Benefits for a nice guy

Two feisty ladies in politics both got their vindication yesterday with their proclamation - at last! - as the winners of the gubernatorial race in their respective provinces. In Isabela, former mediawoman Grace Padaca, who had been leading all along and should have been declared winner immediately, had to wait more than a month while her wealthy, powerful and influential opponent, a member of the Dy dynasty in that region, tried all kinds of tricks to prevent her proclamation. We know the story of Grace, a most unlikely woman to become a politician. But she was the "man of the hour" for her province, just as Fr. Eddie Panlilio was in Pampanga.

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Closer to home is the case of Sally Zaldivar-Perez who also had to grit her teeth while her opponent was trying all kind of legal strategies, including threats of charges against Comelec officials, also for the same length of time as Grace Padaca. It seems, however, that Arturo Pacificador met his match in the Comelec's "Magnetic Squad", all presently or formerly assigned in Bacolod and Negros Occidental who, one might say, have all "been there" and "done that" as far as political antics are concerned. And so, yesterday, too, Sally Perez was finally proclaimed as governor of Antique. These are reelections for both Padaca and Perez, which shows that their people approve of their administrations, and want them back.

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Grace and Sally can sleep better now, but there could be a few more sleepless nights for the two cliffhangers in the senatorial election. Yesterday morning, it seemed as if Miguel Zubiri was "it" since he was supposed to be the beneficiary of the windfall from Maguindanao. Late last night, however, a report said that, despite the largesse for his opponent, Pimentel was still hanging on with a lead of 4,293. Comelec Commissioner Resurreccion Borra was right to say that the outcome of the canvass will be a "photo-finish". Knowing the Pinoy mentality, I can imagine the betting going on now on who will finally be proclaimed. I was intrigued by the Inquirer editorial yesterday about Zubiri, that said: "Election fraud couldn't have benefited a nicer guy".

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A very recent survey conducted on 47 nations showed that anti-Americanism has intensified all over the world. It also showed that this decline in "affection" for the United States has been deepening in the past five years, which means the conflict in Iraq has a good deal to do with it. I noted, however, that the survey also showed that the U.S. is still well-regarded in such places like Africa and the Ivory Coast, but is rated low by prosperous countries like Germany, France and Britain. I think there is a strong message from such findings. Anyway, the U.S. may not be popular to some nations, but millions of foreign people still scramble to enter it and stay there. And millions more are heartbroken now because its Senate has just struck down the proposed Immigration Bill.

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There are now in town a big group of balikbayans out to enjoy a reunion with their former school officials and friends while marking the 33rd anniversary of their class. These are the members of Class 1974 of the Riverside College of Nursing, led by their president, Paula Villanueva-Gustilo, now a resident also of Riverside, in California. Believe it or not, there were 41 of the 43 surviving members of that class present, though all of them are now scattered in various countries. Last night, at their testimonial dinner at the L'Fisher Hotel, the girls, and one boy, all dressed to the nines, reunited, reminisced, and danced to their hearts' content. And, it was wonderful to see that most of them had retained their youthful figures and dancing form.

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One by one, they went up the stage to update their friends on their lives. It was amazing to note that they had zoomed in from such places as the United Kingdom, Kuwait, Switzerland, and, of course, the United States. They all flew in on June 18 and since then have gone to lots of places together, like Cebu, Bohol, Iloilo. And they are holding another bash in Iloilo next week, too. Working closely with the indefatigable Paula is Helen Villarico-Correa, while doing the ground work for their itineraries are Paula's sis Yoly and hubby Toto Chua. It is really one grand reunion for this batch as well as a very memorable vacation, too.*

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