The Governor's withdrawal

“BUT CAN he dare face the fury of a woman scorned?”
So asked an espressomate at Firenzi in SM Clark on yesterday’s banner headline here that Gov. Eddie T. Panlilio was set to let go of his putative provincial administrator, Atty. Vivian Dabu, on the condition that San Fernando City Administrator Engr. Ferdinand Z. Caylao would take her place.
There’s something wrong in the use of the idiomatic expression there, I pointed out to my friend. “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” is commonly attributed to some betrayal in a wedded partnership. Thereby, ensued a rather lengthy discussion.
So what do you call that which bonds the Reverend Governor to his administrator?
Well, nothing more than an ordinary supervisor-subordinate relationship.
For all your pretensions to wide reading and to a broad expanse of experience in the intellectual and spiritual fields, you’re still a babe in the woods.
Ouch, that idiom hurts. At the rate you’re going with these idioms, I would not wonder anymore if you end up being an idiot.
Non sequitur, wonder not. Face the facts. Yeah, truth hurts. Now, just listen.
Okay, go on, master. Wonder if he got the sarcasm there.
There is more to the Panlilio-Dabu relationship other than your usual supervisor-on-top-of-subordinate positions...
Uh-oh, you’re insinuating something sexual here. I cannot allow this said of my compadre. Despite his suspension, he’s still a priest, for God’s sake!
Disabuse your malicious mind. You’re conjuring sexual thoughts from a purely rational statement of a given fact. In the organizational hierarchy, in government or in private corporations, supervisors are pre-ordained to be on top of subordinates. You, an ex-seminarian who has had the privilege of learning Latin should be the first to know that super means over, atop, above while sub means under or below. Panlilio always on top of Dabu. Only the dirty-minded sees something sexual there.
Okay, I am an idiot. A dirty-minded idiot at that.
How good of you to admit to a fault. Now, as I was saying, the Panlilio-Dabu relationship goes beyond the boss-hireling type – you really are gross if you still see anything sexual there. It is something written in the stars. It is a pact made in heaven. It is…
Aw, shucks, spare me these stupid sugary idioms again.
I am stating a fact. Was not Panlilio’s gubernatorial run and consequent victory deemed by many and proclaimed by the gospel of truth-in-media, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, as the very act of Providence?
Granting so, what has that got to do with Dabu?
Panlilio, being divinely sent, makes everything he touches approved by Providence. So that makes Dabu, whom he appointed provincial administrator, divinely-appointed too. There is your contract made in heaven. See how Panlilio remained steadfast – “strongly, unquestioningly, dedicatedly, radically committed” – in holding on to Dabu despite her non-confirmation by the sangguniang panlalawigan? Why, Panlilio even opted to lose the support of his top financial and manpower supporter in his gubernatorial run – Mrs. Lolita Hizon, as if you did not know – than let go of Dabu. That is simply because their relationship is heavenly, err, heaven-bound, err, bound in heaven.
Aha, you’re stammering. Okay, I got it. Now, if such is the case, why the apparent change of heart in the governor?
No change of heart. I see Panlilio merely buying time. Besides, he reckons that Caylao will not accept the post, happy as he is being city administrator and confident that Mayor Oca Rodriguez would not let go of him. Notwithstanding the mayor’s stock-in-trade “the city may be losing a good administrator but will be happy with the thought that the province is gaining one.” With Ms. Sonia Soto out of the city government, Caylao has become truly indispensable. At least for now, with no one of equal qualifications and loyalty to Oca, in sight.
So there was no withdrawal of confidence in Dabu by Panlilio?
Talk of withdrawals. These are painful matters. Be it in business – loss of money, in politics – loss of support or position, moreso in war – loss of territory. Panlilio is not withdrawing from Dabu his...
Very well said about withdrawals there. Isn’t the sexual sort the most painful?
Incurable pervert!