Think about it

By April 27, 2009Archives, Opinion

Gilbert Teodoro ‘most fit’ for president

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By Jun Velasco

OVER a cup of coffee, our friend media executive Jera Sison, son of our late friend, Jess Sison, disputed reports shared by former Speaker Joe de V, former President Erap and even Bishop Oscar Cruz that there would be no elections in 20l0 because the administration “will ram down Charter Change into the throats of our people.”

We have tackled this many times in this column and even warned that Filipinos, deprived of this constitutional mandate, would take to the streets!

Jera is promoting the idea of a presidential candidate “most fit for the position” in these critical times. He has in mind Defense Sec. Gilbert C. Teodoro, nephew of Boss Danding. A principled man, Gilbert won’t distance himself from the “kiss of death” of a Malacañang endorsement. A UP-bred bar topnotcher, 44-year old Gilbert, Jera says, is Harvard-educated and a first-rate gentleman, calm, composed during crisis, and has an impressive work-ethic. His beautiful wife, former model Nikki Prieto, is a Tarlac congresswoman.

“One thing sure about Gilbert is he is not trapo,” Jera said.

When we insinuated a possible problem with Uncle Danding’s open endorsement of Chiz Escudero, Jera merely winked, “Gilbert is Danding’s blood nephew, what are you?”

* * *

Is Dagupan doing an overkill celebration of Bangusfest? (Please don’t fail to read our festival article in the Bulletin’s Panorama Sunday, May 3.)

We dispute the cynic who suggested that Mayor Al Fernandez and festival officials led by Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez should have picked a more significant theme or subject – not bangus-to rally Dagupeños’ cohesive energy.

We said the Dagupan or Angel Gumarang’s Bonuan bangus is now a world celebrity and what matters is the incontrovertible proof of the city folk’s capacity for unity come rain or high water.

Have the organizers failed to anticipate the effects of climate change? They might as well prepare for a wet Kalutan on April 30 what with the daily downpour these days. Maybe, they might consider resetting the sked in a rain-less month.

* * *

Under Gonzalo Duque, the success of the PRISAA national games in Naga is a done deal. But wait a minute, here’s a headache for us, Region 1 sports-minded people.

A top YMCA official in Pangasinan deplored the Department of Education officials in Region 1 for maltreating our Tacloban-bound athletes.

He said they rode in mini buses with no reclining seats and were not given any allowance! Region 2 officials, the YMCA man said, had their athletes take the Cebu Pacific with P2,000 each allowance.

Don’t be surprised if our athletes would end up losers in the games. The DEPd are to blame. Is this DepEd’s prescription for defeat?

* * *

A texter reacting to our column last week said, “Has Vic Millora gone nuts for promoting Pagcor Chair Efraim Genuino to become our next president?” We gave the texter KBL chair Millora’s cellphone number.

He texted again, “Do u confirm Pagcor has P25 billion yearly income?”

We texted again “get your facts from Vic Millora.”

Such is the risk of column writing. Some think anything that appears in the column is advocacy without considering the context in which it was written.

Well, as they say, that’s the beauty of Philippine democracy. Anyone can speak on anything and even aspire to become president and get away with it.

* * *

Colonel Wilson Lopez’s report of the successful solution of the Urdaneta kidnapping shows police competency at its best.

Let’s hope to see police’s skills in more crime-wracked areas such as in the drug menace and promote a peaceful community.

The drug problem is a grave police challenge. It has even promoted a war between the PDEA and the Dagupan fiscal’s office. It’s that serious, gentlemen!

* * *

Did we write too soon about Alfie Bince becoming the next vice governor?

Our media colleagues said Mayor Ferdie Calimlim is already on the campaign stump for vice governor. Honest, who would do a better vice, the old or the young? That should be the issue in the vice governor contention. That is, if we have elections in 20l0.

* * *

NOTES: The Tondaligan Blue Beach Subd. Homeowners will have a 3-day fiesta, too, May l to 3. Frolic and fun will rule the roost. Jojo Maramba is inviting everyone to join the walk for a cause, singing contest, beer drinking contest, bingo socials and other activities.

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