It’s been what? Thirty or more years since Cory Aquino was installed Revolutionary President, following a people’s uprising that saw the dictator Marcos fleeing Malacañang, and Teddy Boy Locsin has yet to grow up.
Like the True Juvenile that his detractors portray him to be, Teddy once dirty fingered a motley group of protesters targeting his icon and benefactor, the saintly Cory.
Teddy Boy is a journalist and a speechwriter, and very good at his craft.
When your services are in big demand by the nation’s top leaders, the result can be heady, and both your feet leave the ground as you float up to the clouds.
Arrogance is endemic to the Filipino people, but the causes and reasons vary.
A high school dropout wearing a heavy gold necklace with rings for every finger can be as arrogant as a lettered university professor with a Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa, or otherwise).
And the arrogance of lawyers is matched only by the arrogance of rich clients giving them instructions to pay off the judge hearing his case, vainly trying to hide his ignorance of the law with his sniping and arrogance during court hearings.
In the case of Teddy Boy, all the ingredients that make for an upper lip snobbish personality are all in the mix.
Our hero went to Harvard, where there are more snoots than Stanford, or some other ivy league school, where he was likely shoved and pushed around by classmates smarter than he is, whose dads own half of America’s fortune.
Teddy Boy later comes home with a chip on his shoulder, becomes a lawyer, and turns Aesopic and biblical, albeit in the other direction.
It is said that his favorite motto, if he has one, is “Do unto others what others have done unto you.”
Teddy Boy’s main problem is that he thinks he is the only Filipino with brains, a notch – even higher – than us ordinary mortals.
What was it again that my freshman English professor, Alice Coseteng, often warned – “If you think you are intelligent, then you are not.”
For sure, Teddy Boy has an attitude, and he needs professional help, but which shrink can stand him after getting a rude, “Go f*** yourself.”
If P2 billion worth of shabu are smuggled in during your watch as customs commissioner, you can best explain yourself with arrogance. You know, “How dare you.”
If you are an elected President winning by a margin of six million votes, you can be more than arrogant.
And in the case of the ladies, well, if you can afford 2,000 pairs of expensive shoes imported from London or Italy, you can be cutely arrogant.
“What, me poor?” Yes, ma’am, before.” “That part of my life I no longer remember.”
My late beloved Minda and our son Melpether, both UP graduates, arrogant?
Lucky, yes, but tempered with understanding, and always with both feet on the ground.
The proud (not the same as arrogant) Apache Tribe of Baguio celebrated its 80th founding anniversary the other Saturday, and as one of the awardees, I wondered all night why there were no posthumous awards for departed elder-braves like former mayor Ernie Bueno, long-time councilor and media manBert Floresca, former councilor Andy Cariño of the early pioneers clan, Judge Nanding Cabato, a top practicing lawyer – before joining the Judiciary, Bert Nievera, father of Martin, the Johnny Mathis of Philippines during his time – the list is as long as my arm (Hey, the Aquinos too, Pete, et. al), but I am guessing there will be another occasion for Apache brods gone on to Happy Hunting grounds.
Guest speaker was Mayor Benjie Magalong, whose speech dealt on changing the mind set. Fixing it would be better.
Great talk, except people are asking – why the change of mind on jueteng and other forms of “illegal” gambling. Or is it just street gossip or maybe baby talk. Close, open, close, open.
According to some of my Chinese friends, “Life is not how long you live it, how you enjoy it.”
John Gokongwei had it both – a long and happy, one, but more than anything, meaningful.
He was 93 when he passed away. Now compare that to Bong Tan, Lucio’s namesake, who died at the age of 53.
Bong Tan was in charge of most, if not all, of his father’s vast business interests, a health buff with a passion for sports (He once dreamt of becoming a PBA player) and he succumbs to aneurysm.
Life, no matter how long you live it, is never enough, but how can anyone starve off death?
Try praying whenever you can, wherever you are – at home or on the road. Church visits is best.
If my recollection of Bible history is correct, Jesus promised a long life for those who deeply care for their parents, and praying for them all the time, whether still or no longer with us.
Fret not for the fight Maroons. The fouls against them weren’t being called but the Katipunan neighbor of UP, the Ateneo Blue Eagles, will avenge the loss.
