Monday, August 18, 2008 Mercado: Pres. Benigno Ricafort of CDC By Ram Mercado First Person
"HINDI lamang siya kapuso, siya'y kapamilya rin!" CDC Public Relations chief Sonny Lopez, Jr. introduced new President and CEO Benigno N. Ricafort to Clark Development Corporation (CDC) personnel during last Monday's flag ceremony.
Benny Ricafort proved true to the description as he met Pampanga media last week and declared he was not going to upstage or outshine his predecessor presidents at CDC.
"I will just add upon what they built," he stressed.
He would be himself as I seize him up - amiable, soft-spoken; straight-shooting, candid without "airs."
As Bong Lacson describes him, "he is the type of man you would love to be your father-in-law."
While the former CDC presidents had blazed their own trails and left a niche of achievements in their particular way, Ricafort his set his target as "The Next Frontier."
Assuming he would stay as the CDC helm till 2010, the next two years will keep him sleepless 7/24 charting and pursuing development work to realize the new frontier.
This is the free port zone's vast estate at Sacobia, subject of much of his master development plan, according to CDC director Max Sangil, close adviser to Ricafort.
Ricafort made an overview of his agenda to the media, but I would like to paint a bio-portrait of the man to enable our cabalen to appreciate his background.
As CDC Director 15 years Ricafort had served seven CDC Presidents during which he has distinguished himself with active and productive participation in the formulation of the firm's objectives in investments, promotions, and corporate missions.
Prior to his joining CDC 15 years ago, the new President has over a four-decade extensive experience and involvement in various disciplines. He started life as an employee for 10 years; spent 10 years of his life as educator; 30 years as entrepreneur; 30 years as an advocate for NGO-GO sector in linkage and networking. For the past 31 years he was an advocate for individual and corporate social responsibility commitment.
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Tarzan pulls a walk-out
Scores of important guests to a street renaming ceremony in Balibago last week were alarmed when Congressman Tarzan walked out of the affair, visibly irritated and displeased.
The national anthem had just been sung when the lawmaker beat a hasty retreat to the surprise of the guests and members of the Tang family.
The occasion was the honor program naming a service road of Diamond subdivision to "Mon Tang Avenue."
The late Mon Tang, owner of Century Hotel in Balibago and the huge edifice housing the Angeles Casino/Pagcor offices, and the famous Peking restaurant was known to be "a successful businessman, philanthropist, and advocate of Balibago development," according to Barangay Captain Tony Mamac who led the honor ceremonies.
Members of the Tang Family, led by Mrs. Sandra Tang and the couple's daughter, Joan, Ramon, Jr., Tin and Mon's brother Edgar and other relatives were caught off guard after Lazatin's sudden walk out.
The audience includes city councilors led by Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting, Pagcor's Angeles Casino BM Alex Ozaeta, CIAC VP Alex Cauguiran, Pagcor Director Maning Roxas, businessman Frank Pangilinan, and City Mayor Blueboy Nepomuceno.
Local village officials and city businessmen later reported that the event organizers failed to include the lawmaker in the day's program. Not even a small talk befitting a former city mayor, now congressman.
We were seated far from the official's box were the VIP's and the Mon Tang family including Chairman Mamac, other distinguished guests were sheltered from the morning sun.
What made the congressman's temperature rise that he had to stage a hasty departure as the program was just starting? Was it because he was not given a speaking part in the honor rites? Many asked Frank Pangilinan who was near the "scene of the crime."
Reports said Mang Tarzan, in a rare occasion that he would join the city mayor, or sit closely together in public events, confronted Mayor Blueboy about the naming of the street. Nepomuceno could have been crushed by Lazatin's inquisition save for the timely rescue job by Kapitan Mamac.
The congressman told the city mayor the street subject of a renaming that day has not been donated by the owners of Diamond subdivision to the city government.
It appeared Mayor Blueboy, clueless and uniformed of the details of the donation, ignored Tarzan's query or remarks and his repeated remonstrations against the city council resolution which the mayor had approved.
"Did you know that the street had not yet been donated to the city? "Mang Tarzan told the Chairman Mamac who initiated the street renaming. "I had been city mayor for nine years and I know," he indirectly taunted his old nemesis, the mayor. Chairman Mamac butted in and told Lazatin that the estate owners had already donated the street. Mang Tarzan insisted that he was three term mayor and knew of no donation done.
Tony Mamac said, "I am only on my seventh month in office and I know. Mi donate ya pu king administration nang Mayor Pamintuan." The mayor was saved from Tarzan"s harangue but the congressman was visibly embarrassed by the fact.
This got Tarzan's goat, so he stood up without bidding even a bye to the organizers and the Tang family who invited him.
Mayor Blueboy was seen to smile with glee as Mang Tarzan walked out and strode to a waiting van on McArthur Highway.
