SunStar Sangil published on May 25, 2026, at 8:47 am. I do not understand why Congress keeps postponing barangay elections. There is again a move to postpone them once more, but I believe this time it will not succeed. The people have had enough. They want to either elect new leaders or keep the good ones. The elections are scheduled for November 2, 2026. Others are just too tired of being front liners, solving problems and quarrels like those involving debts, and sometimes domestic disputes between philandering husbands and vice versa.
Today's elections are too expensive, even at the barangay level. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) laws on spending caps are blatantly violated. Compared to the early years, when the barangays were still called barrios, nothing like today's barangay elections happened. They were called teniente del barrio then. The town mayor had to plead and convince a respected person in the village to become the barrio lieutenant. Those were the days.
Shopping and Parking Woes
I love to shop either at SM Mall in Clark or in Telebastagan in the city of San Fernando. My favorite barber and manicurista are employed by GQ Salon in SM Clark, while I love lazing around at SM Mall in Telebastagan. However, it is too difficult to park in both malls. I know builders of SM malls are skilled in planning. What happened? In not too large a space, SM Mall Clark is occupied by a hotel, a school, a convention center, and several call centers. How stupid, to my mind! And at SM Telebastagan, a parking space was transformed into a pickleball court. How stupid too. Many shops are moving out because would-be customers shy away, and store owners and restaurants have seen sales considerably decline due to parking limitations.
Traffic Enforcement Concerns
Paging retired Police General Lina Sarmiento. Please keep being strict in traffic enforcement inside the freeport. Many motorists have noticed lately that motorcycle lanes are not observed by the evil Knievels lately. Let very strict traffic enforcement be enforced like what they do in Subic Freeport. In Angeles and Mabalacat, traffic is free for all. Every motorist uses his own diskarte. Wala lang. No one gets caught even if the violation is blatant.
Personal Notes
Advance Happy Birthday to Dennis Uy. Dennis is a great businessman and a genius at that. His company Converge has already reached 2 million subscribers and is still growing. His futuristic $2 billion Tech City straddling between Angeles City and Mexico town is already in the works. Farewell to two lady friends, Mina Paras Morales and Maureen Gepte Castro, who both passed away a few days ago. Mina was a fellow member of Clark Development Corporation, while Maureen was a media colleague. May you both rest in peace.
