Playing with Fire
Ashok, be a statesman, not politician!
By Gonzalo T. Duque
WE’RE back!
Sorry for our unexpected long absence. We purposely did not give our esteemed publisher Ermin and confidant Jun V an idea where we had been. We just wanted to be “alone,” well, to do something different and clarify certain matters stirring in our mind.
And mind you, it was a successful and enjoyable exercise.
* * * *
Back home, we were told that the rumor mills were going haywire, even driving a wedge between us and Mayor Belen Fernandez who, we were told was in the U.S. while we wrote this.
This, we want to tell the “rumorists,” as in humorists: Belen and us are faithful friends, may matibay na pinagsamahan e.
Oh, yes, it’s not the case of she loves us less, but probably we love her more.
Fact is, maybe, she loves other people more. And that’s very ok with us in rain or in sunshine.
By the way, it may interest you to know that we bumped into NPC gubernatorial bet Mark Cojuangco in the land of milk and honey. Our bridge was Nelly Bibat of Laoac, Pangasinan.
What do you think happened when we met? Well, lots of talk, analysis, prognosis and more. We’ll from time to time touch on those things in this column.
Watch!
* * * *
Oh, yes, billionaire Donald Trump, the world’s wealthiest, is on top of the surveys for president in the U.S. Republican Party.
In the Democratic Party, it’s Hillary Clinton.
It’s early to say — kasi mag-ko-convention pa ang mga iyan.
Magandang bakbakan iya, mga igan! Wealth power versus woman power.
* * * *
Now we go to our main subject: newly installed Downtown Rotary president Ashok Vasandani, who was featured last week here as a “mayoral timber” in Dagupan.
We’re not sure if columnist Jun V was indulging in wild speculation, but we know that if he picks up a subject, there must be something big or sensational in it.
Well, even before we left for the U.S., we got wind already of Ashok being eyed – or eyeing – the vice mayoralty. Probably the reason is Vice Mayor Brian Lim seems too distant or smug or disinterested for re-election or running for mayor.
And here’s Ashok who is everywhere in the public glare, even acting as “referee” to Mayor Belen and former Mayor Al Fernandez, out to fill the vacuum. Was there, or is there a problem? Better ask Ashok.
Our take on Ashok as eyeing politics is an unsettling matter. We advise him not to do it. Politics, as you know, is a dirty game. We know. We’ve been there. And when we got out of it, life became much more enjoyable and more meaningful.
Friend natin si Ashok and so we don’t like him to be in a risky and intriguing place.
Hindi ba, if you have a friend who advises you to go into politics, parang nagpapahamak siya? No, we don’t think Jun V is pushing Ashok to a snake pit. He probably is testing the waters on what effect the speculation of a friendly, civic leader guy, Ashok, going into politics would stir up.
Ayos ba? Kaya, Ashok, our brotherly advice: be a statesman anytime, not a politician. It’s bad for your health.
* * * *
In the U.S., we were asked about our friend Mayor Rody Duterte. Is he running for president? We said yes, but if not, we’d either go for Mar Roxas or Bongbong Marcos.
The last time Rody told us he’d visit the tomb of his parents to contemplate on the presidential affair. Good move. We used to do that when confronted with a tough problem.
It always works.
(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)
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