What Mikey should know?

When I was in grade school, I remember that the ambition in life of practically every other kid in class was to become President of this republic. It wasn’t so in my case. I didn’t want to become president – not of this nation, not even in our neighborhood association.

But I did entertain dreams of becoming a presidential son. I knew even then that being President entailed a lot of work and I didn’t want to do that. So I just hoped that my father would become President and he would do all the work – while I enjoy the privileges given to Malacañang residents.

How I envied Bongbong Marcos then. In one of the NCAA games (the usual match between Ateneo and La Salle), the Marcos kids were given front-row seats while I was up there craning my neck with my eldest brother and his girlfriend (now wife) in the bleacher section of the Araneta Coliseum.

There were many times when I imagined how it was to be a presidential son living in Malacañang. The best part – I thought – was having access 24 hours to the Palace kitchen. I dreamt of all those steaks, caviar, cakes and cheeses that must have been stuffed in the Malacañang refs.

When Cory Aquino became President, I saw for myself how extra privileges were thrown in the way of then presidential kid, Kris Aquino. One time, after an awards night, Kris decided to invite us to Mars disco. When we got there, however, the line to the door extended practically all the way to the other end of Pasay Road. At that point, Kris just wanted to turn back and look for another watering hole – until the disco management saw her predicament and ushered us in. Believe me, it was like the parting of the Red Sea as the crowd was held to make way for us brats. In fairness to Kris, she didn’t ask for that extra privilege. But they gave it to her just the same as a courtesy to the presidential daughter.

So I guess it really must be fun to be a presidential kid. Well, maybe not if you ask Mikey Arroyo at this point. At least, not after the bad press he got as a result of that untoward incident between him and Startalk casting director Josie Manago last Saturday during the baptismal rites for presidential granddaughter Mikaela Gloria Arroyo.

No one expected that things would get that ugly. When I walked into the GMA 7 studio last Saturday, I asked for the show’s line-up and found out that we were covering the Arroyo christening live from the Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park. I thought I was going to handle that – until somebody told me that, sigh, I was interviewing Mystica instead about her quarrel with Madame Auring over some piece of meat.

Being a good soldier, I obeyed and watched Lolit Solis interview Mikey Arroyo who was on remote in Santuario de San Antonio. The interview ran smoothly until Lolit asked about this piece of gossip linking Mikey to Ruffa Mae Quinto. From our colored monitor in the studio, I saw Mikey’s cheeks turn into various hues: from shocked white to pale pink to vicious red. Sensing that Mikey was peeved, Lolit backtracked a bit and asked about the catering instead. (What a shift!)

We thought that was that. Little did we know that a dramatic moment (with a lot of action scenes thrown in) was unfolding in church. Mikey had our casting director Josie Manago summoned and gave her a severe tongue-lashing. It was no doubt a presidential scolding, but without the presidential seal. The harsh words felt instead like a branding iron meant for the thick hides of wild beasts and cattle. Mikey, however, was pacified by the presidential security men who reminded the presidential son that he was attracting undue attention from other members of the press covering the event.

But Mikey obviously couldn’t contain his anger. Even outside the church, he still sought out Manago and gave her another round of scolding that seeped through the very marrow of her bones.

Mikey actually vented his ire on the wrong person. Josie Manago, as the casting director, only made the arrangements for the coverage of the baptismal rites. She was not aware of the questions that were going to be asked during the interview and, as a matter of fact, didn’t even see the interview at all. She is a very responsible person and does not like trouble at all.

It’s actually Lolit whom Mikey should have confronted – and not Manago. But then, the question fired by Lolit – from any angle – is legitimate by showbiz standards. And Mikey Arroyo – in spite of his current position as presidential son and Pampanga vice governor – is still wrapped in showbiz tinsel. He is a legitimate actor and has to swim in the often-murky waters of the entertainment business.

Startalk is an entertainment program and will touch on any person, place or event related to show business. This Saturday, Jamby Madrigal is getting married to a Frenchman in Calatagan, but I don’t think Startalk is covering that. Never mind the fact that Jamby had an erstwhile career as a TV host. Now, the christening of Mikaela Gloria was both political and showbiz – by virtue of Mikey’s being an actor – and Startalk just had to be there. And since the entertainment world is abuzz with talk linking Mikey to Ruffa Mae, Lolit – in her capacity as a talk show host – just had to tackle that in an effort to clear the rumor.

Of course, it’s an ugly issue and, ideally, should not have been discussed in a solemn affair like a child’s christening. And especially not with Mikey’s wife, parents and in-laws there. But then, show business has its own culture – so does politics (and believe me, the practices there are far worse). And Mikey has to live with that as a bona fide actor of this industry.

Mikey Arroyo is really a fine man, if you ask me. Even Lolit would agree with that. In fact, the two are friends and speak the Pampango dialect when they see each other. (Lolit was married to an architect from Dau.) Magalang is how Lolit describes him.

From my end, I have known Mikey from way back since we were neighbors in La Vista. Although the Macapagal-Arroyo family coffers groaned with wealth even then (Atty. Mike Arroyo’s family owned the subdivision), Mikey seemed hardly affected by worldly trappings. He was a friend to everyone and would play basketball at the open court and walk the subdivision streets stripped to the waist without a care in the world.

Even when his mother became President, Mikey hardly changed. Of course, the situation around him changed and he has to conform to these changes – which include walking around with security men. But basically, I’d like to think he remained the same person that he was when I first knew him.

His very violent reaction toward Josie Manago therefore came as a big shock to me. I’m just thankful that he is not the vindictive type. He could, for instance, have the show shut down – which was the standard practice of one previous administration (you very well know which one). But Mikey is not the type to do that. But just the same, I think I’m calling the station first to find out if we still have a show before I proceed to work on Saturday.

With everything that happened, I can still empathize with Mikey. It was obviously human nature that first got to him. But then, he should have been able to contain his emotion – especially his anger (like mother, like son?).

It’s not easy when you are in the movies. It’s doubly harder when you also dabble in politics. There is a price to pay when you are in the limelight. And when you are a presidential son, you just have to pay much more until you live up to the presidential seal. Unless, of course, that’s not worth much anymore.