The Congressman, I’m told, is in good health

Because I planned to visit my small garden in a mountain barangay the whole day yesterday, Saturday, I knew I could not write this article in my usual schedule. So, I composed this column last Friday afternoon and things could have taken place between then and by the time this paper hits the street today that may have something to relate with this topic.

When I wrote, last week, about the way White House handled the critical situation following the frustrated assassination of American President Ronald Reagan, on one hand and how Malacañang kept the Filipino people in the dark when the late Pres. Ferdinand Marcos was believed to suffer from a debilitating ailment, on the other hand, I did not mean to revisit historical facts. Rather, I really wanted to stress the need for our high government officials to let us know their conditions, specially if rumors abound on their physical well being or lack of it.

Indeed, I was hoping that His Honor, Cebu City South District Congressman Tomas R. Osmeña, or his men, would take the cue. Earlier on, there were wild stories about his having been taken ill. In all probability, they were peddled by the political barkers belonging to the opposite camp or by those who might have suffered on account of his perceived arrogance or vengeful character. I even had to reprimand someone for telling me that the lawmaker hurriedly left for the United States in order to get medical attention. What got my goat was that he premised his story with an assertion that a Manila hospital refused to admit the legislator insinuating that the congressman was in a less encouraging prognosis. That narration was, to me, not only unchristian. It was totally uncalled for.

To balance the picture, a rumor (or was it a speculation?) was also raised that the mayor was likewise under the weather. It apparently started out as question seeking confirmation on the mayor’s having allegedly secretly admitted in a hospital for preliminary medical attention. Perhaps, to level the field, ugly stories were added to the initial rumor such that many wanted to know if the mayor, like the congressman, also had cancer.

Then, media personalities themselves whispered the same questions. They intended to get confirmations if it was true that the congressman and the mayor were both suffering from cancer. My goodness, I could not print that question here in that blunt manner. I might have a legal right to know the physical conditions of my leaders because I need to be assured that someone is minding the store, so to speak, but certainly asking it in that characterization was rather too much. So, I chose to raise the query in a rather oblique manner.

The honorable Cebu City Mayor Michael L. Rama, confronted the issue with unmistakable grace. He announced that he was joining a marathon. What an answer! Running a marathon is not for the weak much less for a cancer stricken individual. So by telling the world that he was participating in this stamina sapping activity, he demonstrated that he was free from any carcinogenic disease.

On the other hand, the south district congressman was unheard of for some time. I sent inquiries via text to more than 10 individuals (they are lawyers from diverse disciplines, men of different media affiliations and other professionals) where the congressman was. It was unusual not to have him quoted by the press for any issue. His silence was just stark. It was so stark that it even more, fueled questions on his whereabouts.

All but one answered “No Idea”. They did not have any inkling whether the legislator was fine or not. Despite having sources of their own for which reason I chose to ask them, they did not know where the congressman was. The only exception however, mentioned that there was a “pulong-pulong” last night at a certain Sitio Trinidad in a South District barangay.  But he did not categorically say that the representative was going to attend it.

Belatedly, a lady lawyer attached to the congressman’s office told my daughter that the legislator was fine. That, to me, was enough. But, what would silence his critics is a medical certificate saying that he is in physical shape ready to do battle this coming May 2013.

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