Kiss in Jaluar River and say goodbye

By Alex P. Vidal

“May I kiss you then? On this miserable paper? I might as well open the window and kiss the night air.”—Franz Kafka

THE much-ballyhooed beso-beso or cheek-to-cheek kiss between warring Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas and Iloilo City lone district Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda witnessed by political VIPs, guests, government workers, and members of the media during the inauguration of the Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project Stage II in Calinog, Iloilo July 16 was really a sight to behold.

Ilonggos dismayed by the duo’s political breakup and swapping of pyrotechnics since March wished it was genuine and permanent.

The scene was like Aegisthus and Clytemnestra offering each other olive branches in the middle of the Trojan War. Aegisthus was the sworn enemy of Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae and partner of Clytemnestra, the half sister of Helen of Troy.

The romantic episode in Calinog actually generated more excitement and thrill among their respective supporters. Once the kissing scene unfurled, there was no room for merchants of intrigues and divisiveness to spoil it.

When Treñas’ cheek landed smack on Baronda’s cheek vice versa like Heloise and Abelard, it was classic, a dream come true for Ilonggos who, until now, don’t want to see them part ways politically.

-o0o-

The scene, although lasted in seconds, was heart-piercing and paradigmatic for their disheartened allies and fans who refuse to accept that they have been estranged; and those who continue to hope for a miracle of salvaging the alliance.

Sad to say, everything was a mere palabas or pakitang tao—whether the city mayor and the congresswoman will admit it or not.

We hate to call spade a spade but that’s what it was. And we can’t blame Treñas and Baronda for acting like Han Solo and Chewbacca of Star Wars or Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in that one fleeting but nerve-tingling moment.

They were in front of the who’s who in politics and government service, and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was the biggest name present in the filmmaking.

Both Treñas and Baronda are professionals and high caliber public figures; A-1 actor and actress who will never allow their emotions and hatchets to cause panic, alarm and scandal in the film industry.

-o0o-

It’s not bad for politicians to be in showbiz once in a while. Many known matinee idols and movie nymphets, who were mortal enemies in real life, have agreed to engage in torrid kissing in delicate scenes while making movies.

It’s about professionalism and self control. It’s politeness, courtesy, refinement that bring arch enemies together and make them set aside their animosities and differences for a common goal.

They disagreed in politics, but former First Lady Imelda Marcos would never treat the late former senator Ninoy Aquino shabbily in front of dignitaries in Pasay’s Folk Arts Theater; former President Rodrigo Duterte would never badmouth former Vice President Leni Robredo in the Araw ng Kagitingan ceremony at Mount Samat National Shrine in Pilar, Bataan, to name only a few instances were arch rivals met in one occasion.

Thus, the viral-material Calinog besos-beso, for whatever it’s worth, amounted to nothing when the curtains of the Jalaur River inauguration ceremony were brought down.

When all the politicians present and other guests, including President Marcos Jr., went home; when klieg lights from TV and other media gadgets have been put off and media people were gone, everything would be back to “normal” for the temporary “lovebirds.”

The “normal” episode—the intense rivalry in politics—is the “abnormal” scenario Ilonggos who love both Treñas and Baronda dread to grapple with.

Of course, we don’t discount (and we’re hoping and praying) that Treñas and Baronda will be back in each other’s arms before the 2025 midterm elections. Not just a beso-beso in the river.

We’ve been meeting here every day

And since this is our last day together

I wanna hold you just one more time

When you turn and walk away, don’t look back

I wanna remember you just like this

Let’s just kiss and say goodbye.

(The Manhattans in “Kiss and Say Goodbye” song)

-o0o-

(Yari ang Nahauna, ika-0001 nga binalaybay sa sining bag-ong serye nga ginsulat ni Ambassador Leo Tito Ausan,Jr. sa Dhaka, Bangladesh sang ika-16 sang Hulyo, 2024.)

ANG MAHISÂ KAG ANG MAHIKAW

ANG MAHISÂ

Kon may kaayuhan ang iban nga sang Makaakô wala siya ginbugayan,

Ang paglangot sang iya buot kag balatyagon sa dughan, indî gid mapunggan.

Kon sa ano nga bagay, sang iban siya ang malabawan,nagapangitâ gid siya sang paagi,nga ini ang mapatasan…

ANG MAHIKAW

Indî gid siya magpasibale, nga ang iban ang sa iya makalabaw,

Ang iya luyag siya lang ang masami sa ibabaw,

Kon matabû nga sa iya ikaw ang maglabaw,

Mangitâ gid sang medyos ang Mahikaw,

Nga gilayon magabaliskad ang kalalaw,

Kon kinahanglan nga iya sakiton ukon datusan, ang sa ika nakalabaw,

Wahigon niya ini pahigad,agud indî na siya malabawan, Kag kon indî madala, sang istorya nga malain iya pa nga himuan,

Bisan magubâ pa ang kalibutan waay sapayan,basta siya ang mangibabaw,sa katapusan!.

ANG PAGTABUAY SANG DUHA

Kon sa sining kalibutan,magtabûay ang mga banas kag hunâ-hunâ,sang mga mahikaw kag mga mahisâ,

Pat-od kag piho ko,

Nga didto sa impyerno,

Magahilinugyaw ang tanan nga mga yawâ!…

Kay ining gintuga sang Ginuo nga kalibutan,

MAGAHINAMPOT NA ANG KATAPUSAN!..

ANG KABANGDANAN?,

ANG MGA MAHISÂ KAG MGA MAHIKAW, MAN LANG!

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)