Think about it
Andy Williams, 71, at his best
By Jun Velasco
ON the way to the poblacion, we saw a rumble in the university belt along Arellano street. What happened? We were catching an appointment in Lingayen and lost track.
We learned later from UPang Director Boy Rayos that mauling incidents involving undisciplined young men preying on “students who did not look good” or were tagged as “may atraso” were on the rise in Dagupan.
The days of hooligans and gangsters are back? What happened to Mayor Benjie Lim’s advertising that Dagupan under his watch has become an ideal abode of good citizens?
We urge Police Chief Ed Basbas not to lose a minute and take a direct hand in clamping down on all forms of lawlessness in his turf. The incidents are hurting the city’s image and driving students away from school.
This kursunada syndrome should be stopped.
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Music lovers, especially fellow video oke aficionados, should have seen and heard one of their favorite icons, 7l-year old Andy Williams, at his Valentine concert at the Araneta Coliseum on the day of lovers.
Ranked with Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Glenn Miller and Elvis Presley in mass following and popularity, Andy Williams was flawless and very powerful in his renditions of “Love Story,” “Moon River,” “Love is a Many Splendored Thing,” and many, many more that enthralled his audience no end.
He was given a standing ovation.
We were three seats away from Toting Bunye, a self-confessed Elvis admirer, but that evening, we had to give the honors to Andy Williams who effectively thrashed all comers.
His musical career started in Wall Lake, Iowa when he sang with his three brothers in a Presbyterian Church. After l952, his rise to a successful singing career began en route to one of the undisputed international singing superstars throughout the world. Because of age, his movements were measured, but his vocal power remained matchless.
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Because of our column item last week on Councilor Jojo Guadiz, many readers called or texted inquiring if “no-el” has been dashed forever. The query must have been premised on the logic that the no-el is germane to charter change, which requires the synchronization of elections, if there should be a real, authentic, and meaningful constitutional reform.
“Is Jojo running for mayor, vice mayor or congressman?” his high school classmate, popular broadcast journalist Francis Flores texted.
Balikbayan Alex de Leon of Pantal who lost her mother recently (our deep sympathy, pare) called up to say that Guadiz, the last (?) politician in the Guadiz family has an impressive record in the city council.
Alex, who was recently retrenched in the city government’s austerity program, says “Jojo may not be a daily sight in the city council, but his legislative output is beyond question.”
When we reached him by phone, Jojo said he won’t aspire for any post that would collide with Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez’s plan, being, he says, “my closest buddy now.”
So what now? Will the set to make Jojo a vice mayoralty bet under mayoral bet Alvin, granting Mayor Lim made good his threat to run against Speaker JdV for congress?
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In our Rotary Club (Metro Cubao), a favorite joke that has turned out to be true was that every PNP officer who guested in it became chief PNP.
The joke is now on General Pol Bataoil who followed his boss General Art Lomibao, now chief PNP, for guesting in one of our meetings and becoming, like Pol, member of the club.
Long before Art became chief PNP, we already introduced him in the club as “the next PNP chief,” when he was our guest speaker, and months later, he became one. This effectively refutes Mayor Mu Libunao’s claim that it was he who first made the “angel talk” re Art Lomibao becoming chief PNP.
Pol, by the way, has just been designated director for the Northern Police District in Metro Manila, which should be a launch for a great development to come.
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