Playing with Fire
NPC prexy Antiponda at our media night
By Gonzalo Duque
EVEN on a very short notice (thanks, invitation chair Rhee Hortaleza), our Media Night at the Stadia was a huge success.
We think the presence of National Press Club President Benny Antiponda made it so, a moment to remember, and the smiling faces of the more than 400 people present showed it.
Benny was accompanied by NPC Director Paul Gutierrez and two other officers Bobby and Nato Taboy.
We also thank Mayor Belen Fernandez and former Mayor Al Fernandez, Councilors Marvin Fabia and others for being there.
We didn’t know that Benny and brod Cesar were business associates. He said so in his speech and described elder brod as having played a key role in the modernization of the NPC building.
Benny, by the way, was recently elected president of the Confederation of Asean Journalists. Mabuhay ka, President Benny!
In his introduction of President Antiponda, fellow columnist Jun Velasco, himself a 2-time NPC director before Benny became president, described our guest a “successful businessman” in league with brod Cesar. And yet, he has a big heart for the “small” journalists. He said in his speech that he has been in the midst of cleansing the NPC membership from “hao-shaos” and forced to use unorthodox methods some of which have hurt even his friends, to clean the NPC stable.
The NPC building is now one of the most modern throughout the Asian region, it was learned.
Benny, who was impressed with Mayor Belen Fernandez’s leadership, said he was a close friend of former Immigration Com Al Fernandez who treated our guests after the Stadia affair at Mug Shots in nearby Calasiao town.
Benny also called Jun Velasco “my adviser.”
It was a very enjoyable night. We felt that those in the industry enjoyed a lot. The raffle and the songs and the dancing showed that even in austere times, we could find space for joy, especially at Christmas time.
We were surprised at Benny’s speaking prowess. We heard a lot of Manila power brokers are urging him to enter politics. But Benny wouldn’t bite. He said ok na raw ang buhay niya bilang isang publisher, so he could be of help to fellow newsmen many of who are having financial difficulties.
He is also into contracting and the laundry business, which has towered over those in the big league in Metro Manila.
As the new president of the Confederation of Asean Journalists, Benny says he would tap into his business associates in the region to make it one of the best managed.
“If I could do it in my country, what would prevent me from doing in a larger scale?” he said.
He announced that the NPC would expand its membership in the countryside, and vowed to make our local club here the pilot of the idea.
And to our colleagues and friends, including our would-be friends, Merry Christmas! We thanked everyone for their support and for keeping faith with us.
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