‘Jimenez said that our countrymen in the Visayas and Mindanao continue to look up to UP graduates, but lamented that it seems the ranks of the UP Alumni have not done enough to uplift them from poverty, inequality, and social injustice.’
UNLIKE many others, the late Danny Lacuna did not make money when he served as vice mayor of Manila three times. He did not have a lot stashed away when he ran and lost for the last time in 2007.
One of his running mates then, Isko Moreno, who was eyeing a congressional seat, was initially reluctant to run with him. When he and Danny met, Isko told him he does not have the funds to run a campaign. Danny, his mentor, replied, “Ako din!”
Isko went on to win that election, with Erap Estrada emerging as mayor.
As vice mayor, Lacuna was probably one of the few in Metro Manila who could not prepare well for his election campaigns. His staff recalled with fondness that Danny spent the monthly Pagcor funding for medical assistance of P500,000 that covered surgeries and hospitalization during his whole nine years as vice mayor. Danny would fly in foreign doctors and medical specialists almost every year.
Instead of buying votes, he hoped that people would support him during election day for his abundant and worthwhile projects.
When Lacuna ran for the second time as mayor, one of his rivals, known to be very generous, gave P75,000 to each of Manila’s 700 barangays, according to a very reliable source, and handily won the election. His relatives say that voters would welcome benefits or assistance of any kind from local officials but would instead vote for candidates with a lot of cash to give away during elections.
As we know, this twisted culture of patronage and corruption goes all the way up, way, way up.
In her eulogy during his wake, one of his daughters, Liza, said she was depressed after her father lost the 2017 local elections. She was emotional when she approached Danny at their home, embracing him and making him feel how sorry she felt for his loss… again. She knew that many people had disappointed him once again.
Her father’s reply moved her. Lacuna said he holds no rancor or bitterness towards any political foe or any of those people who had turned away from him. He said he was satisfied even if only 10 percent of those he had counted on for support remained loyal to him.
Danny was sure their numbers would eventually grow. In his heart and to countless Manila residents, it does not have to take another election for them to realize he has been good to them.
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The new UP president, Angelo Jimenez, has issued an appeal to the alumni of the premier state university. Last Sunday, he was the guest of honor during the grand reunion of the UP Golden Jubilarians at the Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman.
After ticking off the lofty achievements of numerous UP graduates — being elected as president of the country (six out of 12) and designated as Chief Justice (10 out of 12), among other notable accomplishments in various government and professional fields, Jimenez wondered aloud why many social and economic problems have persisted, especially in the provinces.
Jimenez said that our countrymen in the Visayas and Mindanao continue to look up to UP graduates, but lamented that it seems the ranks of the UP Alumni have not done enough to uplift them from poverty, inequality, and social injustice.
His appeal was for the alumni and new graduates to go beyond their professional proficiency and intellectual abilities to exhibit real kindness and compassion. As Jimenez said, “Kabutihan muna kaysa karunungan.”
Jimenez, the first Mindanaoan to become UP president, is also directing local UP units to engage with local officials and civic groups to help transform hundreds of communities through integration of such genuine commitment for public service in the alumni’s mandate.
