Blessings from EDSA II - JAYWALKER by Art A. Borjal

There are several intriguing questions that have remained unanswered – and many people, especially those who followed the Impeachment telenovela, will certainly be eager to know the answers to these questions. Take the following posers:

* What magic wand did Erap Estrada wave that convinced the 11 senators to say NO to the opening of the second envelope?

* What political future awaits former Ambassador Ernesto Maceda?

* What dark secrets does Atong Ang have regarding Erap?

* What interesting things does Ping Lacson know about Erap?

* How did Erap amass all that money in just two years’ time?

* What happened to Bubby Dacer?

* Can the Partido ng Masang Pilipino survive?

* Who will be the next Vice President of the Philippines?

* Why has Rene Saguisag become so attached to Erap?

* Why did Erap choose to use aliases like Jose Velarde, Kevin Garcia, John Uy etc.?

* What did the second envelope really contain?

* What political life lies ahead for Kit Tatad, Tessie Oreta and Miriam Defensor?

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Investor confidence in the Philippines is coming back, thanks to EDSA II. Even now, business teams from various countries are planning to make their visits here, to discuss possible joint ventures with local companies and other investors. And the foreign fund managers are beginning to pump in once more their investible funds in the Philippine stock market, which is a good indicator that the Macapagal-Arroyo administration is on the right path in resurrecting our battered economy.

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The EDSA II People’s Power Revolution has, indeed, won a lot of goodwill for our country, not only among potential economic investors but also among other non-business sectors. For the next few weeks, for instance, various medical missions from the United States are flying in, to render free medical services to indigent patients. They are coming in, not only with their medical expertise, but also with medical equipment and medicine.

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Yesterday, I wrote about a 45-man medical mission from the United States, a project of Operation H.O.P.E., that will conduct surgical operations at the Subic Freeport, gratis et amore, for the benefit of financially-distressed persons coming from the Zambales-Bataan-Olongapo areas. Operation H.O.P.E. will be at the Subic Freeport from February 11 to 16.

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Tomorrow, a medical team from Maryland, USA, composed of some 20 members of Circulo Pampangueño USA, will conduct its own five-day general surgery, cataract operations, and medical treatment for hare-lip and goiter patients at the Pampanga Provincial General Hospital. The project was initiated by Paul Lozano, Joseph Mercado and Henry Balagtas of the Circulo Pampangueño, in coordination with the Pampanga Lions Club and Dr. Ernesto Santos, director of the Pampanga General Hospital.

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What is inspiring about all this is the spirit of sharing and goodwill that has been rekindled by EDSA II. The more blessed among Filipinos, and foreigners, too, are beginning to take note of the sad plight of their fellowmen here in the Philippines. And they want to share some of their blessings in life through medical missions and other forms of assistance to the underprivileged.

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Let me thank the following individuals for lending a helping hand to the Good Samaritan Foundation:

* R.A. of Quezon city, P1,000

* Anonymous from West Triangle, Quezon City, P1,000 (UCPB 0129689)

* "Uncle J" of Kalayaan Avenue, Makati, P2,500

Their generosity enabled the GS Foundation to provide P1,000 to youngster Glydel Comia of Imus, Cavite, for her physical therapy session, P1,000 to Bernardo Forbes of Mandaluyong City for his medicine, and P847 to Emelia Pecson of Zambales for her medicine. Thanks and God bless!

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The Good Samaritan Foundation has herbal products that can be given away to deserving beneficiaries on a first-come, first-served basis. The products are Delsym (a cough formula), SAM-E, Saw Palmeto, Bee Pollen, Folic Acid, Hawthorn Berries, Cascara Sagrada Alfalfa, and Ginkgo Biloba. Those interested in availing of these products may contact the GS Foundation at Tel. Nos. 716-1399 and 716-1499.

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There is an interesting case at the Makati Regional Trial court involving American corporation Kimberly Clark Philippines, Don Manuel Cancio, the patriarch of Goodwill Bookstore, and Donna Cancio, one of his adoptive daughters. The case is actually a family affair, revolving on Kimberly Clark’s lease of a ten-hectare property in San Pedro, Laguna, belonging to Goodwill Bookstore, as represented by Don Manuel, who is now 92 years old and wheelchair-bound.

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Don Manuel filed the complaint against Kimberly Clark and its president Robert E. Tober, asking the court to annul the lease agreement signed on August 2, 1999. Cancio said that the agreement was procured through "mistake, undue influence, and fraud," allegedly initiated by his daughter Donna.

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Prior to the court case, Kimberly Clark was leasing the land pursuant to a 25-year-lease agreement that expired in 1999. After the contract expired, negotiations were undertaken, with Don Manuel and another adoptive daughter, Maritess Cancio Suplico (Donna’s sister), asking for a five-year lease contract at P1 million a month.

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Sometime in August, 1999, Don Manuel was, according to the complaint, fetched at his home in Urdaneta Village by Donna. Later, it was discovered that Don Manuel was made to sign a lease agreement with Kimberly Clark, effective for 25 years and renewable for another 25 years, at the option of Kimberly Clark, for a monthly rental payment of P200,000. Don Manuel now claims that he was deceived into signing the contract, thinking that the terms he wanted (five years’ lease, P1 million per month rental) were embodied in the renewed lease contract.

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Actually, the 10-hectare property is a prime piece of land sandwiched between the South Superhighway and a national highway. It is accessible for both ingress and egress. According to the complaint, the contract, as signed, would entitle Goodwill to rental payments of only two pesos per square meter.

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Here is a human-interest item about the Cancio family affair. Don Manuel has barred his daughter Donna from entering the Cancio residence at Urdaneta Village. The security guards of the plush Makati subdivision have been told by Don Manuel to refuse entry to Donna. "Biting the hands that feed" – this could very well describe how Don Manuel feels towards his adoptive daughter whom he trusted so much since she was a child.

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