It was a simple courtesy call by the new governor of the province to the veteran mayor of the city. It was a call that caught many by surprise, and for the usual jaded political observers, it signaled a thaw in the historic cold relations between City Hall and the Capitol.
For DILG Director Rey Maranan, that courtesy call was both “a masterstroke and a simple act of humility,” seldom seen among government officials, more so from those in the high echelon of power.
Director Maranan, who was the city DILG director for many years, must have seen the often brittle and tenuous relations between Puerto Princesa and Palawan’s top officials.
And I could travel back in time and, in a wink of an eye, see the young Mayor Bert Oliveros of the then newly created city of Puerto Princesa and the equally youthful Governor Badong Socrates, both newly elected into their respective positions — and both ambitious politicians. Early on, they were perceived as the best hope of their respective parties to carry them to political supremacy in the province and the city. And both were wary of each other’s political moves, as if anticipating and preparing for a future battle. They never did. Then-President Marcos’ monolithic KBL brought them together under one umbrella in support of the martial law era’s New Society.
Or of Gov. Socrates and his erstwhile ally, Mayor Ed Hagedorn, in a bitter parting of ways that culminated with the latter running against the governor’s son, then-incumbent Mayor Dennis, in a recall election.
But the relationship was not without its amusing side. Gov. Joel Reyes and Mayor Hagedorn usually greeted each other with “Happy birthday Pareng Mayor” and “Happy Birthday Pareng Gov” on their respective birthdays with huge tarps along Rizal Avenue. Were the two leaders not on speaking terms that they had to convey their greetings in public?
And during the final years of Gov. JCA in office, speculations swirled about his political plans, and invariably, kibitzers would match him against Mayor Bayron. With Gov. JCA’s vaunted machinery in the city, which catapulted then-Board Member Gil Acosta to Congress, henchmen of both leaders were raring to see who’s who in the city’s politics. But that was not meant to be, as Gov. JCA had his plans fixed on representing the South in Congress.
It is against this backdrop that Gov. Amy’s visit to City Hall may be viewed. Definitely, it has opened a floodgate of goodwill that is certain to ease relations between the two LGUs for a long time to come.
During her last visit to City Hall to discuss the long-felt need for a northern transport terminal, Mayor Bayron’s hospitality was in full display as he gathered the city’s officialdom to hear the governor. He even sent City Councilor Jungee Rodriquez to meet her and escort the governor to the mayor’s office.
It was a jovial meeting that followed, amidst hope that no problem is too big that cannot be solved by leaders whose love for their constituents is beyond measure.
Both leaders have set the tone. And it all started with the governor’s courtesy call. None was ever made before. And that made the big difference.
