Miss China won in China

I did not know Secretary Jesse Robredo personally, but I prayed so hard for his safety when news about his accident flashed through the wires and on TV. Robredo was one government official who was so committed and devoted to his work that it seemed the present administration was very lucky to have him there. Even now, I still maintain a glimmer of hope that, somehow, he had been spared in that horrible plane crash in the waters of Masbate.

***

Robredo was the mayor of Naga City when he first got national notice. But my family and I felt as if we knew him because he also became a close friend of our brother, Bing, who became one of his colleague in the organization of Philippine mayors. And Bing told us about their friendship and how he admired him, so that he was very happy when the new president, Benigno Aquino III, picked him to head the Department of Interior and Local Governments. He said nobody could fit the position better.

***

As of late yesterday, however, hopes for the rescue, or even the recovery of the bodies of Secretary Robredo and his two companions, the pilot and co-pilot, had become dimmer and dimmer. One cannot help admiring President Aquino for stubbornly sticking it out there in Masbate as the search for his friend and trusted lieutenant kept on. I'm sure he is now thinking about the loss of one of the truly good men in his organization.

***

When the news came out on Saturday night, and we were glued to the TV set watching for development, I mentioned to my fellow watchers that Robredo must have been hampered from getting out of the sinking plane by his seat belt. One of their co-passengers had gotten free, so, I thought, he must have been loose and had been thrown out. And ,as reports came in yesterday, it was indeed true that the secretary had been held to his seat by the belt, which must have stuck because it had gotten wet.

***

The President must have been feeling very unhappy because, as reported, Robredo had flown to Cebu in his stead. He was to deliver the speech of the President, and like a loyal soldier, marched to the order of his general. But family concerns also called, and that was why he decided to take the smaller plane that would have gotten his closer to his home in Naga. By the way, I remembered that the other great plane tragedy where a very popular government official was also killed was when the late President Ramon Magsaysay, flying out also from Cebu after an engagement there, was killed when his plane crashed in Mt. Pinatubo.

***

Meanwhile, it is good to hear that the Metro Manila Development Authority is not letting off the bullying business executive who demeaned a constable of that office by cursing him, slapping him with his own cap, and punching his face while his equally boorish brother held his victim. Charges have been filed against Robert Blair Carabuena (imagine, his name means good face) and his brother, and his company, Philip Morris, has suspended him. One can just imagine what kind of boss he is. Maybe his subordinates are rejoicing over this. As for Saturnino Fabros, the MMDA constable, his office has promoted him, and some people have poured financial assistance on him, and even scholarships for his daughters.

***

There is a parallel case in Bacolod City to what happened to Fabros. This time a government official, a doctor, is concerned and he has been charged for hitting and demeaning a police officer who prevented him from entering a one-way zone. The charges against the doctor are for reckless driving and direct assault, and another charge for attempted homicide is also being mulled against him for bumping a policeman. We are glad, though, that in both cases, the cops kept their cool.

***

We just got a wire report on the results of the Miss World contest in China and guess who won? Miss China! What happened to our bet, who was reported by Time Magazine to be quite outstanding? And to Miss Mexico, who was the booker's favorite? They did not even make the final seven. A member of our staff who saw the report first asked if that was not a sample of “Lutong Macao”. The contest was held in a desert-like place some call “ghost town” that is probably expected to gain more attention with the hosting of the pageant there.*

back to top