Cosalan for Benguet rep; Olarte for Baguio councilor

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO
March L. Fianza

As the May 10 national and local elections draw near, I could not defy the wishes of the mind to announce through this column my candidates in Baguio , Benguet and other places. Let me start by talking about my favorite legislator who is none other than Atty. Ronald M. Cosalan or RMC.

For the younger generation who just turned 18 or who will be turning 18 before May 10, RMC is a native of Tublay, Benguet but also traces his roots from Bokod and Buguias through his father Andres Acop Cosalan, ex-congressman of Baguio-Benguet.

Ronald belongs to a religious family. He is the elder brother of Father Andy Cosalan Jr., the Vicar General of the Diocese of Baguio.

The jolly and very approachable Cosalan is happily married to Cara Viterbo Cosalan of Roxas City , the cousin of Senator and leading vice presidential bet Mar Roxas, or shall we say, Cara married him because she could not resist the handsome and talented RMC.

RMC is very sociable and makes anyone around him feel comfortable as he is very easy to talk to. In fact, people in the barangays scream for his down-to-earth presence as he is a person who can talk, sing and dance with anyone over beer, wine or brandy.
RMC finished his Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines . He was the classmate of former Defense Secretary Nonong Cruz, a Baguio boy, at the Saint Louis University .

Cosalan was then appointed as Executive Director of the Office for Northern Cultural Communities in 1987-1995, the youngest presidential appointee with the rank of Undersecretaryat the age of 36 at that time.

In 1995, RMC was elected Congressman of Benguet, a position he occupied for two terms until 2001. Cosalan changed history by winning as an independent candidate for congressman at that time.

In Congress, RMCosalan became a distinguished legislator by becoming Chair and senior member of several committees such as the public works, government reorganization, overseas contract workers, energy, labor, and cultural communities.

He was a member of the powerful House-Senate bicameral body, and a regular delegate to the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva , Switzerland .

Records in Congress show that he has served with diligence and distinction, a track record of quality legislation and a quiet no non-sense work. He was active in voicing out the concerns of his province by delivering sharp and strongly worded speeches. Ronald was not contented in merely having his attendance checked in congress.

Among the laws he principally authored are RA 8371, the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA) otherwise known as the Ancestral lands law; RA 8558 – Early Retirement Act for underground mine workers; RA 8474 – An Act granting Income Tax Exemption on Retirement Benefits; and RA 8178 – An Act Creating the Agricultural Enhancement Fund.

Because of his performance, RMC was nominated and voted one of the Most Outstanding and Top Achiever Solons yearly from 1997 to 2000. In 1998, he was the recipient of the prestigious TESDA Kabalikat award.

Accomplishments during his term boasted of extensive infrastructure projects throughout the province, livelihood programs for cooperatives, full energization of far-flung barangays in Benguet, full scholarship for the youth, inserting funds at the disposal of Benguet General Hospitalfor indigent patients.

RM Cosalan considers now as the right time to restore the pride of the people of Benguet by manifesting a sincere deep commitment of an active, hands-on, responsible, responsive, conscientious participation in the affairs of Benguet.

RMC strongly believes in the words “One people, one Benguet,” hence, the need for a voice in Congress, not for a particular tribe, but for all of Benguet.

His experience, past performance and connections with national leaders in the public and private sector makes the difference from among other choices. Ag maymaysa tayo para keni Atty. Ronald Cosalan. Hand in hand, let us rebuild our future.

My uncle Alfonso Fianza is vying for the same position of Board Member of District 1 (Kabayan, Bokod, Itogon, Tuba and Sablan) in Benguet. He has been a public servant all his life and continues to be, with your vote. My cousin Sander Fianza and cousin-in-law Roselle Sabado are also running for councilor in Itogon.

In Trinidad , the common talk is that Atty. Greg Abalos has gained some ground against his contenders in the mayoral contest. Te same is true with his Liberal Party line-up. They believe in the LP catchphrase “Kung Walang Korap, Walang Mahirap” and are ready to fight for it.
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In Baguio , I am pushing for the election of Jose "Bubut" Olarte, Jr. as councilor. The son of retired public school teachers and DECS (now Dep-Ed) superintendents Macrina and Jose Olarte Sr, prominent residents of Baguio , Bubut is best known for his legal services as an attorney-at-law and for his performances as a local folk musician.

Bubut is a lover of music.:His passion for singing and playing the guitar earned him the notoriety of "late night folk singer", and helped fuel the '70s folkhouse era in Baguio City . Today, he's still an active member of the local music scene, performing for free in various benefit concerts with his band, Blugraz.

We sung in the 70s, although he was ahead of us, in folkhouses in Baguio and went around provinces in the Cordillera doing “concerts-for-a-cause,” together with Conrad Marzan, Sammy Comiles, the Carantes brood of musicians from Loacan Airport, the Carino singers of Camp 7 namely Joey, Jack, Jill, Judy, Jessica.

Bubut is a legal servant.:His firm grasp of the laws of the land, combined with his strong moral and ethical convictions have helped countless others attain justice in the face of sheer adversity. In his 30 years as a lawyer, he has provided helpful legal advice to those who need and deserve it most.

Most importantly, Bubut is a son of Baguio,:having been a part of this mountain city for most of his life. His desire is to bring back the old charm of Baguio City .

The other councilor candidates in my list who do not need much introduction are Peter Fianza, the former city administrator and “janitor” of Baguio; Poppo Cosalan, Nick Aliping, Fred Bagbagen and Richard Carino whose records speak for them.

Not to forget Baguio Girl Sonia Aplosen Daoas, wife of David “Annab” Daoas; the classmate George “Pok” Chan of Honeymoon, Upper Brookside and Fairview, and my sister Myrthena at the Magsaysay Elementary School at New Lucban.

More of our candidates next week. – marchfianza777@yahoo.com