House Appropriations Committee chairman Rep. Karlo “Ang Probinsyano” Nograles is not just the son of Davao, but is now also a son of the Warays.
This was after Leyte 3 Electric Cooperative Board president Cornelio Brazil got the blessing of close to 10,000 member-consumer-owners who gave Nograles a standing ovation after the latter’s speech at the electric cooperative’s Annual General Membership Assembly at the Leyeco 3 Gymnasium, at the co-op’s compound in Tunga, Leyte.
The applause was followed by Brazil announcing “from this day onwards, you shall be known as Karlo Nograles, adopted son of the Warays,” while tapping the unsheathed “Goodbye Jaro” on the left and right shoulders of the solon from Davao.
The sword was later handed to Nograles by Brazil, who explained the significance of the ceremonial weapon.
“There are two cemeteries in Jaro, Leyte, on the opposite sides of the town. It is said that if you enter the town and the brave Waray dislike you, you will not be able to get out of Jaro alive. This is how the sword got its name, because often this is what Warays use when they want to kill their enemies,” Brazil explained.
“We are now adopting you as a true Waray-Waray. Now you are one of us. You are now a Waray-Waray,” he added.
Nograles was the guest of honor of the event, and in his speech stressed that electric cooperatives should be recognized for their efforts in energizing the countryside and bringing much-needed development to the regions and providing economic opportunities for “probinsyanos.”
The legislator from Davao also lauded the leadership of Leyeco 3 for turning its financial fortunes around, transforming Leyeco 3 from an economically unviable co-op into a multimillion EC with a net worth of almost P350 million.
The “pro-probinsyano” congressman has been an outspoken supporter of ECs and the Duterte Administration’s campaign to complete the electrification of the country by 2022, and has consistently supported calls to properly finance this effort.