Ah, ok, no more probs!
When I asked for clarification, Dr. Mordeno said that means the order to vacate the old city hall building being used as office by the city DepEd office is now vacated.
It’s mission accomplished for Dr. Mordeno.
* * *
Over cups of hot chocolate, camote, puto maya and sweet mangoes, Dr. Mordeno shared his own experiences involving local politicians. He wanted to broaden Ms. Varquez’ mind about dealings with politicians while in the performance of duties.
Dr. Elpedio Jala, who accompanied Dr. Mordeno in his meeting with the city mayor, also shared his own experiences.
It was a very enlightening experience indeed for Ms. Varquez.
* * *
But I understand the predicament of Ms. Varquez.
While Dr. Mordeno and Dr. Jala could freely discuss sex, women, sports, illnesses and other more mundane topics with Mayor Dan Lim, Ms. Varquez felt she could not.
She could not share a round of drink or two of wine or any similar drinks with Mayor Dan either.
To talk to Mayor Dan officially, she has to go to the office and pray that the mayor is free or available. Otherwise, she has to wait for her turn.
Part of the package indeed. There are substantial differences between men and women school administrators.
* * *
But certainly, Ms. Varquez was relieved and terribly grateful for the valiant efforts of Dr. Mordeno to bail her out from her predicament with city hall.
“Naibtan ug tunok,” is an apt description.
She could now sleep, she said merrily.
* * *
Understandable of course.
Right from the start, she knows she was not the choice of Mayor Dan Lim to replace the vacancy created when then city division superintendent Dr. Elpedio Jala replaced the position vacated by
Mayor Lim wanted Dr. Evangel Luminarias to replace Dr. Jala but Ms. Varquez is more senior than Luminarias.
After some negotiations with Dr. Mordeno, Mayor Lim was eventually persuaded on the wisdom of having Ms. Varquez to fill up that position.
* * *
Under the old set up, the chair of the committee on education of the sanggunian is an automatic member of the screening committee. This is the reason why kagawad Dandan Bantugan sat with the committee during the time of Dr. Jala.
But according to Dr. Mordeno, under the new set up, the members of the screening committee are all DepEd personnel. No more automatic membership for the kagawad.
So this was the reason why Ms. Varquez did not summon the esteemed presence of kagawad Dandan Bantugan during deliberations of the committee.
The decision, to exclude kagawad Bantugan, did not come from Ms. Varquez. She was just following the rules.
* * *
Dr. Mordeno was also instrumental in the case of Dr. Elpedio Jala.
When
But Governor Erico Aumentado wanted Dr. Lorna Rances instead to replace Bolos.
Again, Mordeno stressed that Jala is more senior than Rances. But he promised that next to Jala, Rances is the next in rank.
So the objection was withdrawn and Dr. Jala got his cozy seat in the
* * *
Dr. Jala also shared his sad experiences when town mayors intervene in the ranking and selection process.
Merit and DepEd records say teacher A should get the position. But the mayor wants teacher B. Very problematic because if Jala insists, he can expect antagonism and lack of support and cooperation from the local chief executive.
So there must be a way to meet the requirements and pacify the wounded ego of the mayor.
Persuading the local chief executive to withdraw his/her opposition is always an art, Mordeno and Jala agreed on that.
To survive the nitty-gritty of local politics, one should know how to navigate himself/herself thru the maze of intrigues, schemes and plots, Mordeno said, while maintaining the vision of the education department in mind.
This means, Mordeno intoned, there should be an earnest effort to study the local chief executive so that the concerned DepEd personnel would know how to deal with the mayor.
Amen to that.
* * *
Mayor Dan Lim wants coordination and consultation.
He wants Ms. Varquez to know that even with the so-called “independence” of DepEd from the local government unit, there is still a need to “put their acts together” so they can face and solve the problems together.
Of course, Ms. Varquez knows this “independence” thing is more symbolic than real. She knows that the DepEd could not make it on its own.
After all, DepEd is “squatting” in the building owned by the city. It does not have a building of its own. Some key personnel of the city division are city paid. If these personnel are removed or not paid by the city, then for sure, the city division will be seriously crippled.
Fact is, the city division still “needs” Mayor Dan Lim.
Borne out of this need, Ms. Varquez should accept the reality that she has to deal with Mayor Dan Lim every step of the way.
No shortcut to that.
* * *
Initially, people were made to believe that there was no ransom paid in the release of Ces Drilon and his team.
No ransom policy and all those bull___ were the usual statements issued by government officials.
But there is no mistaking now the admission by the family of Ces Drilon that they paid 5 million pesos.
And the other admission that a PNP officer was “planted” right in the middle of the negotiation and was able to witness the receipt and counting of the money and the delivery as well.
Which means the government knew all along about the payment of ransom.
And which means government officials are at it again – lying through their teeth.
* * *
Of course, this latest caper should not surprise us.
It has come to a point where lying is already a systemic problem; something that is embedded in the system.
And because they keep on repeating it, sounds like they are reciting the truth.
* * *
The latest junket for example.
GMA was scheduled to leave for the
Press releases say it was a working visit, which means the
This trip should cost several millions because the presidential delegation has chartered a PAL jet. That plus the billeting and allowances per day and the cost should run to several millions more.
And what is the expected output out of this overly bloated junket?
More when we return, stay tuned for more. Comments, suggestions, write to salvadiputado@yahoo.com
Post a Comment