Politician as Wit

( A revisit—Romeo Pefianco)

In the old days it was hard to imagine that politician of stature like Senators Laurel, Recto or Tolentino would hire a PR firm to explain the important aspect of legislation. As Recto said: “ One should readily tell an insurance policy from foreign policy”.  In the fifties, even Law students took trouble of watching debates at the old Senate session hall.  Thick law books were being reserved for cramming if news leaked that two revered statesmen at the Senate, Claro M. Recto and Jose P. Laurel would figure in a debate about an important bill or deliver an expose against the administration officials.  One could hear a pin drop as Laurel or Recto stood to question a speaker.  A Senator from the North in the middle of his speech made a sweeping statement. “As we all know, rich men and millionaires don’t steal.” Recto bolted from his seat, this was followed by an eerie silence in a crowded and hot session chamber.  “Mr. President, I don’t share the gentlemen’s generalization.  A better sentence structure would be “Millionaires (comma), don’t steal (exclamation mark)!”.  Recto was short on his emphasis but the crowd clapped.  There were thunderous guffaw in the press gallery that spread throughout the hall.  The chair banged the gavel twice and warned everybody against unruly conduct.  Like the old days of politics in Calamba.  Leaders are not loosing their political will and technical know how in governing such conduct as Recto and Laurel did in the senate during those time.

As I was told by my father who is a policeman on duty during the regular sessions of the Sangguniang Bayan of Calamba, councilors like former Governor Resting Luna, Attys. Bienvenido Alonzo Sr., Jose Manalo Sr., Ernesto Maiquez, Emilio Capulong Sr., Perpetuo Paner, Estanislao Belan, and Nemecio Hizon would be interesting to watch during sessions at the Roman Lazaro Hall in the old Municipal Building of Calamba.  Now even almost all members of  the Sanggunian Panlunsod of Calamba City are in their youth age we are expecting them to do their legislative function in adherence of the mandate given to them by the people. I knew them personally that they are idealistic and compassionate in doing their duty so that the Good old days of politics in Calamba continue to be fruitful for the welfare of the people of Calamba.—MARLON RAMIRO