New names to drop

THEN: April 3, 1989 – 21 years ago.

If we have a social register, the people behind it should be about to throw in the towel by now. For our social stratification has changed with the old sociedad fading into the background while some new names that came with the Cory administration are the new media personalities. Yes, media has a lot to do to make someone “sosyal.” Some new personalities are even hiring their own publicist to make sure that they get those photo ops in the society pages.

It is an entirely new generation of names to drop. Yes, of course, the Lopezes and the Zobels are still there Chona Kasten, Elvira Manahan and Ramon Valera are long gone. We still have Ben Farrales and Pitoy Moreno and the new ones like Oskar Peralta, Rene Mayo, Bobby Yalong, Ditas Sandico Ong, Frederick Peralta and Ernest Santiago.

Every new government carries with it its own social class, usually the kitchen cabinet of the First Lady of the time and the friends of their children. The Marcoses brought in the noveau riche but they were around so long that by the time they left, the noveaus were considered old money. Remember the Tantocos, the Disinis, the Romualdezes and the Edralins of the past regime? They were so much in the news that those Marcos enemies who have to leave for other shores like the Lopezes, were practically obliterated from people’s minds. From the Marcos government came the names of Jobo Fernandez, Jaime Laya, Adrian Cristobal, Kit Tatad, General Fabian Ver, and Johnny Ponce Enrile. The people around the Marcoses were so powerful and rich that even Fe Gimenez who started as Mrs. Marcos’ maid later became a force to reckon with. Gimenez was so powerful that those who dropped her name were considered closer to power than those who only knew the cabinet members.

In the government of Cory Aquino, the social class revolves around her family and friends. There’s Peping Cojuangco and his lovely wife Tingting, and the Aquinos like Butz, the senator, Paul, Tessie and all the in-laws.

It is not surprising however to find names in the Marcos days who are very much around and still as strong as ever with the new government. It is because of our extended family system which can always find a relative or an in-law in the new order of things. Johnny Ponce Enrile is still well-entrenched and also General Eddie Ramos who is now the head of the defense ministry. Blas Ople is still a favorite coffee shop habitué and so is Adrian Cristobal who is back to column writing. For some of the cronies, EDSA never happened. They are more entrenched now in the new government than ever.

Among the Aquino insiders, there’s still the sociable Tony Gonzales and Teddy Boy Locsin. Then the mayors of cities like Jojo Binay and his Ellen, and Jun and Marivic Simon. The rest of the yellow ladies are back to their business and families. Even businessmen are coming out of their shells and are getting interviews on TV and print. And the generals are not top secret anymore. For there are three requirements to make your name droppable: Money, power and visibility. Otherwise, ask your society columnist friend to help you out.

Now: Oct. 17, 2010

During the struggle in EDSA that put Mrs. Aquino in power, showbiz personalities who put their careers and lives for the struggle were The Apo, Celeste Legaspi and Freddie Aguilar. But when EDSA was achieved they slowly went back to their lives and their careers, leaving politics to the politicians. The second Aquino who rose to power with the love of the people for his mother, brought in more showbiz personalities like Ogie Alcasid, Noel Cabangon and the close friend of his sister Kris, Boy Abunda.

Among other droppable names in the P-Noy’s era are Shalani Soledad, his top aides like Sec. Jojo Ochoa, spokesman Edwin Lacierda, media man Ricky Carandang and even the controversial Rico E. Puno. But the biggest star of them all is still Kris who is queen of all media. The Aquino sisters are very droppable for in spite their low profile, it is a known fact that the bachelor President really listen to them.

Names in the past like Adrian Cristobal, Blas Ople and Jobo Fernandez are long gone. But the longest droppable name who went through several presidents is that of Johnny Ponce Enrile, who is now Senate President.