PCSO chair Margie Juico, 3rd from left, seated with mothers at the Bulong Pulungan. In the photo, Odette Ong, Mariasun Azcuna, Teena Sarino, Lyn Aguirre, Chay Santiago, Jullie Daza, core members Donie Ramirez, Frank Evaristo, PCSO General manager Joy Roja

“When I’m suffocating from a headlock, I know I need to be free. But I know God is the answer, because He holds the key.”

MANILA, Philippines -- Bulong Pulungan media forum at Sofitel last Tuesday was a belated tribute to working moms, and wow did we have so much fun, nostalgia, poignant moments and hilarity!

Topping the special session was a surprise musical tribute to mothers by George Tagle of the popular Angelos pop-classical group and Josh Groban’s violinist, Merjohn Lagaya. Looking very proud of the “boys” were mom Beth Tagle and stage mom of the Angelos and Merjohn, Charo Yu. And of course, George’s “ninang,” Odette Ong who took time out from her Palace duties to join PCSO’s “mother,” chairman Margie P. Juico.

Close friends of Margie, all moms too, like PICC directors and Yellow Ribbon Movement stalwarts Teena Sarino, Lynn Aguirre and Chuchi Villar and St. Scholastica dean, Mariasun Azcuna (who shared some very interesting theories of “tiger moms”), and media moms Jullie Yap Daza of this paper, Joanne Rae Ramirez of Star and People Asia and Chay Santiago, editor of MOD magazine listened raptly to George and Merjohn.

George distributed long-stemmed yellow roses sent by Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa to the moms of Bulong Pulungan and yes, we were tickled pink. Margie shared the “mom” way of her late boss, Tita Cory whom she served for over 25 years and we were all misty-eyed at her account of how thoughtful and compassionate she was to all her household staff. She knew their family history, each child’s name, where he studied, among others.

Icon Cory was a mom to her official family as well, even to us small fry.  Marge’s mothering style combines Cory’s thoughtfulness with her own laid-back goodness. She confessed to being different from oldest daughter Dinggay Villanueva’s disciplined way of bringing up her three boys, all outstanding achievers in school.

But Margie is a well-organized mother and super-efficient boss of PCSO and she likes to keep her realm corruption-free and beneficiaries attended to. General manager Joy Rojas and she work well in tandem in PCSO—they are both religious, are old friends and uphold high values, with social concerns as a priority.

Margie is the disciplinarian in the agency, Joy tempers her occasional outbursts at pretty corruption—such as the discovery of the amazing theft of one whole elevator and kilometers of metal cables from the old PCSO building after the new management had turned it over to their landlord, the Philippine Tuberculosis Society. Clue: PCSO’s  one employee has a big junkyard business!

Joy had all praises for moms and admitted to have been very close to his mom Emiliana Mendoza Rojas who passed away three years ago. As the youngest, he saw how hard she worked for their family business (Rojas meat) while taking care of her brood, and how close she was to God through her church activities. He himself is a devout Catholic and used to serve at daily evening masses in the Rockwell chapel. Now he only serves on weekends as PCSO responsibilities take up his time. But truly, he said, women make the best managers – at home, in the office, even in government! Right, Joy!

Marge also invited the longest living liver transplant patient, three -year old Catherine “Erica” Buenaventura. She was sponsored by the PCSO upon the recommendation of the DSWD and Dr. Alran Bengzon of the Medical City. Carmela, her young mother, and her equally young husband, Christian, brought Erica and their two other daughters, Cristina and Charmaine to the forum. Margie is particularly fond of Erica as she has made medical history here. Her liver was given a new lease in life with a transplant by top liver surgeon Dr. Vanessa de Villa.

Now, here is good news for mandated beneficiaries of PAGCOR! Because of prudent spending, cutting down on excess spending and hewing to the “matuwid na daan” of P-Noy, the gross income of the state gaming corporation has reported an increase of R764 million in just the first quarter of this year. This means, PAGCOR can increase its mandated funding by R228 million, not an amount to squeeze at.

Its gross income also increased by 10 percent in the same period, confirmed Maricar Bautista, AVP for corporate communications. All the figures have been good, so congratulations, chairman Bong Naguiat, and president Jorge Sarmiento and its hardworking board.

And to lighter news from PAGCOR, its search for the Total OPM Performer will end on June 10 to be held at the Grand theater in Parañaque has yielded fourteen talented hitherto undiscovered musical talents from all over the country. They are Russ Narcies Cabico,  Faye Danica Abadicio, Louie Murphy Regala, Dioseyl Formes, Marie Joyce Tanada, Renz Ruther Robosa, Jelle Christie Sumagui, Paulette Sambronero, Masa Von Camporado, Charles Kevin Tan, Arcelli Bullo, Fred Abaquitajr, Steve Fernandez, and Gilda Joy Togonon. Grand prize winner will get R300,000.

Bong Quintana, vice-president for entertainment, is happy about the “harvest” of talents. The finalists will be given intensive training in a week-long workshop to be led by musical figures and professionals.

Singer Ogie Alcasid, president of the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mangaawit has hailed its partner – PAGCOR’s vision of helping discover talented singers especially since all competition pieces are Original Pilipino Music. Truly, “Galing ng Pinoy!”