Goodbye and Hello!

Ngayon, mga kasama, ay tuluyan nang malayo sa ating piling ang yumao nating kaibigan – ang kasama nating konsehal – Kap. Amadeo Suarez. Goodbye, friend. Natitiyak ko gayunman, na mananatili ang alaala ng makabuluhan niyang paglilingkod sa tala ng kasaysayan ng konseho natin at ng Lungsod ng Lucena. Ang paglisan ng ating kaibigan sabi ko nga, ay katotohanang nasa piling na siya ng Diyos na lumikha sa atin! Bagay na karapatdapat tanggapin para makapawi ng lubhang kalungkutan… sa kanyang pamilya, mga kasama at kaibigan na tulad natin, dahil iyon ang silbing bisig ng katotohanang nakayakap sa atin…

            Mr. Presiding Officer – Vice Mayor Dondon Alcala, mga kasamang konsehal sa Sangguniang Panglungsod, Secretary Leonard Pensader, at SP staff, mga kamanggagawa sa pamahalaang lokal, at sa lahat ng mga bisita natin ngayong araw. Magandang araw at mabuhay po ang lahat!

            Nakalulugod naman samantala ang ngayon ay presensya ng isa pang kaibigan natin na siyang legal na kahalili ni konsehal Mandy bilang pangulo ng Lucena League of Barangay Chairmen, na sa bisa ng kanyang pagiging Bise Presidente ay umakyat sa panguluhan ng liga para katawanin ang samahan at maging bagong representasyon nito sa Sangguniang Panglungsod, ayon sa itinatakda ng batas, regulasyon at polisiyang umiiral.

            Let us welcome Mr. Presiding Officer, gentlemen and ladies, our new member in the City Legislative Council representing the Barangay Chairmen’s League in the City of Lucena – and now an ex – officio councilor of our city – Hon. Reil Briones!

            The good gentleman is an old friend. It is at the time of his youth that we developed such a long period of comradeship. Spawned by our common advocacies for delivering to the youth of the city then, some basic knowledge on computer technology-use and other skills development for electric/electronic/automotive areas of employable interests. It was the time when Manong Nick was bringing to the fore the Lucena TAKSI – Lucenahing Talino, Kasanayan, at Sipag to Lucena’s different communities managed by my son Niñel, in partnership with Reil. Until such time that I also found out their potential for radio broadcasting and so provided them with the necessary learning opportunities and the eventual walking up the ladder of the media stage.

            Head on, Reil, walk-by proudly. Towards being a fulltime news reporter and the group-chief eventually, until such time of being one of the leading anchor/commentator for public affairs program at our local broadcast station.

            From then on, his advocacy of engagement to public affairs were translated to advocacy on public service through community governance. Started as a three-termer Barangay Chair           man of Barangay Talao-Talao and now the Ex-Officio representative of the City’s League of Barangay Chairman in the Sangguniang Panlungsod!

            Surely, councilor Reil Briones, shall be a competent contributor to legislative processes at the Sangguniang Panglungsod. Considering his experience in local governance as a three-termer barangay chairman and of his plight with the media public affairs engagement.

            Hello, friend, and welcome to the fold! A Proud Lucenahin no less!

            Marami pong salamat at mabuhay ang mga Lucenahin!