Sangil: Guiao wants to rename Clark to Corazon Aquino Airport

THE Angeles City Council the other week wanted by way of a resolution which I presume was unanimously approved the renaming again of Clark Airport into its original name Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA). This came after the whole country took notice of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ascending to the speakership in the House of Representatives.

Throwback: William Sakespeare said, “What is in a name?” To continue his quote, he was saying a rose will still smell a rose whatever name you may want to call it. Remember how then Congressman Joseller “Yeng” Guiao wanted to rename DMIA to President Corazon C. Aquino International Airport? As a matter of fact, he filed a bill in congress to this effect.

Years ago, the PNoy administration appointed a bisaya, a certain Ping Remollo, a former mayor of Dumaguete City as Clark Development Corporation (CDC) president. Concurrently, he was also a member of the CIAC board. He too proposed the change of name of the airport. He was sustained by the members of the board. And when the news leaked out, it created a furor and the Kapampangans rose in protest.

“Over my dead body,” exclaimed Alex Caugiran a student leader during his prime, former executive vice president of CIAC, now the head honcho of the airport. Many sectors in Pampanga particularly in Angeles City rallied behind the call not to rename DMIA. There was a warning then to declare board members of CIAC “persona non grata.” It didn't take off though, when the renaming effort was thrown to the garbage bin.

Dopesters were one saying that this was one blunder Coach Yeng committed. In basketball parlance, it is called illegal travel. But in those years, Coach Yeng thought it was a slam dunk. Maybe so. Slam dunk to his face.

Maybe the Capampangans didn’t forget that, and maybe one of the reasons why he was defeated in his re-election bid against Jonjon Lazatin. To think that the young Lazatin almost failed to land in the winning circle when he run for Angeles City councilor the first time. And to beat an incumbent who was even supported by power brokers like business mogul Manny V. Pangilinan aka MVP. That’s something. BTW: The two will face each other again, only this time it will be a three cornered fight with Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan also in the race.

Now former President and currently House of Representatives Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is in good graces with President Rodrigo Duterte. I don’t know if GMA will easily forget what Guiao did against the memory of her father. What former Congressman Yeng did was a mistreatment in its highest order, if not downright cruel. As I said then, and I still say it now that if politics in Pampanga is a basketball game, the move of Cong Yeng will result into a fine.

TIDBITS: Here are some of the political contests that will be interesting to watch. In Floridablanca, ex-Mayor Ed Guerrero may retake or fail in his quest to reclaim his seat versus incumbent Darwin Manalansan if people will rise against the latter’s position on the sanitary landfill. The local people are sore versus Manalansan because he allowed the landfill in the town.

In Sta. Rita town, it will be brother against brother. The Salalilas are battling against each other... In the vice mayoral race in the City of San Fernando, informal surveys are giving Councilor Angie Hizon a slight edge against the incumbent Vice-Mayor Jimmy Lazatin... In Guagua, Mayor Dante Torres is still the man to beat despite the numerous suspensions slapped against him. Observers are saying that Councilor Sajid Eusoof is no match against him.

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