Special Spine

By Al S. Mendoza

I WONDER if the car of Priscilla Ignacio-Espino has been recovered. It was reported stolen a while back.

Who is Priscilla Ignacio-Espino again?

She is the wife of Rep. Amado “Spine” Espino Jr. 

Spine is special to me because he is my congressman, our congressman, in the second district. Although I haven’t seen him since his victory in 2004, I trust our friendship remains. Whether far or near from each other, friends will always be friends.

Speaking of my district, do you know that Dagupan City used to be part of the second district?

For years, Angel B. Fernandez of Dagupan City was our congressman in the second district. We fondly called him “Mama Angel.” 

During his entire political career, Mama Angel stuck to my late mom as his campaign manager in my hometown of Mangatarem. 

Mama Angel struck me as a kind-hearted, honest person, the sort of politician carved out of the old block: Humble, dedicated, dignified.

Thus, these days, each time I traverse the boulevard named after Mama Angel (A. B. Fernandez Blvd.), I never fail to salute an imaginary figure belonging to Mama Angel.

Aside from Dagupan, San Carlos also used to be part of the second district. 

When I was in the elementary, Jack Soriano of San Carlos was our congressman. Jack was a cousin of my mom’s.

The towns now comprising my district, aside from Mangatarem, are Binmaley, Lingayen, Labrador, Bugallon, Aguilar, Urbiztondo and Basista.

My district is that big but of the district’s eight towns, Mangatarem is the most vote-rich. 

You win by a landslide in my town and you are halfway to victory.

That was mainly the story behind the 1998 victory of Teddy Cruz, the first Mangataremanian to win a congressional post in the post-war era. He won overwhelmingly in my town to offset setbacks he had suffered in one or of a couple of towns.

I almost ran for congressman in 1992.

Egged on by some admirers that included Boss Danding Cojuangco and Tio Condring Estrella, I almost bit the bait. Said Tio Condring: “If you have P200,000, run.  I’m sure you’re gonna win it!”

I decided against it only when my mom (bless her soul) said, “Anaco, mampalugar ka la ta mas maong so mampalugar (My son, it’s always better to give way).”

Yes, I gave way to Cris Mendoza (may his soul rest in peace), who came to our house at General Luna St. in Mangatarem days before the deadline of filing of candidacy, virtually begging me not to run.

My mom and I talked for maybe 10 minutes upstairs about my running or not – just the two of us.  I relented not with a heavy heart. Mother knows best.

Up to this day, many friends, many admirers, say I should have run in 1992.

Well, what do I always tell them?

Thank you for the trust.

If it isn’t your time, it isn’t your time.

God had willed it this way.  Let it be.

Now has the stolen car of Spine’s wife, with plate number XRZ 620, been recovered? 

I’m not sure. What I’m sure of, though, is Spine must be very angry. I can imagine him gnashing his teeth over the theft of his wife’s car. Knowing the guy, how he wished he’d do the hunting himself of the carjackers! Spine was a decorated police officer before he went to politics.

Police’s loss is politics’ gain.

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