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Friday, January 23, 2004
Wenceslao: Two blows against John-john
By Bong Wenceslao
One of the similarities of showbiz and politics is that people involved in them invite the spotlight, allowing the public to see things that otherwise would have been overlooked. When one announces his or her intention to run, the scrutinizing follows. Here, politicians become not unlike showbiz denizens: fair game of muckrakers.
Apparently, Vice Gov. John-john Osmeña is only now learning about this reality, but in a hard way. Days before the campaign period for the May elections could even begin, his image suffered two successive blows. And no matter how much Osmeña will deny it, these blows have already taken its toll on his candidacy for governor.
Blow one was the recent raid on the office of a website allegedly promoting pornography. It turned out the owner of the website, Daniel Machanik, is John-john’s friend and even used his name as a prop for his business. That was compounded by the vice governor’s defense of the firm, which betrayed his low regard for women.
Blow two is the more recent disclosure that Osmeña released P5 million for the computerization program of a non-existent foundation, Perdido Lex. (Funny, but the word perdido already sounds like an election omen.) In reaction, the vice governor turned and twisted to get out of the hole, but it looks like he is instead being pushed deeper in it.
I think that whatever Osmeña will do now, his image has already been tainted. It is not easy to recover from the two blows with the elections just a few months away. Worse, there is the possibility that more of his past actuation will be exposed in the coming days. He is not a saint, I am sure, so muckrakers have enough ammo against him.
Not scared. Cebu City Councilor Gerardo Carillo, partymate of Mayor Tomas Osmeña, belied the latter’s claim that the City Council was scared of broadcaster and columnist Bobby Nalzaro, thus its resolution approving payment of the P1.7 million the City owes to some media outlets during the administration of Alvin Garcia.
Actually, I believe in Carillo when he pointed out that they acted based on the principle that a party to a contract is entitled to payment for work done. After all he is a lawyer. But the problem is his boss, the mayor, is not. More than that, he operates under a different mindset. His concern is how to get even with his detractors, and not the law.
P.S. Here are more reactions from Text Reax contributors on my previous column about the Sinulog. First off is Manny Gumban: “It is impossible to separate the spiritual aspect of the Sinulog from commercialism. Why? Because religion is big business. A man will spend anything to save his soul.”
Another texter noted that the float that was the object of criticisms during the Sinulog grand parade had girls wearing provocative attires. It was representing a nightspot owned by Koreans. Here’s the clincher: “Pinoys are always insulted by them.”
Finally, a texter could not help lambasting the barangay captains who reportedly received money from presidential candidate Gloria Macapagal Arroyo: “Now it can be told. We have a bunch of cheap and corrupt barangay captains. One honorable act is for them to donate to the Sto. Niño the bribe money they got. Otherwise, ang taga-barangay should go to their houses and ask for donations.”
(e-mail: khanwens@yahoo.com; text: 0927-4912362)
(January 23, 2004 issue)
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