Sa Gabi ng aking Panaginip By Lieniv Kota

One night I had a dream, a dream that I was conversing with provincial leaders, I ask them; politicians and businessmen, as to whom they admire the most enlightened provincial leadership, unanimously they said Mr. Jerry Espina and his relathieves, the father of Biliran province and now the mayor of Naval.
Mr. Espina is very straightforward, super honest and he always knew what he was talking about. He is a great leader whom I admire the most. I described him as “the Philippine’s greatest businessman””he control tanan!”. Mr. Espina is an exceptional provincial leader who personifies excellent management, integrity and discipline.
One of the remarkable successes of his management of Biliran is his making the province least corrupt in central visayas, by institutionalizing “clean, no-money elections” and recruiting the best people into the Bando Espina movement.
He debunked what the opposition claimed about a free, unfettered press exposing corruption, pointing out that the free-wheeling press of Manila, Cebu, Tacloban, Karay-karay and other part of the country has not stopped pervasive corruption. One way he cleaned up Naval/Biliran was by shaming corrupt officials. And he laments that in much of Philippines, corruption has become a way of life for government officials.
During my dream, I meet with leaders of Manila during the Asian Olympic held in Rizal Park, I asked if the congressman but now a mayor in Naval if he can be trusted for business. A barangay captain from Olongapo explained that Mr. Espina is handsome and had a specific plan- reflecting his pragmatic business-like ways, efficiency and public service. Ngek!
It added, He is the father of a new Biliran. In 1986, when Leyte start expelling Biliran and forced it to exist as a province with no natural resources or goons, guns and gold, few people gave it much chance of survival.
In 1986, the Bankaw News said: “An independent Biliran was not regarded as viable three years ago. Nothing in the current situation suggests that it is more viable today”.
Today, after decades of good governance with the Espina clan, Biliran is a thriving province with the Philippines fourth-highest per capita income. In this latest report, Mr. Espina expresses his ideas fearlessly, seeking “to be correct, not politically correct”. He is unapologetic for his aggressive responses to his political opponents, his often-nonconformist (tri-naydor!) views on Marcos-style democratic system and Manila concepts of all-rights.
And with his comments, he says it is sad that a talented province like the Biliranon could suffer so many problem and troubles because of some “tabi-an, palahubog, kawatan, babaero, sugarol ug uban pa!”. An anecdote recounts the 1999 if im not wrong, in his meeting with Navalian in Manila, where Jaro is the ongoing governor of Biliran Laude asks him to convince Colasito his friend Agta was the problem of Naval/Biliran, not the solution.
During the Calumpang Capitol uprising the same year, when the Malacanang under Ramos, should not accept the Colasito’s appointment, and put pressure on Agta to stop whispering on Colasito. He feared a prolonged crisis might cause bloodshed and chaos. Worried that Agta might fight it out using Colasito. Suddenly Colasito and Agta witdraw and the winner are Jaro and Takdol’s ilk.
When Agta sent a message to Mr. Espina saying he wanted to flee to Manila, it was already too late. Mr. Espina is blunt and honest in his assessments of the Naval/Biliran leaders before.
There are three things, which Mr. Espina believes hampered Naval/Biliran progress before. First, the traditional power elite who has a detached attitude towards the suffering of the Biliranons. And another obstacle to progress is pag-katabian, hubya, kawatan, sugarol, palahubog ug uban pa labi na kadtong mga gapataka lag panguot.’ …Susmariosep!
A third obstacle to progress is what Mr. Espina describes as “a Biliranon criminal culture”. His example of the murder of Beting Uy, Antonio Villo, Elmer Callosa, Buboy Ibajo ug uban pa nga milalim na ning kalibutan ug hatagan na sila sa labing matarong nga pag-hulokman that have hampered Biliran economic progress.
He said “This was a pity because they have so many able Naval/Biliranons, educated in Manila, Cebu, Tacloban ug NIT. Their workers were cebuano and waray-speaking bright ug way bugo… There was no reason why the Naval/Biliranon should not have been one of the more successful provinces in the county,” He said.
Much more we have this “crab” mentality with the monkey and turtle attitude. Ironically, this is only my dreams however to visualize my attachments go to a corner, relax! …take out the mote of your eye and look! …its appearance looks like true.he he he (POSTED ‘ANG PINOY STAR” 2000)