Here and There
Jamby in a jam
By Gerry Garcia
NEOPHYTE Sen. Jamby Madrigal, who sought permission from the Senate to travel to a few European cities but subsequently, found herself in “casual visit” with Joe Ma Sison, “international terrorist” in comfortable exile in Utrecht, the Netherlands, is now in a jam.
Jamby is in a jam as the itinerary given her by the Senate did not include going to Utrecht to bond with Communist Joma, ranking Pinoy leader of a lost cause. That’s why the Justice Secretary finds her vulnerable to charges of inciting to sedition.
* * * * *
That also showed why most Pangasinenses among others who had voted her handily to a seat in the Senate, are shocked and left ordering what happened to their favorite innocent-looking youngish bet for the Senate.
It’s our guess too that another fellow-Pangasinense, former Info Minister Greg Cendaña, who led drumbeating for Jamby inthe last ’04 election campaign and was inexplicably junked during the campaign’s last stretch, now feels triumphant and vindicated.
It’s just a guess, Greg. And we hope we’re right.
* * * * *
Our perception of Jamby then, when she was taking her first crack at Pinoy politics, was rosy and well-based. She had impressive academic training in economics abroad which prepared her to actively manage the Madrigal family’s business interests in shipping, real estate and cement; is the granddaughter of the late Supreme Court Justice Jose Abad Santos who chose death rather swear allegiance to the Japanese Imperial Forces in 1942… and also the grand-child of the pioneering industrialist-philanthropist former Senator Vicente Madrigal.
* * * * *
The reunion of the Garcia clan of Manaoag at the Philippine Tourism Agency (PTA) ground in San Fabian last July 1 was a resounding success considering the limited stay of balikbayan Jose “Pepe” Garcia, Jr., the solely organized and coordinated the reunion. At least a hundred or more members were in attendance, some coming from California, USA, and others from Chicago and Atlanta, Ga., like Josie, elder sister of PUNCH publisher Ermin Garcia Jr., minus alas the late Papa Dear Ermin Sr. who would have been the toast of the party. Ermin Jr., was understandably not present, responding to a mission of social responsibility more important than the reunion. Anyway we’re immensely grateful to cousin Pepe from Tracy, L.A., USA who initiated and actually financed the reunion.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
