Think about it
Books
By Jun Velasco
“And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me,” Matthew 25:40
WE don’t want to miss the book launch for former President Fidel V. Ramos’ FVR WOW 2 (Wonder of Words), a sequel to the FVR Wow 111-111111 on Tuesday, Nov.11 at the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen.
It’s knighthood enough for Mel T. Velasco to do the compilation of some of the works by the most prodigious Philippine president we’ve had.
It’s also a great honor for this columnist to be in the FVR’s list of friends, swapping published notes/writings that have allowed us a glimpse of his mind which he liberally dishes out concerning current events and issues that move the world.
Because of FVR, our fear of Bully China’s invasion of the country has been allayed as he cites a careful balancing of by the world’s biggest powers, namely, US and China.
But doesn’t he ever hint of a possible miscalculation (God forbid!)?
Don’t forget that a couple of days back, the US’ so-called war hawks (the Republicans) have just staged control of the senate as shown in the just concluded elections!
We hope to hear more from FVR directly on Tuesday. Long live!
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Also, on books, our son Youssef, who works at President Aquino’s PMS has been coaxing us to compile our written works in a book.
The same advice was given us by former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., our coffee and wine drinking mates who are book authors themselves, Al Mendoza, Recah Trinidad, former Judge Victor Llamas, historian Resty Basa and Virgie Pasalo “before it’s too late.”
We feel the timeliness of their “it’s-too-late” warning given the unceasing tick of time and that we are not getting any younger.
After all, they say, in the final analysis, it’s not glory ad riches that matter, but what we have done, are doing and will do for our own fellowmen as ordered by the Lord.
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We get first-hand views from FVR, former Chief Justice Larry Davide, and former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., who would easily simplify complex issues convulsing the world. This is a great luck being in the news business.
How for instance during boyhood could we have imagined having access to the newsmakers? We guested years back at the Maryland home of New York Times editor John Herbers, oopps, no, not exactly by a press network, but thru Rotary! Our head-to-head meeting with Beijing journalists’ cream of the crop in 2001 could be anything but ordinary.
We’ll try to re-capture those in a book. Wish us luck.
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We received a copy of a manifesto from a group of concerned citizens of Bayambang town, “Ang katotohanan tungkol sa Bayambang Central School.”
We shall summarize its salient points: “Marami raw ang mali at malisyosong spekulasyon ang lumalabas sa relokasyon ng Bayambang Central School.
The manifesto disputed the position paper of Mrs. Filipinas De Guzman, PTCA president.
The manifesto said: “Ang kanyang mga sinasabi ay hindi sumasalamin sa tunay na sentimiento ng organisasyon na kanyang pinamumunuan. Karamihan ng mga magulang at guro sa eskwelahan ay hindi sumasang-ayon sa mga pahayag ni Mrs. Alcantara, na mariing bumabatikos sa bagong lokasyon.
“Pangalawa, ang distansya ng bagong lokasyon sa dating Bayambang Central School ay 300 meters lamang na matatagpuan sa Brgy. Magsaysay at hindi 3 kilometro sa Brgy. Bical, na syang pinagkakalat na kasinungalingan. Sa totoo lang, mas marami ang mga mag-aaral na nakatira malapit sa bagong lokasyon at sa pangkalahatan ay nagdudulot ng mas madaming kabutihan sa mga mag-aaral. Ang pamasahe sa tricycle tungo sa bagong lokasyon ay hindi tumaas at pareho lamang ang singil sa dating eskwelahan.”
The manifesto insists that a lot of consultations on the transfer of school have happened.
Ito pa ang sinasabi ng manifesto: “Ang dating paaralan ay mayroong classrooms, pawang mga luma at marupok pa; samantalang sa bagong lokasyon ay may mahigit sa dati kailangan ang “shifting” sa pagpasok ng mga eskwela dahil sa kakulangan ng silid-aralan, ngayon ay hindi na kailangan pang maghintayan para magamit ang pasilidad ng silid-aralan. Ang bilang sa bagong lokasyon ay sapat na upang matugunan ang programa ng pamahalaan sa K to 12.
Walang “gym”, kantina, “covered pathways” ang dating paaralan, samantalang ang bago ay mayroon ng sapat at maayos na pasilidad na nabanggit.”
People of Bayambang, be the judge.
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At dinner tendered by Cumadre Marilyn Manaois-Reyna, widow of the late former Councilor Cesar Reyna and mother of former Councilor Dada Reyna, showed her flair as a gracious host to a balikbayan visitor Carlo Mejia, son of former and late Councilor Gregorio Mejia, and friends, former Bucay, Abra Vice Mayor Rizal Belisario and wife, Ruby, and us with wife Cathy, Thursday evening.
Marlyn, daughter of the late Mayor Cipriano M. Manaois, was a witty conversationalist that held the group spell-bound for hours.
Carlo, a resident of Edmunton, Canada noticed Dagupan City’s physical improvements but was dismayed by worsening seemingly inevitable pollution, especially in his native barangay Pantal.
Marlyn would spice her stories with unusual infos on otherwise common and dull subjects that had glued everyone to their seats.
Rizal is younger brother of Conrad and Tessie Belisario, who were our perfect hosts in Ontario Canada in 1992.
Claro who Marlyn says has inherited Councilor Yoyong’s humility and good nature has sponsored the visas of many relatives, now successful immigrants of Canada.
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The town of Sual has taken the lead in massive tree-planting program as Mayor Bing Arcinue signed a memo of agreement with the Philippine Coconut Authority, SMC Global Power Holdings Corporation and San Miguel Foundation. The agreement seeks to plant one million seedlings “until the residents can reap the benefits of the products.”
Can’t the other mayors do the same?
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NOTES: New lawyer Joshua Rosario, eldest son of former Board Member John Rosario, elder of another board member, now Deputy Provincial Health officer Ming Rosario, recently passed the New York State Bar Exams.
Our late cumpadre Ager must be smiling.
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