Think about it
Gonzalo’s odyssey
By Jun Velasco
ONE of the negative traits of Filipinos is their inability to accept defeat in a healthy and democratic contest.
Take the case of the recent Speakership race. Congressman Pablo Garcia of Cebu unfailingly showed that he was a sore loser. His handlers like Bicol Congressman Luis Villafuerte, Sorsogon Congressman Jose Solis and that misplaced mouth from Sharif Kabunsan and Cotabato Didagen Dilangalen behaved like campus politicians to the dismay of many countrymen.
When the House voted overwhelmingly for a viva voce election, they already saw the handwriting on the wall, but they still misbehaved and labeled the very democratic exercise a “sham.” They were a shame.
The Pangasinan pride took all their antics with a cool demeanor.
But our kababayan are asking when is the “victory joe” party.
Abangan ang susunod na kabanata.
* * * *
It was as if Jaycee election days were back for Gonzalo Duque when he ran and won for the presidency of the Philippine Assn of Colleges and Universities (PACU) last week.
Three years back, he “gate crashed” into the PACU coral of old veterans of private education. He thought he was playing games, but he won as a director, nay, and executive vice president.
In the next two years, he won again as first vice president. His demosthenic voice used to “terrorize” the old-timers who didn’t want to give way to the young.
While nobody was looking, Gons went around the country visiting universities and honoring their presidents with doctorate degrees.
Came the PACU elections last week. It was harvest time for Gons.
And so while the old guards were exchanging how-are-yous, the Lyceum spitfire began to work earnestly. He spoke of reforms and new ideas in an organization rooted in apathy and smugness.
When the votes were counted, the youthful educator from Dagupan trounced all comers, who were all institutions in Philippine private education. What Gons did was shake up a sleeping elephant. Now it has awakened from a long slumber. It will grow young again, with Gonz around as president.
* * * *
Governor Spines’ fellowship night with the media made him a good material for “president emeritus” for all the local press clubs.
Only last week, we were complaining that he was beyond reach, which turned out to be a premature report because he gave everyone a “surprise attack” last Tuesday evening, by grouping everyone at the Narciso Ramos center.
Seen always with him are Vice Guvnor Marlyn Agabas, a lawyer, and her board member hubby Tyrone Agabas, also a lawyer; provincial administrator Raffy Baraan, his board member brother Deo, Mayor Jonas Castaneda, executive assistant Pat Orduña, in for czar Cesar Carpio and Pangasinan’s garrulous media stalwarts.
Spines, you know, is always a bag of surprises. In his speech, he said “I will be the best Pangasinan guv’nor.”
Tall order yan bosing! But let’s see.
* * * *
North Luzon’s police are inculcating savings awareness among the young. Seems General Pol Bataoil is going gently into families’ hearts. Fact is, the campaign should hit home because savings has never been our good trait, that’s why we are poor… for his part, Col. Gani Neris is promoting sports in Pangasinan when he is not busy cornering criminals. Pol and Gani are in effect saying that crime happens when the best things in life are not there. They are filling the gaps.
(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/think-about-it/)
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