LET me tell you a story.
This happened in Sampaloc, Manila, several years ago.
Romy Gallego, a current resident of Balangkayan, Eastern Samar, had a noodle house in the corner of G. Tuazon and Sta. Teresita in Sampaloc. Romy worked in Chowking Restaurant as a cook, so he knew the mix of the various noodle soups he brought home and put up his eatery.
Wendell Ramos, a struggling actor, was discovered and managed by talent scout Reggie Picayo, who was a boarder of Gallego. Wendell lived in a small house in Governor Forbes, a few meters away from Romy’s kitchenette. Around the barangay near Nazareth School was the family of brothers Chinkee (the comedian cum TV financial coach) and Lawrence Tan. Not too far away was the residence of another newbie Antonio Aquitania.
Romy served as the sponsor of Wendell, Chinkee, and the rest of the barkada during basketball games and other sports and social activities.
Fast forward: To the millennium when Ramos, Tan, and Antonio are already popular.
Through a youth leader, Leninsky Bacud, Gallego was informed that Wendell had an intention to run in the local politics, if not in Sampaloc, in the wider Metro Manila.
“Nagkausap na kami ni Leninsky. Gusto nila ni Wendell na pumunta rito sa Balangkayan. Kasi, gusto nilang makipag-coordinate sa mga fire protection agents dito sa amin para makatulong sa fire protection (Leninsky and I have already talked. He said that Wendell wants to go with him here in Balangkayan. He said they want to coordinate with our fire protection agents here so that they can solidify and enhance fire protection all throughout the country),” informed Romy.
Let’s hope and pray that Wendell would be guided accordingly if he intends to run for public office in the coming elections.