Muslim woman for governor

Will a Muslim woman governor change the political landscape in Lanao del Norte? Eleanor Dimaporo Lantud, 47, believes she will.

The first Muslim female mayor in Lanao del Norte, she is running for governor after a flourishing career at the helm of Pantao Ragat municipality. 

“I am seeking the post because I want to see changes in Lanao del Norte,” she told a campaign promoter who forwarded her views to me.

Running under the Liberal Party, Eleanor cites the province’s current challenges and her vision to improve it.  

“Crime is a problem in the municipalities,” she observes. “Cooperation from the stakeholders – the local leaders, datus and bais — and coordination with the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines are essential. These groups should assist each other.” 

The mayor says major infrastructure needs improvement especially in such municipalities as Nununungan and Tangkal where roads are practically impassable. Only four-wheel drives can traverse these roads. Bae Eleanor adds that provincial engineers should give priority to providing equipment for provincial projects instead of renting them out to private contractors. 

The provincial jail, which was originally built for 80 persons, is operating beyond its capacity.  “With 350 prisoners, we need to build an annex,” says Bae Eleanor.

Domestic violence and abuse of women and children are unreported. “There is no place for them to go. We need a provincial center for these victims with the coordination of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.”

To enrich the intellectual life of the people, Bae Eleanor hopes for a provincial library in the capitol. “It would be a one-stop shop for people to research to help them in their professions.”

On the construction of a coal-fired power plant in Kauswagan, Bae Eleanor believes that there should be measures to protect the environment and the interests of the local community.

Bae Eleanor also wishes to see better health and improved sanitation and clean surroundings.  She says that providing hygiene programs under the Department of Health would teach people to guard against unhealthy lifestyle habits. 

“I want to promote the general welfare of the people,” she says.

In the past three mayoral terms, Bae Eleanor won the hearts of her constituents with her pure heart and competence.  At work, she is admired for inspiring others, taking initiatives and driving for results. 

During her term, day care centers were built to provide education in the municipality. Since Pantao Ragat is a remote place, teachers are hard to come by. The day care centers provided job opportunities to college graduates to teach the children.

Also, a school building was funded by the Department of Education and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Eleanor comes from the prominent Dimaporo clan, but this has not meant she is out of touch with the residents of an underprivileged neighborhood. She believes she has learned to be “a people person.”

“It’s not easy to be the mother of the municipality,” she says. “I always ask the punong bayan if there are problems in our community, what our constituents need. Communication is very important.”

Despite her busy schedule, she manages to balance family time. She has been married to Vice Mayor  Lacson Lantud for 33 years. “Give and take is the secret of a long-lasting relationship,“ she says.

With her seven children, ages 15 to 31, she imparts love and respect for all, particularly the seniors, and, as Muslims, to pray  five times a day. The family goes bonding on weekends and in foreign trips. “Family time is where we can all open our hearts.”

What you and I would like to know is where she stands on the BBL, the Mamasapano massacre, and her idea on peace resolution. In another column we hope to get her answers.

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Jose Elias Penera wowed the audience as he and his band presented “A Samba Kind of Evening” at the night summer jazz series held August 3 at the Oak Park Arms in Chicago.

This Filipino pianist is popularly known as Bong Penera.

Bong Penera and his various band incarnations under the name Batucada (Brazilian Portuguese word “beat”) are considered the main proponent of Brazilian-influenced Philippine jazz, particularly samba and bossa nova. His most famous original composition, “A Samba Song,” is now like Jobim’s “Girl From Ipanema,” a staple in every local performer’s repertoire.

Bong plays his personal style of samba music in hotels, clubs and other venues throughout Chicagoland. Penera had an international jazz band, probably the first to ever receive an hour spot of radio exposure at WBEZ, the Chicago Public Radio jazz hour hosted at the time by Larry Smith.

Whenever or wherever Bong played piano or acoustic guitar, either as sideman or band leader, or as solo artist, and wherever he sang while he played, images of Sergio Mendes filled the air. Peñera and his Batucada dominated the music scene of the late ’70s and early ’80s. His music is played on radio air waves and interpreted by countless other musicians and aspiring artists.

In 2010, at ceremonies held at the Hyatt Regency downtown Chicago, Penera was inducted into the Chicago Filipino American Hall of Fame, a prestigious recognition of his musical works. He accepted the award/crystal trophy from Illinois Secretary of State Jessie White and Philippine Consul General Blessila Cabrera.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community in Chicago.

 Bong, a member of Centro Escolar University Elem ‘64, is popularly accredited as the pioneer in Philippine jazz. Bong Penera and the Batucada were featured artists at the Thomas Jefferson Cultural Center of the US Embassy. They were said to be a much sought after group for several seasons. They are claimed by admirers to have paved the way for Filipinos and music lovers of other nationalities to accept and appreciate the Filipino style of jazz.

Bong’s composition, “ Samba Song” with the samba beat and bossa nova tune, started Pinoy jazz. His repertoire included American classics like Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” Glen Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade,” Broadway musicals given the Bong Penera touch like “My Favorite Things,” and other hits like those of his favorites, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Astrud Gilberto, Sergio Mendes, Deodato, among others.

His two years as piano scholar at the CEU Conservatory of Music under Maestro Dean Antonio J. Molina, gave him additional skills as a professional artist and composer. A born piano prodigy, he composed his first song at four years old and dedicated it to his “Mama,” another pride of CEU, Penny Rose Penera.

His other inspiration was his father, the late Mike Penera who headed the publications office of CEU. Bong’s musical artistry is very much influenced by his love for Filipino culture, the Brazilian zest for life, and the American positive attitude of “You can do it.”

Bong finished philosophy at Mary Hurst University in Baguio.

He was the jazz artist at Hyatt’s Calesa Bar in the late 70s and early 80s when some of the singers were VernieVarga, Jacqui Magno, Pat Castillo, Gina Montes, Mila Garcia, Norma ‘Ram’ Ramirez, Joni Feliciano, and many others.

On stage, he was also tapped by Ateneo’s Dulaang Sibol of the known  director /literature Professor Onofre Pagsanghan and Repertory Philippines under the greats Bibot Amador and Carmen  Barredo.

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