Think about it
Thank God for Rabusa and Heidi
By Jun Velasco
WE are in the middle of a storm center — or a colossal earthquake — that, if handled well and competently, could transform these fabled islands into a real paradise that we’ve for a long time recited in colorful rhetoric and song.
It’s sad that many of us don’t look beyond the horrifying multi-million theft scandals that’s shaking the foundations of our democratic system.
We are even blaming the new government for the grand robbery!
The unearthing of massive graft would remained unknown and kept in stinking vaults were it not for a determined government to cleanse itself.
Thank God for the new heroes — Col. George Rabusa, former COA auditor Heidi Mendoza and the other stout souls — because they represent ” what is best in the Filipino.” In point of fact, we should pronto go to our Internet and other communication facilities to assure and reassure them and their kind with prayers and moral support, so they won’t falter and leave their heroic jobs unfinished.
For the millions who could only watch in the sidelines, we wish to tell them to remain faithful to our democratic way of life.
Deep in our hearts, many of us must have wished to be like Rabusa and Heidi. But peculiar circumstances — our overprotective families, childhood fears and other factors — would stand on the way.
But this is the time to speak out! Let our inner voices be heard and assure the few heroes who didn’t mind their safety that they are loved wholeheartedly… that they are the subjects of our prayers, that they are hindi nagi-isa.
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Governor Jun Ebdane has in six months achieved what most of his predecessors have failed to do in their entire terms.
Shorn of exaggeration, we could say that he has single-handedly pulled the unkempt provincial capitol from moral and physically decay.
Just like his counterpart here, Governor Amado Espino Jr., it’s his focused leadership and bravado that have brought about positive change in Zambales.
Though smaller in geographical size than our Pangasinan province, his Zambales now throbs with an air of development Zambalenos have missed for years.
His state of the province he delivered last January 25 spoke of a great managerial competence that not only restored public confidence in local governance but also showed a leader’s ability to reach out to thousands of Zambalenos .
Our own governor, Spines to most of us, will give his own SOPA tomorrow. Probably not many new and novel vistas would embellish his speech because he already did a good and impressive performance during his first term. He need only sustain the gains, which is a tougher thing job.
If only those PMAyers did what our two friends are doing in their respective local turfs, that great soldier’s school in Baguio should have remained a revered institution — a true builder of leaders.
What we are seeing in media — especially on television — shows the antithesis of good character and this is hurting the PMA’s image and most of all, the ultimate victim, the country, that has been singing praises to the PMA.
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Our high school classmate and kanayon Pacita Meneses, a nurse at Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore, is in town (we and Cathy visited her there in 1992).
Our classmates led by George Estrada, Min Gomez, Brenda Manese, and Perla Esteves threw a bienvenida for her at Star Plaza last Friday. Probably, our other classmate, Ope Reyna, who had a heart surgery, would miss it too (pray for his fast recovery at St. Luke).
We should have joined the jovial group, but as we’ve reminded Brenda time and again, it’s not possible for us to be in Dagupan during regular working days.
How did Pacita, our classmate since grade school, and us become blood kins? Well, we’ve documented in our Martinez Clan reunion souvenir magazine last October that the erpat of our grandpa, Benito Martinez, was married to Dalmacia Meneses of Malued. We’re recall this in light of Min Gomez’ report that Paz has brought in stateside “pasalubongs” (that word ha, Generals?).
Welcome home, dear classmate!
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There’s more than meets the eyes in the “childish” rift between Mayor Benjie Lim and Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez. First, why can’t they — their clashing camps particularly — talk things in a mature and intelligent manner?
Why are they allowing their protégées and the media to do their politically colored exchange in a hateful manner?
An exasperated Mayor Benjie was even forced to blurt, “kung gusto niya, mag snap election na!“
It’s unbelievable that this kind of exchange is happening in our dear city.
Please pocket your mutual hate as it’s working against the city’s interest! We hope they’ll tap from their vast reservoir of goodwill to settle their personal — of business — differences soonest. It’s very revealing.
