Welcome, President Arroyo

The President is coming to town today.  Welcome Madame President.

The First Gentleman, coming from Binalbagan where the family has landholdings, is the son of the province.  The President, therefore, is the province’s daughter-in-law. The late Ignacio Arroyo, Sr. was a very good friend of ours.

I also like the lovable and beautiful presidential daughter, Luli who was one time Charter Day speaker here.  And son Mikey who conducted a Congressional hearing on Ceneco-Kepco power contract.

But I like better my friendship with the controversial First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.  Three years ago, he was guest speaker at my induction as Negros Press Club president.  It was my unprecedented fourth term (1969, 1981, 1988 and 2005) and thought of getting Mike Arroyo as guest speaker.

I like fighters. He lambasted the critical media and said he wanted to be a member of the Negros Press Club. After his speech, I inducted him which drew a controversy, the news filtering in Manila media.

There was no board resolution, I was told.  True, I said.

* * *

But I stood on my decision and dared them to have an election. Then Mike called up and suggested he withdrew his membership. I said I was standing by him and my decision.  He insisted for the sake of peace to withdraw his membership but said he was standing by his personal pledge of support for the members’ hospitalization.

I said I could not accept it, believing media must have its dignity of not receiving favors from one personally criticized.

I later found out some members thought Mike gave me money. My golly, not a cent. I even did not ask for that hospitalization help. It was a voluntary offer from the First Gentleman.

* * *

I did not ask any favor from the President.  But, this time, on behalf of the people of Bacolod and of the Retain Bacolod Airport Movement I would like to thank the President for the retention of Bacolod airport as Negros Occidental’s secondary airport.  We can have a flying school here and a takeoff point for light planes to ferry people to nearby provinces.

When a private group gathered last year on the idea of retaining the Bacolod airport as secondary airport, I was unanimously elected chairman.  I accepted on condition that public discussion be handled by Babes Alvarez, Modi Sa-onoy and Charlie Hagad.  Crispin Chua also helped. And Mrs. Lucy Ponce offered to have the Chinese groups.  I worked behind the scene gathering signatures with the help of Amado Villacarlos and Alex Espino where we got some 100,000 signatures we sent to the office of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

* * *

The group went to Manila and met with PAL’s Lucio Tan who was very enthusiastic offering his help, even with loans, if necessary for the airport operation.  PAL owns 20 hectares and the facilities.

City and municipal mayors, public officials, and business men were also very enthusiastic. One gets inspired when openly supported.

Even as RBAM chairman, ever since I have always been openly supporting the Silay airport as the main airport. But we must have the secondary airport.

I hope to have a chance to have an audience with the President, even for just a minute. But I don’t know how to go about it. I hope incoming Press Secretary Jess Dureza is around. But I contacted him yesterday. He was in Tripoli and cannot be here today.

In the spirit of devolution, the operation and management of the secondary airport be turned over by DOTC to Bacolod. Recently, the President turned over the operation and management of Caticlan port in Malay, Aklan from the Philippine Ports Authority to the province of Aklan in line with the President’s program of promoting local autonomy.

* * *

I have been a strong supporter of Silay City Mayor Oti Montelibano and the Silay airport. And as a media man to whom complaints and suggestions were given I always passed them on to the authorities.

The other night, my Belgian friend, Alcatel consultant Andre de Hertog texted me suggesting that Silay airport repairs its two x-ray machines. I quote Andre, “Am in Manila now. Kindly suggest to airport management to repair its two x-ray machines, now all out of order.” Many do not want other people to see the color of their underwear.

But Andre told me, some lady security detail told him of the embarrassment of a male passenger when they found a vibrator inside his luggage.

I kidded Andre to have his assurance it was not he. He texted me emphatically declaring it was not he.

We hope the x-ray machines at the Silay airport are repaired soon.*

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