Impossibly dreaming

SUNDAY NIGHT. Coach Yeng Guiao’s Rain or Shine Elasto Painters just got clobbered by the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters, 89-80, shoving them down a deep hole – 0-3 – in the 2011-2012 PBA Philippine Cup Finals.  

A nightmare of a series Guiao is having here, shattering the very battlecry of his team “Dare 2 Dream.” The numeric there a not-so-subtly-expressed aspiration for a successive championship following RoS’ triumph in the PBA Governors Cup last August 5. 

Methinks though the slogan weak, if not totally misplaced.  You need not do some daring just to do some dreaming.

Hence, through the first three games of this best-of-seven duel, Guiao’s charges were caught sleepwalking.     

I don’t know if it’s just me and my prejudices, but Guiao’s run for Pampanga’s  first congressional district seat looks bedded too on some daring – to dream.

An impossible dream, so long ago smirked the double visionary Deng Pangilinan of Guiao’s wanting to be congressman.

“Unbeatable foe.” Not only Chairman Deng but corporate communications manager Arnel San Pedro, noted editor Ashley Manabat and hundreds of plain folk find comebacking Congressman Francis “Buleboy” Nepomuceno in his fight with Guiao.

“Unbearable sorrow.” So shall Angeles City – with its penchant to go for its own against any outsider – be made to bear on Guiao. The support of Mayor Ed Pamintuan – Blueboy’s nemesis – notwithstanding.

EdPam’s own campaign, ‘tis said, is being compromised by his going all-out for Guiao.

“The millstone on Mayor Pamintuan’s neck.” So said a city barangay chairman here of Guiao. “A heavy weight that would pull him down to defeat.”

The village chief, who asked for anonymity but identified himself as “pro-Pamintuan” said the mayor “should have stayed neutral” in the congressional contest.

“By openly siding and campaigning for Guiao, (Pamintuan) has isolated himself from a large sector of the Angeles City voters who preferred their own to represent them.” he said.

It is a political given here, according to the illustrious writer Ram Mercado, that “Angelenos rally to their own in contests against those from other places.”

A parallel predicament obtains in Guiao’s Magalang. By siding with EdPam, Guiao estranged that large chunk of the vote loyal to Congressman Tarzan Lazatin, who is deeply rooted, familially and politically, in Magalang.   

“Unbearable sorrow” too shall Mabalacat City serve Guiao. Blueboy having made inroads there in his three previous terms as representative. Again notwithstanding the support of Mayor Boking Morales, which, in the first place, seems unsteadily wavering. Given Guiao’s open dalliance with the fiercest rival in his umpteenth run for the mayorship, one Noli Castro.   

A dream team, Guiao though has that can make his fondest wish come true.

There is Philippine business’ MVP himself – mogul Manny V. Pangilinan who has long put all his marbles in Guiao’s hole, even at the time Cong Tarzan thought solely of re-electing.

Then there is Governor Lilia Pineda, virtual mother to Guiao and Mister Bong Pineda, virtual father to him. Virtually unopposed, Nanay can concentrate her energies, and Tatay his resources, on Guiao’s campaign. 

Still, for all their strong clout and impressive resources, Guiao’s patrons could only do so much for his election. The greater task, the harder work, the onerous toil lie in Guiao himself. Task, work, toil underscored there. Not dream.

In his championship series at the PBA as in his congressional run, it would serve Guiao well to dispense with this Dare to Dream blurb.

And instead for him to Dare to Struggle. And Dare to Win.     

Who knows, that unreachable star may yet come within his grasp.