What is there in the PCL totem pole that drives a level-headed person like Tita Gallentes to run for president?

That is like asking many would-be climbers why risk conquering Mt. Everest given all the dangers that lurks every step of the way. But climb they did and conquer the tallest mountain of the world. And back to the question that has something to do with Mt. Everest , the cryptic answer as everybody knows is that-- because it's there. If we may allow to put words into the mouth of Gallentes, the answer is more like it too—the PCL presidency is there and up for grabs to anybody who has the wherewithal to win. Win or lose, Gallentes is willing to stake her reputation as G-Hernandez councilor in the mad race for the PCL presidency. But first of all, let it be asked too, why the lady from Limestone Country is so obsessed to run for PCL president. Is there anything wrong with the present leadership?

The answer is yes, if we ask Gallentes the same pointed question.

There is this clarion call for the changing of the guard and she a willing instrument to carry out this indomitable law of nature—change. Rising to the occasion, this unassuming lady kagawad stand up to be counted and there she is-- a first among equals in the PCL rank and file. No wonder, her battle cry in winning the hearts and minds of PCL colleagues that if they want change, the right time is now. Stand she must and she is now in the middle of a tough fight. Never mind that she is fighting a well-oiled machinery presided over by incumbent PCL president Brigido “Boy:” Imboy. Never mind that she is ranged against a tireless and moneyed campaigner like Loay Mayor May Lim-Imboy, wife of the PCL president. The lady Imboy is paraded around as the incumbent's lucky charm and secret weapon. To Gallentes, it is indeed a formidable combination. For all intents and purposes, she is facing the Imboys in a battleground decided by the color of money. Asked if she is aware that it takes a lot of money to run the PCL presidency, Gallentes, without batting an eyelash, retorted-- yes she did. She said she is very much aware and how she wishes she has all the cash money can buy. But on the other hand also, how she wishes this is not the way to win the PCL electoral combat. While she admitted that she is not “that poor” not being able to raise a substantial amount “to hold the line” against the onslaught of an Imboy money machine, Gallentes hopes that it (money) should not the end all and be all of winning the PCL presidency. Built around a platform of nothing but change, the lady kagawad assembled a similarly committed ticket designed to clobber Imboy's equally determined bid to seek reelection. She has for an executive vice president a popular and active councilor from Catigbian --Doris Dinorog. Speaking of her plan of action, Gallentes promises to be different from Imboy's brand of leadership.

While the incumbent prides himself in disbursing PCL money as if it is his own--discretionary is the word for it, Gallentes wants transparency as the hallmark of his administration. Imboy drew flak from his colleagues when his own interpretation of discretionary is an option to be exercised according to his own liking. That is as far as his opponents in the PCL are concerned: that he treated the discretionary fund as his own piggy bank. A charge that Imboy vehemently denied. Given Imboy's interpretation of discretionary, Gallentes lambasted him of running the affairs of the PCL like his own private kingdom. Not anymore if given the chance to run the PCL hierarchy. The lady from G-Hernandez said under her watch, if by chance she wins, she will do everything that the controversial fund should be spread out to all Bohol towns in the spirit of equitable distribution and above all transparency. During Imboy's time, the discretionary money amounting to P1 million was shared by Sangguniang Bayans according to his own priority. All told, this is Gallentes' game plan as she slugs it out with Imboy scuttle his hold on the discretionary windfall and have it distributed evenly to qualified recipients,. It may be a tall order for Gallentes, knowing Imboy's hold on majority of the PCL membership. But as the Chinese are wont to say: the journey to a thousand miles begins with a single step. And to the hundreds in the PCL rooting for Gallentes, she only just begun, and hopefully she is in the right path to victory.