A remarkable woman

THAT Madame Maria Teresa A. Laus was declared Franchisee of the Year 2007 in ceremonies attended by no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself did not come as a surprise to me and to the other trustees of the Society of Pampanga Columnists.

The wonder is why the recognition of our acclaimed Muse came only now.

Before Madame Tess, any mention of Max’s in Pampanga referred only to whatever belonged to that popular mediaman surnamed Sangil, who was also top Angeles City councilor and one-time city mayor by-succession. Mr. Max is currently director of both CDC and CIAC, among other positions of prominence.

With Madame Tess, Max’s referred only to that restaurant that served more than sarap-to-bones fried chicken most-frequented by families, friends, lovers and other strangers in search of the finest Filipino cuisine.

There’s the Midas touch in Madame Tess: anything she gets her hands into turn to surely profitable enterprises. Look how Max’s mushroomed in Pampanga – from Villa del Sol along the GSO Road to Dau in Mabalacat, SM City San Fernando, SM City Clark – and beyond – Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija.

Of late, Madame Tess has replicated her Max’s experience with the Japanese specialty food restaurant Teriyaki Boy, now at the two SM malls here.

Madame Tess being franchisee of the year is remarkable enough. That is long given, the late recognition notwithstanding.

But Madame Tess is more than an outstanding creature of commerce. It is in the social – diametrically opposed to the sosyal -- field of human endeavor that makes her a truly remarkable woman, yes, a woman of substance, as I heralded her in that 2004 commentary in Sun Star Pampanga when I tried, in vain, to convince her to give the City of San Fernando mayorship a try. That was before Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez decided to make a go for it himself, if I may add.

It really makes the heart grow fonder of this exalted woman, seeing her cross the societal divide to interact with a street urchin selling boiled peanuts, in animated talk with a buko juice vendor by the roadside, or on first name basis with the green mangoes and bagoong seller at the streetcorner.

So, how often do you see the perfumed set mingling with the great unwashed?

In Madame Tess, there is absolutely none of the effete snobbishness that is a shibboleth of wealth, new-found wealth particularly. Else, she would not have been made the darling of the mostly paisano Pampanga press.

A woman of independent means too, Madame Tess is deeply involved in the preservation of the city cultural heritage as well as in tourism, being head of the City Tourism Council.

Pride in the Fernandino, of his glorious past, of his prospering present, of his brighter future is the core value imbibed by Madame Tess in these endeavors.

A remarkable woman. Madame Tess would make the best Laus in politics. In the most positive sense of the word – in the service of the body polity.

‘Tis pity, indeed, she ain’t running. But the son is. And that makes another story.