Think about it
Quotable quotes from ‘Global Filipino’
By Jun Velasco
FORMER Speaker Joe de Venecia will launch his book – “Global Filipino” authored by Brett M. Decker, one of the editors of the Wall Street Journal, tomorrow, December 22, at the Atrium (2nd floor Podium) at the Ortigas Center in Greenhills Metro Manila starting at 3 p.m.
The event is expected to reunite many friends and admirers of his who have been looking for him since he became scarce in the old familiar places when he left the speakership.
Leafing thru the 387-page hardbound we borrowed from Joey 3, we stumbled into many quotables we want to share with everyone. But it’s always best to have a copy of the book, which is scholarly written, well-researched and a crystal-clear window to Philippine history and current events.
The section that dealt with his life as a journalist should awe and inspire our colleagues. For at age l9, JdV was already a columnist of a national daily, the pre-martial law Philippines Herald.
In a way, the journalist in JdV had influenced us to be one, too. We first met in a Manila university in the 60’s while we were being initiated into an honor fraternity.
Here’s a portion of page 27: “In 1959, fired up by lofty ideals and ‘eager to take on the old order,’ de Venecia entered his first political campaign. He was a campaign leader of Dr. Francisco Duque (the Health Secretary in President Diosdado Macapagal’s Cabinet), who ran for provincial governor.”
On page 3l. “The man in the arena is always looking to take the next step, to compete at a higher level. In the summer of l966 de Venecia was itching for new action De Venecia looked at the map of Asia and his eyes rested on South Vietnam, a country he knew. He did not have to wait long. President Marcos called for him and said with great brevity but also great import, “Be the Minister and economic and press counselor of our embassy in Saigon because we are sending troops to Vietnam.”
On page 46. “De Venecia ran in a three-way race and narrowly lost in his first campaign fort a congressional seat in l965. He campaigned as an independent Liberal, without the advantages of a party machine. Four years later, de Venecia on an improved status free zone Liberal Party candidate – one slightly better than an independent aspirant — handily captured the prize in Pangasinan’s Second Congressional District: he won by a large majority”
Page 57. “Soon after Marcos fell, de Venecia returned home for good, his finances still shaky. The country was in a frenzy to rebuild democratic institutions and revive the economy. President Aquino appointed de Venecia ambassador at large.”
On page 226. “De Venecia’s greatest undoing was to be labeled a traditional politician û or tradpol – in a pejorative way. This epithet embodied all that was wrong with old school politics in the Philippines Senator Raul Manglapus made a thoughtful defense of de Venecia’s candidacy. He said traditional politics was the practice that enabled Abraham Lincoln to push his legislative proposals including his constitutional amendment to abolish slavery.”
There you are, folks, we wish we hadlifted more. But space and time constraints won’t allow it. Suffice it to say that the political guru, super statesman, brilliant journalist, economist, action man, orator, master lawmaker has lately been able to put into a handsome book what he has brilliantly espoused during a colorful fraction of his lifetime.
We’re sure many will benefit a lot from the book, as they will unfailingly find themselves in it one way or another. We have had the fortune of seeing the man – a giant among men worldwide — at close range and profound way. We consider every minute of our association and friendship a joy to look back to with gusto and learning experience.
* * * *
Tempest in a teapot at the Capitol.
Senior Board Member Alfie Bince was recently stung by a privilege speech of his colleague Alice Pulido for accusing the guru of not “acting impartial” during the blue-ribbon committee when it looked into the administrative case filed against her beloved hubby, Mayor Nestor of Anda. The ideologue mayor is also reportedly piqued by Alfie’s grandstanding for announcing publicly that most the blue-ribbon committee members have reached a consensus to suspend the mayor for four months.
Alfie, a friend of ours and Nestor’s since “ancient times”, was reportedly doing “tsimis” of Nestor’s impending suspension, which is unethical, to coffee shop habitués like Benjie Lim, Councilor Jess Canto, and newsman Rhee Hortaleza.
The shocked couple — Nestor and Alice — fumed because the committee’s findings have yet to go to the SP to be deliberated on.
What went wrong to the sturdy Alfie-Nestor friendship? Being a lawyer of high reputation, they said the least Alfie could have done is to be “neutral” or impartial.
Ano ba yan, mga igan, mag kape nga muna tayo sa Star Plaza under the aegis of Charlie Ngo? For old times’ sake and for the Christmas spirit?
(Readers may reach columnist at junmv@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/think-about-it/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)
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