Since last year, there have been calls to declare Naga City as a "Pilgrim City" to facilitate the celebration of the 300^th year of our devotion to Ina, Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

As Noynoy takes his oath as our new President on the promise of "Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap," it is worth recalling that under our Constitution the State shall maintain honesty and integrity in the public service and take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption.

With the proclamation of Noynoy Aquino and Jojo Binay as president-elect and vice-president-elect, respectively, we have sealed a new chapter in our democracy: automation. Finally, automation has freed us from the manual process of electing our leaders that only perpetuated large-scale cheating as seen in GMA's "Hello Garci".

So now that you'll be our next mayor pañero John Bongat, kindly first ensure that our streets will be safe again. After all, your legislative record for Naga is supposed to be proudly anchored on peace and order. And as chief executive, it will be your sworn duty to implement that program to the fullest with no exceptions, especially for drug-related matters and even if that will include certain personalities and politicians.

It is long common knowledge-and this fact cannot be hidden even with a carpet of awards, Naga's streets have become quite unsafe for residents and tourists alike.

"Truth is stranger than fiction," the saying goes. And it's certainly not mere coincidence that our outgoing Supreme Court Chief Justice Puno, as in "tree" or maybe "full," is crowning the apex of his most distinguished career on the bench with the Writ of Kalikasan (nature).

One great lesson our 1986 EDSA Revolution taught us is that power should not be held too long or it will lead to paranoia and stifle genuine democratic development. Thus, our Constitution provided for term limits. Indeed, the ultimate test of leadership is letting go of power as Cory Aquino did even when she was legally qualified to run again.

But then, there are always the "ganid," "toso" and the "maabilidad". Thus, we have those who after "graduation", prop up their spouses or children or lapdogs as dummies and thereafter reclaim their former positions for yet another 3-term serpentine grip on power.

And it is sad to see that we have one of such kind in our beloved Naga. Robredo was first mayor for three consecutive terms from 1988-1998. But in 1998, he put up Cho Roco as puppet successor. Then in 2001, he reclaimed his post and has been there to date.

I got to meet Gibo at the UP College of Law where he was known to be an exceptional student, which reputation he cemented when he topped the 1989 Bar exams. Years later, I would chance on him in Congress whenever I would serve as a resource person for hearings on human rights bills. The last time I personally conversed with him was when we happened to be on the same plane to San Francisco a few years back.

"ITO ANG PANATA KO: TAPUSIN ANG KAHIRAPAN." (This is my avowed mission: to end poverty.)"

To this Manny Villar's opponents quickly raise alarums given his multi-million peso advertising campaign vis-à-vis the C-5 controversy: all that money would be recovered through presidential influence, if not outright corruption. Hence, the joke now about "C-5 at Taga" as against his "Sipag at Tiyaga."

On Tuesday, Feb. 09, the campaign period for president and other national officials will formally begin. Of course, our aspirants have long been campaigning already. But what matters now is that each of us who will cast our votes must be a discerning voter.