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Saturday, June 26, 2004
Mercado: Mayor Tarzan drinks his beer
By Ram Mercado
TO MOST partygoers, the best part is their dining pleasure, which is the food and drinks.
I am excited by the events that transpire in any social gathering and the people I meet.
Such was my simple joy in the company of two very polished gentlemen from San Miguel Corporation, corporate affairs officers Vic Quizon and his partner Kiko Sison. The SMC public affairs experts feted their friend City Councilor-elect Jay Sangil and members of media on the occasion of his victory, at the Fortune Restaurant in Balibago.
Since many years ago, Vic and Kiko have ably represented the SMC corporate office to community and media affairs. The recent luncheon given to Councilor Jay and his company from the media has focused their firm as the foremost practitioner of good public relations.
It is not very often that members of the media industry here partake of genuine roasted Peking Duck, braised eel, and a variety of exotic seafood. The gracious hosts and their convivial company told the day's event.
I was surprised most of all during the week by Angeles Mayor Tarzan Lazatin who enjoyed himself at the birthday party of furniture exporter and crusader Angie Salas. I have known the mayor since three decades ago and I never saw him touch a drop of wine or beer.
How and why he broke tradition during this particular night I can only surmise. I was seated next to him and some friends shooting the breeze with the mayor who just won his third and last term.
Angie S. goes to the mayor and tells him, "I want you to meet somebody." The birthday girl introduces a matron thus, "do you remember this lady?" The mayor looks at Angie's friend, and with smiling eyes concentrates on identifying the guest. The lady waits to be acknowledged if he still knows her. You might as well ask him how much he has lost in the big table in five years and would still get an honest estimate, but not the name of the woman in the puzzle. The mayor gazes hard and long.
"Emune balu I Pining, dati me piglolon yan 'nyang teenager ya," the irrepressible Angie S. tells him.
That was over 40 years ago. Angie leaves the two to reminisce. The lady was recently widowed, and she flies back and forth to the country from Hawaii where she lives.
"Nanung milyari ketang singsing a binie ku keka," the mayor asks the lady.
She finds difficultly recalling what happened to the ring the young suitor (Tarzan) gave her. Can someone remember a lost ring like the one in our song?
The mayor takes a gulf from San Mig Light. "Pilan nong anac mu," she asks him. He cites a number but I could not get the number of his offspring's mothers. He drinks again, his eyes with a faraway look.
"I can still remember you were driving a Bel Air convertible when you passed by my place," she tells him. The mayor says, "so you still remember that?"
"Of course I do," she admits.
"And your motorcycle, a Harley Davidson," she recalls. The mayor finishes his bottle. "I am staying in our family's place in Pandan. The road is bad going to my residence." He is listening to a voice of long ago.
The mayor gets the street. "Pagawa keng agad," he promises. He was handed a second San Mig. He takes a swig, pulls out his cellphone and dials a number. He was directing someone at the other line to do something about the road's repair or paving, as fast as you can do it, he orders.
"O' ita gawan de ing dalan keta keka," he tells the lady from Hawaii.
When the mayor left, I asked the lady, "did you get engaged to him?"
"Ali kami," she replied, "tatakut ku. Talagang playboy ya." Josefina
Quiazon vda de Yanez explains the aborted romance.
Soon Angeles Water District chairman Edgar Lopez, long time companion of Angie, begins the singing for the night. He requested the videoke master, "itang theme song mi." First the macho Russian-educated Edgar sang "That's My Life," and the love song, theirs, "How Did You Know?"
Of course the lovely and joyful Angie knows it too well, guy.
(June 26, 2004 issue)
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