True to his promise, Gov. Eduardo B. Gadiano of Occidental Mindoro rode his bike in the morning of July 22, 2020 from the newly-inaugurated extension office of the provincial government in Barangay Magbay to Barangay Caminawit in San Jose town to have an ocular inspection on the situation of roads in that particular span or route and mingle with his constituents along the way.
Since he became governor, Gadiano utilizes a bicycle roving around the capital town of Mamburao in reaching his constituents and rub elbows with them and know the situation of each community. Instead of riding a motorized vehicle in going to those places, he starts his first active hour in the morning on the wheels. Biking almost became part of the governor’s everyday life since he was elected in May last year.
Governance and physical wellness or fitness can be maximized in one particular period of the day. Biking is a natural and commonsensical choice for shorter trips. In such an early morning routine, the governor enable to promote cycling to be seen as an activity for all, rather than a ‘niche’ activity for some.
Though the governor is not directly promoting biking.
In a speech, Akhilesh Yadav, an Indian political leader, explained the power of the bicycle symbol: “The bicycle moves after you strike a balance, of pushing the pedal and holding the handle, and I feel that somehow the bicycle teaches us something. If we move with as much balance as we do while riding a bicycle, we will be successful in life.” This can be a political mantra not only for cyclists and bikers in the province but for all of us.
But with his newly-found hobby, the slipper-wearing Governor Ed places biking as an essential part of his governance. Under his watch, cycling becomes apparently established a symbolical meaning for the province, in one way or another.
Good governance truly empowers the people. True enough, politics, decisiveness and service are indispensable to each other.
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