Percy Della wants my space today. Because he’s been my beer buddy since 1974, I accede. Here:
“I’m on a roll!
“After picking up a lifetime achievement award in sports journalism from my guild last month, I got more good news, this time from the old hometown last weekend.
“As a former sports columnist for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and a spokesman for three California state government agencies not too long ago, I’ve been fortunate enough to be included among the outstanding citizen awardees of Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija, this year.
“‘Congratulations barrio boy,’” texted Ramon Tulfo, my controversial columnist friend.
“On fiesta time April 13-16, I shared the stage with former Valley Golf Club president and B-MIRK Chain of Companies chief executive officer Isauro San Pedro Jr.; University of the Philippines architecture professor Gerard Lico, a leading light in the protection and care of heritage sites and structures like the Rizal Memorial Coliseum; lawyer Emmanuel Tamase, an adroit litigator whose law firm once included ex-vice president Jejomar Binay as a partner; Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr., the newly installed Region 3 director of the Philippine National Police; and, Jemerson Erese, a young and popular town architect who designs and builds local homes.
“I’ve been the recipient of several awards before. But none beats the one given me by my hometown.
“I will not trade my laurel from Cuyapo for all the tea in China.
“The awards have been dogged by critics before. Hackles have been raised because of politics and the haphazard manner choices were made in previous years. It is a sad practice likely repeated in many municipalities in the islands.
“The hope is that in the future, Cuyapenos, living or dead who brought glory to the rice producing heartland, would be celebrated.
“When God spread talent, Cuyapo got heaps of it.
“The town has produced, among others, the following: A career diplomat and an ambassador to the United Nations, a senator, two congressmen, two provincial governors, two Manila councilors, a Cabinet-ranked presidential legislative secretary, a confidential and private secretary to the President, a National Irrigation administrator, a civil service commissioner, a one-star general in the United States Air Force, six local military and police generals, a presidential aide-de-camp, several movie stars, a PBA legend, the best all-around athlete in Southeast Asia, three national newspaper and television reporters, and many doctors, engineers, lawyers and other professionals of the first water.
“Most of these achievers haven’t been recognized by the local government unit then and now.
“May they and all of Cuyapo’s other outstanding citizens be given their day in the sun someday.”