Think about it
Guv’nor is thrilled by teacher’s visit
By Jun Velasco
“All who know well how to obey will know also how to rule,” Flavius
YOU and us are sure of one thing today, April 13, 2014.
The streets will be empty, that is, most people would be in their homes or restaurants, movie theaters or malls . . . to watch the much awaited Pacquiao-Bradley rematch.
No, the boxing match won’t improve one’s status, economic condition or what-not, but the craze is all over town if not all over the world, and father, mother, wife or hubby, son, daughter, cousin, kin and pet peeve seem agreed — to watch the fight or be declared a nerd or anti social.
This Friday morning, we enjoyed listening to our friend Mortz Ortigoza, locally declared boxing analyst, do a preview of the Bradley-Pacquiao collision, how either could bludgeon the other or how the Pinoy icon get away from being “misjudged” once again, etcetera.
Have you heard his blow-by-blow analysis, you’d think by KO or “another controversial win by decision” that could go to either.
It amuses us no end to read in PDI that “Bradley had thought of suicide after disputed win in 2012.”
Due to “vitriolic abuse” that he received after his controversial triumph over Manny Pacquiao, the Las Vegas-datelined story said Bradley, out of shame, considered committing suicide and tagged his beating Pacquiao “the darkest time of my life.”
He even admitted to a reporter that a fan of his told him matter-of-fatly that in their rematch she wanted the Filipino icon to win this time.
Well, however you look at it, in this showdown—and in almost all his fights—our super pugilist Manny Pacquiao would pocket millions if not billions of pesos. Sana buntokan to timet na balato awa?
* * * *
How would you feel if after almost 40 years, you’d be united with your college professor you haven’t seen “for centuries” in a most meaningful way?
Such happened last weekend when the former Miss Erna Fernandez-Uka, now Ms. Erna Erna Joyner, a Reno-Nevada-based widow, paid a courtesy call on her English student Amado Totaan-Espino at the then Luzon Colleges.
Ms. Uka visited the Guv’nor at the Provincial Capitol.
Both were thrilled and groped for the most apt words of endearment for either. It was Spines who finally recalled their last meeting on along Katipunan Avenue at Loyale Heights in Quezon City in the pre-martial law era.
Erna, who was then Luzon Colleges’ A-1 English teacher, could not forget her student as a standout campus figure, a student council vice president and features editor of the college paper, “Luzon Collegian.”
Ms. Erna, who must be in her early 20’s (maybe 21 or 22), was the object of the college boys’ admiration or “crush,” Spines recalled, remembering her in her shorty bloomers on above-the-knee skirt which was in fashion then.
“How Amado has improved!” was all that the visiting teacher could exclaim after lavishing him with praises for his feats in governance as congressman and third-term governor.
She said “Amado indeed made a difference as governor” confessing that most Filipino-Americans from Pangasinan she’s met in California have “positive impressions of Governor Espino.”
Erna was accompanied by her son, Butch, who works with PNP-Pangasinan, and a cumpadre and pre-martial law activist-friend of Espino in her visit of the governor.
The duo recalled their “gang mates” the likes of Nick Melecio, Mario Panoringan, Ben Untalan, Dom Castaneda, Rod de Vera, and others.
It was as if the past galloped back in a flash, conjuring joys and the age of youth and adventure. The governor promised to pay her a visit in Reno, to which the 70ish mentor said, “make it soon, Amado, while we are still alive.’
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