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Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Ouanos, Soon make up
By Rose O. Verzosa & Elias O. Baquero
Sun.Star Staff Reporters
For the first time in more than a decade of political differences, Mayor Thadeo “Teddy” Ouano and Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz (Cebu, 6th district), along with their families, met for lunch in a resort in Lapu-Lapu City last Dec. 23.
But Soon-Ruiz said yesterday that the meeting was a “purely personal and social” affair intended as a surprise for their parents, Dr. Restituto and Asuncion Soon, and former Mandaue City mayor Alfredo “Pedong” and Dolores Ouano.
It had nothing to do with politics, the congresswoman told Sun.Star Cebu.
“In the spirit of Christmas, there were no talks about politics. The elder Ouano and Soon talked about their illustrious and joyful past. Both families were in high spirits,” the Ouanos said, in a text message sent to Sun.Star yesterday.
Weeks before their reported meeting, rumors circulated that the influential Quimsumbing family—headed by industrialist Norberto Quisumbing Jr. and Luis “Louie” Quisumbing, chairman and president, respectively, of the Norkis Group of Companies—is putting up Cebu Provincial Board Member Luigi Quisumbing as a candidate for Mandaue City mayor in the May 2007 elections.
Healing
The Quisumbing family is said to be one of Nerissa’s “big-time election bankrollers” and reportedly expects the congresswoman’s unconditional support for Luigi’s mayoralty bid.
Jonkie Ouano, Teddy’s son, is being groomed to succeed his father.
Teddy, who is on his third term, will no longer qualify to seek reelection.
Luigi could not be reached for comment, as he is on vacation in Las Vegas, where the Quisumbing family has a house.
Both the Ouano and Soon-Ruiz camps refused to comment, though, on speculations that the meeting will eventually lead to a union of their political forces.
But Nerissa admitted that the affair, which was a sort of reunion, mended the close personal ties between the two families.
“It is a healing process of families who were torn apart by political differences,” said Soon-Ruiz.
Surprise
Soon-Ruiz explained that her father, who is already 86 years old, was affected by her political hostilities with the Ouanos and he has been telling her about his wish to see and meet with his old friend Alfredo.
So when Soon-Ruiz and Teddy’s wife, Linda, chanced upon each other in a mall in Manila earlier this month, she opened up to Linda about her father’s wish.
The congresswoman said she and Linda, whom she finds “a very nice and sincere person,” agreed to call each other as soon as they got back to Cebu and to organize a reunion for their parents.
They decided to hold their lunch at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa.
Nerissa said her father, who did not know where they were bringing him that day, was surprised and teary-eyed the whole time.
The elder Ouanos and Soons had a great time reminiscing about their adventures together, including their war experiences, with Pedong cracking his famous jokes.
Division
Linda and Soon-Ruiz also exchanged family pictures towards the end of the affair.
Aside from being close relatives, the Soons and Ouanos used to be the strongest political allies in Mandaue.
When Asuncion ran for mayor in 1972 against former mayor Demetrio Cortes, Pedong was her running mate. Asuncion lost to Cortes but Pedong won as vice mayor against Amadeo Seno Sr.
Because of the close family ties, Asuncion became a principal sponsor at the wedding of Teddy and Linda, and Pedong too, at the wedding of Nerissa and Lito Ruiz.
The ties that bound them were severed only when Soon-Ruiz and Teddy ran against each other for mayor in the 1998 elections. Teddy won.
For Nerissa, the reunion of both families was her “best Christmas gift” for her father.
Who wins?
Asked whether her meeting with the Ouanos would irk her mentor, former senator John “Sonny” Osmeña, who is also at odds with the Ouanos, Soon-Ruiz believes he will understand her situation, as this is entirely a personal and family affair.
“It was all for the sake of my father,” she said.
“I could never turn my back on Senator Osmeña. I’m in this position because of him,” she added.
At the Capitol, Provincial Board member Victor Maambong said the recent meeting could bring relief to their constituents, who need more projects.
Maambong, who like Luigi Quisumbing represents the sixth district, said the meeting of two strong leaders is a good sign of unity that will promote the welfare of their constituents.
“This development, even if temporary, will surely benefit the people. They can now make their respective agenda to uplift the living conditions of the people acceptable to each other,” Maambong said.
Capitol consultant Pablo John Garcia said it would be a “very positive development” if political forces in Cebu’s sixth district will unite, especially that Cebu will host the Asean Ministers’ Summit in December 2006 in Lapu-Lapu City.
“With the unity of Teddy and Nerissa, we will have an assurance of support for whatever projects we want to implement in preparation for the Asean Ministers’ Summit,” Garcia said.
Garcia said this could ultimately happen because both Soon-Ruiz and Ouano have big dreams to make Mandaue City an industrial hub.
(December 27, 2005 issue)
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