Playing with Fire
Goodbye, Bal Balingit, 99
By Gonzalo Duque
CHRISTMAS is almost here. Merry Christmas to one and all!
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Younger brod Secretary Pinkoy won the admiration of the poor because of his program to dramatically lower the cost of medicines starting this Yule Season. We have advised him though that any pro-poor program the DoH undertakes should be politics-free, although he’d snappily confirm it as such. Walang pakialam ang pulitika. Fact of the matter is, in spite of pressures to make him bite the senate challenge, younger brod has been consistent in turning it down.
Not for any reason, but the Duque in him — which is marinated in service — always shines because he appreciates more the opportunity to alleviate the poor and the sick with cheap medicines, than joining the ranks of the grandstanders.
Congrats, brod Pinkoy, keep it up. We both know as well as the public that the best justification for living our earthly lives is to consecrate them in the service of others. We inherited this from our late papang who always taught us never to forget helping the poor and the less fortunate. Akatawir yay ermanok awa?
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We were invited by Nelson Sotto, chief of staff of Congressman Joe de Venecia, to attend the launching of his biography on Monday in Manila. We would have loved to go, because somehow we played a little part in his political life. But we were told by those who have read the book that the author, an American, did not mention the two congressional races where we fought him, and we were defeated.
Ano ba yan? No, it’s not that we want to be mentioned in his book, but since it is a biography, those two episodes in his life where we figured as his opponent should have merited even a paragraph or even a shorter or brief one.
If you get a copy of the book kuno, it looks like the contents were writer Joe de V vintage. Piling pili yong mga pampapogi. You know what? We should have relished a brief memorabilia that we fought him twice. And we lost twice. We should have enjoyed how the author (Brett M. Decker) handled the subject. Probably upon the prodding of the congressman, it was best that the item was ignored. May biography bang ganyan? Piling pili yong mga data, panay “good morning myself.”
Aha, how wise that the author also ignored De Venecia’s congressional fight against Benjie Lim, whose name was only mentioned as a member of FVR’s campaign group. It’s not a truthful account. Well selected ang mga pampapogi.
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Yesterday was Sunday Punch Christmas Party. We congratulate the staff led by Ermin Garcia. This paper, in spite of certain shortcomings, is truthful, honest to a fault, and real exponent of the truth, no matter what. Mark our word. There are pieces of journalistic and literary works that will stand the test of time. Others will be easily forgotten because they missed significant data intentionally.
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Our friend, Pedro V. Balingit died last Sunday. He was 99 years and 5 months old. An epitome of business and civic leadership, Kuya Bal, as he was fondly called, was chairman and general manager of Namarco. He was the favorite cabinet official of the late President Diosdado Macapagal. We’d be missing him because he was a simple and good man. We were praying he would reach l00 years, but he gave up, six months short of reaching l00. We sincerely condole with the family and pray for his eternal rest.
(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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