NO FEAR!


(photo from pcij.org)

His name is Manuel "Way Kurat" Zamora. No, he is not your typical-gardener-employed-by-a-rich-businessman-living-in-Forbes-Park, he happens to be the Hon. Manuel Zamora, Representative of Compostella Valley in Mindanao.

Now, if his name doesn't ring a bell, that means you haven't been reading the newspaper or watching TV reports lately.

Here's a reminder, at the height of the debates in the Congress for the canvassing of votes for the President and the Vice President, when another Representative from Mindanao, Digs "Shut Up" Dilanganen, was trying to employ his delaying tactics again (remember Erap's impeachment?), Congressman Manuel "Way Kurat" Zamora (whose nickname literally means "no fear"), in all "parliamentary posture" interrupted the heated debate in the plenary, and asked the Speaker of the House, in full view of the hundreds of people inside the Plenary Hall of the Batasang Complex and the millions of Filipinos watching the television, if he could personally carry the 190 or so ballot boxes in front because he is getting bored. This brought the House down and ease up the tention. And yes! it wasn't just all for show, up to this day he brought those boxes in front one by one!

But "Way Kurat" is no ordinary congressman, if all congressman where like him, proabbly the Congress would not be tagged as one of the most corrupt institutions in our government. Here's an article from inq7.net which was republished at the House of Representatives' website:

Rep. Zamora shows them what austerity means

HE GOES to work on a bike and wears “puruntong” shorts in his office. He uses a small service vehicle for his rounds back home. And when his finances permit, he takes a boat to visit his province.

Moreover, he interacts with his constituents by acting as “kristo” (bet collector) in cockfight arenas scattered around his district.

Would you believe this guy is a congressman?

Compostela Valley Rep. Manuel Zamora, 51, has a lot to teach his colleagues about frugality and austerity.

A first-term congressman, Zamora says he goes to work on a bicycle because he still has to get a car from the House of Representatives and he can't afford to take a taxi.

"So, I thought, since the place I was renting was only 3 kilometers away (from the Batasang Pambansa complex), why not ride a bike?" Zamora says in an interview by the INQUIRER.

So off to Cartimar in Pasay City, Zamora went with his chief of staff to purchase a P5,000 mountain bike.

At 8 a.m. from Monday to Friday, Zamora takes a 30-minute bike ride from Sierra Monte Village in Quezon City to the Batasang Pambansa.

It's uphill going to the House, but its okay because it's downhill on my way home, he says.

Donned in jogging pants, Zamora chains his bike to the railing of the steps at the entrance of the South Wing where he holds office at Room 405.

After taking a bath, he changes into his “puruntong” shorts and then goes about his legislative work, including entertaining his constituents.

"I'm comfortable in my shorts. Why should I be ashamed?" says Zamora, who is a farmer by profession.


At lunchtime, Zamora takes his bike for the short trip across the main gate to take his meal at Migs Restaurant where rank-and-file House employees have their lunch.

After lunch, he changes into the more formal barong Tagalog as he prepares for the 4 p.m. regular session.

"I'm just like this. I am a simple man," Zamora says, wondering why he should get so much attention for leading a frugal life in what was otherwise a world of the rich and famous in the House.

He says he felt timid during the opening of Congress on July 23 because his seatmate happened to be San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, who incidentally has a brother named Manuel.

"(Ronaldo Zamora) is so rich, it felt weird sitting beside him," says the unassuming Zamora, a high school graduate who only went as far as first year in college where he took an engineering course.

Zamora will most likely get a vehicle soon because one of the benefits given to members of the House is a car loan from the Landbank of the Philippines.

Click here for another article published by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. I REALLY LIKE THIS GUY!