REVELING AT what they reveal, so I do with some current headlines and the stories below them. Hoping that the writers, aye, the editors will not rebel against me for doing so.
So, here goes:
Mayor to revisit Local Government Code
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Mayor Oscar Rodriguez said over the weekend that he plans to revisit the Local Government Code and will push for essential projects when he gets to the House of Representatives…
Wow! So cocksure is Oca – or is it the writer? – of winning there, using the definitive “when” rather than the conditional “if” in getting to Congress!
Rodriguez told…that essential legislation seen to benefit not only the third district but also the whole country must be given attention, aside from prioritizing Pampanga’s needs and development.
Yeah, some sureness of victory there. Meanwhile…
Arayat residents show support for Gonzales
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Barangay peacekeepers, supporters, and leaders expressed their support Sunday for Representative Aurelio Gonzales Jr. (3rd district, Pampanga) during a lightning sortie…
…before Gonzales was able to reach the stage, he was met by shrieking supporters, mostly women, who queued to have photos taken with the lawmaker.
The lawmaker said that despite of (sic) this, he will not be forcing local peacekeepers to vote for him nor will he intimidate other sectors just to gain their support in the coming elections…
”I offer my report card to you. You be the judge if I am still fit to serve you. You have a choice, I just hope that you will be guided by your conscience when you make that choice,” Gonzales said.
Humility, respect for the intelligence of the electorate and faith in their political maturity most manifest in Gonzales there.
EdPam leads ARO survey
ANGELES CITY— Based on a latest survey, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan will likely win the 2013 midterm elections.
According to the latest survey of the Asia Research Organization (ARO), Angeleños will vote for Pamintuan if elections were held between March 15 and 27.
ARO surveyed 400 Angeleños. Of this number, 59 percent said they will vote for incumbent Mayor Pamintuan, while 41 percent answered they will choose challenger Pampanga First District Representative Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin—a difference of 18 percent.
Of course, EdPam is winning over Tarzan in that survey. The headline is a clear giveaway – EdPam is the leader of the surveying firm ARO.
Two-letter preposition marks a whale of a difference between “EdPam leads ARO survey” and “EdPam leads in ARO survey.”
Housing beneficiary thanks Lazatin
ANGELES CITY – A resident of Northville resettlement expressed gratitude for the land title he (sic) received from Congressman Carmelo Lazatin, through the Local Urban Poor Affairs and Housing Office (Lupaho).
Anna Luna Valencia (she’s not a he) said the grant of the land title in Barangay Cutud is something that she and her family will always be thankful for.
“Napakalaki po ng aming pasasalamat kay Mayor Lazatin dahil nagkaroon po kami ng sariling bahay at lupa dahil sa pagtatag niya ng Lupaho (We are thankful to Mayor Lazatin because we now have our own house and lot because of the Lupaho),” Valencia said.
Lupaho was created by Lazatin in 1998, during his first term as City Mayor, in order to address the housing problems in Angeles City, especially among the urban poor, and implement the city’s socialized housing program…
A grand project of grandiose designs with but a beneficiary of one? So sad.
Or is this akin to the biblical story of the ten lepers cleansed by the Lord with only one returning to thank Him? Ingrates!
Arayat official endorses Delta as vice governor
Conjunction gone wild here.
The way the headline reads, the Arayat official is the vice governor that endorses Delta. Same meaning as the scrambled “As vice governor, Arayat official endorses Delta.” Or “Arayat official as vice governor endorses Delta.”
Misplaced, aye, inappropriate in the headline is the subordinating conjunction as.
It is the coordinating conjunction for that should have been used in the headline, i.e. “Arayat official endorses Delta for vice governor.”
“As” makes a common mistake in this context. I have often read even in supercilious Manila dailies sentences like “Former President Estrada is running as mayor of Manila” or “Atty. Vivian Dabu is running as representative of the second district of Pampanga.”
One “running as” means one is already holding the position, as in “Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is running as congresswoman of the second district of Pampanga again” or “Dong Gonzales is seeking re-election as representative of the third district.”
Dabu then running “as representative…” impacts assumption, presumption and pretension. Dabu running “for representative…” denotes the certain fact that she is in contention for the post. No matter what the surveys say.
And so: As Delta is not yet vice governor, the Arayat official or anyone for that matter cannot endorse him as such. Delta can only be endorsed for vice governor.
As the body of the story put it, rightly now: Espino urged his constituents to campaign for the candidacy of Dennis “Delta” Pineda for the vice governorship, because his “qualifications best suit the leader of the legislative branch, who will propagate plans and programs for the interest of the Kapampangans.
Of course, that sentence may still be simplified, without sacrificing syntax and grammar, by taking out “the candidacy of”.
Cheers!
