THE COUNTRY was caught by surprise when the news broke out that former president BENIGNO SIMEON C. AQUINO III died at a young age of 61. Flags were raised half mast; opposition leaders gathered together to pay their last respect to the 15th president of the country. Like his parents, PNoy was well-loved by the many.
From being a congressman of Tarlac for 9 years and a senator from 2007 to 2010, PNoy is best known for his inaugural speech when he proudly laid down the government he envisioned – “no counter-flowing, no wang wang, no tong. Panahon na upang tayo ay muling magkawang-gawa.” “Kayo ang aking boss,” became PNoy’s popular mantra.
PNoy’s presidency was far from perfect. PNoy received flak for the way he handled the Mamasapano massacre which led to the death of more than 40 SAF officers, the Yolanda calamity , the Luneta siege, the drug problem, the pork barrel scam and so on. Yet, PNoy was heralded for his fight against corruption in government and the surge of economy during his term. Amid his flaws, history will always remember PNoy. As Conchitina Carpio Morales who served as Ombudsman during PNoy’s term said, “It was during PNoy’s term when honesty and integrity were the rule of the law.”
Like PNoy, “tuwid na daan” was also former Mayor and Congressman CARMELO “TARZAN” LAZATIN’s vision of good governance. The good mayor may not have uttered the same words, but his actions showed that “tuwid na daan“ was his platform of government. Mayor Tarzan Lazatin pushed for transparency in government, which consequently, abolished corruption in government. And Mayor Tarzan Lazatin was successful at that.
Like Pnoy, Mayor Tarzan Lazatin was well loved by the masses. He provided homes for the homeless with his urban poor programs, provided health facility for the needy and free education for well deserving youths. Mayor Tarzan Lazatin, who holds the distinct honor of being the first three-termer mayor of the city, is best remembered for being soft spoken, yet stern, gentle yet firm and had, in his heart, only the best interests and welfare of the people of Angeles City.
The legacy of Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin lives on with his two children – MAYOR CARMELO “POGI” G. LAZATIN JR. and CONG. CARMELO “JON” B. LAZATIN II, both treading the same footsteps in public service. Both embodying the same principles, “ditak a salita, dakal a gawa.” Both committed to preserving the legacy of their father, Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin and their grandfather, Rafael L. Lazatin, who once served as mayor of the city, governor of Pampanga, and assemblyman of the Batasang Pambansa. ”Tatak Lazatin, pusong Lazatin” was their trademark of public service.
In Angeles City, Mayor Pogi Lazatin has been praised for his efforts in coping with the pandemic and mitigating the spread of the covid virus. Mayor Pogi Lazatin has improved the health centers in the barangays for efficient and better service, and improved the facilities at the Ospital ning Angeles to better address the covid-related health problems. Mayor Pogi Lazatin has provided internet access and computer tablets to public schools to better cope with online classes. As it is, Mayor Pogi Lazatin has prioritized programs and projects geared towards providing better and efficient health services and education to those belonging to the marginalized sector.
While in the first district of Pampanga, Congressman Jon Lazatin, has been focusing on infrastructure projects to benefit his constituents in the first district of Pampanga – a multi-purpose building in Mabalacat City and a school building in Angeles City. During the recent visit of Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, he commended Congressman Jon Lazatin and Mayor Pogi Lazatin for their good governance, and their efforts in coping with the pandemic situation.
True enough, the good Mayor Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin had instilled in his sons, Mayor Pogi Lazatin and Congressman Jon Lazatin the value of public service.
Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin would have been 87 today. He would have seen his sons, Mayor Pogi Lazatin and Congressman Jon Lazatin, continuing his legacy of good governance. He would have seen how his sons have been following his footsteps and becoming the public servant that he was. Just as Ninoy was proud of his Pnoy, and so does Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin who would have been as proud of his sons.
In the letter of Ninoy Aquino to his only son, Noynoy Aquino, he wrote:
“You are my only son. You carry my name and the name of my father. I have no material wealth to leave you. I never had time to make money while I was in the hire of our people… The only valuable asset I can bequeath to you now is the name you carry. I have tried my best during my years of public service to keep that name untarnished and respected, unmarked by sorry compromises for expediency. I now pass it on to you, as good, I pray, as when my father, your grandfather, passed it on to me. x x x
There is no greater nation on earth than our Motherland. No greater people than our own. Serve them with all your heart, with all your might and with all your strength.
“Son, the ball is now in your hands. Lovingly, Dad.”
I can just imagine the old man, Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin, my mentor, smiling from up there saying – “Sons, the ball is now in your hands.”
