Hot on the campaign trail

As you may know, I have been heavily immersing myself in my father’s political campaign here in Pangasinan as a performer at various sorties and as a representative of his at many engagements around the area. Because of this, I’ve had to postpone an internship requirement of the Ateneo Political Science Department for next summer, forego potential trips to places here and abroad, and sacrifice a summer of lazing around, hanging out with my crazy bunch, and sleeping all day without a hint of schoolwork nor weighty responsibilities. It’s funny how some things don’t turn out the way you expected them to, especially when you’ve devoted all efforts, plans and energy into making sure that they come to fruition. Yet amazingly, these unexpected turns turn out for the best. That seems to be the recurring theme of my out-of-this-world adventures here in Pangasinan — escapades that broaden my horizons and grant me the opportunity to interact with people from all walks of life… starting with the city of Dagupan.

Known locally and beyond as the Bangus Capital of the Philippines, the city has since risen among the ranks of Davao and Cebu as a first-class city within the archipelago, thanks in large part to the genuine efforts of its true son, incumbent congressman, and my father Joe de Venecia. I’ve witnessed the city through its ups and downs as I myself was here during the earthquake that devastated the region back in 1990. I was about four then and I could vaguely remember being prepped by Yaya Winnie for an overnight trip to Baguio to stay at the Manor Hotel that unbelievably crumbled later that afternoon. Due to some miraculous intervention, however, my mother Gina was hit by intense stomach pains and she postponed our trip and inadvertently spared us from the tragedy that took the lives of thousands. It only hit me in my latter years that I wouldn’t be here if not for God’s saving grace. On the downside, Pangasinan was ravaged on all fronts, with bridges and infrastructure left in pieces and a future marked utterly bleak for the city of Dagupan. That is until Joe de Venecia stepped up in 1992, ran for congressman of the 4th District of Pangasinan, and was eventually elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.

As Congressman and Speaker, he was able to pick up those pieces for his beloved hometown and paint a brighter future for the 4th District of Pangasinan through his rebuilding projects — everything from various infrastructures, public utilities and drainage systems to basically every nook and cranny of Dagupan, San Jacinto, San Fabian, Manaoag, and Mangaldan as we see it today. He did so with the help of firm believers, colleagues both local and international, and the continuing support of Dagupenos who have nothing but love and support for their idol.

In my travels here with John Nite, Sha La La, and Shermaine Santiago, I have experienced many great things that can’t necessarily be articulated in words and rhetoric. The sight of the people’s unabashed support and reception of my father is something that pierces through even this city boy’s veneer, as a student columnist, actor and jack-of-all-trades who was formerly unaware of the overwhelming good that his father has done for the people of Pangasinan. The folly of today’s youth is that their worlds become so concentrated on what they know and what they have grown accustomed to that it becomes extremely hard for them to move past their comfort zones and see life through different eyes. But from what I’ve experienced so far, going house to house with all the local candidates, speaking in front of crowds large and small, entertaining yet essentially reminding them of what my father has done for them these past years, I realized that one only needs to take a leap of faith to gain some perspective and hopefully some enlightenment.

Hot on the campaign trail, it came to me through a revelation of tears and insurmountable happiness from a woman who was so overjoyed that her son was going to be a Joe de Venecia scholar among tens of thousands of already existent scholars around Pangasinan. It came to me through the cheers and applause from people who recognized the contributions of my father in terms of infrastructure among other things to help better their lives. It came to me through my interactions with the average Juan and even among members of our campaign team, recounting their devotion to and belief in my father’s capacity to serve and change the world.

Somehow, I was forced to look back on all the extraordinary circumstances I grew up with as a politician’s kid — from the time I was constantly complaining that I hardly saw my father though we lived in the same house, to all the times I’ve had to sacrifice a private life as enjoyed by most of my peers so that Dad could continue in office. Seeing and experiencing firsthand the intense synergy between my father and the people of the 4th District of Pangasinan, and how my personal sacrifices all these years have translated to painting smiles on as many faces as possible, made me even more determined than ever to persevere in this campaign and, more importantly, maintain and protect, in my own unique way, that which I have denied far too long. Pangasinan is my home. And there ain’t nobody that messes with it, ever.

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Catch your breath and let me know what you think at chasingtoff@yahoo.com