A Delegate From Palau

Tuna Festival is an annual event in General Santos City. There is different happenings during this festival like float parade, mall shows and the likes. There is also an event called "National Tuna Congress" and it is on its 14th year.

I have joined the event. 

This is my first time to join the said event.

I arrived early in Family Country Hotel and Convention Center  in General Santos City. I think it was almost eight in the morning of September 6, 2012,Thursday. I went to the center of the event hall and saw this guy wearing a tropical-themed polo shirt that are commonly seen in Hawaii or some island. 

I approached the guy and attempted to start up a conversion with him thru visayan dialect 

and I asked him, "Wala pa d i nagsugod? (Hasn't it started yet?)".

The guy smiled and answered in a different dialect and asking me, "Where you from?"

Stunned and wondering but I managed to answer and stated my name and the company I'm working in.

He followed up and said "What do you do?"

I answered him the nature of my work and got his attention.

Because he sees my field of work as unique and interesting which coincidentally had a similarity with his nephews work back at his place.

But while we were having our conversation, I was still wondering why this guy is speaking English.

Physically he looks like a Filipino, that's I why for a minute I got to think that this guy is just foolin' me or this is just a guy who is simple looking yet a very rich Filipino.

Anyway, we just continued our conversation thru asking questions to each other.

As people are coming in to the event area, I've observed that members of the organizers of the event keep on approaching him and seems that they knew him for so long. 

Even the government officials of the city of General Santos approached him and to no surprise knew him also.

But I already got a hint that this guy is special, when he told me "Stick with me and i'll introduce you to different people in the event".

As the event was about to start, he said " Let's have a sit".

Then we did, we sat together and still had a conversation and joked once in a while.

Then the Emcee was doing her thing and introducing different guests.

Including a delegate from Palua named 

Congressman Celestine Yangilmau.

Then the guy sitting beside me raised his hand acknowledging the announcement done by the Master of Ceremony.

I secretly looked at him and told myself, "All morning long I was talking and having joke with a Congressman in a different country?!?".

All day we where together, he brought me with him during lunch that supposedly only involves VIP's.

During this VIP lunch sponsored by a government agency, the people who are in the lunch session thought that I was a part of Palau delegation because me and the Congressman was inseparable.

I was even included in the Token that was given to the Congressman.

That time the good Congressman told me that I'm a part of his delegation now..and both of us laugh.

At the welcome dinner, we went together to the venue with another companion in the persona of Mr. Raul Gonzales, a business man.

We had a couple of drinks and after that, we called it a night.

Mr. Raul Gonzales drive us to our respective places.

Congressman Celestine Yangilmau, hats off to this politician. He is a down to earth person.

I have never encountered such type of politician like him here in the Philippines. Even in my province, I haven't approached a politician like the way I did to him.

He was funny...game and a "cowboy" type of person. He has a practical mentality too, which is very obvious through the way he deliberate his idea. 

To the people of Palau, specifically in Sonsorol, you are very lucky to have a lawmaker in the person of the good Congressman Celestine Yangilmau.

I salute you for being true.

Thank you for being part of your "delegation" here in General Santos.

See you soon Honorable Congressman Celestine Yangilmau.

Hopefully I could visit in your place...soon.

In God's will.