Farmer wanted to be senator but had no fare

TAGBILARAN CITY—What Santos Amaga Abella lacked in resources, he filled with confidence.

A farmer, Abella had wanted to file a certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator in Manila but didn’t have money for fare.

So he did what he believed was the next best thing—file a COC for provincial board member, a position similar to being a senator because it involved legislation but only at a lower level.

If elected, Abella could promise to be only one thing—hardworking.

Wearing a barong on top of black pants, Abella, 56, filed his COC at the Commission on Elections office in this city.

Dream can wait

Abella said he really wanted to run for senator but realized he didn’t have the financial resources to even go to Manila, much less to mount a nationwide campaign.

“I should run for senator but since I don’t have money to fly to Manila I ran for board member instead,” Abella said after filing his COC for board member.

His dream of becoming a senator can wait, he said.

In 2016, Abella said he also ran for board member but got only 10,000 votes.