Best friend snatcher

Ali Sotto, who will resurface on TV sooner than soon, grew up in a family as the only daughter sandwiched among three brothers. This is the reason why she is extremely comfortable having a lot of male best friends.

I now share the title Ali’s best friend with Atty. Aga Arellano and I take that with pride given the fact that he is a de campanilla lawyer. Besides, we don’t fight over Ali’s attention. He can have her all day — morning till afternoon — since my shift doesn’t come until nighttime.

We respect territories and boundaries and we both getting along famously. In fact, every time Ali leaves for abroad or is about to return to the country after another one of her husband’s postings, Atty. Aga and I coordinate over details of our shared best friend’s arrival or departure.

But admittedly it is Atty. Aga who has the bigger responsibilities and he does most of the chores. The truth is, I am only assigned to nocturnal duties — like picking up Ali from the airport the last time since her arrival was close to midnight (my peak time).

Hours before she flew in, however, I was still on the phone with Atty. Aga to get last-minute instructions from him. Without Ali knowing it, Atty. Aga and I are best friends while she is away. Don’t worry, Ali. We won’t plot against you.

It’s actually difficult to come between them because their friendship is also very deep. They met through Christopher de Leon who used to consult the attorney regarding contracts. Boyet and Ali are also very close to each other. But between Atty. Aga and myself, he is an also-run to us.

The lawyer and Ali don’t exactly remember their first meeting, but it surely was in one of the parties thrown by Boyet and wife Sandy Andolong. But this much they recall: They hit it off instantly.

To begin with, they have common interests: Ali had always been interested in legal matters. Ask her to pore over a document and she will interpret it for you in the clearest of layman’s terms. She wanted to be a lawyer, in fact. For a couple of years, she was enrolled at the Ateneo law school (after finishing communication arts — cum laude — at the University of Santo Tomas). Too bad, she got busier and busier with show business and had to drop out of law school. Now, she keeps a lawyer for her best friend. Make that her other best friend since I’m still very much around.

Atty. Aga is actually best friend to everyone, especially to the poor and the oppressed. A product of the UST law school (he was a Green Archer though from prep to his undergrad studies), he helps a lot of indigent clients through his Ito ang Batas radio program that airs over DZXLRMN from Monday to Friday, 4 to 6 p.m.

Called Aga because of his initials — from Antonio G. Arellano — he is different from most other celebrity lawyers on television who only read legal problems on the air and perfunctorily dish out advice without even getting to the bottom of the case. Atty. Aga does not only give free legal aid, but also follows up the case because that’s how noble lawyers are supposed to be. He is not after stardom. That is the turf of his son, TV host Drew Arellano, who still sleeps with his dad to this day (their father-son bonding is enviable).

Without touching government funds, Atty. Aga is undeniably one of the most selfless public servants in the country today. At his law office in Mandaluyong City, it is a normal sight to see jeep-loads of people who travel all the way from the farthest end of Nueva Ecija to seek free legal counsel. Mind you, it’s not a class suit that these people are filing. They usually have individual legal problems, except that it’s cheaper for them to pool their money and hire a jeep to seek out the Atty. who has to attend to them one at a time. One reason I’m trying to be best friends with him is so that I could learn patience from him — right away. As in now!

I don’t think I’ll make a very good student.

So far, Atty. Aga had been very patient with me, which hadn’t exactly been the easiest mission to accomplish since the beginning of modern religion. Ali will be the first to certify that and she tells that to my face.

Well, if she’s tired of me, she can always dump me as her best friend. Sniff. Atty. Aga is there anyway.

Watch out, Ali. You know my history. Remember how Rosanna Roces merely introduced Dr. Vicki Belo to me? The two women were the best of friends. Now, they don’t speak to each other and I’m still a dear friend to the both of them — separately.

Without me really trying I’ve actually made a career out of being a best friend snatcher. I can’t help but be lovable, you see. And you can stop vomiting now, Ali! I know that’s what you’re doing as you read this piece. I know you till your very innards. Word of advice: Be nice to me. Or I’ll see you in court.

Hah! I’ll have the world’s most brilliant lawyer on my side to defend me. You know him.

Oops, I stand corrected.

You once knew him.