CANTILLANA, Angeli Mae S. 3JRN2Political Profile Dealing with the ropes

HILAHANG-LUBID or tug-of-war is among the most popular traditional games, especially for the youth and those who attend team-building activities. It requires force, tactics, and teamwork. It also requires commanding skills in order to put a team in synchrony. Without proper commanding skills from the one who anchored the team, synchronization in 12 PULL! or 1PULL! will not be possible. But for Mayor Sonny Ubana, hilahang-lubid is something that could describe the Philippine politics, especially to his municipality. Born Isaias Ubana II, Ubana thinks that serving the Municipality of Lopez is like playing tug-of-war. Serving a 95-barangay municipality requires leadership skills, commanding skills, tactics, wits, and, of course, patience and timing. Being the father of the biggest municipality in Quezon Province requires patience and timing to know when is the right time to pull the rope or to let go of it Because too much pulling and fighting might leave his people injured. But who is he playing with?

On possession For the past years, Ubana has been very a very consistent leader for the Lopezeos in pulling the rope. But contrary to the popular belief, making a name in the field of politics is not something that he wished to pursue when he was young. All he wanted was to be a teacher, particularly a college professor, where learning continues day by day. His interest in politics started during his stint in the Senate Committee Secretaries on Education, Health, and Public Works from 1992 to 1998. Prior to that, Ubana also held position as investigator under the Office of the Chairman of the Committee on Audit and technical staff under the Office of former Senator Joey Lina in 1986 to 1987 and 1987 to 1982, respectively. Siguro dahil doon sa pagtatrabaho ko sa senate, nagkaroon ako ng assimilation with the politicians. Nahawa ako. Nagkaroon ako ng interest sa public service, Ubana said in a personal interview. Nagkaroon lang ako ng interest dahil sa mga nababasa ko. Pinangarap? Siguro konti lang. Hindi naman siguro magkakaron ng katuparan kapag hindi na-visualize. And my stint in the senate gave me the idea to run for a position in the public office. Ubana first held position as the municipal mayor of Lopez in 1998, succeeding Dr. Joel Arago, whom Ubana considers as his political rival. He served as mayor for two consecutive terms. According to him, there are several things he changed when he assumed the position. Among these notable changes is making his presence felt, not only as a mayor, but a friend of every Lopezeos. Nagulat ako noong naging mayor ako. Ang nadatnan kong image, ang mayor ay mailap sa mga tao. Dati, ang mga pwede lang lumapit sa mga mayor ay mga kapitan at mga leader ng barangay. Ayaw ko noon, Ubana said. Ubana described his incumbency as open for all, noting that everyonce could get in touch with him, anytimeanyplace.Sa akin, kung pwede makipag-usap ang mga kapitan at kagawad ko sa akin, ikaw na kahit sino pa, pwede ka ring lumapit sa akin. Pwede kang humingi sa akin, pwede kang pumunta at makikain sa bahay ko. Basta nandoon ako, patutuluyin kita, Ubana said. Lopezeos also said the same thing about their Mayor. According to Victor Tibalao, a 68-year old copra seller in Lopez, said among all the mayors in more than 60 years of staying in Lopez, Ubana is the best and the friendliest. Tibalao recalled a specific experience when her grandchilds life went fifty-fifty in 2000 because of dengue. It was already 2 oclock in the morning when he tried to ask for help and Ubana did not fail them. Walang wala ako nang mga panahong iyon. Bago yun, hindi ko pa nakausap si Mayor kahit na isang beses. Nagbakasakali lang talaga ako. Hindi niya ako binigo. Hindi pa natapos doon dahil tinulungan din niyang makabawi yung pamilya namin, Tibalao said. In 2004, Ubana temporarily left his position as the municipal mayor and to give way for his Ph.D. studies in the University of Santo Tomas, major in Political Science. While studying, Ubana also served as the Chief of Staff under the Office of Congressman Sonny Angara and Fourth District Provincial Board Member of the Province of Quezon. He also worked as a part-time faculty member for De La Salle Unversity- Graduate School of Education in Dasmarias, Cavite.Meanwhile, his close friend, Fidel Salumbides succeeded as the Lopez Municipal Mayor. According to Ubana, assuming position as board member of Quezon Province was his first step to get away from running for another term as mayor. He said the duties of a board member is easier than the duties of a municipal mayor. But he was not able to run away from it, he said. Ubana said Lopezeos kept on asking him to go back as mayor, because Salumbides seemed to be the old mayor of Lopez. Sabi nila sa kin. Parang pinaparamdam daw ni Fidel na kapag mayor, mayor lang. Hindi ka pwedeng maging kaibigan, Ubana said. Matagal bago nila ako napilit na tumakbo ulit, Pero bumalik din ako. Awa ng Diyos, nanalo pa rin.In 2007, Ubana started his third term as the municipal mayor.Currently, he is on his fifth term as the Father of one of the biggest towns in Quezon Province and has won several awards. Among these awards are Exemplary Public Servant of the Philippines, Gawad ng Parangal ng Bayan Award, Lingkod Bayan Award, Outstanding Mayor of the Philippines, Centennial Mayor of Lopez, and Outstanding Mayor of the Philippines (in the field of Social Services).But for Ubana, these awards are just a token of what he really wants, outputs and accomplishments. Ako yung leader na hindi maselan sa pakilala. I would rather get through history books and be listed as a mayor with lots of accomplishment, pero hindi maselan sa award. I consider myself as output-oriented, pero hindi takaw-award, he said.

Letting the rope goLike every politicians, it is undeniable that Ubana also experienced lots of struggles implicated in his stint as five-time mayor of Lopez. Many to mention eh, Ubana said while laughing. The biggest problem for Ubana is working with his Sanggunian without enough support, mainly because his colleagues are not from the same party. Ang problema dumadating kapag nakaupo na. Tulad ngayon, hindi marami ang kakampi ko sa sanggunian. Im having a hard time seeing through the legislative support of my programs. Yung iba, imbes na makatulong, nakakasagabal pa, he said. Hindi sa hindi ko nagagawa ang projects ko. Pero I have this difficulty in implanting my visions.According to Ubana, the Sangguniang Bayan of Lopez proves is a clear proof that allegiance formed from the officials party does not end once elections is done. Rivalries will continue while one is in position up to the next elections. Maswerte yung mga bayan na may may politicians na may sense of sacrifice. Pero dito sa atin wala. Ang sistema, parang nagta-tug-of-war, naghihilahan ng lubid. Agawan, he said. And for the first time, Ubana said his plans for the 2016 elections. He revealed that he will no longer run as the municipal mayor and will embrace the duties of a board member because of two reasonsfirst, because he believes that Lopez, the largest municipality in Quezon Province, should have a representative in the board and second, he believes that his time is up. Hindi na ako tatakbo. Una, dahil gusto kong magkaboses ang Lopez sa division. Tayo ang pinakamalaking bayan at sayang naman kung wala tayo dun. Lalo na ngayong malaki na ang IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment) sa Quezon, 20-billion na yata, yung sa Lopez nasa 70-million. And para sa akin, mas magaan din ang trabaho sa pagiging board member.Ubana also cited Arago as a bad example for politicians because of his age. For him, politicians must also be aware of their time. My parents kept on reminding me na Ang panahon, may kanya-kanyang tao. Siguro ngayon ako yung tao. Pero ang tao, may kanya-kanya ring panahon, Ubana said. More than 70 years old na si Dr. Arago. Para sa kin, siya yung ehemplo na hinding-hindi ko dapat tularan. Ayaw ko ng matanda na ako, pumupunta pa ako sa barangay para makapag-inuman at makipag-sayawa. Alam ko kung kailan dapat nang tumigil sa pakikipaghilahan.He added he is more excited about the idea of taking a doctorate in business management and admitted that devoting his whole life in mayor stint is nakakabobo.I need an outside learning. Sa opisina, ang tinatanong lang. Mayor, papapirmahan nap o ba? Mayor, gagawin na po ba? Nakakabobo.*****Soon, Ubana will let the ropes go.And the Lopezenos hope that the person wholl replace Ubana as the teams anchor will be as passionate as their Mayor Sonny.