Playing with Fire
Probably a gentleman he is not
By Gonzalo Duque
WE were supposed to drop the “atomic bomb” on a top education official in Pangasinan this week. We changed our mind.
No, not now, at least, not yet.
Why? Because the new year has just set in, and as our elders would say, it’s not good to write harshly at this time. Aha, so we’ll write gently.
Wala munang bomba, agagui.
You see, dear readers, we are made of a soft heart. Yes, pusong mamon. We cry some times when we feel hurt for our self and for others.
That’s why we congratulate someone who we plan to criticize today for this change of mood on our part… yes, in deference to the season. Yes, for now.
Maybe by now you’re wondering what we are talking about, eh, gentlemen and ladies?
It is this: the president of private college institution in Dagupan entered into a multi-million peso transaction with elder brod, Cesar, yes, the tycoon in the family after which when the purpose of the contract was not implemented, the natural thing to do was to return the money, something like P25 million.
We aren’t putting the details of the transaction yet. You, Punch loyal readers, may not relish this bitin subject. We only touch the peripheral but essential, that a certain educator owes brod a sizable sum and that payment now long overdue appears to being ignored. Just like that. Yes, just like that agagui.
We are putting on record that brod has been feeling wronged by the educator’s continued snub.
Has Mr., rather, Dr. Educator unilaterally cancelled his contract with brod? None that brod knows; neither does this columnist know.
Methinks the educator – knows deep in his heart and conscience what we are talking about here.
Because our families know each other, we remind him therefore that such virtues as respect, dignity, integrity are cornerstones of a good family relationship. And that any violation thereof consigns the bond to a lower form of life.
As we write this, we remember the late educator’s father, a good friend of our father, Dr. Paco, former governor of Pangasinan and Health secretary.
When erpat was starting the Lyceum Northwestern, he took educator’s erpat as his consultant. That’s friendship in any language, di ba?
Although brod Cesar is strictly a stoic businessman (he is not a tycoon for nothing), he believes single-mindedly in palabra de onor. We sincerely hope the man Kuya Cesar struck a deal with knows the meaning and practice of palabra de onor.
If he doesn’t, he isn’t fit to be called educator, Rotarian, “hi yer,” accountant, professional and civic leader. He should be someone other than these.
Before he left for the Great Beyond, our eldest, Dr. Salvador, or Ado, for short, was incensed by the act of the educator at the expense of brod Cesar, to a point that despite alleged friendships between him and us, Dr. Ado emphatically asked the aggrieved Cesar to sue.
But our “softie” brod with the Midas touch meekly said “let’s give him all the chances to redeem himself.” Cesar probably thought he was dealing with a gentleman.
Based on his nonchalance over this simple business transaction, we say that he is not a gentleman.
Is he listening?
We like to quote a great French philosopher Francois-Mariearquet aka Voltaire, a great crusader against tyranny and bigotry whose immortal line runs thus, “I may not agree with you but I will defend to death your right to say it.”
This space is reserved for you, Sir Educator, next week, our venerable publisher Ermin allowing.
* * *
We are happy that our research team in the Pangasinan Historical Commission led by Dr. Perla Legaspi has committed to submit the first draft in March this year.
Mabilis silang magtrabajo, mga igan.
The committee is doing its job with passion and enthusiasm.
The province, Governor Spines, is simply thrilled by this.
We take this opportunity to thank Dr. Perla and the entire commission lavishly.
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