Derogatory

By Gonzalo Duque

WELCOME to Dagupan and Pangasinan, Dr. Lucio Tan.

        The famous  Chinese business mogul and philanthropist is in town, thanks to the collective efforts of Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, our old friend George Cham and  other personal friends for helping us to extend our invitation to a humble but superlatively successful man. The business titan will be conferred a doctorate degree in honoris causa in humanities by the Lyceum Northwestern University on April l9, the first, we believe, he will receive outside Metro Manila.

        It’s really about time we honor such a man, don’t you think so? Mabuhay ka, Dr. Lucio Tan. And thank you for honoring our invitation.

*     *      *

      We were in festive mood lately due to our youngest son, Nicoy’s hurdling the  bar recently. Only 22 percent survived it. This is why we couldn’t help feeling high like walking on cloud 9. While we had the good fortune of being a lawyer, too, we missed truly our dad when the result of the bar exam was released. Mahirap pala yong ganun, yong wala na yong inspirasyon mong, yong pinakamimithi mong pagyabanagan ng iyong achievement. So, now we know. Dad should have felt what we are feeling right now.

      We can only thank God, our family, and well-meaning friends who have played their parts directly or indirectly in enabling Nicoy achieve his recent feat. It’s good to have an heir apparent, although our present focus is education. We want Nicoy to train in police investigation so that some day, he’d be marinated in criminal law before he matures as a legal luminary.

     Good luck, son, chart your wagon to your heart’s immense desire.

*       *          *

     We were in that euphoric moment when we heard over radio DZMM and later read in the Philippine Star a news article quoting Congressman Jose de Venecia Jr., as blaming Malacanang and the Duque and Balingit families for the disappearance of  the streamers and posters advertising the speaking engagement of  a certain Rodolfo Lozada in a mass rally organized by PGMA’s main nemesis, Bishop Oscar Cruz and the other militants in Pangasinan. The mass rally would have been held at the People’s Astrodome.

     We were shocked to know that Congressman Joe, whom we, the Duque family, fully and actively supported in the last congressional race. We even had to sacrifice an old friend then Mayor Benjie Lim when we went all-out for Kuya Joe.

    Pero ano kaya ang nakain niya at kami ay pinagbibintangan niya, pati na sina Albert  and Brian Balingit, who are known to be friendly to the President,  na nagpaalis ng mga streamers and posters ni Lozada?

     Kuya Joe, naman, kilala mo ang aming pamilya. Di naman kami ganun, hindi po ba?  Wala sa karakter namin yan. Baka may nagbulong sa inyo? We have our suspicion.  Tinatrabaho ng isa kong technikal man kung saan nanggaling yang masamang intrigang yan.  Pero, sana man lang, hindi naman sana kayo nag sweeping ng akusasyon. Duque family? Sus!

     Tinawagan ko si  Nelson Sotto na  malapit sa inyo. Sabi niya  imposibleng sasabihin ninyo yong sinabi nyo sa reporter (a certain Jess Diaz) who  must have misquoted you. We know you to be fair, and it’s unthinkable that you would accuse us of such diabolical act.

     We are contacting out lawyer to protect the name of the family. At sino man yong gumawa ng masagwang intriga na yan, magtago na at hindi ko palalampasin ang derogatory accusation na ito.

       Tayo ay hindi umaatras sa anuman laban. Pero   ‘yong pag aalis ng streamer and poster, gawa ng balasubas yan. Wala sa karakter ng mga Duque yan. 

     He should not force us to change our attitude towards him. Anything is all right with us.

*        *           *

        Speaking of Engr. Lozada, why does he behave like he were a presidential candidate? If we compare him with Clarissa Ocampo, who spilled the beans on Erap, this boy Lozada was scared of his life when he decided to sing against the hand that fed him. Ocampo was by herself, candidly testifying the truth against someone who really betrayed the public trust. In Lozada’s case, he can’t even prove anything. Yan bang klase ang pagaawayan natin?  Hay, naku! Bahala na nga kayo sa buhay niyo!

(Readers may reach columnist at punch.sunday@gmail.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/playing-with-fire/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

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