Misbehaving Joavan (again)

Joavan Fernandez, adopted  son of Mayor Soc Fernandez of Talisay City,  is in trouble again. Last week he shot up the cashier’s booth and a pump of a gasoline station in Talisay. He was angry that station attendants  wouldn’t gas up his CRV because he had exceeded his credit limit and wouldn’t pay cash.

Once again the Talisay police have a hard time locating Joavan.  That’s why opposition councilor Villarante has challenged the PNP to do its job and arrest  Joavan.

It seems that police have an easier time arresting illegal vendors  than arresting the mayor’s son, according to complaints reaching the opposition camp.   Mayor Soc had the same reaction when asked for his side of the story.  Nevertheless I hope  Mayor Soc disciplines his son for this nth round of misbehavior.

I don’t  know what’s wrong with Joavan Fernandez. When he was  a  boy he was well behaved and the darling of the family. I don’t know  what happened along the way .

He’s had several brushes with the law. Lucky for him  the police respect his father so much and the victims he’s hurt fear contronting him because he’s the mayor’s son.

But Joavan should mend his ways or his father should help him reform. There may come a time when Joavan  encounters somebody who also has a  strong padrino and won’t  tolerate Joavan’s abuse.  Joavan should emulate San Pedro Calungsod to find the strength to change  and become a productive son and Talisay resident.

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The Cebu City Council finally passed  Supplemental Budget no. 2 of Mayor Mike Rama but with some cuts.

I’m happy that the council came to its senses and realized it could not hold hostage government services to the public.  Why the delay in  the passage of  SB 2?

Some quarters believe the City Council  had to wait for its budget chairperson Councilor  Margot Osmena to arrive from her three-week trip to the US and present the budget for approval.

Councilor Joey Daluz was correct when he said  the council didn’t behave this way before  when Rama was still a Bando Osmeña- Pundok Kauswagon member.

I think it’s expected that partisan politics plays a  crucial role in the City Council with BO-PK chief  Tommy Osmeña  challenging Rama’s reelection in 2013.

I was hoping that politicians could be statesmen who placed public service above all elese, but the reality is the opposite.

I think we’ll  be seeing more  partisanship in the council  now, more so when they deliberate on the annual budget.

So what can the people do if this practice or behavior continues? The 2013 election is the opportunity for people to decide whether to  elect Mayor Rama and punish the BO-PK  dominated council or punish Rama and elect the BO-PK council.

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The thanksgiving mass for the sainthood of Pedro Calungsod is fast approaching on  November 30. The Cebu Archdiocese  and the Cebu City government are in the thick of preparations for this  historical event.

The templete for the mass in the SRP is nearing completion including the paved area around it.  Expected to attend are  500,00o to a million people from all over the country, including foreign visitors.

Cebu City is expected to roll out the red carpet to welcome visitors. I pray and hope  that election politics doesn’t spoil this religious activity.

Let’s work together in the name of and for the sake of San Pedro Calungsod, and help the people experience a joyous celebration in this historic, religious gathering.