BY JUN VELASCO
THIS COLUMN was written minutes after President Digong’s third SONA (State of the Nation Address).
We were pleasantly surprised at the President’s obra maestra (SONA), as he was proper, prim, decent (none were the unprintable expletives), brilliant.
He was presidential in all aspects. Those who meant well for the country applauded him lustily. Those with misgivings salivating at his descent into un-presidential speechifying – what with the Gloria Arroyo – Bebot Alvarez imbroglio amid the SONA! – were in celebrative mood.
Our thoughts segued to the 16 million votes that made him President. We really hoped they – all of them who voted for him – shared our approbation.
Well, even if we’d presume that his suave behavior was a mere act (on instruction of his speech coach Joyce Bernal), his third SONA was an A-1 performance. All the accolades that followed it were full of hope that the President would stay that way.
In our heart of hearts, President Digong’s new speaking style far outweighed the Arroyo-Alvarez show if you ask us for news evaluation. Fact is GMA’s edging out Alvarez in the power game was anticlimactic. Given our political culture, there’s nothing new about “power grab.”
Bebot Alvarez’s slide in popularity was, to our mind, a case of a swelled head (lumaki ulo).
Gloria is an accomplished political warrior, enfant terrible, charming, a Filipino leader cut for the Pinoy psyche. Although we are kabayans (her mom, the late Evangeline Macaraeg), was a native of Binalonan, Pangasinan, our interactions with Gloria even before she became President was pleasant and cordial.
Our first bridge to her was the Duque family led by the late Dr. Salvador Duque, hubby of publisher Mita, and Social Security System commissioner Gonzalo Duque.
It warms us to reminisce that when she met our London-based brother Noel at a hotel where he was working, Gloria oozed with charm, transforming our young brod Noel into an overnight Gloria fan. He would later, after their meeting, make an overseas call to inform us about it and regaling us with how La Gloria gave the hotel a warm and cordial atmosphere.
What did you say, Gloria is corrupt?
We’re not up to spoil her newly won speakership. But we have a news clipping from a Manila daily which has this to say, “Ex-President Gloria M. Arroyo who had been under the Veterans Memorial Hospital arrest since October 2012 for plunder was acquitted by the Supreme Court with finality on July 19, 2016 with a vote of 11 – 4 and was ordered immediately released.”
Need we say more?
***
We were recently introduced by a National Press Club old-timer M. B. to Pastor Virgilio “Jing” Bacosa, 69, former chief of staff of then Vice Mayor Tito Sotto, now Senate president.
Their wives, Helen and Edna Gamboa, are sisters.
Pastor Jing, who is now a full-time worker in the Christian ministry and moral regeneration for the youth advocate, has invented a “game board” for the young “to keep them away from illegal drugs, crime and corruption.”
He just sent us this quote, ”Love is the solution to all human problems. Love is the reason Jesus came as sacrificial lamb for our redemption and to give life eternal. God’s Love is my game board to help PDu30 save the youth against illegal drug trade, corruption and crime.”
May your tribe increase! (juanitomvelasco@yahoo.com/PN)
