Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Mercado: Golden Girl on leave By Ram Mercado First Person
CONCERNED cabalen with sympathy and almost fanatical devotion to the priest-turned-governor are happy to know that the “tampuhan” between the Golden Girl and Gov. Ed has come to a meltdown, or so it seems.
Pampangos who are following the mini-drama series likened the affair to a “lovers’ quarrel,” now already patched up or almost anyway.
The Among, contrary to impressions that he has proud and resolute heart followed sane advice to visit his political benefactor, businesswoman Lolita O. Hizon to talk things heart-to-heart.
Of course Governor Ed does not have any more economic use of the Golden Girl’s resources but political correctness demands mending fences with original allies’ sulking for whatever reason.
We are not privy to the August 29 meeting between the famous donor and her recipient, but sources said the dialogue was more of a mother-to-son talk rather than between giver and receiver.
It is well known in Panlilio circles that the governor then as active priest addresses Mrs. Hizon as “Ima.” She is several years his senior and she look to the priest as her son.
Many residents suspected that Mrs. Hizon was trying to cash in on the Padre’s debt of gratitude for her unsolicited support in the campaign, such as asking for a personal favor, or in behalf of a friend, or even a business deal.
I called up Mrs. Hizon and she swears she never wanted anything of this sort.
Then what is the bone of contention? I guess that philanthropists in the mould of the Golden Girl would go out all the way -- money is of no consequences -- to help anyone, saint or sinner to whom their commitment had been pledged without reservation.
She admitted putting sizeable fund support in the unlikeliest of politicians, plus the passion and time in helping the crusade to bring social transformation and progress to a benighted province. “That was all there is to it,” she said.
In simple terms, Mrs. Hizon wanted the Governor to succeed, possibly without a glitch or obstacle along his governance, by working with a team that can perform and at best unite people than cause obstruction.
The irony is Ate Vi, the lawyer Mrs. Hizon had a hand in putting to her job, is the same person she wanted out of the team, along with another lawyer, Lady V, an inseparable partner of the new provincial administrator.
I call them as the Spicy Girls, less for their showbiz potentials than for being smart and feisty, credentials that would make them fight tooth and nails for their boss. Mrs. Hizon, a former San Fernando town councilor and vice mayor has no beef on this score. She has no objection to the issue of morality, a side issue raised by the City Council philistines against the duo.
The Provincial Board led by the monsignor-looking presiding officer and poster boy of Philippine shampoo manufacturers would not confirm the appointments of the lady lawyers for personal reasons.
With this, Mrs. Hizon believes that things could not get moving smoothly in the Capitol for the promised reforms, much less the priority programs to take off by getting the support of the board members because of the two girls.
The problem is twice hard as Ate Vi and her partner are like twin sisters, almost inseparable like two peas in a pod, and they work in tandem like horse and carriage, in Sinatra’s song “each useless without the other.”
The shampoo poster boy had cited the particular: the chief complaint against the two is their alleged attitude problem. Being legal technocrats without political background in governance, they tend to turn off people by their curt and aloof manner and inhospitable conduct -- all devoid of the warmth and cordiality demanded of their position.
The Gov, not wanting to antagonize his sponsor, had asked for some more time to resolve Mrs. Hizon’s desire. She was apparently pleased if not placated by the Among’s visit and who stills calls her “Ima.”
“How much money did you actually put in the campaign?’ I asked her.
“You should ask that to him, and he may tell you,” she replied.
She was already keeping her peace after that recent truce when the “devil” in the form of a media worker brought her a tape recording of the Governor’s Rotary club speech. Feeling alluded to by the Among’s talk about unsolicited support given by volunteers in the past elections, and Among’s reference to people disappointed by him, Mrs. Hizon was jolted. Did not the two agree only a few days back to a moratorium on the matter?
To defuse the situation, Catholic groups and civic leaders asked the Golden Girl to divert her frustration by keeping busy with her pro-poor and humanitarian projects under the family charity group -- “Iba Ka Foundation”, a seven-year-old organization with an ambulatory health clinic for indigents.
Former board member Lito Polintan, member of Conscience, the Hizon-sponsored political arm of the former Panllilio workers, said she had temporarily desisted from the issue “but a closure to the quarrel is in sight.”
I would like to hear the Rotary club homily of the Among, especially that reported portion about the left hand that must not know what the right hand is giving.
The Golden Girl, however, riposted, “Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay ‘di mkakarating sa kanyang paroroonan,” or something to that effect, my knowledge of Balagtas of questionable credence.
With that, the Golden Girl left the country last week, her loving husband Jun Hizon and children in tow, and a special suitcase carrying unsolicited help.
Lito Polintan said that in the meantime she is on brief vacation, she ceases to be a thorn in the Among’s side, at least for now anyway, while she is busy disposing of excess baggage including that of unsolicited materials.
