MANY people may be having a bad impression on Joseller M. Guiao aka Yeng because they often see him accosting with fury a referee and in certain instances he was ejected from the basketball court. This former congressman who is now the head coach of Gilas Pilipinas, the basketball team that will compete in world competition is by no means not mean. He is a nice and a well mannered person. You can ask any member of Capampangan in Media, Inc. (CAMI), an organization of media persons. He is a chip of the old block. His old man was the late Pampanga Governor Bren Z. Guiao. He has followed certain footsteps of his late father. He got involved in politics and was provincial board member for many years and was elected congressman of the province’s first district. He was trounced in the 2016 elections and is now making comeback. A showdown with Carmelo “Jonjon” Lazatin.
Will he trounce back now the incumbent Congressman Lazatin again in a one-on-one setting? It remains to be seen. More than ever, despite his heavy schedules Coach Yeng still find time in joining the hustings of the Bryan-Nepo. I particularly like his solution in ending the traffic gridlock along the Magalang road, particularly the choke point on the NLEX bridge which connects barangay Pulung Maragul to Pulung Cacutud stretch. I believe if in case he will win and reclaim his seat in congress it can happen.
Unlike his father though, Bren rose from poverty and was from a poor family. When he was growing up in Magalang he was into many odd jobs to augment the scarce resources of the family, and they lived in a small house on the edge of Quitangil creek in Barangay San Miguel. But Bren was packed with dreams and because of his perseverance and determination he turned his dreams into reality.
Retro: February of 1986. Marcos was forced into exile in Hawaii after the EDSA revolution Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, the widow of Ninoy was installed president.
Aquino’s transition government had put into office as officers in charge (OICs) known supporters and anti-Marcos activists as the reward for their efforts, and never mind if they were qualified or not. And even best performing local officials were given the pink slip and replaced.
There were talks in those years that Guiao was given some choices by Aquino which line departments he wanted to head. He was, according to someone close to him was offered first the Office of the Executive Secretary but declined. The departments of labor, agrarian reform and interior and local government were also on the plate but requested Aquino that he be appointed OIC governor of Pampanga.
Guiao was the late Senator Ninoy Aquino’s man Friday. Guiao like Aquino was a correspondent of Chino Roces’ Manila Times. He started his journalistic career as a columnist of a local paper in Pampanga. He went to Manila and established a small public relations outfit and counted few clients. Guiao’s frequent visits to Ninoy’s residence at Times street in Quezon City made him close to Cory, and the latter brewed coffee for him while waiting for the senator to emerge from the bedroom. Cory mostly was present when Guiao will brief the senator. And Ninoy tasking him for another errand. Guiao told me these stories whenever we had coffee together big shot newsmen at Country Bake Shop in Ermita, Manila. He suffered a stroke after his stint at the capitol.
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The world is celebrating Women’s World Month, and it is only fitting that we remember them by mentioning their children who made a good in their lives. A mother is always proud of his children, either any of her kids achieved something for themselves or not. But of course, they are happy when any of her children can make a good accounting of her or himself. Mom Evangelina must be mighty proud of her son Noel Manankil, current president of Clark Development Corporation for the latter’s achievement at the Freeport. More investors, more workers hired, more infrastructure done and to top it all the state agency earned billions under his watch.