Who is closer to GMA?

Who is closer to GMA? Newks or Bing?

Don't ask that question and expect a correct answer. The answer depends on the side one is in. It's just a good springboard for discussion in coffee shops.

I cannot answer that either. But one thing, I enjoyed looking at were the pictures in the DAILY STAR yesterday, both on the front page and on page 20. On the front page there was Bacolod Mayor Bing Leonardia and on the right side was Congressman Newks Puentevella, both smiling and looking at the camera and not with dagger looks at each other.

On Bing's side was Congressman Kako Lacson and in the center of the table was Silay City Mayor Oti Montelibano. Where is Talisay City Mayor Eric Saratan?

On page 20, the two were there enjoying a good laugh. The editors were wise enough to caption it was taken Sunday night and not in 2004 when both Bing and Newks were in the same party campaigning together and for each other.

The picture was taken by Oti Montelibano. What was the joke which evoked that spirited laughter? I do not know.

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I like the rivalry. This is not just put-up competition. It's the real McCoy. Each wants to outdo the other. And vice-versa.

Bing has already his Bacolod City College. Newks is putting up his polytechnic institute. Prove to the Mayor your school is better. And he will also strive to improve his school too. Good for Bacolod.

Bing has his government center. And call centers. I expect Newks to put up his own centers too. It can be a business center, a cultural center, or any center. But, he must have a center.

We will support Newks' center in the same way that we supported Bing's Center. He can do this easily, especially with his closeness to the President. But which is being contested by Bing now.

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Now, the question who is closer to the President? Of course, both of them are but, who is much closer?

Newks is always in Malacañang. But very recently, Bing was there too with three other City Mayors with the President.

At the Negros Press Club yesterday where people believe they know answers to the problems of the world, I asked who is closer between Bing and Newks? I asked who accompanied the President coming to Bacolod? The answer, it was Newks. In the same Presidential plane? No, in a backup plane.

Another former NPC official said, but going back to Manila it was Bing who accompanied her. In the Presidential plane? No, in a backup plane also. That makes it even. The President is really wise in playing the two against each other.

Who was with GMA most of the time? Two of them also. But, what happened there at the La Salle coliseum?

* * *

I asked reporters what happened during the launching of the Electric Jeep of Pancho Puckett. I asked Pancho and Athena Ballesteros. They said both were close to the President. They just don't want to get caught in the crossfire.

What I got from some reporters was that the President all the time during the launching was surrounded by the city councilors, as if organized by Bing, to shield the President from Newks.

I will not ask Bing if there was really this plan to isolate Congressman Puentevella. If there was that plan, I don't think Bing will admit it. Interesting. Is it not?

* * *

In his column yesterday, Rolly Espina narrated humorous episodes about Newks positioning himself in the driver's seat for the President. Rolly said, it was Bing who was supposed to be the driver, this being a city affair.

I did not have this information. I also did not have the information that Newks boarded the plane for Manila but the President took another plane.

Forget those smiles and laughter in the pictures yesterday. The rivalry will be on until the election of 2010. Interesting!

I also expect Newks will invite the President for an occasion here. In a public affair, he will just have the President surrounded by his Punong Barangays to keep Leonardia out.

Look at those pictures yesterday again on the front page and page 20. This is how politics is played. Interesting!

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Arsenio "Buc-an" Yulo is inviting all members of NOHS Class '47 to attend the Mass at 8 a.m. at Lupit Church on the 79th birthday of the late Rafael M. Salas, their Class Valedictorian.*

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