DAVAO CITY (July 5) —— The people of Davao del Norte gave a landslide victory to a former bus conductor, the man who defeated the political stalwarts of the province.
Edwin Ignacio Jubahib, was a bus conductor by day but student at night, poverty never hindered him to stop dreaming, but to be a governor was not among those.
His mother Matea, told NewsLines.ph, in vernacular, his son Edwin never ceased to help since he was a little boy, she recalled “When he was in elementary grade, he brings additional food for his friends which he shared during recess and lunch, he shares whatever he can offer, and I was so proud of his act.”
On Saturdays and Sundays, he helped his parents sell vegetables in Panabo Public Market and he was very proud doing it, she added.
One late night while he was on his way home from the garage of the bus company, he heard a couple in the neighbourhood, having problems what to cook the following morning because they do not have rice.
“When he arrived in the house, he asked me share a kilo of rice to our neighbour without saying anything, he brought it there,” Mrs. Jubahib narrated.
Climbing the ladder to success
To avail college education, Jubahib worked as bus conductor, later promoted as inspector and ultimately became operations manager.
While studying in college, he was offered a three-year scholarship program to study in Japan by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), where he acquired technical engineering diploma, he then established his own construction firm.
In 2010, he was the campaign manager of then Senator Manny Villar.
In 2016, He was the private chief of staff of Davao del Norte First District Congressman Pantaleon Alvarez.
“I personally attend to every individual asking for help, go with them to the hospital, even until 2:00 in the morning,’ Jubahib recalled.
The seeds of being helpful spread around the province, such act prompted the barangay captains, some mayors and ordinary people to prod him to run as governor during the May 13 midterm elections.
His track record, drove him to where he is now.
Voters Fatigue
During the campaign, Jubahib visited 220 of the 223 barangays of Davao del Norte, a thing his rival failed to do.
Jubahib garnered 280,335 voted against his rival defeated Rodolfo Jr. who got 169,982 votes.
He defeated the son of Davao del Norte’s political strongman Rodolfo del Rosario Sr.
The del Rosario’s have been in control of the province politics for 40 years, but Jubahib, the former chief of staff of first district congressman Pantaleon D. Alvarez put up a good fight which drove his way to the provincial capitol.
During the campaign, Jubahib endured all the propaganda hurled against him from being a drug addict, a plunderer and a ’estafador’.
He was also accused to being pseudo engineer.He was even accused of amassing illegal wealth while being Alvarez, but Jubahib endured, in his campaign he explained his platform of government instead of throwing mud against his rival
Peoples victory
Jubahib, attributed his victory to the people of Davao del Norte whom he said in vernacular “Voters felt tired putting the del Rosarios into the capitol for 40 years now, and nothing happened, they failed to feel the development promised to them, worse, they failed to deliver the basic services to the communities.”
The fight between him and the del Rosario’s “Was a fight against the rich and the poor, a fight between the plantation owners and a worker.”
His entry to the political arena of Davao del Norte was unexpected, “Wala ko nagdahum nga kaya diay sa kabus makig—away ug adunahan nga yutaan (I never expected that a man from a poor family can put up a fight against the rich and landlords).”
Triple whammy
The del Rosario suffered triple defeat, Anthony del Rosario, who sits as the incumbent governor ran and lost against first district Representative Pantaleon Alvarez, while Anthony’s wife Aina ran and lost for a council seat in Tagum City. Rodolfo del Rosario Jr. an incumbent senior board member ran and lost to Jubahib.
Vice Governor Allan Dujali, won the second district Congressional seat against Reelectionist Congressman Antonio Floirendo.
The story behind Jubahib’s victory amazed President Rodrigo Duterte, when they met during Eidl Fitr in Davao City, Duterte fixed his collar and said “You cannot underestimate the man sitting under the mango tree,” as he vowed to support the governor in all his undertakings for the people of Davao del Norte.
With his victory, Jubahib said “Ako na man ang driver sa probinsya, akong i-drive ang sakyanan sa panerbisyo sa katawhan paingon sa mga kumunidad (Now that I am elected as the driver of the province, I will drive the wheels of services to the communities).”
On his first day of office, Jubahaib stayed until 1:00 in the morning to cater to the last constituent who sought his help.
Until now Jubahib said he looks up former Governor Rodolfo del Rosario Sr., “Si Sir RDR naa gihapon sa akong dughan, human na ang election (Sir RDR remains in my heart, election is over).
Jubahib said “I am always the same Kuya Edwin, ang Kuya Edwin ng Masa.”-Editha Z. Caduaya/NewsLine.ph
