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[av_heading heading=’Another lady leader rises in Antique’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY HERBERT VEGO
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January 30, 2018
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DID I hear right that Sen. Loren Legarda is no longer keen on running for congresswoman of Antique in 2019? That she would give way to another lady aspirant in the person of Mayor Genevive Gumban Lim-Reyes of Caluya? That she would rather be appointed secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development than slide down to the Lower House?
Those were the three questions I personally asked of the outgoing senator’s confidant, former Antique governor Sally Zaldivar-Perez, during a chance meeting at Hotel del Rio.
As an Antiqueño myself, I was hoping the two had reached a consensus aimed at preserving their political alliance with Gov. Rhodora “Dodod” Cadiao for the best interest of the province that is rich in underdeveloped tourist destinations.
Ms. Perez would not answer any of the three questions. All she said was, “We are still waiting for Loren to decide.”
That the senator hesitates is probably because she realizes that she has never really been a native of Antique. Born in San Pablo City, she just happens to be a grandchild of the late Don Ariston Gella of Pandan, Antique.
Between Legarda and Reyes, therefore, the latter is in a better position to represent Antique in Congress. Aside from being mayor and native of Caluya, she is the president of the League of Municipalities of Antique; hence, counting on solid support of the mayors of the province’s 18 municipalities.
Should they both run, nevertheless, Legarda and Reyes risk a three-cornered fight with the battle-scarred Exequiel “Boy Ex” Javier, who had been alternately congressman and governor between 1987 and 2016.
Javier’s son Paolo – the incumbent congressman on his last term – is expected to run against re-electionist Governor Cadiao.
I have observed the young and beautiful Genevive rub elbows with people from all walks of life. Like a famous movie star, she has the aura that easily attracts admirers.
Under her watch, Caluya has become the highest-earning municipality in Antique – as much as P500 million annually – not only because of taxes gained from Semirara Mining and Power Corporation (SMPC) that employs 5,000 people, but also because of livelihood opportunities available to residents who engage in coconut farming, fishing and seaweed propagation.
Already, despite its isolation from the mainland (three hours by boat from the municipal port of Libertad), Caluya and most of its island barangays have shown tourism potentials. Since it is near the famous but now congested Boracay Island, the “spillover” tourists thereat may enjoy snorkeling, diving, boating or swimming alongside playful dolphins off the barangay island of Sibato.
Caluya has an annual tourism event, the Tatusan Festival – three days of tribal dancing and merrymaking akin to Ati-Atihan of Kalibo and Dinagyang of Iloilo City – that climaxes on the fourth Sunday of May.
The name of the festival stems from its indigenous crab known as “tatus” – a unique blue-streaked crab that thrives mainly on coconut meat. It sells locally at P500 per kilo but may cost thrice as much when sold outside the island.
Caluya’s jump from 4th class to 1st class municipality in 2007 could be described as phenomenal. The majestic municipal hall, a stone’s throw away from the beach, mirrors progress. So, too, do the concrete buildings, the creeping road network, electricity and water system. Her performance speaks louder than words.
A dot in the map in the northernmost tip of Antique, Caluya has a population of 35,000 spread out in the cluster of eight islands. Apart from Caluya Proper, it has seven other islands: Sibay, Sibato, Sibolo, Liwagao, Nagubat, Panagatan and Semirara. (hvego31@gmail.com/PN)
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