Mike Enriquez’s Angels

By Jun Velasco

THE advent of March usually brings up thoughts of the hottest season of the year, starting with Lent.

It seems, as Bob Dylan celebrates it in a song, the times, indeed, “they are a ‘changin,'” as you, too, must have noticed the subtly biting air, colder than the past Christmas days.

It should be a welcome change though because we already have our fair share of heat in the political establishment.

When Speaker Joe de Venecia warned his former staunch ally, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in PDI’s colorful headline, “I fall, you fall,” we already got a feel of the heat at the top.  Every thing is tumbling down as a result, and before we know it, the political heat would become hate and would reach a point where enmity, animosity and distrust become the order of the day.

Don’t say we detest trouble, because there are times when we need it. Who was it who said, “create trouble for truth?”  These are the times when we who have been lumped in a lie-covered court are simply delighted by the exposure of the truth.  But we, too, feel sad for those who are disenfranchised or sacrificed in the hurtful invasion by the truth.  But you can be sure of this.  In the long run, justice – divine justice especially – will prevail on the land, and the guilty, the source of enmity, the corrupt will be punished.

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     We almost shed a tear when we came across Mike Enriquez’s accounts or revelations about his angels who, he said, have been visiting him for years now. These angels – or bringers of good news – are not the winged creatures that we have read in the Bible. They are the taxi drivers, trike drivers, bus and taxi passengers, janitors, teachers, or common folk who stumble upon precious items, wads of peso and dollar bills, expensive bags, and other material things. Mike is touched by this show of care, love and concern for our fellowmen. And so it delights him no end to be a part of the angles’ search for the owners of the lost items.  Usually, he observed, the finders many of who are poor did not ask for  any prize or  gratuity fee, but more often, he said, the grateful owners would hand out a token of pabuya which would just be alright, but never did they demand or ask  anything for their good and noble deeds.

If you ask us, this is the best story that we should tell about Filipinos these days.  We have become weary, tired, exasperated,   in fact, nauseated  by the daily dose of  negative news and coffee shop subjects  of corruption, government scandals, thievery and similar “poisons.” 

One Friday last month, we had a hearty share of an inspiring speech by  Justice Magdangal de Leon, son of the late National Artist Felipe de Leon, as he described the Filipino as a great man or woman, excellent in many ways, who emerges on top of the heap in all kinds of  human endeavor. In music, literature, politics, science, and in all areas of human achievement.  We should not forget or lose sight of what we Filipinos are capable of, instead of, he said, preoccupying ourselves with hurling venoms at our fellowmen.

Someone asked, “how can we do that with many of our leaders showing us the wrong example of what we can become?” We lost track of what he exactly said, but in our casual way of dealing with situations like this, we simply avoid the culprit.

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One of  the honorees on  Media Achievers Night on March 23  would want to know how he, a balikbayan from San Francisco, could send a contribution or two for Jun Lozada  and Joey de Venecia to help  them  knowing their  thankless fight against corruption.  Alfredo Dawana, former Dagupan ABC president, a real estate businessman in the US and president of the Tococ, San Fabian Homeowners Club, says Dagupeños in the US have asked him to lead a fundraising job for the whistleblowers to encourage them to stay on. The country, he said, owes them its salvation from a reign of darkness built by corruption. Dawana will be cited along with l4 other Pangasinenses and adopted Pangasinenses by Diwa, Salita at Gawa  broadcast magazine and  the PAPI for their selfless, going-the-extra mile achievements  that have   inspired  Filipinos no end.

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NOTES:  Inspiring sight: Barangay Lucao Chairman Lino Fernandez and former Barangay Tapuac Chairman Alfredo Dawana were having brewed coffee together at Pedrito’s in Barangay Lucao with Mayor Al Fernandez. The duo was chatting about how to improve the housing of sitio Tocok residents and continue dredge the river which has been threatened by siltation.  Sorry, General Art Lomibao for not being able to attend your wedding day.  We wish you and Jacky Tiu all the joys and blisses of a married life.  Some of the ninongs and ninangs were FVR, PGMA, JDV, Dr. Emilio Yap, Lily Monteverde, Mayor Edward Hagedorn, and Dr. Edna Nisce. Congrats again to our friend, Ashok Vasandani for being honored by the Philippine National Police at its l7th anniversary at Camp Crame for his support to the PNP. How many times have we said that there are non-Filipinos who behave more Filipino than some Filipinos. Ashok is one of them.

(Readers may reach columnist at junmv@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/think-about-it/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)