Think about it
Spines, a man of passion
By Jun Velasco
PLEASE don’t jump to conclusions due to the column’s titillating head.
We just want to let you in on a secret about our diminutive governor, Amado T. Espino Jr., alyas Spines.
You see, when he became chief executive of the province, his circle of friends, beerkadas, chismis mates and all began to wonder why he suddenly became scarce, unreachable; a T-N-T (tagong tago). Orly Guirao’s scowls made him look like a grandpa for failure to locate his “prey”.
Behaviors like this were due to old habit, you know. And so many of his supporters began to retaliate, to junk him and support his opponent in the next elections.
“Ito pala ang napala natin sa pagkampanya sa kanya, hmmp, bahala siya sa buhay niya, bastana kalaban na ako,” a Spines’ loyalist snapped.
Alibis, mea culpas, sorries, would usually come from Raffy Baraan, Monching Morden, Pat Urduña, Butch Velasco, and all the Governor’s men who could not produce his warm body.
But Pat, a fellow firebrand in the 60’s, who wouldn’t lie would confess matter – of – factly “the boss wouldn’t want to be disturbed, pasencia la.”
What’s he doing in that Urduja over-protected enclave? There are naughty minds, you know.
But in some interstices of a few occasions he’d show up such as in a media night, an induction of this and that club, a project launch, a Capitol event, yes, a few special occasions, the new political star would appear physical with the old playful banter not showing any guilt at all and armed instead with one-liners about projects he was set to prosecute some too big for his small build, but had already been planned in the detail many of which have in fact been implemented.
We can’t identify his unique management style, but Orly’s face would soon perk up with Butch patting him for a writing job well done.
So Pat’s whisper, “Let’s allow him to be alone in his study” has cleared up the smoke. Torrents of projects have come out of the closed door sprouting like shoots of development everywhere in the province. The redoing of the Capitol and renovations around— Sison auditorium, Malong building, the frontage, the backyard by the Lingayen Gulf were finished like a flash in a dream.
Essential renovations of wellness centers, municipal and barangay hospitals and facilities could only match personnel’s professionalized services. Right in the Capitol, employees are picked up from their homes and later brought home after work. Armila Casupanan, who works at the provincial engineering, remarks that what used to terrorize them on account of the guv’nor’s being strict on punctuality and performance has become a welcome habit.
Last week — on June 30 — marked Spines’ second year as governor. We can only describe his fruitful performance: his passion to excel.
Many have doubted his capability to steer a big province to any measure of success. But he remains undaunted, shattered political tradition and laid new stones for new names to shine in Pangasinan politics.
We think it’s the burning in his guts that’s making a difference.
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