November 2017 Editorial

                 

Coming up with a municipal slogan is a great step in rallying Manito toward a single direction.  That is excellent.  We even saw Manito’s promotional video, which is fairly good.  It is a very good start.

There are just two things that bug us.

First, “Go, Explore Manito” and “Go, Empowered Manito”.

Which is which?  We seem to have seen two separate slogans and they target two different audiences – Maniteños and prospective tourists.  How do you pull this off?  How does it really work?  This is not necessarily wrong.  We just need to see how it works.

Arin sa duwa?... Bako man ini sala alagad kaipuhan ta sanang mailing  kung pa’no ini isasagibo.

Second, GEM.

How do you really Go and Empower Manito when the act of making the mayor’s nickname the slogan acronym contradicts the very notion of people empowerment?  Doing this is not illegal per se, especially since the Anti-epal bill hasn’t been approved yet.  The late Senator Santiago’s version has not been passed and Senator Pacquiao’s version is still working its way in Congress.

Pa’no makaka “Go and Empower Manito” kung ang paggamit kan palayaw kan alkalde sa slogan sarungat sa pag-apoderar sa mga tawo?

The thing is, is not this the way the trapos, the traditional politicians, go? The act of putting one’s name or a semblance of one’s name on public works and public property for a personal purpose – political recall for the next elections.  We don’t know if this is the young mayor’s idea or some of his political advisers’ idea.  Again, turning to the old ways of traditional politics is just not the way to lead the next generations to an honorable and progressive society.

Taking the non-trapo way may not assure political dividends but it just might win more support from outliers who want to see serious development in Manito.  The more people promote and support the slogan, the better chances we have in achieving a vision.

Kung likayan an pagka-trapo, dai ta masisiguro ang ganahan sa pulitika, alagad pwede ining maging paagi ngani mas makakua ki suporta kan mga nagduduwa-duwa na gustong mahiling an seryosong pagbabago kan Manito.

Manito's Time, November 30, 2017