Think about it
Cesar Duque, man with a Midas touch
By Jun Velasco
“OUR worth is not increased when people praise us; nor diminished when they criticize us. Our real worth depends on how God sees us — no more, no less.” — Ashok
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TWO pieces of property in Dagupan City and Calasiao where Henry Sy’s SM and John Gokongwei’s Robinson have been slated to rise (construction of Robinson’s has already started) belong Dagupeno Cesar T. Duque, older brother of our neighbor columnist Gonzalo T. Duque.
He, Cesar, is super wealthy? We say that’s only the tip of the iceberg, speaking of his bank account.
But Cesar is not only a man with the proverbial Midas touch. He, too, is a literati, a scholar, an intellectual, master of English, written and spoken, the only rival, we heard, of the late Emmanuel Lacaba at the Ateneo on English grammar and composition (flat A +). Emman, younger brother, of our friend Pete Lacaba, was killed in a Mindanao ambush while he was fighting martial rule.
In case you don’t know yet, the Dagupan tycoon was one time editor of the Harvard Review publication.
CTD is also like Sir Walter Scott, an avant garde, dilettante, lover of art and the humanities, and, if younger brod should be believed, beauty. He is now chairman of Lyceum Northwestern University after selling the University of Pangasinan, of which he was owner/chairman, to PHINMA.
Lyceum Northwestern University under Cesar is now building what is expected to be the biggest hotel in Pangasinan, that would dwarf Star Plaza and probably the hotel that Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez is about to construct (if Mayor Benjie Lim would allow).
We are witnessing the unfolding of Metro Dagupan as a major player in modern Philippines, thanks to a government that’s slowly shedding off its tag of corruption. We still have faith in that winning slogan, “pag walang corrupt, walang mahirap.”
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The daughter of iconoclast Roberto Barlaan texted us early Friday morning that his well loved father died of cardiac arrest at his residence in Nibaliw, San Fabian town. An inveterate textmate, just like Ser Ashok, Bert was a rabid non-conformist.
We’ve been touched by his profound thoughts, hence, we know that in his heart of hearts, he believed in the Power that now keeps his soul.
Let’s play for his eternal rest in God’s kingdom.. In pace, requiescat!
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Judging from the extended exchange of barbs between and among Dagupan City officials, we are at a loss in divining the best options that define good governance.
It seems the time-honored advice given by good government gurus on not to act in the heat of anger has been dumped in the garbage heap.
But we know the stuff our Mayor Benjie Lim and Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez are made of, both being well-meaning in service and sensitive to the public pulse, who won’t resort to acts that would damage their political — and business — stock.
Certain observers opine that their clash might jeopardize public service, but we say a fair amount of it would promote check and balance in our democratic system. But it should stop when public service is threatened. Elections are too far off, and both would do well to “moderate their rift.”
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What’s generally perceived as a blissful marriage between the offices of the Governor and vice governor should portend an unprecedented political unity in Pangasinan.
By his own account, Vice Governor Ferdie Calimlim traces his soft heart for the governor to shared agony and ecstasy between Spines and his late father, Gen. Jose Calimlim Sr.
This is why even during the early part of the last election campaign, we had predicted that Ferdie was a shoo-in for the vice governor slot. Is this political honeymoon good for Pangasinan? We just posited that a fair amount of debate would be good for healthy governance. We liken Spines to Mao Zee Dong, and Ferdie to Chou En Lai. Look at what the two Communist leaders have done to China!
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Don’t miss this eye opener of a seminar on what’s happening to Mother Earth and how to deal with many unusual and radical changes raging in our environment — Global Agenda 20l0 on October l-2 at the Dagupan People’s Astrodome, with Sec. Sonny Alvarez, vice chair of Climate Change Commission, as keynote speaker.
In that seminar, you will know and understand why we have unusually big floods, earthquakes these days, and the confusing changes in the weather and how-to counsels from the experts. Other speakers include Pangasinan State University president Dr. Vic Estira, Dean Merlita Santos, Ellen Basug of the DENR environmental management bureau, Malou Salumbides who will talk on personal transformation, and Youssef Velasco who will tackle leadership volunteerism.
See you there.
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