Think about it
Think of the poor, too
By Jun Velasco
ASSEMBLYMAN Vic Millora — he with the boyish face and generous smile — is not the only story-teller in the family.
His half-brother Roger Canto, a modest private contractor, also is.
Roger related that last Palm Sunday, as he sat at the family home to view the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Marquez brawl, he mistakenly switched on Channel 4 with Fr. Jerry Orbos making his Sunday homily. Probably it was the priest’s magnetic voice that glued him to the channel, but he said he never got to watch the much boxing rematch anymore. He got “detained” by Fr. Orbos’ “Reflections” on the story of a successful artist who by twist of fate became despondent, a kin, Joey Velasco, a UP bred artist.
It’s not JV’s talent but his great love story that was highlighted at Fr. Jerry’s program. Joey, according to Fr, Jerry, was brought to the theatre in in Ortigas by Ms. Deedee Siytangco of the Manila Bulletin.
Joey’s story began when on the edge of death, he saw himself at the bottom of a dark deep pit lighted only by a bright light above. He whispered a prayer that said, “Lord if only you could send me a rope, and even if checkered with shard glasses, I will reach the top and find out what it is above.”
On his way up, Joey saw several faces of poor and suffering children, their eyes and faces telling haunting stories.
When he awoke, Joey was bothered by his dream. He slowly forgot his despondency and launched an odyssey to reflect on the meaning of his dream.
Since then he busied himself recapturing the poignant faces of the children on canvas. He depicted them like modern day’s disciples of Jesus Christ in the biblical Last Super.
Joey’s story, Roger said, must have affected the congregation especially when the artist turned to everyone and said, “ we who are here, who sleep on soft beds and in air conditioned rooms, have we thought of the poor children?”
Roger said he unashamedly wept and only remembered his date with his kids to view the Pacquiao-Marquez rematch when one of them shook him to “reality.”
Roger repeated Joey’s query, “Have we ever thought of the poor?”
As Christ has constantly reminded us, “Blessed are the poor and the children because they shall inherit the earth.”
Happy Easter to everyone!
* * * *
Jueteng and Pacquiao’s hard-earned victory are a study in contrasts. In jueteng, you get money without working for it.
In boxing, you have to work deathly for it. You get bloodied, maimed or even killed.
Why is jueteng obnoxious? Because it’s not fair game. Jueteng, better known as the so-called poor man’s lottery, a misnomer because it’s a game of the rich at the expense of the poor, will bait the poor through gambling’s addicting nature. Gamblers play not for profit but for the thrill of it, a rich man’s vice. But the poor will bet in hope of winning but such hopes are misleading, the winners only go to those running it.
It will only be fair game if it’s legalized, where the rules are played in the open under the watchful eyes of the public.
Why are our government officials against legalizing it? Because it would kill the payola which runs into several millions of pesos. If legal, the payola will go to government’s development projects. No government official likes that?
This is why, as we have often pointed out, our officials won’t want it licked or legalized. After all, the culture of corruption is synonymous with our kind of government. The campaign, if it should be genuine and realistic, should begin at the top. Our Bishop Oscar Cruz has earned the ire of well-heeled government officials because of his dogged crusade against jueteng.
By the way, he will lead honorees tonight at the “Diwa Salita at Gawa’s” Achievers Night for his moral reform campaign.
* * *
We wish to congratulate our kin, Mel Velasco, official biographer of the Ramos family for his fourth (or fifth) opus, the second edition of the first book about former Congressman and Foreign Affairs Sec. Narciso Ramos.
We sincerely hope we can attend the book launching on Tuesday, which coincides with FVR’s 80th birthday anniversary. But our Kuala Lumpur friend Gary Galvez had sent us a ticket for a two-day trip out there.
Former Mayor Benjie Lim who would be abroad during the “Diwa Salita at Gawa” event tonight promised to attend the book launching.
In his place, Vice Guvnor Marlyn Agabas will charm the audience with the Agabas couple’s devotion to each other and scholarship.
(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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