BETWEEN an iron-fisted barangay leader and a kind-hearted, diplomatic village head, who do you choose?

This, more or less, is the common dilemma of many a voter in the barangay tomorrow when the nation goes to the polls to elect those who would rule communities.

Barangay leadership today is more than just being Solomonic in decision-making for the village’s larger welfare or patching up petty husband-wife quarrels or supervising the painting of a fresh coat on neighborhood fences and decorative stones along the road to beautify the village.

With the coming of the technological age, comes too a myriad of new and challenging tasks for a “simple” barangay captain, pursuits that his own
barangaymates would measure him with when ballot time comes around as it does tomorrow, October 29, 2007.

Peace and order, for one, isn’t like what it used to be in the barangays. More and badder troublemakers now abound in many a barangay especially with drugs coming into the picture – and jueteng too. More and more jobless and therefore idle constituents are turning to a life of crime or misdemeanors and barangay authority to enforce peace is challenged to a great degree. While a great majority of barangay leaders still care enough for their sworn duty to preside over a peaceful community and would go to great lengths to keep it, some have taken the easy way out in the face of the bad elements – steer clear and pretend there’s no problem.

Here is where some iron hand is sorely needed; villages are left in panic and despair, have no first-line defense against local toughies and troublemakers once the barangay head happens to be meek as a lamb. Here is where some real manly disposition is needed in the barangay head and his council to send the message to the bad guys they have no place in the community and would get an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth if they so much as break a street light in drunken fun

So, tomorrow, depending on the general situation in one’s community – whether it’s in blissful peace or in rocking trouble – it is best to find the right man for the right job. A peacemaker and builder for the peaceful constituency, a leatherneck and no-nonsense leader for the troubled village. Take your pick.