquiting, it is easy to remember his achievements in improving roads, bridges, and other infrastructure, the most prominent of which is the extension of Rizal Boulevard up to the pier area.
While incumbent Cong.George Arnaiz is running for Governor, both under the Nationalists People’s Coalition, which has a coalition with the Administration’s Liberal Party with former Cong. Jocelyn Sy-Limkaichong as provincial chair.
Former Mayor Felipe Remollo is a Liberal Party member but he is supporting incumbent Gov. Roel Degamo of Partido Negrense, inspite of the coalition.
Apparently, the LP/NPC Coalition espouses to continue the PNoy legacy of transparency/good governance, Daang Matuwid.
Dumaguete is better positioned for the transition as Mayor Chiquiting left best practices, among them, the institutionalization of a Public Financial Management Team to strengthen the City’s capacity to better manage public finances, and to uphold the core values of transparency and accountability in governance, and excellence in public service.
This is an internal “ghostbuster” since the perennial problem of some local government units is the discovery of many “ghosts”, i.e. projects, teachers, policemen, soldiers, etc.
Happy Halloween! And no to ghosts!
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