Playing with Fire
Licauco, inter-city Rotary speaker
By Gonzalo Duque
HMMM… ompiano say amta to yay Dr. Voltaire Arzadon et alingwanan lamay kaso, maya kini ta walay importanten subject tayo natan: the vaunted Mayan prophecy that, reports say, predicts the end of the world this year, particularly on December 2l, 20l2.
To clear the air, we invited a world authority no less to enlighten the Pangasinan public about this.
You see, it was this columnist who first touched on that subject last year. Other columnists followed later.
Last week we invited Professor Jaime T. Licauco who gladly accepted our invitation to make him guest of honor and speaker of the inter-city Rotary clubs in the province.
Offhand, he denied having written anything of that sort. Even the Mayan calendar doesn’t say the world will end on any date this year. What it just said, Jimmy says, is that by that date, December 12, 2012, the planets would have by then formed a single line. In fact, their movements are already following that route and it would be completed, the Mayans said, on that date.
But Jimmy confirms that that the planetary movements are causing changes in the climate; hence, we have floods, earthquakes, and other calamities. Many have died, and still many will die, he admits.
To certain families affected by such drastic changes, it’s the end of the world. But definitely, it’s not the end yet for all of us. Our friend Jimmy, who was introduced to us by his old pal Jun V, will give a scholarly talk on the subject on January 3l, a Tuesday, either at Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez’s Blue Jam or at the Dr. Salvador Duque social hall at LNU. It’s a Rotary affair, but those of you who are eager to listen to Jimmy’s lecture are invited to attend.
* * * *
Aha, now, back to our favorite sizzling topic. Our hope is that this would be the last time we’d write about it. We’re afraid baka marami na ang naiinis dito.
But mind you, several friends and mutual acquaintances have called us, even praised us for writing about it.
We’re surprised why they enjoyed it? He should thank us for telling him that some of his supposed friends including relatives are talking at his back, something we despise, because we believe in “prankahan” — straight talk. Until the sad event cropped up, we really thought all was well and fine with him. There are even others who were volunteering information, but we are sticking to what is professional and within the ambit of fair comment.
Are we doing this as a personal issue? No, we are calling attention to a malpractice, because it involves a person’s integrity, the need to protect others who so willingly enter into an agreement only to be dishonored just like that, even involving a big amount.
Some are texting to inquire if he already replied to our column. As of press time, nada. Is he trying to ignore the subject, this columnist and the paper which is one of the top and most credible and well read community papers nationwide? Is he treating the matter cavalierly?
Ay madi. You know there’s a rule in law and evidence, that if you don’t respond to a criticism, the presumption is you are guilty as charged.
There are those who are trying to defend the indefensible saying that the agreement between him and brod Cesar was only made verbally. Ok, granting without admitting, is he trying to say that he is not without honor?
Ay, ag nayarin mitindaan ya, agagui? In the market, you just tell the vendor, how much? And you get the number or volume of goods you ordered. Ay delikado yan too no walad bolangan (cockpit) awa, Ruel, ta bolangero ka? In such a place, their word is law. There is word of honor and mutual respect. So what is he trying to say on that memo between brod Cesar and him? See, you can have an idea of what kind of person he is.
But allow us to say this: there was a signed document. It was signed at the Arzadons’ house in Bonuan Binloc in the presence of witnesses.
Many are asking, why brod Cesar did not at once take over Colegio de Dagupan after the signing? It’s like this… because our trusting brod thought he was a man of his word.
So, is he waiting for brod to file a case in court? He will. Medyo magastos ya agagui! But it’s the price we have to pay for dealing with someone not your equal.
You see, the last time when we filed a case against the city government on the lamented unauthorized collection of taxes, we paid something like P130,000 filing fee.
Ay, baleg a kaso ya agagui.
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