Joey is popular among Dagupeños

By Jun Velasco

IT was a different Joey de Venecia persona the Dagupan folk saw the other Saturday, a few days after super Typhoon Cosme lashed the city and province.

The matinee idol-looking namesake and junior of former Speaker Joe created a mini storm as he went around the city with a group of relief goods distributors, making stops in barangay halls, stores, business establishments, and   pockets of groups hand-gladding everyone.   He was a caring young man who reminded the old folk of the father’s greenhorn days in politics, when he would stop at every house and talk shop to talk about his projects in the district and the nation.

The  “Joe”  now has a new tune  with  the “y”  as   if   to suggest “yehey,”  hence, Joey, that  fits   the young one many thought was unreachable, or a snob, an   aristocrat   although happily  found  amiable and  easy to deal with, approachable.

We missed Joey’s Dagupan visit   because we were boning up with the Knights of Rizal elections in Pasig City on that day preparing the Bagumbayan newspaper. We were briefed by   Bobby Capco, former handler of President Arroyo, and a buddy at the National Press Club saw the Dagupeños’ affection and outpouring for the young De Venecia who, it is speculated, would fill in the shoes of his father.

Wasn’t he the cause of the father’s fall from grace, his ouster from the speakership? Was it not Joey’s expose of the ZTE-NBN deal in the senate  and the  media singling out  the First Gentleman and later the President as the masterminds of fat commissions they were allegedly cornering from a multi billion peso telecommunications deal, cause of his father’s losing the  speakership?

You will see here the stuff Joey is made of. The hard issues he has brought against the Arroyos show his come-what-may character in the name of a higher and nobler cause, his crusade against whatever ails the government and the system.

We categorize Joey very much above his fellow whistle blower Jun Lozada, both crusaders for the truth in the NBN ZTE case. Lozada was forced to fight for his life when pinned to the wall, to save himself. Joey took a more difficult move that even cost his father’s high position in the government.

After his visit of the Cosme-battered communities in Pangasinan, Joey accepted a speaking engagement in Davao City, before the College Editors Guild. In the company of intellectuals and journalists, Joey was at home but more ferocious in his rhetoric that sought an end to what to him is an unworthy government.

It’s a bitter pill for a young man who was brought into the world by a well-heeled family, which is steeped in the art of governance and business.

Stories of great men and women of the world will find their local version in this young man who has chosen a hardy path in search, as in the Argonauts, of the Holy Grail.  His steps are clear and sure.  Let’s watch how events will treat him in the near future.                         

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Councilor Michael B. Fernandez, newly elected chairman of the Philippine Councilors League, has the makings of a diplomat.

Could that be why he handily won the league chairmanship without firing a shot? The young man was humble.  He says his popular uncle Al Fernandez’s proverbial friendliness made his campaign a breeze in the park.

We told him it’s one of his primordial tasks to keep the Fernandez name beyond reproach.  This is also addressed to Vice Mayor Belen, Councilors Alfie and Lino, Carlos and administrator Alvin, all carrying the Fernandez surname. Manlikliket sa Mama Alipio ed kulaan to, awa?

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Boy Rayos reports  an  alleged  rift between  Barangay Captains Angel Gumarang and Fred  Quinto Jr  of Bonuan Gueset and Bonuan Boquig respectively  over the use or misuse of the city garbage pit in (is it Bonuan Boquig?) can easily be resolved if they bring the matter to the city engineer’s office.

We describe their “little war” as too much ado over nothing.  Both Angel and Jun are gentlemen of the first order who will welcome solutions instead of problems over the stinking issue. What about it, gentlemen?

(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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