Prospero(us) at 67

Former Speaker Prospero “Boy” Nograles didn’t look a day older when he celebrated his 67th birthday at the Bistro RJ in Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City. The private bash was reminiscent of a political gathering with members of the opposition in attendance, although among his well wishers were also members of the Liberal Party and other officials allied to the administration. Adding to the festive atmosphere were strategically placed balloons that surprisingly went well with the James Dean posters and guitars that decorated the place.

Not many know but in 2008, the former congressman from Davao made history of sorts when he became the first lawmaker from Mindanao to be elected as Speaker of the House —something that has not happened in a hundred years. During his stint in Congress, Nograles had pushed for Charter change — in particular the overly protectionist economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution, something which current Speaker Sonny Belmonte is also advocating to spur the interest of more foreign investors to do business in the country.

Not a lot of people believed him when he declared his retirement from politics, but from the way things look, Boy Nograles is indeed content to stay in the background with his eldest son Karlo now serving his second term as congressman of the first district of Davao City and concurrently chairman of the Committee on Labor and Employment of the House of Representatives.

As some people commented, retirement from politics becomes him because Boy Nograles looks even more Prospero(us) than ever. Photos by Ramon Joseph J. Ruiz