If I were Spines

By Al S. Mendoza

FROM General to Congressman to Governor. That’s Amado T. Espino, a.k.a. Spines.

Spines was the former provincial commander of Pangasinan before he became congressman of my beloved Second District where I had been voting since Cory’s reign.

A two-term congressman beginning 2001, Spines is now our governor.

It was a stunning victory for Spines if only because what Spines did was not to actually defeat the beauteous Dr. Jamie Agbayani on May 14 but rather, to topple the Agbayani dynasty itself.

The well-loved Aguedo, the Agbayani patriarch, must be turning in his grave right now.

Oh my, when I was a toddler, I used to see Tata Aguedo frequent our humble home.  He’d mush my hair each time he came visiting, as though I were his own son.

Why the visits?

In those days, my departed mother was Tata Aguedo’s campaign manager in my beloved hometown my mom being the capitana and the unbeaten president of the ABC (Association of Barangay Captains).

How time flies.

Now we have Spines as the new tenant at Princess Urduja; the last time I was there was when Oca Orbos was governor.

Virtually nobody ever believed Spines could grab the reins from the Agbayanis in the May 14 polls-except his mother.

For that alone, I raise a glass to him.

The last time I saw Spines was in 2004-weeks before the election that year was to be held. We met at the newly built house of the eminent and dashing Boying “Wally” Estrada in Pasig City.

Boy, it was a day to remember.

Over kuhol and kaldereta and hito washed down by Carlos and Remy Martin, we reminisced on the past that included weightlifting sessions with Mayor Al Fernandez, Rob Dix and Coach Chot Reyes at Mayor Al’s residence in Dagupan City.

I tell you Spines can hold his drink.

But since that day, I never saw Spines again.

I don’t know if he was avoiding me. I find that impossible.

Several times Congressman Monico “Nyuks” Puentevella of Bacolod told me he had tried to arrange a lunch-date with Spines for the three of us at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City.

For one reason or another, it did not, could not, materialize.

I never wanted to know the reason why.

Anyway, Spines is now our governor.

Let’s all hope he’ll bring fresh wind into our province.

 Let’s support him. After all, he’s all we’ve got for the next three years.

If I were Spines, I’d set up six management teams to oversee/monitor the goings-on in the six districts of Pangasinan.

I do not doubt Spines’ managerial abilities. PMAers are known to be good drillmasters.

But our province is too big, indeed, that one man alone will find it hard to become a one-man army. Unless Spines is a.k.a. Bruce Willis, if not Spines as Superman?

Also, if I were Spines, I’d immediately return Jess Garcia, the cycling legend, to his old post as sports coordinator of Pangasinan.

I know that Spines is for sports and what better proof to that than to have Biking Jess by his side.

Never mind if I don’t see Spines for yet another three years, for as long as he does things right at the kapitolyo-the way he did the past six years that he was congressman in my beloved Second District.

To me, not seeing does not mean not believing.

I voted for him to begin with.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/general-admission/)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments