Playing with Fire
Opposition falling apart
By Gonzalo Duque
A KEY (susi in Tagalog) Michaelangelo Zuce who was earlier spilling the beans on the opposition’s charges that PGMA stole the presidency has just volunteered to help PGMA’s anti jueteng campaign under Secretary Ronaldo Puno.
There you are. Zuce can’t be the opposition’s susi anymore in their obsession to topple the President on their charge that envelopes were given to certain Comelec official’s days before the elections to ensure her victory. The star witness has turned his back on the users and exploiters who did not play their cards well.
Zuce somersaulted because after he was used by GMA’s detractors, nothing happened to him. He was left in the cold. See? Here you can see graphically the kind of leadership these imposters who are only after their selfish ends and leave nothing for the unwary people wield. This Zuce fiasco is a reliable situationer on the political opposition nowadays.
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On April ll, 2006, the Lyceum Northwestern University will confer a doctorate degree honoris causa on philanthropist Rosemarie Jimenez “Baby” Arenas in recognition of her humanitarian activities and many projects to alleviate the poor…
Baby, you know, is the beautiful socialite with a heart of gold who has caused ripples in Pangasinan politics because her daughter, equally lovely Rachel, who is a product of Harvard University, has declared her bid for congressman in the Third District of Pangasinan.
The Arenas family used to be our neighbor on Don Manuel, now Don Arregado Street, in Quezon City. Baby’s brother Adrian was my boyhood pal. Former Court of Appeals Justice Jorge Rioflorido Coquia lived in that community for a while, too.
The Jimenez family is related to the Reynas (former Mayor Liberato LL. Reyna Sr, et al). I heard that Baby is building a big house in Malasiqui, Pangasinan on a property that she has purchased many years ago.
So that explains why they are considered residents of the Third District.
The Arenas family is known for its multi-million projects for the alleviation of poverty in some parts of Metro Manila. Now they will pour their love and affection for their fellow Pangasinenses particularly those in the Third District.
I wish them well. In fact, someone told me the forthcoming conferment on Baby Arenas is not only well deserved but long overdue.
As part of the festive air that Dagupan KALUTAN is bringing to the city, well-known balladeer Leo Valdes, co-star of Miss Saigon fame, will hold a concert at the People’s Astrodome on the day of Baby Arenas’ conferment.
I asked Toti Baraan, the little mayor, if the Leo Valdes Concert is Baby’s unique way of felicitating the people of Dagupan. My former fellow seminarista simply smiled.
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Last Wednesday, the city of Dagupan held a consultation meeting on the proposed charter change under the sponsorship of Mayor Benjie Lim. Is my cumpadre finally supporting the shift of the presidential form of government to parliamentary as being espoused by Speaker Joe de Venecia.
Are they, Benjie and Joe d V, on again?
I understand the symposium is part of the city’s information drive to enlighten Dagupeños on the merit or demerit of the proposed shift to parliamentary government which is also being pursued by Benjie’s idol, former President Fidel Ramos, and former friend incumbent President Arroyo.
Do you find it strange that Mayor Benjie is riding the same boat of Joe de V.? We all know that he has shifted gears in favor of the late Fernando Poe Jr.
In my opinion, my cumpadre is simply worried that Dagupeños may not be aware that there is such a very vital exercise, and that they ought to know and be actively involved in the information drive.
If you ask me, I have always favored the shift to parliament but not in the manner Congress wants done, which is through a Constituent Assembly. I hate to think that our congressmen — many of whom have vested interests — should be tasked in rewriting the constitution, because that would be like throwing the country from the frying pan to the fire.
What I favor is a Constitutional Convention of delegates who will be elected directly by the people. Congress, you know, cannot legislate against itself. The real issue in the proposed charter change is congress itself, so why give the cake that they are baking?
That’s a big farcical exercise. Ano? Magastos? This much I must say, it’s better to spend than regret everything that we have done later. Pity the children and the future generation. Let’s do it right — this historic task of charter change. Pwede ba, Kuya Joe?
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