Think about it
Greed
By Jun Velasco
THE recent –or midnight–cabinet rigodon has recently “kicked upstairs” our Land Transportation Office chief Art Lomibao, from DOTC assistant secretary to under secretary, without any assignment.
His friends are grumbling why the LTO portfolio was given back to Bert Suansing not knowing that in a typical power play, only those with canine devotion to the gods like Suansing, a devotee of then Sec. Larry Mendoza, are to be rewarded.
Art, a “straight” guy, is too independent for comfort.
But in the hearts of the hoi poloi and admiring Pangasinenses, Art is admirable — and respectable.
* * *
This party-list business, which has unmasked El Shaddai Mike Velarde as a self-seeking businessman puts to question his posturing as a spiritual leader.
Factor this: Last Friday, a national daily reported that Velarde, who has a shady background as a real estate businessman, admitted that he had coaxed the national government into realigning a road project that assured him of more than a billion pesos at the public’s expense.
In effect Velarde exonerated Manny Villar from the odium that riled his senate colleagues who put him in hell for weeks.
Obviously, Mike Velarde and Manny Villar, both in real estate business, were partners in that deal.
Why our beleaguered nation has become tolerant to (the correct word should be “has dehumanized”) corrupt leaders is due to obscene poverty that has permeated every crevice of Philippine society.
Is there anything we can do with our spiritual leaders mired in corruption? Where else is the country going?
* * *
Gonzalo Duque is correct. How can Bro. Ed Villanueva champion good government when his new world, politics, is dirty? There will always be the immoral opprobrium in the art of compromise, a sine qua non to winning votes.
We have many reservations with Roman Catholic practices, but we dearly love His Eminence, Bishop Oscar Cruz, for his consistent and un-worldly behavior. Cruz is an epitome of a spiritual leader in these tortured times.
* * *
Who is your mayor, Al or Benjie? We’ve been asked this often.
We said choose between a great manager and a well-loved leader.
In the province, we’ve been asked the same. Our answer is like the above.
* * *
At the wedding of Gilbert Talaue and our daughter Kharmina at the Green Valley Resort in Baguio City, we couldn’t help reminiscing our own with the most beauty lass in town Cathy atop a hill in a resort in Bugallon town in l973 where sister Mita sang “Sunrise… Sunset.”
The Talalue couple’s ninong Jun Ebdane noticed our moist eyes and joked us, “iyakin ka pala.”
Another ninong Art Lomibao sang “The Nearness of You,” which brought the house down, while ninong Pol Bataoil took the mike from emcee Jonathan Dawana to introduce his former boses Jun and Art.
Jun’s advice tallied with those of Au Reyna and Terry Hernaez who, like Mely Espino, looked queenly. Ditto with Ninang Sol Juvida who with hubby Al Mendoza gave tips on a successful marriage anchored on deep love.
Ninongs Al Fernandez and Benjie Lim sent Michael Fernandez and Nestor Zabala to avoid a direct collision although the doting Al personally came two hours earlier to beg off in light of the campaign.
Other ninongs Ming Rosario, Ashok Vasandani, Fernando dela Cruz, Boyet Ramos, Jun Esperon’s representative Joseph, Leo Fuentes, ninangs Joy Ramos, Susan Tuano, Julie Domagas, Armila Casupanan, Ana Velasco and others were a sight to behold.
More about this in a “thank you” card sent by the couple anywhere in this issue.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
