Think about it
JdV’s idea will avert world war
By Jun Velasco
“We are less convinced by what we hear than what we see.” — Seneca
ONE of our unforgettable moments with former Mayor Liberato Ll. Reyna Sr., was his introducing us to the late Ninoy Aquino. We all know Ninoy, the newest addition to our stable of national heroes.
The meeting took place at the Reynas’ “landmark” home in Barangay Tapuac, Dagupan City.
Last Sunday, former Speaker Joe de Venecia was there to visit his long-time political ally,” Daddy” Libring. Ope Reyna told us other big guns were there too – Benjie Lim and Al Fernandez. JdV had suggested it might be apropos to convert the Reyna home as a Heritage House. It’s a great idea.
After viewing his remains at the casket, we told Ope, former Vice Mayor Andoy Decano, lawyer Cesar Junio, Irog, and publisher Ruben Rivera that “Daddy” (we fondly call him that) gave us a “break of a lifetime” — when he introduced this greenhorn reporter of 23 years to Ninoy.
Ninoy was in Dagupan to rally Pangasinan political allies against then very popular re-electionist President Marcos of the Nacionalista Party.
Daddy told Ninoy “our man from the press” referring to us. The word “press” must have tickled the former journalist, whereupon he took out from his jacket an issue of Time, and showed us the editorial box. Some of the editors, he said, were his personal friends and talked about their qualities as journalists.
He later met with Gov. Paco Duque and Congressman Joe de Venecia who were disputing the party leadership, Vice Mayor Eping Cuison, former Vice Mayor Louie Catubig and others.
On Daddy Libring, we’re sure that Dagupenos feel a great loss. He was one of the most genial politicians we’ve met. He had a ready smile and warmth. We thought friendliness was his other surname.
Daddy gave tatay, the late Pio Velasco, a job at city hall. Our parents always spoke of him in awe.
When we were president of the Pangasinan Press and Radio Club, we got him and mayoral foe Opring Manaois on the same stage to a debate. Congressman Joe was the guest speaker and “ debate referee.”
After roaring debate, Daddy and cumpadre Opring who were balae embraced each other like long lost brothers.
The Reyna-Manaois politics was our first exposure in community journalism. Reyna, who was the first elected mayor of Dagupan as a city, was to us our original hero in local politics. Our baptism in local media was interlinked with him.
We feel it’s impossible to talk about Dagupan City without Liberato Ll. Reyna Sr!
It was great to have him as a news subject and a joy to have gained his friendship.
May he rest in peace!
* * * *
We had lunch with the Ninoy of Pangasinan last Friday. Who? None other than former Speaker Joe de Venecia.
In our opinion, the Philippines should have staged an economic miracle had he won the 1998 presidential elections.
JdV has the world at his fingertips. We’ve peeped into his brainpower since university days.
We find it a flash of genius his call for a joint exploration of the oil rich Spratlys, a sobering voice especially to those countries mired in conflict on who really owns the Spratlys.
Claimant countries are China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines.
China, being the largest country which has just dislodged the US as the richest on earth, looks every inch a bully in the Spratlys equation. So the little countries are asking the US to play its proverbial constable role to neutralize the bully in utter disregard of the risk their act would create.
De Venecia’s joint oil exploration idea seems “ the only solution” and so we call on peace-loving countries to add their voices to make the idea happen.
Awed by his brilliance, Orly Guirao sidled up to us and asked, “where’s Joe getting all his brilliance?” We said “bata pa yan peanuts na ang world issues sa kanya.”
“He should be foreign affairs secretary,” boomed Orly.
No need, we said, for even in his capacity as a private person many governments all over the world consult him.
JdV, by the way, is the founding president and chief executive officer of the Centrist Asia-Pacific Democrats International (CAPDI), a mega group of the most influential political and economic leaders in Asia-Pacific.
Long before the Martial Law years, we heard JdV talk about Admiral Tomas Cloma, the man who discovered the Spratlys. But Marcos got jealous and yanked Cloma out.
We got a report a Chinese patrol boat harassing a group of Filipino fishermen in the Spratlys. Also earlier a similar Chinese navy boat opened fire on a fleet of Vietnamese fishing boats near the Spratly’s South Reef. Many accounts of misbehavior by the bully are convulsing our country, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
We heard the Spratlys’ oil and natural gas reserves are larger than the l3 billion tons of Kuwait, the 4th largest in the world. That’s the core of the conflict.
But brace yourselves, good luck is on our side. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Rosario is JdV’s kin. Go for it, JdV!
* * * *
As we went to press, we received a text message from our friend, Rachel Sapigao, that her mother, Dr. Perla Samson-Nelmida, died peacefully on July 7 at the Philippine General Hospital.
A book author, Fullbright scholar at Columbia University in New York, Atchi Perla was our history adviser like her neighbor, the late Rosario Mendiza Cortes.
We used to kid her late husband lawyer Salvamar Nelmida, our fraternity brother, how lucky he was for marrying a beauty and brains and great speaker yet.
She was 85. Her remains are at St. Peter Church on Commonwealth, Quezon City. Interment will be announced later, says Rachel.
Happy reunion with brod Salvamar!
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