Joy and sorrow reign as local officials take oath in Naval

By LANIE PITAO-TUPAZ
July 1, 2010

NAVAL, Biliran  –  Jubilant elected officials and supporters from all walks of life attended the 8:00 o’clock mass at the Cathedral Parish of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in preparation for the 10:00 o’clock oath-taking ceremony at the Naval gymnasium.

Cheers and applauses filled the gymnasium as Judge Prospero Rapada of the Naval Municipal Trial Court swore into office Atty. Manuel Montejo, Jr. as Provincial Vice-Governor of Biliran; Engr. Bebiano S. Jadulco and retired PSupt Martin L. Lagat as Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members for the 1st district of Biliran; Susan V. Parilla as re-elected Mayor of Naval; Atty. Redentor C. Villordon as Municipal Vice-Mayor; Niceto L. Limpiado, Jr., Dr. Gabino S. Velasquez IV, Gregory T. Pastor; Marilou B. Lucente, Ramises V. Bongabong, and Edwin S. Pitao as Sangguniang Bayan Members of the municipality of Naval.

Elected vice-mayor of Cabucgayan Irvin Cordeta and vice-mayor Antonio C. Rosal of Biliran town took their oath of office before Naval Vice-Mayor Redentor Villordon.

Also sworn into office were newly elected Cabucgayan Sangguniang Bayan Members Ramon Amistoso, Elisa Oledan, and Felix Cabulang; and Biliran Sangguniang Bayan Members Rey Estacion, and Omar Cabillan by Atty Villordon.

However, tears fell when Mayor Susan Parilla expressed her gratitude to the truth-seeking people of Naval for giving her another three years to serve.  In between tears, Mayor Parilla pledged her sincere and true service to the people.

The comic Vice-Mayor Villordon lifted the spirits of the audience with the anecdotes learned from the recently held automated elections.  Moreover, he reminded the audience that in times of crisis, be it personal or political, it must also be a time for reflection and to remember Christian values.

Villordon added that as vice-mayor of Naval, he will urge the participation of the private sector and all other sectors of the society in the affairs of the local government of Naval where he will focus on people empowerment and encourage the oversight function of the local legislators to follow-up if the resolutions they sponsored were really implemented.

In the provincial level, Vice-Governor Manuel Montejo, Jr., appealed to the people to be cool in their search for truth and to go through the legal process calmly if truth is hidden from them.

As presiding officer in the provincial legislative branch, he will make each one account of what they are doing.

The inspirational message of outgoing Congressman Glenn C. Chong of the lone district of Biliran gave hope to those in attendance when he urged them to wait, to do their share, to do their jobs, to learn to let go and accept that he is no longer in the position for he is not indispensable.  But he promised that he will still be there to help them face the challenge that agonized them.