Playing with Fire
Political unity is dawning?
By Gonzalo Duque
WE wish to congratulate Ashok Vasandani for his role in the “goodwill game” that featured last week our LNU Dukes against the PBA and the action-laden basketball team.
The avowed goal to entertain the students and sports-minded general public was satisfactorily met. The games were held at the Salvador T. Duque Field House.
The audience was thrilled no end.
The self-effacing Ashok told us credit should be given where it is due. He was referring to the LNU Student Council whose leader is no other than his handsome son, Vijay,
We would like to tell you something. The Vasandani family is A-l. You know what we mean. Great, handsome family with excellent PR. You should meet Ashok’s beautiful wife, Kanchan, 3 beautiful daughters and a handsome son.
Whenever there are nice guests in Dagupan, Ashok always opened his home to them, and we were told the entire family would turn out as gracious hosts. Regular guests are his fellow Conquerors, Rotarians and, ehrrmm… money borrowers. They consider Ashok a “life saver.” But may we ask our good friend, whose love of God is beyond question – try to be kinder still, kasi ang dami ang naghihirap ngayon, and mind you, you will be more rewarded in heaven.
Parang nakikita natin ang matatamis na ngiti ng mga regular loan clients of Ashok a! Ok lang daw, sabi ni Ashok,” basta huak limot bayad ng utang ha?”
Seriously, in the last games at LNU, Ashok deserves a big, warm and tight handshake. May his tribe increase!
* * * *
We’re extremely glad that Mayor Benjie Lim came to our school. It’s been a long time, cumpadre Benjie, that we haven’t had a chat.
Please, dear readers, don’t forget that it was this columnist who first brokered a ceasefire between Mayor Benjie and his favorite vice, Belen Fernandez.
Last week, we reopened the need for that proposed reconciliation, and we even submitted a logical vehicle for it – which is, the solution of the city’s pesky garbage problem.
Let’s not forget that our environmental laws are clear; continuous dumping in Bonuan Binloc – or is it Boquig? – is a clear violation of the law. That place is tourism zone.
Let’s approach this issue very carefully. It underscores our sense of law, cleanliness and environment.
We hope the issue will be brought to a decisive solution by a Benjie-Belen combination.
* * * *
Okay, back to Ashok. He too had a hand in the series of reconciliatory talks between Benjie and his predecessor (and former opponent) Al Fernandez.
Benjie told us he laid down his cards to Al, and vice versa. Magandang umpisa yan, mga igan.
We gathered from Benjie that SM will soon start construction of its Dagupan branch. So, after all, it’s not true that Benjie and Belen, who are mall operators themselves, are opposing the rise of SM in Dagupan. That’s a sign of political maturity.
We see the re-emergence of the city’s accelerated progress on this account.
* * * *
What’s the implication of these reemerging good relations of our city’s leaders in their political growth. We say great.
Beginning now they’ll be fighting like Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Before and after the fight, they’d be behaving civil and mature leaders. Once they are in fight mode they shed all their pretensions for peace and slug it out like gladiators. After that, they smoke the peace pipe.
Mabuhay ang pulitika sa Dagupan! Sana totoo na ito ha, mga igan? Ashok?
Mabuhay ang demokrasya!
* * * *
We had a chance of a lifetime of a hearty conversation with Senator Bongbong Marcos. We found the guy the real son of his father: brilliant, articulate, eloquent, charming, gifted with a Demosthenic voice, and a go-getter.
He gave the impression of a good man. We feel he would disprove all those who continue to bad mouth the former President. We saw his palm, bearing the sign of a great leader, “rapat” (derecho).
Makapanerbiyos agagui!
We see Bongbong en route to the Philippine presidency soon. And if that day comes, we could hardly see the day how he will lose.
This country will be great again!
This time for real, we hope.
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