PROFILE: ARIEL ENRILE-INTON

When the Philippine Councilors League of the Philippines (PCL) officially endorsed Councilor Ariel Enrile-Inton as a senatoriable candidate that the 16-thousand-strong association of Councilors in the country will support in the 2010 elections, the earth shook – at least in the communities around Quezon City where ‘Konsi Ariel,’ as he is fondly called, is expected to vie for the mayoralty post. PCL’s endorsement came as a surprise to Inton but according to the hierarchy in the organization, it was a thoroughly thought out strategy to up the leverage of Councilors all over the country and to insist that what we need in government today are people who have the most qualified background preferably those who have the experience of walking in the grassroots, treading with the poor and the underprivileged, and who have the eyes and the ears to understand the realities of life in the grounds, which means understanding what the people really need to better their lives and what the government can do about it.

It was not the first time that Majority Floor Leader, Atty. Ariel Inton caused a stir in the local politics in QC. As the longest serving Majority Floor Leader of the QC Council, Inton is believed to be Mayor Sonny Belmonte’s strongest asset. Inton after all is the captain of a strong and solid Council that Mayor Belmonte depends on when it comes to getting things done on bills, ordinances and other important legislation. It is a proven fact that a well-built Council, which Inton heads in QC, is an advantage for the local leadership. When Inton made known to all and sundry that he will run for Mayor in the coming elections, possibly against who many believed will be Belmonte’s anointed one, temperatures and temper rose. Ariel Inton, an ally, a silent worker, low-profiled leader and motivator, and a friend to all, will face-off with the Mayor’s choice? Now in QC politics, that is earth-shaking.

Speculations continue to cause ripples. Inton is not among the monied lot. Where will he get the funds for the campaign when, unlike him, his rivals have obviously a lot to spend in advertising and promotions? On the other hand, he drives a worn and beaten Adventure, with seats beginning to fall off, generously provided for by the Council. He recently prominently added his middle name of Enrile to his calling card for a better name-recall, a fact that again raised some eyebrows. This guy, many now know, will be in the unbeaten path, shaking the status quo, putting everyone on the edge of their seats, and will surprise even the most jaded earth-shakers and game-changers in this game called politics.

Living among the stars

Quezon City is the city of stars. Atty. Ariel Enrile-Inton made sure that the signature name is official. He authored a bill that etched the moniker “City of Stars” in the history books of QC. Perhaps like many of us, Inton gets star-struck. He hangs around ‘stars’ and gets to listen to their stories too – of success, of struggles, and of dreams and aspirations. Inton then understands the business of show-business and entertainment. He knows that because of the deluge of foreign films and movies in DVDs, the local movie industry suffers.

On July 29, 2009, Councilor Inton filed an ordinance to extend for another 3 years the tax holiday for the showing of local films in QC. It was simply a salute to the movie industry for the tremendous support the City gets for having to claim the status of the City of Stars. But more importantly it is a clear manifestation that the QC Council, under the leadership of Inton, understands the many challenges that the movie industry is faced with at the moment, what with the global economic situation and a inundation of highly popular foreign films, it is the City’s simple way of helping out an industry that has built a home in QC and has helped and continues to help many of its residents.

His fascination about stars, most importantly, serves as an inspiration. While he gets to chat with many showbiz personalities and icons, he brings their lessons on success and glamour, on glitz and pomp, whenever he talks to street children, the child in jail, the out-of-school youth, and the vagrants and the mendicants. Oh how Ariel wishes, these children can live a slice of the stars’ lives too.

Born, the Himig Ariel Scholars!

Everybody can have a good life. Ariel Inton believes in this principle. He lives this and chants these words in his head over and over again. Born poor and under complicated personal circumstances, he tackled life with a bull’s conviction that he can be what he wants to be. And he wanted every child in QC, poor and otherwise, to be similarly motivated. So Ariel Inton put up what is now popularly known in QC as the Himig Ariel Scholarship.

Himig Ariel is a seriously fun group. In his vision, he sees all the youth in QC, involved in performing arts one way or another. The main goal was to get the youth, especially the poor, out of the streets and encourage them to strive and work hard to achieve their dreams and become successful individuals.

To get the youth involved, the strategy used was to invite them to something fun and entertaining, which is singing, dancing and acting. That was how “Himig Ariel” started a year ago, with only about 50 scholars that grew to its current number of about 6000.

Himig Ariel is now QC’s pride with the number of scholars continuing to grow. Interested applicants are pouring in, queuing up for registrations, showing up every time the group performs in malls and barangay plazas all over the city. No one is turned away so long as one is from Quezon City, from different barangays, from different age brackets and different gender.

Whether one can sing, act or dance, or cannot do any, everyone is encouraged to join because Himig Ariel is prepared not only to take in those who have talents and is committed to hone those talents but is also out to discover untapped talents. Most importantly, Himig Ariel simply goes out of its way to inspire everyone to express oneself through art.

Himig Ariel has become so popular and is slowly earning a reputation as a legitimate star maker. It has recently produced a contestant to the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA).

Besting 4000 applicants from the Philippines alone, Himig Ariel’s 16-year old Merry Mia Bernardo, from Commonwealth, is among the 5 who are chosen to represent the Philippines in the prestigious competition in next month. And as a result of an excellent performance in Fairview mall last month, famous producer and star manager German Moreno has invited the Himig Ariel scholars to perform in his TV program in GMA Network’s Channel 7.

The future looks bright for the Himig Ariel scholars.

But there is more to be done. The job has just started. Himig Ariel needs more expert trainers and talent teachers to help Kuya Al Tarca who has been single-handedly managing all the scholars since the inception of the Himig Ariel idea. And the group needs more exposure.

Although Councillor Inton has generously provided for everything including a place to practice, food during practice, equipment, transportation and other expenses during performances, and even allowances for the scholars, the group needs more support to be able to get to where their dreams lead them.

The Himig Ariel scholars are a bunch of dedicated, highly committed performers, addicted to art, and each with one burning goal in life – to succeed.

Most of them continue go to school and endeavour to get an education despite the rigorous training hammered on them by Kuya Al. Training sessions usually last until the wee hours of the morning especially immediately prior to concerts, performances and appearances. But you hear not a single complaint whatsoever. And when they perform, they ooze with confidence. They forget any challenges they have in their personal and private lives. They just turned into brilliant stars. They are true blue performers who are out to impress and entertain their audience. They are just up to the challenge because they all believe that Himig Ariel is the perfect vehicle for a bright and secured future.

Of Time Capsules and Postmen

The FAMAS and PMPC award giving bodies in show business honoured Ariel Inton for his contributions in the industry. He accepted and considered the award, just like the many awards of service he has received in the past, an opportunity to further promote the programs he initiates for the benefit of his constituencies and his beneficiaries.

The awards inspire him but humble him. The plaques, trophies, certificates, ribbons, medals and others he has received are neatly kept in a room in his home. But it is what they stand for that is most important – the successes of his programs and acknowledgement of his public service, as etched in those awards of which true values are more than gold and diamonds.

Ariel Inton has other interests as a public servant and they are as colourful as his personality, albeit more privately than ostentatiously. A couple of programs that can be share here are all about a time-capsule and love letters.

In 2003, he conducted an essay writing contest in all grade 6 students in QC. The topic was what the students want QC to be in the next 30 years or so when the City celebrates its 100th year Foundation Day. The winning piece was then placed in a time-capsule, securely kept in QC Municipal Hall, and will be read by the current mayor of QC in 2039. For Inton, that is the true test of success. If the Mayors of QC, from now until then, would have achieved the goals and objectives of the City culled from the dreams, hope and ambition of the youth of today. Based on this test, which he himself put forward, Ariel Enrile-Inton will be looking at becoming the next Mayor of QC.

The postmen of QC hold a warm spot in Inton’s heart.

In the days that followed the tragedies caused by Pepeng and Ondoy, a group of ‘karteros’ went to Konsi Ariel for financial help. As always the case, he takes the opportunity to listen to their story. The following piece by Ariel Enrile-Inton is the result of that heart-warming encounter.