Think about it
The city in Jolly’s eyes
By Jun Velasco
HAD not a friend called to join a party for the older brother (Dick) of our high school classmate (Virgilio Zulueta) who just died, we would have been with Mayor Jolly Resuello when he and eight others were shot by hired assassins.
Moments before the incident, we were talking about starting the Tour of Pangasinan cycling classic (Butch Pichay cup) in his beloved city. When he said “ok, but better come now, Rachel Arenas will be here any moment,” we half-consciously said “sige, nandiyan na.”
We, a group of city high classmates, were listening to RJ’s and the Shadows’ music with Dick Zulueta at Marlene Ocampo’s cozy place when Ruben Rivera rang us up. The ringing was swallowed up by the combo music. And finally, after, say l0 minutes, when we looked at our text messages, we saw this, “Jolly was shot, serious.”
We next saw our selves at the St. Joseph Hospital, then in a hubbub. We met on the hallway Chief Supt. Pol Bataoil who was being interviewed by local media men. We asked one question, “what’s his condition?” We were later whisked to a room where Manila TV cameraman George Tamondong’s father was confined. Pol, Senior Supt. Gani Neris and Supt. Johnny Bacbac, George T and we were spiritedly discussing the horrible incident. Will he live? Who could have done this? Who is the mastermind? Questions like these were asked.
It was already l2 midnight when we left, fired off a story to the Manila Bulletin, and on our way back to Dagupan, our companions in the car, Chino Angeles and Apring Dawana, were still in a state of shock. We thought: had not Dick Zulueta called us, the three of us would have been with Jolly.
We met Jolly in l980, or around that time, as a Barangay Roxas captain and a fledgling oxygen vendor. We were instant “vibes.” He had this “hero syndrome” in which he’d imagine himself at the center of things in San Carlos City. It was a dream, and he almost made it, because his beloved city was on the threshold of bearing fruit when he lost his life to unworthy men.
Our meetings were countless. He always cried his heart out. Our role in his life was not of a newsman’s, but a personal confidant. We wrote few news stories about him because everyone in the Pangasinan media was his friend. And he was good copy. What we chatted about was San Carlos City’s future. He was always talking about the city’s future, where poverty was a thing of the past, a healthy and well-nourished citizenry, new buildings here and there, the coming of SM, Robinson, modern schools, colleges and universities, a new man-made river, many more. Whatever you now see- the dramatic improvements in that city — came from his mind and “activism.” We say activism because he was a restless soul, and his restlessness reached its peak when he was shot fatally.
His eldest son, Julier, may have been pampered by love, too much love, but the heir apparent knew how his father lived. He vows never to allow his father’s dream unfulfilled. First of all he must have courage. To be a mayor of this city, one must have guts.
“Watch me now, uncle,” he, teary-eyed, told us the day we next visited the Resuellos when Jolly’s body was brought home from the St. Luke’s Medical Center.
Rest now in peace, our beloved pare Jolly. Your son Ayoy has vowed to see your dream fulfilled soon.
* * *
We saw a gubernatorial survey yesterday showing Dr. Jamie Agbayani leading her two rivals Vice Governor Oca Lambino and Congressman Spines by the proverbial mile. Surprised by the report, we told the survey group that Espino has received the endorsements of 42 mayors. Ditto with Oca who, Efren Mamaril insists, has the silent majority in the bag.
We made a swing in the Pangasinan barangays ourselves, and we saw the germ of the “Jamie leads” survey. One stout woman health worker said, “si madam matagal na naming kapartner sa medikal misyon sir, nayn years na.”
Well, if we know the Agbayani campaign style, which didn’t work with Louie and Viktoria last time, maybe this time, it will because Jamie is Victor’s beloved wife.
* * *
Mayor Nani Braganza virtually represented senator bet Butch Pichay at the awarding rites of the May l Tour of Pangasinan Pichay Cup in Alaminos City. In his speech, Nani, a leading reelectionist, described Pichay as a sure great asset if he makes it to the senate.
For the first time after more than l5 years that we literally joined the cycling classic around the province, we were convinced of the premier province’s inimitable allures. More than the cycling sport, the Tour skippered by Jess Garcia worked like a glimpse of the province’s magnificent beauty.
(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/think-about-it/)
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