Playing with Fire
Manny talks
By Gonzalo Duque
OUR activities at the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) have given us interesting opportunities while hobnobbing with the great and near-great with ideas sprouting like pop corn that hopefully could lead to the formulation of a national sports development program. Do we see Pangulo smiling?
There she was at the Prisaa opening in Naga City, perfect host, Kampi president Rep. Luis Villafuerte, Press Sec. Cerge Remonde, the two super Mannys — Angeles, now CHEd chairman, and Pangilinan of PLDT-Smart, and oh, yes, our fellow Jaycee in the 80’s, former Rep. Harry Ang Ping, now chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission. There were many eye-opening observations.
After we delivered a “Demosthenic” piece in praise of sports, Harry told us we should go to Vicky Belo and have our face transformed into that of younger brod Pingkoy, the Health secretary, so that we could be his other self and campaign effectively around the country in his senate bid.
Wala pang pinal diyan, ha, Harry? Harry said magdo-doble ang botos ni Pingkoy pag nagkataon.
We also told the audience, we are sandwiched by two Mannys, who are super money-making machines for Prisaa. Manny Angeles who is busy looking for funds for the Prissaa and Manny Pangilinan, who is busy giving away money for Prisaa. That brought the house down.
The irrepressible Harry Ang Ping, who was sort of envious at Manny Angeles for taking us as CHEd consultant, offered us to be a commissioner of the PSC, not just consultant.
We loved these perks of the office, mind you. But they were only joking, weren’t they? We won’t mind if they were serious.
In the case of the admirable Louie Villafuerte, he had this story to tell. You see, one day he bought the property of the late Ben Maneclang at the Quintos Bridge in Dagupan. Our brod Cesar offered to buy it at P5 million. The astute Louie counter-offered P7 million. CTD got it, but not in a long while Louie said he just learned that Cesar was able to sell it at Pl2 million.
Louie could only scratch his head. He told us “Bilib ako sa brother mo.”
What surprised us about Louie though is his inability to patch things up with son Governor L’ray Villafuerte of Camarines Sur. By the way, Louie used to be buddy-buddy with Congressman Joe de V. We are at a loss what turned sour in their relationship.
He was a perfect host. And a friendly guy.
We could not help praise these efforts of the Prisaa people to cook up great ideas. Anytime soon, the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines and PRISAA will ink a memo to give boxing a bigger place in the country’s sporting life. Why not? Boxing has produced Manny Pacquiao, Donaire, and Brian Villora, to name but a few who have brought world honors to our country.
* * *
Thank you, Guvnor Spines, for giving us a role in the search for the founding date of the province. Ditto with Board Member Alfie Bince who not only came out for it. He, too, and the governor want to designate LNU as the secretariat for the project. We are honored, and you can be sure that every centavo will be accounted for in this endeavor.
We also thank Alfie for introducing a Sangguniang Panlalawigan measure to amend a resolution so that instead of just the late Gov. Aguedo F. Agbayani Park on the Capitol, we have Governor’s Park in fairness to all.
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