Kuya Joe, the ball is in your court!

By Gonzalo Duque

AFTER a couple of weeks’ vacation, your fiery columnist is back.

     Sorry to those who were praying that I go on leave for a longer period. But so many were looking for this column whom I cannot ignore.

      As a democrat, I stand on the majority rule dictum.

       So, here’s a warm and sizzling Happy New Year to you all!

*       *       *

 Before the advent of the New Year, I had a grand time with a group of Dagupan City High School (now Dagupan City National High School) alumni at a downtown coffee shop, and what do you think dominated our conversation?

        Politics? Well, you can’t discard that. Pretty chicks like those we had crushes on when we were younger, the Benjie Lim administration, GMA, the world outlook on the economy in general and, now, brace up, ye, city high alumni and schoolers, the long unfinished alumni building – or what passes for it – kasi walang itsura which is the first unsightly sight visitors of the DCNHS get when they visit.

        Ano ba yan, Ramon Reyna, and now, Councilor Netu Tamayo?  Are you sure yang itsura ng skeletal infra that is supposed to be called alumni building ang kaya lang gawin ng mga brilliant graduates of city high?

        Kung sabagay, voluntary project ng mga alumni, but why too lousy and reeking of poor leadership!

         But I am not blaming them, alumni, because there is a limit to what they can do.

        What flashed across my mind are Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., and Mayor Benjie Lim.

         Why? Because jurisdiction nila yan e. Lalo na si Speaker. I called up Nelson Sotto, the speaker’s chief staffman, why the boss was not giving so much to city high or, for that matter, the education of the youth in Dagupan. Nelson, as usual, sounded apologetic, saying the Speaker is a national official and can’t see everything in our city.

        In fact, I said, it’s not only DCNHS that needs the speaker’s immediate concern and action; the Dagupan West Central Elementary School, too. Look at them, these pitiful education infrastructures!

        It should have been the Speaker’s and our present leaders’ golden opportunity to leave a legacy to the young and the future generation had they embarked on a comprehensive public school system plan in our city!

         Talong talo tayo ng Mangaldan and also San Fabian, which have beautiful school edifices. Ano ba talaga ha Kuya Joe?    

         I’m warning you, the hour of reckoning is just around the corner. Malapit na ang eleksyon, and I know the Speaker will run again to complete his unfinished business. If he is not careful, bubulosok yay Benjie because his announcement to run for congress is being repeated everywhere, and he seems to look serious and parang may chance.

          Education is very basic; it may look abstract, but sa edukasyon nakasalalay ang pag-asa ng bayan. Di ba yan palaging sinasabi ni Rizal?

           Kuya Joe, act naman on this very serious problem of the city – education. I will be four-square with you if you take the first step now in conceptualizing a modern Dagupan City National High School. In 2003, I saw a beautiful city high alumni magazine with a futuristic 2-story concept of city high. And in that magazine, Kuya Joe’s older brother Oscar, who is one of the most outstanding alumni of the school, was featured with his own idea of a modern DCNHS. I hope I can find a copy of that slender alumni magazine.

Where can I get a copy of that, ha, Jun V, ikaw ata ang editor noon a?

       Kuya Joe, the ball is in your court.

*       *       *

        Why is Duque, who is non alumnus of city high hot on the city high issue?

         Well, don’t they realize that my sisters studied at city high? All of us studied at the West Central. And Lyceum Northwestern University is a caring neighbor. On top of it all, I am the city’s chairman on education. I am even an education consultant in the Speaker’s office, probably by virtue of my being a high official of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities!

        Kita nyo na?

*      *      *

        Many pundits say that I should be in politics. These are the guys who are driving a wedge between Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez and me.

        I have always denied that kind of intrigue. If ever I will consider running for public office, the Con Con would be a good venue. It will be consistent with my advocacy in education, which is in the formation of character change thru charter change.

          Got it, Alvin?

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/playing-with-fire/)

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