By Herbert Vego
“NOT true,” said former Valderrama, Antique mayor Ray Roquero in a chance meeting with this writer here in Iloilo City on Monday (July 15).
He was referring to the rumor that that Senator Loren Legarda would no longer support him but Vice-Governor Edgar Denosta instead for governor in election 2025.
This column had earlier relayed the information that she would abandon Roquero in favor of Denosta because the latter was leading in a survey.
Antique-based broadcaster Wilson Geronimo, who was with Roquero at that time, confirmed the latter’s denial, saying that it was Denosta who had tried to seek the “blessing” of Loren but to no avail.
It’s true, though, that Denosta met with Sen. Loren.
“It was during a baptism party in San Jose,” Geronimo clarified. “Naturally, he greeted her. They talked. But they did not discuss politics.”
It’s still Roquero, therefore, who would be teaming up with Loren’s brother, re-electionist congressman Antonio Agapito “AA” Legarda under the Lakas-CMD party.
Anyway, the Legardas’ bigger headache is their erstwhile ally, outgoing Governor Rhodora “Dodod” Cadiao, who would challenge AA for the House seat.
As this corner opined in a past column, such an encounter could have been avoided had Dodod and AA agreed to swap positions and win together. They had run as allies in 2022. But now, matira ang matibay.
It would be another case of “tumandok” Dodod versus an “import” from Malabon, AA.
Dodod and the Legardas were allies in 2022.
Going back to Denosta, he now projects the image of an unwanted “saling pusa,” and so would have to run independently.
Cadiao — a turncoat from National Unity Party (NUP) to President Marcos’ Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) – would have chosen Denosta to be her gubernatorial candidate but could not do so, allegedly because no less than the President has already handpicked Jonathan Tan, a former mayor of Pandan.
But wait! Another version is that First Lady Liza has somebody else in mind. Ikaw ba ‘yan, former congressman Paolo Javier?
Two other bigwigs are interested in running for governor, one of whom is a shipping executive. However, they have not yet publicly spoken to confirm or deny the rumor.
With so many gubernatorial wannabes in the horizon, self-proclaimed “poor” board member Pio Sumande, being on his last term, might decide to join the fray.
“Tanan nga pobre mabuto kana,” joked political analyst JoeEscartin.
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CLARIFICATION ON METER MATTERS, BILLING AND DISCONECTION
MORE Power’s Customer Care Department would like to clarify certain points that customers need to know.
To the question of why the utility’s meter elevation is always around three meters above ground, it is a safety requirement mandated by the Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers.
Installation of new meter from the main line (source of power) to the service entrance (receiving end) costs free of charge within 30 meters. Otherwise, the customer should provide the extra wire.
Relocation of electric meter upon customer’s request may be allowed. If based on reasonable ground after inspection, it could be free of charge. Otherwise, its cost will be charged.
On billing payment. Once a customer receives the bill, he should pay the billed amount on due date. For failure to pay on the due date, the customer will be served a notice of disconnection. Upon receipt of that notice, he has to pay within 48 hours to avoid disconnection.
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‘LET FOOD BE YOUR MEDICINE’
THIS is to remind our readers that the current month of July marks the “Nutrition Month”. Under Presidential Decree 491, signed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. in 1974, its purpose is to drum up greater awareness among us Filipinos on the importance of nutrition.
“Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.”
The famous quotation is attributed to Hippocrates, the Greek physician (460 B.C. to 377 B.C.) who remains honored in the medical world as the “Father of Medicine,” having placed medicine on a scientific foundation, freeing it from superstition, philosophy and religious rites.
In fact, new physicians worldwide take the “Hippocratic Oath” as a requirement before admission to the medical profession.
Ironically, very few medical doctors today possess stock knowledge on food as medicine. This is due to the influence of the pharmaceutical industry which thrives on manufacturing drugs on the pretext of raising the “scientific standards” of medical practice.
There are drug makers, though, which now turn out pills and syrups made from plants like lagundi for cough and ampalaya for diabetes.
May your tribe increase.
