A quixotic discussion

I was sipping my favorite coffee at a popular shop when someone with a disarming smile approached me. My getting old hindered me from being able to put a name to his face. I was hesitant with the smile I returned because, in spite of his happy disposition, I could not remember who he was. Anyway, not wanting to appear haughty or aloof, I engaged his friendliness.

The gentleman was an acquaintance from a deep past. We belonged to similar extra-curricular activities although he came from another school and our disciplines were different. In inter-university functions, we shared common bond.

He appeared to have read an earlier article I wrote. Yes, I remembered saying that among those asking for my vote, I would cast it in his favor who finished among the cream of the crop or has proven his worth as a professional. My newly-rediscovered friend liked the criterion. But, as our discussion warmed, he told me that among the candidates for local positions, very few would probably fit my criteria.

I took his cue and suggested that he, being an engineer, should consider two outstanding professionals running to become our city councilors in the North District of Cebu City where I am voting. Without batting an eyelash, I spoke aloud the names of engineers Danilo Fernan and Nestor Archival. When I mentioned these names coming from two opposing political camps, my friend almost fell from his seat. For a while, he thought that I was a dyed-in-the-wool opposition and would not mumble the name of an administration bet. He was glad that my parameters were to be applied sans political partisanship.

To further my point, I claimed that Dandy Fernan, an electrical engineer, who made it to the top ten in his board examinations. His achievement prompted his school to ask him, in the early years of the practice of his profession, to handle academic subjects as a teacher. On the other hand, many of us also know that Nestor Archival has carved a respectable name out of a good practice.

The lawyers among the candidates for councilors enjoy a distinct advantage. Their profession is most relevant to the legislator''s job. Spotting the need for legal frame works for the growth of our city is a part of lawyer''s rigid training. I then suggested to my friend to take a look at the value of attorneys Fritz Quiñanola and Edgar Labella and barrister Lau Rogero. Again, they are bets coming from opposing groups.

At the pain of sounding like Fritz'' trumpeter, let me state that he, though a political neophyte, packs the meaner heft. I did not have him in my mind specifically when I wrote about my criterion of a candidate graduating his college degree with distinct honors but for those who may not know it, Fritz happened to have finished a Magna cum Laude in his AB years. Later, he went on to take up the course of my dream, masters in law.

Do you remember that I also mentioned campus leadership as another criterion? Well, both Fritz and Edgar were, in their youth, campus leaders with the former being a president and the latter a senator of the Supreme Student Council which trainings, I suppose, led them to the nobler public service calling with Fritz, a police general and Edgar, an ombudsman director.

My engineer friend, reminisced our participation in the first quarter storm. To him, a candidate must be able to show independence of mind and courage to pursue his thought. As a specific model, he yearned for the kind of character the student leaders showed in their nationalistic activism against the regime of then Pres. Marcos. As he tried recalling specific events of the student movement, I reminded him that Art Abregonde, another counciloriable (is there such a word?) was an active participant who was never cowered into submission by a dictator.

There were other names of elective aspirants we focused on and in due time, I shall take the liberty of writing those points down. The fact that someone actually sought me on my criteria of candidates I earlier wrote is one reason for me to rejoice. There is, after all, still a place for idealists even if we may sound quixotic.

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