by Dong de los Reyes February 7, 2022 Political rivals during unity walk. (Photo from Nantes Po Facebook Page) LUCENA CITY - "Angels w...
February 7, 2022
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| Political rivals during unity walk. (Photo from Nantes Po Facebook Page) |
LUCENA CITY - "Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk. If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking," avers American computer scientist Raymond Leon Inmon.
And political rivals running for various elective posts in Quezon province and its capital city, Lucena, were asked to to take a walk-- a unity walk with police, military, religious, and the local Commission on Election (Comelec) officials that would culminate in the signing of a peace covenant as gesture for the conduct of a clean and orderly elections on May 9, 2022.
Not much political mileage can be gained by any of those in the running from the affair-- and not much sweat poured forth from the easy gait and the leisurely saunter that didn't cover any breath-taking, heart-thumping distance.
Keen-eyed observers, though, would figure out the body English of each candidate. Who was it who was foot-dragging? Who was it whose hips swayed and swung as if doing a lithe flamenco? Who swaggered with a domineering demeanor? Who was it whose tread seemed akin to a Siddharta coaxing flowers and foliage to grow on the very ground s/he stepped on? Who had ballerina bearing gliding effortlessly, fluttering like a wisp of a wish?
Indeed, body language cannot lie-- and it betrays the mind-set of any individual since over 70% of the human expression can be conveyed through the body entirety, no need for blustering, blistering oratory. The sheer body movements speak the truth...
Quezon police chief Police Col. Joel Villanueva stressed that the entire Quezon police force together with the Comelec, "will pursue the realization of the (candidates') peace covenant to protect the citizens' right and freedom to vote.
In a statement, Villanueva urged everyone in the community "to work with us and support our campaigns to achieve the common goals that promulgates peace."
Candidates for mayor, vice-mayor, and city councilors of Lucena city attended the event. Reelectionist governor Danilo Suarez, his challenger Congresswoman Helen Tan, and other provincial district candidates also showed up in the gathering.
Suarez left before the walk started citing his commitments in Tiaong and Dolores towns but declared his full support to the spirit of the peace covenant.
The Unity Walk started at the Old City Hall building at the city center at around 7 a.m. and culminated at the parking area of SM Lucena Mall where the peace covenant signing was held.
Calabarzon poll hot spots
The Philippine National Police identified 28 towns and cities in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (Calabarzon) as election “hot spots.”
The PNP list cites Batangas as having the most number of ‘hot spots’-- nine that includes Tanauan City, Laurel, Mataas na Kahoy, Nasugbu, Bauan, Lipa City, Mabini, San Jose and Taysan. Quezon province has eight, General Nakar, Mauban, Mulanay, Burdeos, Panukulan, Real, Catanauan and Lucban.
Cavite has four-- Maragondon, Trece Martires City, Imus City and Rosario; the four hot spots in Rizal province are Baras, Antipolo City, Rodriguez, and San Mateo.
The PNP list identifies three Laguna hot spots: San Pablo City, Cavinti and Calauan.
However, General Nakar town of Quezon is placed under category “red,” the highest of the three levels which PNP defines as requiring the most attention from the authorities.
PNP officials cite the strong presence of the New People’s Army in the town that may affect the local election.
For most of Quezon towns and urban centers, political tension has been limited to intense political speeches and the verbal tussles between opposing political camps.
“I urge all candidates in the province to respect the sanctity of the ballots and avoid resorting to any forms of violence and harassment to thwart the free will of the people,” Suarez said in an interview.
Suarez noted that the election history in the province has long been peaceful and without any violence between opposing candidates and their supporters.
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