I have mixed emotions going to a wake to pay my final respect to a friend, a family member and/or even a source.

My aversion, on one hand, stems from the fact that it rekindles the pain I’ve endured when I lost my four-leg favorite pet, Ewok, my Mom, and my muse. Though it has been four years hence, the heart-rending series of losses (they say it comes in threes), the process takes a while. As I’ve admitted in my previous column, the road to recovery is peppered with potholes. . . of haunting memories. It still is a work in progress. Though, I must say I am coping pretty well as work takes up the vacuum and serves as the healing balm.

Blast from the past

On the other hand, there is a positive side to it. Wakes are, actually, synonymous to reunions. It is there that you meet friends, including even foes, whom you’ve lost touch with in years. 

This exactly was what happened with the recent passing of President Corazon C. Aquino, whom the late Larry V. Sipin christened Presidentita. Some members of the Malacañang brat pack, the moniker given to reporters covering the Palace then, were reunited as we paid our last respect to Presidentita. 

Beth Marcelo, who was then covering for Channel 4, was there. So were Al Pedroche then covering for Philippine Star along with Amy Pamintuan, Joel Paredes, then of Malaya, Dick Sinchongco then of DZRH. Tita Valderama, then of Journal and Chit Estella then of Malaya.

Abel told me DJ Sta. Ana, my ex-cousin in law (his sister Blanche was once married to my cousin) as well as Ed Lingao, Amy Pamintuan and Ichu Villanueva were also there. Did anybody see Malou Mangahas, Vic Agustin and Jerry Esplanada?

Chit hasn’t changed a bit—she still has this svelte frame while ’Te Beth kept her flawless complexion through all these years. Except for the salt and pepper hair, Al Ped stayed basically the same notwithstanding the years past. Joel, on the other hand, changed from the last time I saw him a couple of years ago when we both handled the neurological service of Ambassador Tony Modena. Joel looked even more affluent and has retained his candidness.     

Dick, I see every now and then at the golf course. That is if the demands of desk work would allow me to visit the link even for nine holes. I saw Tita and Malou at the wake of Teddy Man, Teodoro “whatyoumightcall” Benigno, the press secretary and presidential spokesman of Presidentita.

Indeed, a blast from the past!

Of Ballsy and Kris

From all the Aquino siblings, Ballsy, I believe, is the embodiment of Presidentita. She has this calm personality, which makes her absolutely the perfect Henry Kissinger of the family, the peace maker. And like her mom, Ballsy’s eyes twinkles every time she hears unfamiliar news and issues.

Kris, as she admitted in her response at the requiem mass, is the female version of her dad. And rightly so. Kris inherited her Dad’s charisma that can infect people in the right kind of way..

I confess, she has this mesmerizing effect on me. Every time I see her on television, my channel surfing routine stops. Her persuasive persona brings to a standstill anything I do and makes me listen, albeit intently, to her narrations of events and developments on her life.

Nope, I do not really belong to her millions of fanatical followings. It’s just that I have a high regard on Kris’ ability to hold her audience in her hand. And appreciate Kris’ forthrightness, a virtue that is very rare amongst the players in her chosen industry. This makes her a very good copy, particularly so in the past few weeks as we awaited news/health update of her mom.

Ok, fine. I confess… count me in as one of her legions of fans.

I practically saw her bloom. As a young reporter, I witnessed her fervent desire to be in show business. Kris did not filter this yearning. I remember, distinctly, how she completely admitted her aspiration of becoming an actress. It was one of those Thursday afternoons while we were waiting for Presidentita to come out of the Premier Guest House to cross over to the main Palace for a meeting when Kris dropped by. The outspoken youngest Presidential daughter smiled at us and said something like “are you waiting for my Mom? Can you please ask her when will she allow me to join showbiz?” She narrated to us the advice of Presidentita for her to pray. And she did as told, dishing out that she just came from St. Jude (the patron saint for hope).  

It was courtesy of Kris that we saw up close and personal Tom Cruise, who paid a courtesy call on Presidentita while he was in the country filming Born on the Fourth of July.

Actually, there was a funny anecdote leading to the meeting. Back then, the Brat Pack was given the daily schedules of the President, which were open for coverage and photo opportunity. On that particular day, the Brat Pack speculated who was the “Tom Cruz” listed in the schedule as the last visitor of Presidentita. Needless to say, we waited at the Gazebo, the waiting area the Presidentita ordered constructed to make our coverage a bit comfortable.

At the appointed time, a male caucasian showed up at the sentry gate introducing himself as the person whom the Chief Executive is meeting. Of course, the Palace guards had doubts since based on the schedule, Presidentita was supposed to have a dialogue with “Tom Cruz,” presumably a Filipino. Kris arrived just in the neck of time before any heated argument ensued and before “Tom Cruz” walked out.

Well, those were the good ol’ days.

Hey guys, is it possible for us to get together under a better setting other than a wake and reminisce?
 
‘Til our next filibustering.

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