|
IN this day and age when nepotism is a sorry (and sordid) way of
life on the nation’s political scene it is refreshing to meet
neophyte Rep. Edgar San Luis whose father Felicisimo San Luis was
the much loved governor of Laguna for a record stretch of 30 years.
As far as his Dad was concerned there was one
unflinching rule for all of his relatives from his children
downwards that was non-negotiable: for long as he was the governor
of the Laguna all of them were banned from conducting any form of
business in the province.
Those early parental lessons have served the
Laguna congressman well, and instead of taking he has given to the
province that his dad nurtured and developed over three decades.
Rep. San Luis—or Kuya Egay as he is fondly known by the people of
Laguna—has been conducting welfare programs for his province mates
even before he entered Congress.
In his project called Byaheng Egay, he provides
services—with all expenses coming from his Pangarap Foundation,
which is funded mostly by his own pocket.
These include scholarships for up to 1,500
students already in different schools; livelihood programs providing
initial capitalization to cooperatives and also staging seminars on
marketing, networking, accounting and policy; free medical services
provided by two clinics, and financial aid to families of deceased;
UP open university learning center (currently with 39 students)
set-up in Sta. Cruz so students need not travel to the UP campus;
mobile passport service facility; goat-dairy project and Operation
Nightwatch where tanods are provided free pandesal.
So in the current political climate when the
people’s perception of politicians is riddled with cynicism
brought about by poverty, greed, and corruption, San Luis can be
seen as someone holding the reins for a future of hope, generosity
and decency in government.
He passionately believes that there is still
hope for change, and from his first day in the House he has been
calling for a moral recovery in public service. In fact when he made
a speech on the floor of the House during the heated debate over the
future of Speaker Joe de Venecia Jr. (he voted for JdV’s ouster)
San Luis called not only for “a change of men, but also a change
in men.” Furthermore, he rallied for a country of “leaders, not
dealers.”
That is why he continues to hold dialogues
beginning with barangay officials and school officials who have the
logistical capacity to rally their own people toward change.
He is also has calling for the redistribution of
the pork barrel, which sounds practical and logical. He passionately
believes that, unlike the in prevailing system were blind political
loyalty is rewarded unilaterally, the money should go to needy
constituents, and not to the congressman.
In his constituency, which is considered as a
New People’s Army bailiwick, there are further health, livelihood,
and educational programs in need of funding that the pork barrel
fund can very well sustain. He states: “The most effective way to
fight the NPA is not with guns but with development and livelihood
projects.”
One cannot doubt the sincerity of a man who rose
from being a self-supporting college student and started out in 1973
as taxi driver and salesman for different products to support his
education that set him on the way to becoming a successful
businessman. He also had stints as sales manager of PTV 4, president
of RPN 9 and became part of the management team of Laguna Lake
Development Authority.
Rep. San Luis had the option to turn a blind eye
and pretend that poverty and corruption do not exist, but he
chose to serve and help as his means provided.
Whether he has the power as an independent
congressman to push for change remains to be seen. But Rep. San Luis
believes that the country can still find a leader who has the moral
capacity to reform the system and restore the people’s trust in
their elected officials.
And in his own small way he’s already doing
his own part to try and make that happen.
rjottings@yahoo.com
|
