Playing with Fire
Liberal party in the eye of a storm
By Gonzalo Duque
The brouhaha over the installation of Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas as president of the Liberal Party is “premature ejaculation,” to say the least.
That he is a good material for president of the Republic of the Philippines is without question. His lolo and namesake, the late Manuel Roxas, was the founder of the party and his father, the late Senator Gerry Roxas, was also president of the party one time.
Okeng oke sana, ano po? But here is the big “but.” After smoothly disposing of former Senator Franklin Drilon from the party presidency to give way to this logical successor, the party miserably failed to solve the Lito Atienza faction factor. For all we know, Lito, who is now DENR secretary and former mayor of Manila, is still bristling with fire and brimstone because his group – the other LP – was completely snubbed in the alleged reunification move that installed Mar Roxas party president.
Sayang ano? Mukhang takot sina Drilon and his cohorts kay Atienza. Sa totoo lang, Lito still has hundreds of LP warm bodies. Mar Roxas and company can not ignore this fact.
The Drilon-Roxas party therefore looks like the ostrich with its head buried in the sand scared to confront head-on the tough leadership issue in the LP.
We would have easily rooted for Mar Roxas. He is brilliant with an excellent family background, and he is an eloquent speaker. What’s more, his “Mr. Palengke” monicker has endeared him to the masa, this not to mention his very influential and attractive girl friend, Korina Sanchez. Talagang panlaban sa president! Ang lumalabas na katunggali niya ay sina Senate President Manuel Villar, who easily wrapped up the NP presidency (with nary any opposition), and Vice President Noli de Castro, who is being groomed by the administration as pambato for president.
Teka, teka (shades of Rene de Villa), baka magiging 4-cornered and labanan? Don’t forget Erap Estrada. After being released and pardoned, he has been going around “campaigning.”
But back to Mar Roxas. No doubt, we should easily go for him because at heart we are an LP man. We were the party’s head in Pangasinan under the Salonga wing in the early 80’s.
Our reaction to this party’s division is a deja vu. Galing na tayo diyan. This is our sincerest hope that this party founded by former President (of the Republic) Manuel Roxas will finally be united and launch the presidential bid of our friend Mar Roxas. Pwedeng pwede yan, mabasbasan lang ng tunay na united LP. Good luck, Mar!
* * *
The issue on the founding of our province is clearing up. Well-knownhistorian Prof. Rosario Mendoza-Cortes of San Carlos City has written in her book that Pangasinan’s founding year was 1611 by Governor-General Gonzalo de Ronquillo. Hep, hep, ampano ibaga yon kaya pala labay nen Gonzalo yay topic ta kangaranan toy “creator” Gonzalo de Ronquillo. “Coincidence lang yan!
What we are saying is, now that the issue is clearing up, the provincial government under Governor Amado Espino should now start going for it. If it is 1611, then let’s prepare for our 400th year in 2010. Then it can be said that the issue was put to rest during Espino’s governorship.
That would be classic, di ba, Guv’nor Spines? Then we would have all the pomp and pageantry to celebrate our founding day in 2010.
* * *
Incidentally, Board Member Angel Baniqued told us he will file a resolution at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to undertake a study on the matter.
This is the best thing in the life of our province. We are offering our school, the Lyceum Northwestern University, to provide the technical research and academic backdrop. Tutulong tayo dian. We started this issue so we want to pursue it to its logical conclusion.
* * *
The lighter side: we’re not sure if it was at Wowowee or at Vic and Joey’s noontime show when an entertainment number “iyugyug mo” was going on that the intensity 5.4 or 6 earthquake struck. Those dancing the “iyugyug mo” were frightened, and began singing “and now the end is near” of Frank Sinatra. Nakakatakyut ano?
(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/playing-with-fire/ Readers may reach columnist at punch.sunday@gmail.com . For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
