I knew he’ll be there. Last night I had the privilege of attending the Phil-Ko Night. It was a night devoted to Philippine-Korean friendship as part of festivities that the City Government of Balanga holds for the City Fiesta in the entire month of April.
It’s a musical program scheduled on April 5, 2011, 7:00 pm.
I was quite in panic that at around 6:00 pm, it looks like the event has started. I still have to go home and change clothes for it. Straight from the office, I just passed by the venue to attend to other important matter.
Anyways, I was there to have the occasion documented as part of an office obligation. I am aware that the City Official in charge for the night will be City Councilor Val Joseph M. Fernandez, my classmate from grade school. He heads the Committee on Education.
I was hoping to hear him for the opening remarks but he was done when I arrived. I came late.
I was hoping to have photo opportunity with him as part of the documentation but I got shy.
I just shook hands with him and answer back “yes”, when he asked for confirmation that I no longer work in Pag-IBIG.
Well, he already asked that several times, every time we meet.
I’m not into politics. I would not go as far as campaigning for him. There would be no way that I will go out of my way to publicly show my support. I think I have to settle on telling people – at the mention of his name, that he was a classmate.
I did single vote for him on his first run.
On his second run, I only voted 3 candidates - my ninong, my kumpare and him.
These - I hope, are enough.
I am hoping to have this space for few anecdotes of him in the past. Those were around 20 years or so. I feel so old that I can’t remember one. He was pilyo. He’s always been kind to me when we were young. He would even be friendly to my sister when he met her as his student teacher in high school.
He would always greet me at any instance that we would meet. Kahit pwedeng hindi na.
Upon knowledge that he’s an ex-classmate, people would always ask if he’s intelligent. Of course, magkaklase kaya kami. He went to law school kaya.
Going back to the program, it’s nice that people get to watch Korean culture in terms of music and dance. Learning new things is always exciting (forget Koreanovela overload for a while). I commend the entertainment value that they shared; complemented by the contagious energy of the Korean audience. I just have to complain for the length of the production number.
There were about hundreds of Korean at the venue, performers and audience. I just wonder where they come from. Did they come right from Korea? Do they live in the Philippines and just assemble in Balanga? I don’t see that much Korean in the city. I am just too shy to ask for the answers from the Korean seating next to me.
I think they mentioned them in the program. I just did not hear. I came late. Then, I left early even when the program has not ended because I have to catch the last trip of the bus by 8:00 pm. I did not approach VJ anymore to say I’m leaving. Anyways, he’s too busy fulfilling his duty.
It’s such a problem for a long time. I get star struck to politicians, to local public officials and - worse, to a city councilor who was a seatmate (in alphabetically arranged class in grade school).
He is Fernandez. I am Guevara.
