Before the final page is turned and “ finis ” is written on the 2010 election memoirs, I must write about some of the nicest and most interesting people, most of whom were not on the frontlines but performed heroically, way beyond the call of duty. The public may never get to know most of them. But yes, Virginia, there are some really nice people in the campaign organization. Side by side with the nasties and sleazies, they remained uncontaminated through an antidote cocktail of humor, dogged determination, energy and inner strength. Perhaps, too, they’re inoculated with love and loyalty for P-Noy so they stay idealistic and grounded even in a cesspool.
Since I’m not a publicist, I didn’t ask their permission and they may wish to maintain their privacy (except for two who are already known to the public) so I will refer to them only by their nicknames.
This is my list of genuine, delightful people that I wouldn’t mind being stranded with on an island surrounded by sharks:
1. Kim: She is one cool, unflappable lady. So comfortable in her skin and confident of her skills, Kim speaks her mind based on scientific data mastered from past years as consultant of the World Bank — only when she’s asked. She is not presumptuous and it’s no skin off her nose if you disagree with her. She just smiles and shrugs off any intrigue thrown in her direction. Gossip that she might pick up along the way remains with her because she prefers to be a busybody for work and work only. There was a phrase that my mom often used for anything that was undoubtedly true: “Cuentas claras,” she would say, which literally meant “clearly accounted.” That captures Kim neatly. No need to second-guess her or look for a hidden agenda. She tells it exactly like it is. And now this remarkable lady is the BIR Commissioner. Imagine how “cuentas claras” our taxes will be!
2. Susan: Whether in a T-shirt and faded blue shorts and Fitflops, or wearing a Prada dress and Jimmy Choo pumps, this lady oozes easy elegance and poise. She worked tirelessly in the campaign, selling paraphernalia such as pins, T-shirts, wrapping paper, bags and bracelets to help raise funds. In between she was in public markets helping distribute flyers and posters. Wherever you find her, she’s gracious, smiling and looking like she just stepped out of the spa. It’s the inner glow and beauty of a woman with a generous soul and a big heart. Susan now helps with P-Noy’s appointments and social calendar. She can do this flawlessly with one hand tied behind her back and a paper bag over her head. Even then, I guarantee she’ll be brimming with charm.
3. Mai: She used to be the communications officer of Senator Noynoy Aquino. And she remains a part of his current Palace communications team. By day, she’s a regular working professional crafting ideas and words to create a coherent message. But occasionally she transforms into a Blue Rat, the band’s vocalist by night, de-stressing through rock, jazz and blues numbers, taming whining guitars and heart-thumping percussion. She tweets, chats, buzzes, FBs about everything from Pilates, makeup and gigs to soccer. A true Gen-Xer, Mai is the quintessential multi-faceted, multi-tasking multiplier, at ease with whoever she is at the moment. And even when she worked until 4 a.m. on the umpteenth draft of the boss’s memo, she’s still pleasant and smiling with only a pimple to show for all the stress and sleep deprivation.
4. Jay: Picture a horde of colored shirts and raised arms all clamoring for their presidential aspirant. Or a makeshift stage cramped with local and national candidates all jockeying to stand nearest the standard bearer. Or a motorcade with the candidates waving and throwing baller IDs to cheering crowds. That could be anyone, anywhere doing the routine election gambit, right? Not if you had the eye of Jay. In my field, photographers are a dime a dozen and their pictures can be tiresome. The you’ve-seen–one-you’ve-seen-them-all variety. Not if you had the eye of Jay. His pictures are sharp even in the darkest hour, with a keen sense of composition, light and detail that would give multi-awarded photojournalists a run for their money. That’s the eye of Jay.
5. Jenn and Josel: I never knew exactly what their real jobs were but I’ve never met a happier, funnier pair. These two could make the sun come out on the worst day of a typhoon. If they weren’t in government now, they could be the next Uge and Bitoy. At the height of the humor-depleted campaign, when nerves were raw and tempers high, the two would put on an impromptu show mimicking famous scenes from iconic movies. Splitting headaches would give way to sidesplitting laughter and all’s well that ends well.
6. Abi: Long, flowing black hair, fair-skinned with big, brown soulful eyes, she could play Snow White in Disneyland. Abi cuts such a striking figure that one can forget that she’s a full-fledged lawyer! In a previous stint at a law firm, among other things she was tasked to be the ghostwriter for a lawyer-Senator’s Tagalog column in a popular tabloid. This eye candy writes in classic Filipino fluently, sometimes using words that require a dictionary. Reserved and thoughtful, Abi rarely gets her pretty nose out of joint, but on those rare occasions, she opts for retail therapy. She has a well-filled shoe closet to mark those bad days.
7. Felicity: She makes obsessive-compulsiveness so much fun! Felicity was one of the “secret weapons” of the New Media Bureau during the campaign. In the vast world of the Internet, nothing, absolutely nothing, could pass by her eagle eyes. If there was one bit of negative news against our candidate, she was on it, consulting first then answering and disseminating with gusto. Whether the item was in a blog, on Facebook or YouTube, in a banner ad or an e-mail, Felicity would ferret it out and answer. The best part about her is that she came back to Manila from London, just to help out in Noy’s bid. That’s first-class commitment!
8. Mells: At first sight, Mells looks like a svelte, chic fashionista who just happened to wear yellow. But far from being a dilettante, she turned out to be a deeply committed supporter and a highly skilled telecoms expert. With her help, innovations like ring-back tones of the campaign anthem Siya na Nga was incorporated in the people’s fundraiser. As if her plate was not full enough, she managed to train, run and finish the New York Marathon in the middle of the presidential contest. Mells is one tough lady that the campaign was very lucky to have on their side.
9. Eloi: When I first met Eloi I thought she was just somebody’s younger sister who tagged along to one of the board meetings because she had nothing better to do. She turned out to be a lawyer, the de facto knowledge source for any legal question or interpretation of Senate bills, the Constitution, election code and just about any other aspect of law. She is a fast, no-fuss, efficient and invaluable resource for communications and messaging. And the best part about her is that she shuns legalese, so the layman can actually understand her answers loud and clear.
10. Rochelle: Everyone says that Rochelle is an original. She has been with Noy ever since. She must have gotten her nickname “Sexy” long before political correctness and sexual harassment became proper concerns. Not easy to intimidate, bully or cajole, she’s the natural gatekeeper for P-Noy. She manages schedules, egos and people without throwing her weight around. Efficient, hardworking and authentic, Rochelle makes “sexy” sound like an understatement.
There are other names that should be mentioned if there was more space. Last but not least on my honor roll is my namesake, Yolly. She made every meeting at Times St. a delicious one. From what I understand, P-Noy’s only demand about Bahay Pangarap is that there’s a comfortable room for her. That’s clout!
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