Promises

There is a new mayor in Manila who beat former president and two-term mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada. Erap was not able to land his last term in office, losing to Vice Mayor Isko Moreno. Moreno's first commitment to his campaign promise was the cleaning up of the capital, which he described as filthy. He promises to clean it up, give it a bath so to speak, to make it more attractive to both investors and tourists alike.

And filthy is a good description. There are many places in Manila that are just downright nasty. Vendors line many roads, making it difficult for pedestrians to negotiate their way. Garbage piles abound. There is even a road that is bisected by both Manila and Makati, and you can easily tell which side you are on. Manila has a rich history, so cleaning it up and making it beautiful is the right thing to do. Unfortunately, there are historic, iconic buildings, statues or landmarks that have been torn down over the years, supposedly to ease traffic and improve the overall design of the city. I wonder if they did just that.

There is a plan to clean up Manila Bay, just like Boracay. I am not certain if this is an undertaking of the national government or the LGU. But I do know Manila has to be part of it since garbage is being thrown into the bay. The proposed reclamation should be reconsidered if it will truly bring the greater good, or just add to the pollution and destruction of the environment and ecosystem of the bay. Manila’s famous sunset might also be affected if buildings would suddenly rise up from the waters. We know there are big projects already greenlighted, along with the Palace's blessing since the principal of the project is a known supporter of President Duterte. Surprise, surprise.

Now that the election is over and there are clear winners all over the land, this is the time when we hear a lot of promises. But we have heard them all before, where “moving heaven and earth to get certain things done”, and yet in the end, after several terms in office, things stay the same. This may be the reason why there has been a change in leadership in some cities, to the astonishment of many. Political dynasties in San Juan and Pasig have been toppled. In Pasig, a young politician has taken over. In San Juan, a political family who has always been relegated to the sidelines by the Estrada family has finally taken over, likely paving the way for a new dynasty indeed. The newly-elected officials likewise give the same speech of promises and change. Still, there are many dynasties that govern cities and municipalities, both here and throughout the country. The people must watch these clans closely, to demand the promises they made, and if even having a dynasty is truly beneficial to their cities. People need to know that promises are fulfilled, and not just lip-service made during the time of elections. That is true change.