Mayor Joe III can't interfere in daughter's happiness

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
-John Wooden

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- A father can't interfere in his daughter's love affair.
He can only give advice and suggestions, but a father can't control or halt a daughter's heartbeat.
He can't prevent her either from marrying the love of her life--unless it's a shotgun marriage; unless the marriage is fraught with fraud and impropriety.
Such was the case when the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) defied Iloilo City Mayor Jose "Joe III" Espinosa and proceeded with the issuance of notice of award to the MetroPac Water Investments Corp (MWIC) for their P12.349-billion joint venture December 21.

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MIWD showed Mayor Joe III that its love affair with the MWIC is "none of his business" to say the least; that the deal underwent transparent process, legitimate and aboveboard.
Therefore, the city mayor has no right to halt the MIWD-MWIC romance.
As a father, Mayor Joe III can't stand in between his daughter and her happiness.
As long as they are both happy and satisfied, their understanding is mutual; and the marriage doesn't have any legal impediment, couple MIWD and MWIC can live happily ever after.
Mayor Joe III can always run to the court if he still wishes to uncouple the lovers.


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News is when a man bites a dog. Dog biting a man isn't news.
News is when a cabbie or a driver of any public or private vehicle fatally attacks a pedestrian or a fellow driver in a traffic altercation.
They call it "road rage."
A mere exchange of heated words isn't news. A road scene where an angry motorist flashes "F" sign to another motorist or a pedestrian vice versa, isn't even earthshaking.
When irate drivers and passengers tangle in chaotic traffic snarl during rush hours, it's not a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Just like when we see beggars wearing rugged cloths in the sidewalks or a cop placing cuffs on a thief.
They are normal events.

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But when a sweet-looking young lady, who seems can not hurt a fly, punches an elderly driver in broad daylight over a traffic snafu and the victim reels away like a groggy pugilist about to hit the canvas, it's not only news, it's viral especially when the tumult is caught on video.
In our culture, elderly persons are treasured, loved, and respected regardless of status in life.
Even if they commit slight trespasses or simple misdemeanor, we don't lay our hand on them.
If they misbehave or commit unpleasant acts sometimes due to dementia and other age-related ailments, we can chide them surreptitiously but not harm them physically.
We don't assault our own parents.