Think about it
Noynoy’s ancestors originated in Pangasinan
By Jun Velasco
OVER a bottle of wine during a media event at the Makati Sports Club last Thursday, someone from the Yellow Force Movement, sidled up to us to say that members of the Aquino family have told him that they (Aquinos) originally lived in Pangasinan, particularly in Mangaldan town.
The info was not new.
Back in the 60’s when we were in our green years as a reporter, we remembered hearing then Senator Ninoy, Noynoy’s father, regaling then Mayor Libring Reyna about their Mangaldan roots. We’re not sure if Ope, Mama Libring’s junior, was around, but the meeting took place at the Reynas’ palatial home in Barangay Tapuac.
We checked this out with Mangaldan native, cycling guru Jesus Aquino Garcia Jr., who instantly confirmed it. Jess related that in a chance meeting with Ninoy’s sister, Tessie Aquinio Oreta in Sison town, Jess was told that that the Aquino family indeed originated from Mangaldan. Even durable Mayor Hermie Romero’s maternal name is Aquino.
With these revelations, we in Pangasinan should have been the Number One grosser for P-noy in the elections. In his history book about Pangasinan, Rosario Mendoza Cortes, related that then Governor Bernabe Aquino of Mangaldan, distinguished himself as a brilliant and great orator, reminiscent of Noynoy’s great father. Is it a wonder then that Noynoy got packed a mountain of votes here?
* * *
That legions in Urduja country came all out for Noynoy in the last elections is now an understatement.
Why so? Shortly after the Punch came out last Sunday, this columnist has received many text messages, some actual calls, and reactions in our e-mail adding their voices in the exciting drive that pushed for P-Noy’s triumphal victory in the province.
One such reaction to our June 20 item was businessman-Rotarian Ben Datuin, OIC mayor of Calasiao sometime in 1988 during the people power-propelled presidency of P-noy’s mother, the iconic Tita Cory. Ben opined that “in fairness” we should give credit where it’s due by adding some more names in the yeomen’s job during the presidential campaign in Pangasinan.
He mentioned our mutual buddy and kumpadre, PR and management communications executive George Estrada, Pangasinan convenor of the Black and White Movement, the nationwide civil society organization that had emerged after the historic bolting of the famous “Hyatt 10” cabinet and key government personages from the much discredited and unlamented PGMA administration.
George, Ben says, and his fellow Rotarians – bangus trader Zaldy Alipio, Dagupan City convenor, and accountant Rudy Antipuesto, Calasiao convenor –“were greatly instrumental in some fund-raising activities of the movement, one of which was held at Gerry’s Grill, at the height of the campaign when P-noy’s survey lead had been substantially chipped down by then survey runner-up Manny Villar. No less than the celebrated songbird of the ‘80’s, Leah Navarro – BnW national co-convenor – and information technology giant-national convenor Enteng Roman – was present. The affair was attended by many local BnW members, including accountant-lawyer Mely Alfonso, Lea Pagsolingan, Claire Matanguihan, lawyers Aurora Valle and Roehl de Castro, and other notables.”
The group, Ben adds, “moved heaven and earth to chisel away Villar’s then mounting ‘harvests,’ and put back P-noy comfortably in the lead. The rest, as everyone now knows, is history.”
Other reactions came from our cousin-in-law and text-mate Claudette Dalusong, who literally pushed for Noynoy in Pangasinan, Tarlac and Manila where she shuttles and resides every now and then; the Samsons – Dr. Macky, Aurora Reyna, Edy Cuison Samson, and re-elected Councilor Chito; former Councilor Pedy and Dr. Zeny Noriega Torio; pharmaceuticals distributor Romy Sagarino, Dr. Carl and Thelma Arenas of the Specialist Group Hospital and Trauma Center, Rotary Club of Central Pangasinan president Ashok Vasandani, and the Reynas, this time from Ope’s technical adviser, Manny Roy, who headed the FPJ campaign in 2004. Manny sent this text message, “Akin ka, agui, naynay tan mankakaped Café du Marc, alingwanan mo kami balet nen pare Ope nen oras lay panagborbor.”
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