Project King vs Project Mowelfund

Anyone who has known Boots Anson-Roa will agree that not only she is beautiful and talented, but is also dedicated to everything she has committed herself to do. For years, Boots (Maria Elisa Anson-Roa) has devoted herself to the cause of Mowelfund (Movie Workers Foundation) that her friend Joseph Ejercito (former Philippine president, now Manila Mayor) founded in 1974. She is still at it today as president of the foundation, apart from numerous other involvements like hosting shows, teaching, appearing in movies and teleseryes, moderating numerous public service shows. The list is endless.

Now that Boots has decided to add another item to her list of involvements, namely lawyer Francisco  Rodrigo Jr., better known by everyone as “King” from Pa-king, we wondered how the tempo of their lives would run. Being very familiar with Boots and her mode of thinking, we decided to corner “King” whom we had met only recently. Over lunch, the engaged couple King and Boots spoke of their plans and we were amazed at their many revelations.

As the son of lawyer Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo Sr., King seemed to follow in the footsteps of his esteemed father. While Soc was incarcerated and placed in solitary confinement three times for his anti-Marcos writings, King was also confined for similar activities. At the same time, we were interested in King because of the fact that he wrote poetry. We had never associated a barrister with that of a poet. But again, according to King, his father wrote a lot of poems while in jail, most of them anti-Marcos.

Of course, the sampling of poems King brought with him to our lunch was of a different mode. They were love songs that  he wrote after October, 2013 when he decided to pursue Boots. We have picked out a few stanzas that have caught the essence of their love affair. One called Ang Rosas na Puti reads, Nang aking handugan ng rosas na puti, Si Boots Anson Roa’ng aking minimithi, Siya ay nagulat at tila nahikbi, Siya’y natameme’t tinikom ang Labi. Nang aking tanungin kung anong dahilan, Heto ang sinagot: “Dapat mong malaman, Ang rosas na puti na sa’yo nanggaling, Ay sagot ni Terese sa’king hiniling.” We don’t know if King is aware of the devotion of Boots to Mother Teresa, that when she has to make an important decision, she would ask Mother Teresa to send her a sign in the form of white roses.

We confirmed with Boots what we found in King’s poem, and she confessed  that she got white roses four times, one of them brought by King himself. We suppose that meant an overwhelming approval from the saint.

Another poem was titled Kahapon at Kinabukasan and reads: “Ang mga nagdaa’y sana ay limutin, Ang mga kahapon ay ‘wag ng sambitin, Ang kinabukasan ang dapat harapin, Ng kambal na puso ni Elisa at King.”

As we finished our tete-a-tete and lunch with the happy couple, we asked them what they have planned for the duration of their married life. Both said they have agreed to remain doing what they have been doing — King continuing with his lawyering and Boots with her current activities. But both added that they would like to visit as many sights in the country as they can. This would give a big boost to the country’s tourism industry, we thought.

I end this by an excerpt from Ang Aking Dasal. “Kay hirap akitin ang puso’t damdamin, Ng mahal kong reynang maganda’t malambing, Tila mapagnais na aking hangarin, Na sya’y habangbuhay na maging kapiling… Aking wawakasan ang tula at dasal, Sa pamamagitan ng ‘sang kahilingan, Mahal kong Elisa, wag mo sanang saktan, Ang aba kong pusong sa’yo nagmamahal.”

Because I continue to receive comments in my column, I have decided to open up this space to anyone with something significant to offer. Our friend Girlie Rodis who provided the photos to our piece on the Ryan Cayabyab concert had already corrected our statement that Isay Alvarez “was the original Katy in the musical version” saying “Si Mitch ang original Katy. Si Isay only did Katy two years ago; si Mitch 20 years ago.” Another reader texted the same info. Thanks everyone but for your comments to be used please include your name.

(E-mail your comments to [email protected] or text us at 0917-8991835.)