Mike in the Middle
By Jose Victor “Jay” Delas Alas
I have known Mike since our elementary days in UPIS. Even as early as those years, I had seen Mike as a great leader. Sumikat sya sa school nung tumakbo at nanalo sya sa student council. Pero kahit bago pa nun, madami na ang may kakilala sa kanya. Kasi sya yung tipong kahit kilala yung pamilya nya, kahit sino pwede nyang samahan. Pwede sya sa mga sosyal pwede din sya sa masa.
All out yan pagdating sa batch namin, mas lalo na sa mga alam nya na nangangailangan. Nung 20th high school reunion nga namin, gusto nya talagang magkasama sama kami lahat, considering na hindi naman sya graduate technically ng UPIS. Nung nalaman nya na hindi makakasama yung iba dahil nga may entrance fee yung event, sabi nya hindi tawagin nyo pa din sila, ako na muna ang sasagot ng entrance.
Kahit ako nung namatay yung tatay ko, hindi naman ako nanghihingi e, naglagay sya sa bulsa ko. Sabi ko ibigay na lang nya dun sa isang kaibigan namin na nangangailangan ng tulong dahil nagaagaw buhay yung tatay. Sabi nya, “Hindi, sa ‘yo yan.” Pinuntahan nya din yung isang kaibigan namin sa ospital, binigyan nya din. So, ganoon talaga syang klaseng kaibigan. Kaya nung sinabi ni Jun Lozada na walang wala talaga sya at nagbigay sya, talagang likas sa kanya yun, walang bahid na pamumulitika. Likas talaga sa kanya ang tumulong. In fact, sya yung tao na hindi mo na kailangang hingan, kapag nakita ka nyang nangangailangan, tutulong yan.
Pero, isa sa mga hindi ko makaklimutan talaga kay Mike e nung gumitna sya sa gulo namin nung fourth year high school ako. Hindi na sya taga-UPIS nun, bumalik sya pagkatapos nyang matapos ng high school sa states. It was a classic case ng rambol ng UP na tipong damay lahat at yung iba hindi na pumapasok dahil sa gulo. Natapos lang yun nang kinausap nya yung dalawang partido. Malakas talaga sya mangumbinsi. E kung sa grupo lang namin hindi na yon maaareglo, kung hindi sya lumapit. Naalala ko sabi nya, “Wala na kong hihingin sa yo, pare. Ayusin na natin ‘to.” Naayos naman. Ngayon nagkikita kita kaming mga taga dalawang partido, nagbibirubiruan tungkol doon sa gulo. Yun ang classic na kwentuhan namin pag nagkikita-kita kami.
Kaya hindi din ako nagtaka na kahit sa pulitika, si Mike yung tipong gumigitna para ayusin ang dalawang panig. Kahit nung nasa administration sya, he served as the channel between the government and former president Estrada. Nung nagkaroon ng kaguluhan sa Oakwood, siya ang kumausap sa mga Magdalo soldiers. Ganun talaga syang tao, kung makakatulong sya para magkasundo ang dalawang panig, gagawin nya. It’s unfortunate na nababahiran ng ibang kulay ang ginagawa nya. Putting things in perpective, he’s not the type who would do these things for political mileage. Hindi talaga sya ganung tao. People should note that he was even the first to concede his senate bid. In a political scene na pagnatalo sinasabi agad na dinaya, sya tinggap nya.
Alam din naman yata nya kasi na nag-iba ang tingin sa kanya ng tao. At sinabihan na din naming mga kaibigan nya nun na kung pwede wag na syang sumama sa administrasyon dahil baka mapasama pa ang tingin sa kanya ng tao dahil mainit ang mata ng mga tao sa gobyerno. But I think he saw it as an opportunity to help out. Now out of politics, he continues to be seen in a negative light, but I know ultimately and for those who know him, Mike will always be one of the most remarkable people in contemporary politics
The writer is a batch mate of Mike Defensor in UPIS. He is currently the officer in charge of operations at Berkman Systems Incorporated.
- Kay tamis ng ating samahan sa lungkot at kaligayahan. Tunay na kaibigan, kasamang maaasahan. Salamat at tayo'y may
pinagsamahan. Salamat, tunay kong kaibigan
(Salamat, by The Dawn)
Mike has always been dear to us since we were kids. He’s a good friend who came running when we needed him. Mike was the go-to guy even before he became Cong. Mike, and then Sec. Defensor. Many of us knew he was destined for public service. Mike was the consummate politician, a trait he developed since grade school. We thought he would go on to become president, if he didn’t disappoint the fickle Filipino public.But it seems he has. So much so that he is vilified by the media at every opportunity. His actions are always placed within the perspective of his relationship with an unpopular president. Justifiable, though harsh.
So we set up this blog. Some of us have worked with him and have seen him make what we thought were good decisions. But some of us were also there when we thought he made wrong ones. But that is how a man is made -- by the choices he makes.As his friends, the best we can do is stand by him and try to help everyone else see things from a different light.
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On the campaign trail, the mayor running for re-election walks up to a house of his campaign adviser and rings the doorbell. When a small boy opens the door, the mayor introduces himself, “Hello there, little boy! What’s your name?”
“Little Johnny,” replies the small boy.
“Well, Little Johnny, I’m Mayor Hoffman. I’m running for re-election. Can I speak to your father?”
“He’s in the shower right now,” answers Little Johnny with a giggle.
“Oh! Well, is your mother in the house too?” asks Mayor Hoffman.
“Yes, she is. But she’s in the shower with my daddy,” replies Little Johnny with a snicker.
“Oh I see,” says Mayor Hoffman who pauses a moment thinking of what to say next. Then he smiles and says, “Little Johnny, can you go see if they are through now? I would like to speak to either one of them. It’s important.”
“I don’t think so,” replies Little Johnny with a big laugh.
Surprised to see the boy laughing heartily, the perplexed mayor demands, “What’s so funny, son? Is there something wrong with your parents?”
“Well, when my daddy asked for the Vaseline while they’re in the shower, I handed him the Super Glue.”
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