Think about it
Jun Esperon at the center of a national storm
By Jun Velasco
OUR reactionary mindset is responsible for the tons of literary debris we are getting from columnists and analysts who are analyzing the root of the killer Ondoy and the huge suffering it has brought to many Filipinos.
The mountains of garbage that ornament Metro Manila these post typhoon days and the languishing motorists caught in long hours of traffic at the height of the tragedy are classic evidence of poor governance and conceited individuals.
What we need, if you ask us, are two simple things: correct urban planning and Filipinos’ ecological awareness.
Yes, of course, prayers, but the avalanche of calls for prayers in our text messages may not work because it shows that we call only on God only when we are in distress. We should pray every second of our lives to thank God and to remind Him and ourselves that we are in league with him all the time.
* * * *
Secretary Jun Esperon is in the eye of a national storm. No, he is not under attack by his perceived political foes in the 6th district of Pangasinan.
He is right at the center of a national storm. His appointment by the President to be the director general of a national relief operations exposes his neck to languishing, angry and irate Ondoy victims. But it seems the guy is unperturbed, even delightful of the risky job. He says it’s an opportunity for service.
Probably in the President’s mind, the man from Asingan is the fittest to handle the tough job. Secretary Esperon has seen life-and-death battles in Mindanao, and in the Palasyo, being the alter ego of a much criticized Pangulo, he is seen as being at his best in placating grieving victims of tragedy and reconciling goodies distribution that, as things usually are, are not always enough.
A grueling task indeed, but the man is taking his job like he was asked to sweep the floor of candy wrappers.
* * * *
A chip of the ol’ block. In l968, a Punch columnist by the name of Agerico Rosario took us — then a youthful Punch reporter — to his hometown of Manaoag to address a civic club called Los Caballeros.
We were accompanied then by a Dagupan cop who later became chief of police, Atty. Bing Calimlim, and the late artist Ernie Cariño whose love story with the former Aurora Jose was legend.
Ager later became board member of Pangasinan, then vice governor, and in less than a year, acting governor. We became partners when he got elected president of the Pangasinan Press and Radio Club, precursor of the Pangasinan Press Club.
After he died in his late 60’s, we thought the excellent brand of public service he bequeathed to his province died with him. Not quite. For two of his sons, former Board Member John John, a lawyer, and incumbent Board Member Jeremy, a doctor of medicine, have taken after Ager’s leadership traits.
Dr. Jeremy’s “Vision Mission,” an outreach project for people in the Fourth District with Cataract, shows a serious public service effort. Fact is there is now an ongoing mission that began on September 28, which targets some 80 to 100 patients in Mangaldan town. Screening has already started, and actual surgery will be done on October l8.
Ming, as Jeremy is fondly called, is being helped by the St. Lucy’s Cataract and Eye Laser Center thru its director. Dr. Santiago Urmaza Jr. from Binmaley town. Jeremy himself is a hands-on partner being the mission’s anesthesiologist. The project, he says, is in joint partnership with the municipality of Mangaldan thru its indefatigable mayor Hermie Romero, and the provincial government thru Gov. Spines Espino.
It’s not a knee-jerk project, mind you, and it’s neither political because dealing with Cataract is serious business. It takes one with a serious or big heart to do it.
It would cost thousands of pesos to have a patient cured of a Cataract ailment. Aside from Mangaldan, we understand the other towns and the city of Dagupan with Cataract patients will most likely avail themselves of Jeremy’s gift.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
