Is the ‘cure’ worse than the disease?

Now I feel like Ma Mon Luk. Yesterday morning’s frontpage photograph of this publisher paying my "last respects" at the bier of our friend and colleague, Teddy Man Benigno, was EMBARRASSING to say the least. Our editors meant well, but it appeared too much of a conceited propaganda gimmick, as if proclaiming, "see, how pious I am publicly praying (like the biblical Pharisee)". And so, apologies to our readers.

Teddy Benigno was duly honored Monday evening at a necrological service in the Alfonso Legore Chapel of the Magallanes Church by former President Cory Aquino, whose touching speech recalled how Teddy had been very close to Ninoy, and to herself, and how she had visited him in the hospital in his last days and they had prayed the Rosary — using a miraculous Rosary which she left with him.

Her eulogy was followed by a moving and eloquent one by our partner in STAR ownership, Quezon City Mayor S.B. (Sonny Belmonte) who, too, had in the past been a crackerjack police reporter. Sonny recalled how, when he himself had started out as a journalist in the now defunct Manila Chronicle. Teddy had already been an icon in journalism as a former Sports Editor, then Senior Editor in the Agence France Presse, later to become AFP bureau chief.

Sonny’s tribute, so candid in tone, but brimming over with affection, humor and allegory, demonstrated that the country had lost a good newspaperman when he decided to enter government service, then politics — rising to Speaker of the House of Representatives and then Mayor of Q.C.

Former Senator Freddy Webb, sincere and surprisingly eloquent thanked Teddy Man for his courage in comforting their family, coming to the defense of their son Hubert (going bravely against the tide), always courageous in espousing the causes in which he fervently believed, even in the face of critics and foes. In the last paragraphs of his brief address, Freddy broke down in tears — a manly tribute to Teddy Man which transfixed the congregation.

Then there was Mark Benigno, Teddy’s 24-year-old son, recalling how many times he had been "scolded" by his father, how a 57-year generation gap had for some time made it difficult to relate with dad, but in the end he understood the love Teddy had felt for him, and how he wished they had spent more time together, instead of him (Mark) going out with friends or watching television.

Finally, Teddy’s daughter, also a writer, Nena Benigno, delivered a wonderful, heart-warming response on behalf of the family — recalling how, in the final days, Teddy in his sickbed, having led a full life, focused his gaze on the next. Teddy had "spoken" to God, saying that for years he had tusseled with and fought with Him, but now he was surrendering to the Lord. He had murmered, "I fall on my knees…" etc.

Josie Trinidad Lichauco, who had been with Nena by Teddy Man’s bedside, were discussing minutes later whether Teddy had said "fall" or "fail." From the bed, clearly but in a whisper came Teddy’s voice… "fall" he had said.

And thus, on his knees, in a loving surrender to the God whom he had "fought" in more combative days — Teddy flew home to Heaven.

* * *

Elsewhere in this newspaper, if my instructions are followed, we’ll have a more accurate rendering from the actual text of those little speeches. But those are the gist of what I can dredge up from faulty memory.

Nena had said that one of her dad’s favorite phrases, one of the rules of his own life, was "I think, therefore I am." Teddy had studied in France (I knew him there during his student days at the Sciences Politiques), his orientation was French, and, although 100 percent Filipino nationalist, I believe half his soul belonged to French philosophy and letters. Perhaps this was why he was so devoted to the idea of Revolution. It was the French philosopher Rene Descartes who had formulated the idea: Cogito ergo sum. (I think, therefore I am). In our class in Logic in the old university days, we used to quite — a pun on Déscartes’ name – this was like "putting the cart before the horse." Teddy Benigno was that rarity, a thinker who could put his thoughts into brilliant and elegant prose. As Sonny Belmonte had remarked, he sent his readers rushing to their dictionaries.

Above all, Benigno was a fighter. He had called his television show, the "Firing Line." He never hesitated to fire away. He swam against the tide. When his convictions moved him to make a stand, he stood pat come hell or high water – right or wrong.

One word was used by almost all who spoke of him, and this was "passion." He was passionate in everything he undertook. Did not our Lord once say, "if ye be lukewarm, I will spit thee out of my mouth"? Benigno was anything but lukewarm.

Many disagreed with what he said and wrote. This did not deter him from his chosen course. He once wrote about a Freedom Force, drawing inspiration from "Star Wars", the movie which had popularized the line, "May The Force be with you."

May The Force, indeed, be with all of us in this embattled and benighted country today. As for Teddy, may he have a warrior’s rest.

I said, after I saw yesterday’s misplaced photograph, I feel like Ma Mon Luk. Coming from a generation of Manilans which was brought up on that famous siopao – "mami-siopao" really concocted by the late Chinese restaurateur Ma Mon Luk – fondly remember his emporium in Quiapo where we used to enjoy that special treat (the secret was in the sauce). You could buy a mami-siopao meal for only P1.50 – would you believe.

Ma Mon Luk was deeply appreciated by all of us newsmen and editors of the old The Manila Times on Florentino Torres street, in Sta. Cruz, a few blocks away from Quiapo. For the legendary siopao king would visit our office, bringing over baskets of steaming siopao, or handing out tickets which said: "Good for two Mami-siopao" at any of his eateries.

In those halcyon years, The Manila Times owned by the Roces clan (our Publisher was the heroic Chino "Tatang" Roces, our President was my patron, Don Benito "Bibilo" Prieto) was the biggest daily. All the other dailies combined could not come up to half the Times’ circulation.

Would you believe, after the late, great President Ramon Magsaysay died in a tragic plane crash on Cebu’s Mount Mannuggal on March 17, 1957, a few days later The Manila Times ran a large photograph on the front page depicting Ma Mon Luk standing in meditation in front of President Magsaysay’s coffin above a caption which blared forth: "Ma Mon Luk Pays Last Respects to Fallen Leader," or words to that effect! Wow! On page one of the largest newspaper!

Ma Mon Luk deserved the front page more than me.

* * *

It was counter-productive for Press Secretary Ignacio "Toting Bunye to have launched a pre-emptive strike alleging that an opposition group out to "destabilize" the GMA Administration was planning to release a media bombshell in the form of taped conversations purporting to show that President Macapagal-Arroyo had told her minions to fix the results of last year’s Presidential elections.

Why a pre-emptive strike at something which still had not yet happened? The clumsy Bunye ploy, if you ask me, backfired disastrously. To begin with, Malacañang itself – not this vicious alleged group called "The Patriots" – released the so-called tampered "taped conversations" to the media, and the radio stations replayed them all day. Many folk, tuning in, though they were genuine (were they?), whether spliced or not.

Had the "tape" thing been a maneuver to take the heat off and public attention away from the jueteng inquiry and its "revelations"? If so, some are now saying that the "cure" was worse than the "disease." Did GMA win victory by cheating? That thought, correct or not, has been resurrected – by the Palace.

Perhaps it wasn’t GMA’s cellphone that was tapped. Was it, then, Commission on Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano’s? The voice heard on radio and TV, when the so-called "tape" was played sounded like Garcillano’s. Whether or not it was GMA who called up Garcillano is not sure – but those in the know, including Alikabok, tell me that GMA, at the height of the campaign and its aftermath, was careless in using the cellphone.

In any event, Commissioner Garcillano might have felt referred to in the tape-conversation controversy because he wrote me yesterday, and I quote him verbatim:

Dear Mr. Soliven:

This refers to the persistent accusations being made by Senator Nene Pimentel the I was spotted in the ARMM during the election period and during the time that I was allegedly talking with President Arroyo and the First Gentleman as contained in the controversial voice tape aired yesterday in radio and TV stations, apparently to work for the re-election of the President. This is absolutely untrue. For the record, I was in Mindanao only on the following dates on specified purposes:

March 12-15, 2004 — accompanied Chairman Abalos and Comm. Barcelona to the islands of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

March 24-26, 2004 — accompanied Comm. Barcelona for familiarization in Caraga Region – Agusan del Norte and Sur.

April 2, 2004 — accompanied Chairman Abalos during the "Peace Covenant" signing in Marawi City

April 18-19, 2004 (Last visit to Mindanao) — seminar of Comelec employees of Region 10 in Cagayan de Oro City

While I have a residence at Cagayan de Oro City, I have not been there during the election period except for the dates abovementioned. These can be verified with the various airlines and shipping lines serving the area. The hectic preparation for the 2004 election demanded that I should be in the Comelec main office and at the same time closely monitor my assigned tasks in supervising the preparations in Regions IV and V, of which I am the Commissioner-in-Charge. I was not the Commissioner-in-Charge of any regions in Mindanao or even the ARMM, and have no business being there. I also never left Metro Manila, where the canvassing for the senators and party list representatives were being held at the PICC, until after the proclamation of the winners

Invented stories and unfounded charges should never be countenanced.

* * *

I guess it had been Comelec Chairman Ben Abalos who urged Garcillano to explain his side, for I had talked to him earlier about the so-called plot and the "taped-conversation" question. Abalos had exclaimed that Garcillano wasn’t even in Mindanao on the dates mentioned.

Oh well. GMA is reaping what she sowed. From the start, when Commissioner Garcillano’s appointment had been announced, a storm of protest had met the announcement, both the FPJ and Ping Lacson camps complaining that he would be partisan in favor of GMA. They alleged that he had a "network" in Mindanao for special purposes. I’m not saying this is true, but that’s what the opposition accused him of in the heat of the campaign.

Yet, GMA so persisted in supporting Garcillano’s Comelec role, after he had been by-passed by the Commission on Appointments, she reappointed him on June 30, 2004, the very same day she took her oath of office in Cebu City to begin her second Presidential term.

What is dismaying is that it seems nobody can now criticize the government or the First Family without being accused of launching a "destabilization" plot against the GMA Administration.

To my amazement, even Director General Arturo C. Lomibao, our national Chief of Police, normally a sober and no-nonsense cop, issued a strange Press Statement (dated June 6) which asserted: "The seat of government power is besieged anew by a malicious effort to throw it off balance by a seemingly elaborate and grand design at destabilization."

He added, of course, that "the PNP stands squarely behind the rule of law and will stay focused on our mission to protect and serve the people and uphold the right of the state to protect itself."

The preceding paragraph, about a destabilization plot, however, looked out of focus.

You’re a cop, Art. Just do your job. Leave the propaganda bit to Toting Bunye.