Wesy Quisumbing speaks out!

During the commemoration of World Press Freedom week a week ago, we wrote an article in response to the blatant but futile attempt by the spin doctors of Atty. Norberto Quisumbing Jr. (NQJR) to besmirch my reputation wherein they faxed a poison letter (they also continually attack my person and my family on AM radio) to many businessmen in the hope that their "Character Assassination" would deter me from doing my job as a journalist, which is to write only the truth.

This is what I get for speaking for and in behalf of the people of Mandaue, questioning NQ about the property Mandaue City leased to him purportedly to build a Children''s Playground. But those were broken promises. Now that Mandaue City wants its property back, he filed cases to stall the return of this property. For writing this, I became a victim of "Character Assassination". Too many media people bewail the killing of journalists, but when people resort to character assassination, which is just the same as killing the journalist, no one complains. Since last week, they haven''t stopped besmirching my name.

However, I did get a telephone call from an unexpected source, from Ms. Wesy Quisumbing, the estranged daughter of NQ and Britta Quisumbing. Wesy was very apologetic for her parents that I was being subjected to such lies because as she told me, she too has been victimized by the lies of her father. I knew that she filed a case against her parents, but I thought that they already had this problem settled amicably. Here are a few questions, that I asked Ms. Wesy.

My first question was about her case. Wesy replied, "I wanted to settle this problem thru the help of Judge Ramon Daomilas Jr. of RTC Branch 11 who acted as ''mediator''. But my parents just gave me the run around. They did not act in good faith changing proposals after proposals. They did not even show up last Jan.11th upon the order of the Judge. Only the lawyers appeared, while I was there with my lawyer ready to settle this case."

What happened to the other case she filed against her father questioning USJR for giving him a honoris causa doctorate for humanities? Wesy: "The case is still pending. I wanted to bring this to trial so I can testify so the truth about what I said would come out in public."

Was she still with Norkis or whether she is still a stockholder of this company? Wesy: "I was President and Chief Executive Officer of Norkis-Summa Group for 22 years. But they terminated me without any just cause.

Worse, they transferred my shares of stock in Norkis without any deed of assignment or deed of sale to my sister-in-law. I filed a petition to recover my shares, but until now, they haven''t filed any answer to my questions. During my time with the company, I helped wiped out our debts, increased our profits and expanded the business and turned it into a multi-billion conglomerate and industry leader."

To the more painful question. Are you gay and because of it, have you been disowned as a part of the Quisumbing family? Wesy: "A team of Filipino psychologists and a team of Singaporean health authorities confirmed that I am a female with a male body. It was difficult having to go to the psychological trauma while having a very critical and discriminatory parents. I tried to adjust to the expectations of my family, thus I suffered internal conflicts and depression. I tried all kinds of escapism, counseling, divinations and spiritual exorcisms, medicines and even magic.

On August 3, 1996, I underwent a transgender reassignment surgery, which my parents totally objected to. This was a life and death operation. In the end, I lost all my internal contradictions and my depression. Yet, my family still refused to accept me as I am."

What kind of advice would give to those persons who may be similarly situated who also work in their family corporations? Wesy: "Remove your pride, acknowledge the contributions of each family member no matter how little they may be. Be just and give them whatever is due to them."

Finally, I asked Ms. Wesy how she would like to see the end of her problem with her parents. Wesy: "I wanted to reconcile with them despite what they have done to me. I wrote them a lot of letters to show that I care for them, but I was not even favored with a single reply."

From what I''ve gathered, it only means that we can expect a long protracted court battle that assures the Cebuano public of juicy details when this case reaches the trial stage and the protagonists would have to take the witness stand. In my view, there are major issues of public interest here… how family members deal with siblings who are gay or should I say dysfunctional? This case would certainly draw great interest from family corporations who can learn much about how to handle intra-family problems affecting the family business. We''ll have more on this in future columns.