Playing with Fire
Play it your way
By Gonzalo Duque
NO self-respecting educator should be seen shopping around begging for endorsements so that he would keep his post though how odious his term is.
We say this in response to the prayers and clamor of the faculty and students of the Pangasinan State University who expressed alarm that his shopping for endorsements might result in further lengthening of his unwanted presidency of the public university.
As in the popular expression that reverberated across the country during the last days of the dictator, we say, “alis dyan!”
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There was a time during the Martial law era when a popular national daily columnist, Ms. Arlene Babst, was the guest speaker of the Rotary Club of Dagupan East.
As most of you know, she was beautiful, charming and witty. She was well applauded after her speech. But there was a club member known for his irascible wit who subjected Ms. Babst to dizzying perorations.
Atty. Romeo Magat, former RTC judge, was so devastating in his machine gun of questions that almost made Ms. Babst cry. But the lady was a great journalist so that instead of getting mad, she accorded Atty. Magat accolade and praise because he kept democratic debate alive in that period when discussions of truth were gagged.
For instance, Magat, asked “why are you defending the regime’s constitutional authoritarianism when it is a contradiction in terms?”
“How can it be constitutional when it is authoritarian?”
Some club members wanted to rush to the defense of Ms. Babst, admonishing Romy for his disrespect of a guest.
But Miss Babst defended Romy. She confessed of being a non-lawyer and may not be able to refute Romy effectively. She talked candidly that brought out a smile from Romy. “Let’s give the gentleman a round of applause as he gave substance to the meaning of press freedom for being able to raise questions about constitutional authoritarianism under the present dispensation.”
Yan ang magaling na umunawa sa kahulugan ng press freedom.
We should be inspired by the anecdote because some of us sometimes are over protective of our guests when in fact and in truth they are prepared to be roasted or dressed down in a public forum. Press freedom should be observed at all times. We should not be called names if we have a different viewpoint.
You see, we were called ” a media lord” by a friend for possessing a Demosthenic voice and sharp wit. This put us in league with the world’s famous media lords the likes of William Randolf Hearst, Pulitzer and Henry Luce. Thank you.
We’d like to share you an anecdote. When General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. was a guest speaker of a civic club, he began, “many are asking about my nickname, kasi mahaba raw ang Hermogenes. They asked if they could call me Hermie, Genie, Hermo, Jun, Nes, and so on. But I told them, you can call me anytime, but when a lady will ask how she would call me, I’d tell her you can call me any time.”
Let’s not be over protective of our speakers especially if they are government officials whose salary we are paying. They know they would be roasted in any public forum. They should be guided by the Votairean philosophy, which says, “I may not agree with you, but I will defend to death your right to say it.”
There are those who hate us for not collecting any money from our guest speakers during the Pangasinan Press Club forum. Others are intimidated by our booming voice. Well, talk to Molly Reyes, who will tell you that while I boom like a lion, at heart I am a soft as a kitten. Kaya maraming gustong mag cats sa atin.”
We tell those who can’t agree with our viewpoint –“I wish to agree with you but who are we two against too many?” Cheers!
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