Lucy

The Good Life with Eli F.J. Tajanlangit

Even when she falls into staccato Ilonggo, there is elegance about the way Lucy Chua Ponce talks that cannot be ignored. It is fascinating, to say the least, but what makes it attractive, I have long concluded, is her sincerity.

In whatever language or dialect she speaks, Lucy speaks from her mind and heart. Nothing flowery nor fancy – just frank, honest and straightforward talk. Herein, I guess, lies the woman’s strength, in her ability to talk straight despite the cultural differences, because in straight talking, she gets things done. Besides, in a world where messages are often hidden in such things as body language, subtexts and subliminal, straight talk can be refreshingly clear and uncomplicated.

When I read Lucy is one of this year’s Banwahanon awardees, I thought the award couldn’t have gone to somebody more deserving. In fact, I thought, what took them so long to notice this woman’s contributions to the city? The enterprise she and hubby Teofilo built is one of the shining examples of the entrepreneurship that helped build this city, and even just for that – for helping  build something from the ground to what it is now using local resources, skill and talent – Lucy should count as one of Bacolod’s pioneer builders, movers and shakers.

Many years back, I have had the opportunity to work with Lucy. I was then with The DAILY STAR business department; she was one of the paper’s original advertisers. Aside from her ads, Lucy was one of those who suggested many things to boost the paper’s income; some of these ideas were discarded but some were used. One of these, in fact, stands out today – the congratulatory and other greeting ads that have become standard fare hereabouts. I understand this is a practice in Chinese language newspapers that Lucy thought could be done in the STAR.

I have plenty of other memories of Lucy, glimpses into the soft heart of this woman that is otherwise hidden from the public. She can drive a hard bargain, stretching and sometimes overturning things, but she is not above rushing to your side in times of emergency.

She may appear tough outside, but that’s just the external, believe me. I remember her going to the old San Juan office riding the trisikad, because she said, it was more convenient than having to come in a car that needed to be parked and all. I recall Lucy in her pink jogging suit, very early in the morning, wading through the binding/folding operations in the Libertad office, to get copies of that day’s paper. I’m sure many of the printing press people remember that day: she had left money for pan de sal for them.

Unknown to many, Lucy has a sense of community that is remarkable, given her ethnic roots. She stood as a true Pinoy during the Ninoy assassination days and the tumultuous aftermath, monitoring events and keeping tab of things. I heard she had wrapped herself incognito and joined the Ninoy funeral. In fact, the very first time I saw her was at St. John’s Institute, where President Cory had come during her very first Presidential visit to Negros, waiting in line for her.

She has plenty of other civic work. In one Christmas season, she singlehandedly raised the funds that lighted up the lampposts and the plaza. She has a knack for organizing, especially raising funds for her charities. I recall how she had paired teenybopper Sheryl Cruz and Mr. Songwriter, Jose Mari Chan, in a concert. When I had first heard of the show, my first reaction was, how can these two come together in a concert, knowing they appeal to two different age and class groups?

But that was precisely Lucy’s idea, to bring all groups to the concert. The result was an evening of light but pure entertainment that had the gym vibrating on the weight of a record crowd. Lucy’s hunch was proven right, which led us to one question: What if Lucy had gone into the entertainment business? Perhaps if she did, Mother Lily would have some tough, but I’m sure friendly, competition there.*

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