SO THERE I was in my favorite obscure corner in Starbucks enjoying my caffeine fix and vegan chocolate cake, trip hopping on Miles Davis’ “Bitches Brew” on the iPhone while enjoying the passage of time when this bloke (I’m an anglophile so I prefer bloke to dude) motioned if he can join me.
And this bloke immediately got into a conversation starting off with the line, “I enjoy reading your columns” and segue to “but it seems you’re quite biased with your comments and opinions.”
With much effort not to appear condescending (although I must admit I am quite often) and “road”, I replied, “Of course, I am a columnist, an opinion writer and not a news reporter. I write about my comments on the news among others.”
And this bloke then said, “Why always write you’re in Starbucks?” to which I replied, “Hello! We are in Starbucks, are we not?”
He then hurriedly stood up, excused himself mumbling something about going home to finish ironing the laundry or else his wife will kill him.
Really, so wives kill their husbands for not doing the laundry or ironing them, and all the while I have this notion that only President Rodrigo Duterte kills people for whatever reason he fancies.
Seriously, I pity that bloke. He should finish his household chores first before reading Panay News.
By the way, I will not describe the bloke nor mention his name out of courtesy and pity as most of you know him.
Meanwhile, someone mentioned to me about the calm before the storm on March 29 (today), the storm the start of the campaign period for local candidates, or that 50 years ago on this day the New People’s Army or NPA was founded.
None of the above. The bombshell is today I write about Daylee Zulueta a.k.a. Liezl Joy Zulueta-Salazar, currently councilor of “I Am Iloilo City” and standing up for re-election this coming May.
It is the official start of the campaign period for local candidates so yes this is an endorsement, free of course. And why not? I endorse Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and advocate to legalize marijuana, so why not Daylee Zulueta for councilor of “I Am Iloilo City”?
And why should I endorse Daylee Zulueta besides the fact that she is a product of an Assumption Education, probably the best school for girls not only in “I Am Iloilo City” but the whole country as well.
The ordinances she has authored and were passed reflects her advocacy and that makes her stand out particularly this one:
“An ordinance declaring unlawful acts and conduct of discrimination based on sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, descent, national or ethnic origin, and religious affiliation or beliefs, and penalizing the same.”
Yes folks, she supports the most downtrodden and ridiculed members of our society, the LGBT community or the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community and, of course, she is a strong advocate for women and children’s rights as well.
No other councilor in the history of “I Am Iloilo City” stood up for the LGBT community or has ever championed women and children’s rights. I supposed they’re all busy politicking and passing self-serving silly ordinances all in aid of re-election.
If I remember right, a current “I Am Iloilo City” councilor, a septuagenarian who most probably has erectile dysfunction and wears adult diapers, even had the gall to make fun of women breastfeeding.
Here are other ordinances authored by Councilor Daylee Zulueta that shows her advocacy, sense of public service and heart are all in the right place:
“An ordinance mandating pregnant women to deliver at the birthing clinic/health facility, prohibiting home deliveries, restricting the practice of traditional birth attendants (Hilot/Paltera), Skilled Birth Attendants and strictly imposing Newborn Screening (NBS) in all newborns and providing fees and penalties for violation thereof.”
And…
* A resolution declaring the 3rd week of January as Autism Awareness Week
* An ordinance creating Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Council in Every Barangay
* A resolution declaring the last Monday of March every year as women with disabilities day celebration
* A resolution adopting a comprehensive program for children and families at risk on the street
* An ordinance on Maternal Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) and Family Planning aimed at Supporting the Overall Reduction of Maternal, Infant and Child Mortality through the Institutionalization of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) / unmet
Need Reduction Strategy (UNRS)
While other councilors of “I Am Iloilo City” were busy politicking in aid of re-election and proposing silly, useless, self-serving ordinances, Daylee Zulueta has been quietly and without much fanfare making ordinances for the LGBT community, women and children and the PWD or Persons with Disability.
Definitely she gives a voice in the city council for the voiceless natives of “I Am Iloilo City.” So there. (brotherlouie16@gmail.com/PN)
