Think about it
Is GMA giving Benjie a Cabinet post?
By Jun Velasco
THAT was a brotherly act by Dr. Salvador “Ado” Duque proposing reconciliation between President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and former Speaker Joe de Venecia.
He thinks the rift was childish because it began with their kids, Luli, Mikey, and Dato Arroyo and Joey de V.
How we wish it could be done! But the rift has gone beyond the personal, bordering on a clash on leadership style and philosophy of governance.
What could have motivated the good-natured Dr. Duque, who had literally gone out of his way to persuade the late Eva Macapagal, mother of Gloria, to convince her daughter to be Joe de V’s running mate was the time-honored principle of “love begets love” sort of thing.
Dr. Ado, in other words, is summmoning both parties’ huge reservoir of love, still anchoring his faith on a poet’s exclamation, “love conquers all.”
But we are all for it knowing that the rift has even put on hold the much awaited opening to traffic of the Dawel-Lucao roadline which, as confirmed by Mayor Al Fernandez, is now ready for motorists’ use.
Not only that. We know a lot of people who have been devastated financially as a result of that rift.
* * * *
We saw former Mayor Benjie Lim the other day.
Contrary to rumors, he was a perfect portrait of equanimity, poise and youthfulness.
“I’m happier now, pare,” he told us over a cup of coffee at Gloria Jean’s on Perez Boulevard.
While he dished out guarded statements on what he really felt about the former Speaker, he nonetheless expressed words of sympathy over what the four Pangasinan congressmen and a congresswoman did to him at his darkest moment as speaker.
As to his losing the congressional race, Benjie said he took it graciously, but hastened “I really meant to win against him,” recalling that a week before election day, he was shown a survey showing he was going to win.
He said the fight “should not have happened if only Kuya Joe didn’t want it to happen, but I was given a run-around and subjected to many blatant forms of treachery and insincerity.”
“There were insinuations he was buying me off which turned me off,” he said.
He recalled that he has always been supportive of J de V “not because Tabacco was for him but because as a Dagupeño who has yet a lot to learn in politics, Kuya Joe was the guru, and I the student.”
He continued: “But I was not treated nicely, and so, as a man, you know me, pare, as one trained in Jayceee leadership, I had to make a stand. I decided to fight him against many of my friends’ advice.”
“Sayang lang,” he intimated because I was his friend, I thought I was, and so I couldn’t understand why he did not make himself available to me. He was even making it hard for me to be a successful mayor. And so the die is cast, but I want him to know that I treated the fight as a man, and I have accepted my defeat graciously. Sayang lang yong opportunity. I should have continued helping him had he shown himself a friend like before.”
As to Mayor Al Fernandez, Benjie said ”he has nothing more to prove.” He thought Al was preparing his children to take over once he decides to retire, and that would be soon.
He confimed a rumor that PGMA might offer him a position in her cabinet to embarrass Joe de V.
He said “I also heard that, but I won’t do such a nasty thing. I have some upbringing on good manners and right conduct… yes, even in politics.”
(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.)
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