Mon, 05/07/2018

ABU BEN ADHEM - Some folks may have addressed him as a Political Butterfly, that is hopping from one political affiliation to the other, but I believe this guy has a personality like no other. Apart from being a scion of family with reputation and integrity beyond reproach, he exemplifies a characteristic and personality, so to speak, that resembles not just an ordinary honeybee, a kind of flying social insect that catalyzes pollination which is a vital process in food reproduction.

When carrying the nectar back to the hive, Honeybee breaks down the complex sucrose of the nectar into two simple sugars, called in our Chemistry class as fructose and glucose. Tucking it neatly into a honeycomb cell, the bee will then beat its wings furiously over top of this syrupy sweet liquid to fan out the moisture and thicken the substance. When it is complete, the bee will cap that cell with beeswax, sealing the perfected honey for consumption in the future days. Such action is a kind of self-sacrifice that epitomizes other-centeredness.

I don’t’ have any connection - personal, social or political- with Cong. Albee Benitez, except that of being a fellow Victoriahanon. But even we are townmates, I don’t even have communication with him since he rose to prominence in the third district and province of Negros Occidental. However, my regard and respect to him surfaced after his risky sortie in Mindanao where he figured in a bridge breakdown that almost jeopardized his life. Thanks goodness, he was not seriously injured. It goes to show he has yet a gargantuan task to perform ahead as he journeys to achieve his dream of helping alleviate the economic well-being and welfare of his fellowmen.

Indeed, Cong. Albee  deserves our admiration and accolade for risking his life to set foot in that once troubled area of Mindanao and to stand on that dilapidated bridge, not knowing it can collapse anytime, just to check for himself the real situation and state of the dwellings of the local folks.

As chair of the Congressional Committee on Housing, Cong. Albee is undoubtedly carrying upon his shoulder an obligation and responsibility that need serious attention, as providing a decent housing to the people does not only let them enjoy a comfortable life but to made them feel and aware that there’s a government caring for them indeed.

Back to his home province, Cong. Albee is noted for his unselfish and unwavering support to the welfare of the sugarcane farmers with whom he associated with, being a sugarcane farmer himself. His Sugar Industry Development Act is nothing but worthy of emulation as it stipulates all of the strategic actions that need to be done to ensure the growth and survival of the sugar industry which is the lifeblood of the province of Negros Island, and other sugarcane producing provinces, such as Iloilo, Tarlac, Cotabato, Bukidnon, and others. In fact, I’m wondering why for all the years with a lot of sugar-breed solons in Congress in the past and even today none of them but Cong. Albee took the bold and gallant move to file such significant legislation. He must have the exemplary consciousness and other-centeredness as that of the honeybee which only interest is the food survival of the members of its colonies.

Evidently, Cong. Albee  need not to worthy himself of all these concerns of the townsfolks, risking his lives to crisscross the countryside, and grasshopping from island to island, only to get things done for the betterment of Filipino lives. His being the son of a prominent well-to-do family, Cong. Albee has all the luxury of time and overflowing economic resources to make his life wonderful. But like honeybee Cong. Albee got out of his cocoon to gather the nectar to provide a new hope for a better life in his congressional district as well as in the Philippines archipelago.

Abu ben adhem, Cong. Albee Benitez!

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CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK – The City of Victorias is undoubtedly proud of having Cong. Albee Benitez,, who recently rose to prominence in the Philippines political arena. And there’s no wonder that despite being a neophyte politician, yet he gained such phenomenal popularity in Congress, and has positioned himself comfortably knowledgeable as Chair of the Committee on Housing.

Why not? As a scion of a political clan, Cong. Albee carries forward and raised the flag of a family tradition and culture of public service. His father Jose Condrado “Jolly” Benitez had etched indelible footprints in the Philippines political landscape that impressed local and international lawmakers. The late Jolly was a former Human Settlements Officer, the task he undertook at heart and nothing but mindful of the welfare of his constituents. Such was a legacy that his son Albee can’t deny and ignore.

Cong. Albee is also a humble son of the late Betty Bantug Benitez, who was well-loved and admired by fellow Victoriahanon for her social welfare activities and programs, among them was the establishment of the Damas de Las Caridad, a home for the aged in the city of Victorias, where our late grandmother Segundina Cabungcal spent her last days.

Cong. Albee’s political upbringing is not also surprising as, if one can recall, his grand mother the famous Dr. Helena Benitez was not only a topnotch woman senator of the Philippines but a philanthropist par excellence. She was credited for being the founder of the world renown Philippines Bayanihan Dance Company, so named for her vision for Filipinos to be united and work together for a common good. The said dance group which was born right at the campus of the Benitez family-owned then Philippines Women College, reliable report said, had been the breeding ground of celebrated and illustrious local and international dancers.

Indeed, Cong. Albee is undoubtedly a chip off the old block like no other. I doubt if there’s anyone who can contest if he’s doing wonders in the Philippines political map pretty soon. Whether he will be our next governor or a new Senator from our sugar-rich province, Albee will certainly clobber anyone down the floor.*