Thursday, December 28, 2006 Seares: ‘Dis-adopting’ Quisumbing By Pachico A. Seares News Sense
MAYOR Ted Ouano wants to strip businessman Norberto Quisumbing Jr. (NQ) of the title "adopted son" of Mandaue City. Obviously an angry wish.
NQ might also have an angrier wish: to return the parchment honoring him, maybe rolled stiffly so he can shove it into an unheralded part of Ted's anatomy.
Both men are mad at each other, which is making them look less than the gentry they are. But they must know that.
Ted is no dolt. He is hitting NQ where Ted thinks it hurts. Getting back the title is not totally being childish. It's Ted's way of telling Mandaue that NQ isn't the son it adopted years ago.
Well-deserved
But there's a problem. Adopting NQ was honoring him for what he did for Mandaue then. Now-sour relations between him and Ted don't change this: NQ deserved it.
The honor can't be withdrawn without impeaching the grant and those who gave it.
In the classic comedy film "When Harry Met Sally," Billy Crystal (Harry) wanted to take back a remark that made Meg Ryan (Sally) think he was hitting on her. "No, you can't take it back," she said. "Why not?" he said. Her reply: "It's already out there." Done. Complete.
Mandaue can't revoke NQ's adoption without the city fathers looking vengeful and boorish. May be tougher to "dis-adopt" a council-adopted son than a court-adopted child.
Sally had advice for Harry, which may do as well for Mayor Ted: "Just let it lie."
