Friday, October 08, 2004
News(boy) Sense: Cuenco’s smile
By Cheking Seares
A smile doesn’t always show pleasure, affection or friendliness.
The facial expression, with the mouth curving upward and the eyes sparkling, can also convey amusement, disbelief, even derision or contempt.
I didn’t see Rep. Tony Cuenco’s smile when he was asked by the ABS News Channel host if he believed Mandaue Mayor Teddy Ouano’s statements about the shabu labs.
Up close.
Teddy obviously saw it, up close because both were guests in the same interview program. And Teddy clearly hated the smile.
So much that Teddy and his son Jonkie wished they could throw back the same smile at Tony if later events would clear the Ouanos.
What Tony didn’t say in words he must have said in the smile, which must have been anything but flattering.
In fact mocking, according to Jonkie Ouano, who is also his father’s spokesman.
Interpretation.
Well, Tony can deny, the same way he denies at times his press statements.
But, pray, how can one deny the statement of a smile, captured on videotape, which the doubter can run and view, again and again, fast forward or slow-mo?
Of course, he can disagree with the interpretation, say the smile was well-meaning, or involuntary and unintended. He can insist it wasn’t accusatory.
How Tony must have wished he had flashed a Mona Lisa smile instead. Faint and mysterious. Suggesting secrets, yet not telling them. All-knowing, yet suspending judgment.
(October 8, 2004 issue)
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