‘…we the voters have to realize that change has to start with voting for new people this time around.’
FRESH faces are emerging in Philippine politics. By fresh I do not necessarily (or only) mean first-time candidates; I also mean candidates who emerge not from traditional political families or careers (like Law, for example).
Donaldo “Dondon” Hontiveros is one of them. For those in the know, Dondon became a household name because of basketball.
He began his basketball career in Cebu where he studied at the University of Cebu from 1995-1998
From his collegiate years, he moved to the MBA (Metropolitan Basketball Association) as a direct hire for the Cebu Gems and stayed with the team from 1998-1999. He then became a direct hire by Tanduay and was given a five-year deal starting in 2000; in 2002 he was traded to San Miguel for the rest of his five-year contract ending in 2004.
He was a mainstay of San Miguel until 2011 when he was traded to Air21. That same year, he was part of the Gilas team and rejoined San Miguel later that year. In 2012, he was traded to Alaska, where he retired in 2017.
Or so he thought. A year later, he was back playing ball with the Asean Basketball League and was a consultant for the college team of his Alma Mater, University of Cebu.
Then his life changed. In 2018 he was offered a slot for councilor under Vice Mayor Mike Rama; Dondon took a leap of faith, ran, and won as first councilor. He has remained the number one councilor of Cebu City ever since, becoming acting vice mayor on two occasions.
Now he is seeking the post of vice mayor against political heavyweights of Cebu; the question is, will Cebuano voters entrust him with the number two spot in City Hall after entrusting him with the top spot in the city council for so many years?
“But he is just a basketball player!”
I’ve heard so many Filipinos complain about governance in this country. But guess what – they always vote for the same people over and over and over again – and yet they expect a different result! The very definition of madness, as a wag has put it.
So yes, Dondon could be “just a basketball player” but over the years he has shown as much, if not more honest, dedication to the welfare of his constituents than traditional pols – without any political baggage or scandal attached to his name.
So you know what? Instead of complaining that things never change in this country, maybe we the voters have to realize that change has to start with voting for new people this time around.
That’s where Dondon and many still dynamic, idealistic, and honest public servants like him on the ballot across the country come in.
It’s time to vote for the Dondons of the Philippines!