Thursday, October 09, 2008 Wenceslao: Mary Ann, Joavan By Bong O. Wenceslao Candid Thoughts
LAST July, I testified in the libel case filed by prosecutor Mary Ann Castro against lawyer Vicente Fernandez II in my capacity as opinion editor of Sun.Star Cebu. That was in the sala of Judge Ester Veloso. Two articles published in Sun.Star had caught the eyes of Mary Ann and her lawyer, Joey Wee. All I did was enlighten the court about them.
It was, I think, only the third time I saw Mary Ann in person. But it was enough to make me realize a controversial person’s public image could be different from his or her real life character and appearance. When we strayed into her office (she was assistant city prosecutor that time), I noted that she was with a child, and her motherly instinct showed.
The Sun.Star photo showing Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez sharing private moments with his son Joavan after the latter’s arrest Monday night reminded me of that chance meeting with Mary Ann. Many of us haven’t met Joavan in person, so we only know him through his image projected through the media. That could be one-sided.
Like many others, I am puzzled by Brod Soc’s refusal to let go of Joavan to the extent of sacrificing his political career for it. It must not only be because of fatherly love coupled by the mayor’s religious belief. It could also be because the Joavan we hated could be different from the Joavan that Brod Soc knew. Or at least when Joavan is sober.
Somebody who knew the Fernandezes said that Soc’s relation with Joavan had always been close. So there must have been a time when Joavan was an ideal son of a Catholic faith defender. When and how the son broke away from the father’s grip should be an interesting story in itself. But I guess there would be nothing unique in that tale.
I have a nephew who became the black sheep of my older sister’s family the moment he got hooked to drugs. When he started stealing, relatives debated on the manner he should be treated. Some suggested harsh punishment, others wanted to let go of him. But my sister held on to her son despite our criticisms of her soft approach.
My nephew is soft-spoken and shy. But somehow shabu and his barkada succeeded for years in transforming him into a “monster” that many of us hated. The last I heard is that he has voluntarily avoided the things that made him a problematic person. He is back attending to his wife and two children. For how long, I don’t know.
What I am saying is that one can’t fully understand the story of Brod Soc and Joavan by merely digesting media reports on the controversies that involved them.
(khanwens@yahoo.com/ my blog: cebuano.wordpress.com)
