Sportswriter in Texas

By Jun Velasco

SOMEONE sent us this thoughtful text message:

  The poem was nominated 4 de best poem of 2005, written by an African kid..          

        Wen i born, i black,

         wen i grow up, i black,

         wen i go in d sun, i black,

         wen i  scared, i black.

         wen I sick, i black.

         And wen I die, I still black.

        And u white fella,

         Wen u born, u pink.

         Wen u grow up, u white.

         Wen u go in d sun, u red.

         Wen u cold, u blue.

         Wen u scared, u yellow.

         Wen u sick,

          u green.

         And wen u die, u gray. .

         And u calling me

              colored?”

*         *         *

For doing a good job, Health Secretary Pincoy Duque has received a few brickbats from a disgruntled group led by Gabriela’s Liza Maza.

The diatribes are old hat, and yet, the Mania media would not lose a minute not to blow it up beyond the ambit of fair reporting. It’s part of public service.

Wait a minute! How can Liza Maza hurt Pincoy when all the independent groups — SWS, Pulse Asia and the Anti Graft Commission — rate his department highly?  Pincoy typifies the saying, “you can’t put a good man down, you can only pinch his nose.”

*         *          *

You should meet Amelita Sison-Navarro, formerly of Lingayen and now mayor of Santiago, Isabela, comely wife of Dr. Jose Navarro, a former board member of Isabela.

The popular lady politician of   that progressive Cagayan Valley province (cousin to writer Mita Sison-Duque) still carries her University of Sto. Tomas Nursing aura when dashing Peping, launched his quest for the heartthrob and landed right at the center of Amy’s heart.

Amy has, since winning the mayorship of Santiago City, transformed the city into a tourist destination. And from the looks of it, it will take a political hurricane to unseat her because she has become dear mother and sister to the townspeople.

What exactly moved her to build the new city into a towering and beautiful landmark?

Let’s get it from the authors of “Retire Rich, Retire Young” who hold that it’s not in mastering HOW to succeed that makes you one, but in finding out exactly from your heart of hearts WHY you want to succeed.

 We believe it’s Mayor Amy’s tremendous love for the Santiago folk that did it. And where else did the philosophy   come from than from the pact her UST days had forged with beloved Peping?

*         *          *

Calling from Houston, Texas last week, our sports writer, Jess Garcia, told us about the filial reception he has received from his father’s family.

You know, Jess, three-time Tour of Luzon champion, is the fruit of passionate love between his Mexican father, Jesus Garcia Sr., who was with the liberation forces in the 40’s  and his Pangasinense mother.

His cycling ingenious skills are being sought by the Texas cycling association that includes his brother. He has become not only a cycling tutor in Texas but a journalist as well. At a press conference of reigning featherweight world boxing champion Juan Manuel Marquez in Hidalgo, Mexico, Jess was allowed to practice journalism in cowboy country and got a one-on-one interview with  Marquez, the guy floored three times by Manny Paquiao  in 2003  although the fight  resulted in a draw.

Jess sounded like he was lavishly enjoying himself, confessing of a difficulty in saying goodbye to a family that loves and admires him greatly.

Because of his Texas-datelined columns, he intends to put up a Punch Bureau in Mexico, if Ermin will approve it.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/think-about-it/)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments