The funny thing is that the night before the Inquirer’s display of its much vaunted responsible journalism, we were celebrating China’s birthday. The kids were there, the M Couple Boy and Maria, Boy S, Triccie S and, of course, our resident coup plotter, Peping. We were having fun over chocolate ice cream fondue when somebody called Boy Saycon (I didn’t ask who) to tell him that the Inquirer was running a story the next day on COPA and a coup plot.
The two Boys immediately started philosophizing and giving their speculations on "who done" these intrigues against COPA again, much to our delight since we could have the ice cream all to ourselves.
And Peping? He was dozing over his dulce de leche. What a plotter! Dozing off in the face of imminent discovery.
The next morning, a few radio stations called the house and requested to speak with Peping. Guess what this coup plotter was doing? He was sound asleep and didn’t know what was going on.
He woke up, ate breakfast and prepared to visit his horses and roosters in his Batangas farm. That’s when I asked, "Have you read the papers?" and he said, "No." That was the only time he started reading the Inquirer story. He was actually amused. "Oh Boy," was his remark.
Then the children started calling. The nice thing about my children is that they are not scared to speak their minds. They can make their father laugh or tell him off. This time, they wanted reassurance that they won’t end up hiding in different homes of friends, which was what happened whenever there was a coup during their Auntie Cory’s years as president.
Peping agreed that a coup is not a good thing. What would happen to the economy? How can Noel and Dodot bring in their foreign investors? How can Mikee go off to Australia to ride for the country’s glory? What will happen to Pin’s business? What about the stock market? Jojo will not be too happy with the plummeting index.
Mai simply said, "Oh no, not again!" whatever that meant. And Liaa? Pin and Mikee texted her the bad news and she texted back from America: "I don’t want to be disturbed. I am a doctor on vacation and I intend to enjoy it." And China? She was oblivious to everything and continued attending her singing and jazz lessons (so she can make a living on stage).
For all his faults, Peping loves this country too much to wish it ill. He knows that a coup or a junta could only aggravate whatever ails our country right now. He cares for the welfare of his children too much. I write this to emphasize that as a father, he realizes that a coup or an unconstitutional takeover could affect his children’s lives so badly, we’d rather have President Gloria where she is.
Also . . .
Peping would rather play golf, assist the equestrian team, look after his fighting cocks and his horses, examine the type of rice on the table, or monitor the PSTC of the sugarcanes in Luisita. He is enjoying his retirement. He feels he has done his bit in EDSA 1 and 2. He has paid his dues. His major struggle these days is how to lose a few pounds and how to fix the noisy bedroom aircon.
Sure he wants reforms. But he will take elections and democracy anytime. He has seen a lot since he first joined the political fray as councilor in Tarlac in the 1950s. These days, he would doze off even while the news is on.
I’d like to end this column with a personal note to Dodi. You were not in that meeting with the Cardinal. You said so yourself as reported in the Inquirer. Whatever tidbit was passed on to you, you could have verified with a quick call to Peping or even to me, like the time I sought you out when you published that manifesto in favor of General Angelo Reyes. We were comrades in arms, remember?
There should be prudence even when making "express" 007 reports. What an insult to Bond!
Dodi, it is a good practice to validate information first, especially when it comes second-hand. Maligning people is unkind and unchristian. As an ecclesiastical adviser, you must make the relationship between church and state stronger.
Incidentally, there are courses offered in the PNP such as Intelligence Analysis, Police Non-Commissioned Intelligence Course, Basic Intelligence Course, Advance Intelligence Course, and Senior Executive Intelligence Course. Take your pick. Call Crame and ask for Gen. Flor Fianza (Him? Yes, him), a long-time adviser of GMA’s movement (Now I’ve spilled the beans) together with a group the majority of whom are now known as COPA.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines also offers Intelligence Courses. Perhaps you should consider this so you can support this government more efficiently and wish it well as we do. And not at other people’s expense.