Of all the politicians I know in the Philippines, Vice Mayor Bajun Lacap of the Municipality of Masantol in Pampanga is truly one of a kind. While almost all politicians are being despised by their constituents in the country, Lacap breaks the ice. Contrary to a typical elected official, he doesn’t own a mansion. He doesn’t have a nice car. He doesn’t have a luxurious rest house. He doesn’t have a mistress. He wears inexpensive polo shirts and trousers. In short, he is poor.
In this country, a politician is seldom poor. Most of the time those who run for elective positions in government are those who have at least P10 million in their bank accounts. But Lacap is an exemption. For nine years, he served as vice mayor of his town without spending a hundred thousand pesos for his campaign. His honesty, sincerity to serve and kind heart makes him the top choice of the electorate.
Lacap is one of the few elective officials you will see planting mangroves, fishing with his constituents, walking and visiting the people in shabby barrios, lobbying to senators and congressmen for various projects for their coastal high school and elementary schools and coordinating with the private sector for the development and promotion of their municipality.
He is one of the rarest kinds of leaders who are truly serving the public. I just hope that he would be elected mayor in the future. His people deserve him.
In this country, a politician is seldom poor. Most of the time those who run for elective positions in government are those who have at least P10 million in their bank accounts. But Lacap is an exemption. For nine years, he served as vice mayor of his town without spending a hundred thousand pesos for his campaign. His honesty, sincerity to serve and kind heart makes him the top choice of the electorate.
Lacap is one of the few elective officials you will see planting mangroves, fishing with his constituents, walking and visiting the people in shabby barrios, lobbying to senators and congressmen for various projects for their coastal high school and elementary schools and coordinating with the private sector for the development and promotion of their municipality.
He is one of the rarest kinds of leaders who are truly serving the public. I just hope that he would be elected mayor in the future. His people deserve him.
Lacap’s story reminds us that even in the darkest pit, a tiny voice can make a difference. They often say that when good men do nothing, bad men thrive. Lacap is one of the many good men who choose to do something even in the smallest way he could. And he is doing small miracles.
