Writing features painlessly
15 years ago
Monday, June 8, 2009
Even before he officially joined politics, Adel Tamano already enjoyed what many politicians would give an arm for — facial recognition and name recall. The young lawyer not only has an actor’s good looks, he is also an excellent communicator.
Despite being a son of former senator Mamintal Tamano, Adel did not jump headlong into politics by vying for an elective position himself. Instead he immersed himself in politics by lending his appealing presence to the company of older politicians.
Now, I don’t know if there was something deliberate in the manner in which he chose the company he kept. But by introducing himself to the national consciousness in the company of the likes of Joseph Estrada and Jejomar Binay, it was clear he enjoyed the benefit of comparison.
Compared to Estrada and Binay, Adel offered television audiences a refreshing contrast to almost everything that the two veteran politicians offered and presented. He was young as opposed to old, good-looking as opposed to ... well..., and articulate as opposed to mumbling.
In a country with an electorate that is increasingly getting younger — half the population being below 25 years of age — and an inexplicable preference for appearance rather than substance — Adel would be certainly be a prized catch in any ticket for election.
So I am sure Estrada, who continues to foolishly dream of regaining the presidency, and Binay, who thinks Filipinos will foolishly mistake the Philippines for Makati, must have been emboldened in no small measure in their folly by assuming Adel was an ace up their sleeve.
But apparently Adel is not all appearance. The inkling we had of his substance from the manner in which he talks, he recently validated by making a choice that must have stunned and stunk Estrada and Binay but which entrenched his own self as a man who knows his destiny.
Adel broke his ties with the United Opposition of Binay and the Partido ng Masang Pilipino of Estrada and joined the Nacionalista Party of Senator Manny Villar, also a contender for the 2010 presidential election.
The move of Adel is clearly to pave the way for what many perceive to be his first real foray into politics — a run for the Senate. It is a move that strengthens both his position, as well as that of Villar.
Villar, who is the subject of a widely-perceived trumped-up ethics complaint in a Senate dominated by colleagues who are also his rivals for the presidency, could not have been any happier by the development.
Having wisely refused to engage his rivals in a frontal confrontation but instead meeting them head-on in press conferences which he can at least control, it seems that it is Villar who has benefitted largely from recent political developments.
A few days before Adel linked up with the Nacionalista Party, Villar also welcomed several local government officials who have defected from the administration, further entrenching himself as the leading opposition contender for the presidency.
While I do not give much credence to surveys, there are indeed surveys that say Villar is the preferred presidential candidate. Maybe the lengthening line of officials crossing over to his fold is a good indicator of his chances in 2010.
But I think it is the acquisition of Adel that pleases Villar the most at this point. A fresh personality is always a welcome change in any environment. And for political purposes, he proves to be a coup for Villar, who instead of being weakened appears to be gaining.
Read more: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=475559&publicationSubCategoryId=109
Friday, June 5, 2009
-- Rommel C. Lontayao, Cris G. Odronia And Francis Earl A. Cueto
Adel Tamano on Thursday resigned as spokesman of the United Opposition (UNO) and joined the Nacionalista Party of Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., one of the leading aspirants for president in the 2010 elections.
Tamano earlier confirmed that he would run for the Senate also in 2010, but in statement released by Villar on Thursday, the former opposition spokesman said, “I’m not entering Nacionalista Party with the expectation that I will be one of its senatorial candidates. If they believe that I have what it takes to be a good candidate, I will let them choose.”
He explained, “My family has deep roots in the Nacionalista Party and part of what I am doing is to honor my late father and continue his work as a Nacionalista.”
Tamano is the eighth son of the late Sen. Mamintal Tamano and civic leader Hadja Putri Zorayda Abbas Tamano. He is also president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila) and the longtime lawyer of the controversial Dr. Vicky Belo, whose lover, Dr. Hayden Kho, is embroiled in a sex-video scandal.
Tamano, who hails from Lanao del Sur, was accompanied by his wife, lawyer Rowena Kapunan, and her parents, former Supreme Court Justice Santiago Kapunan and Angie.
The erstwhile UNO spokesman earned his economics and law degrees from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1992 and 1996, respectively. Then he took up Masters in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines, and later became the first Filipino Muslim to graduate from the Harvard Law School.
Villar for president
“I can speak for myself as Adel Tamano now. I am no longer a spokesman for somebody,” said the 38-year-old lawyer, who now backs Villar’s presidential bid.
He added that Villar has a big chance in being elected as the country’s next leader next year.
“Our biggest problem in the country is poverty, and it will take someone who has really experienced poverty to redeem us out of it. That is why I choose him,” Tamano said in the statement released by Villar’s camp.
The Nacionalista Party, founded in 1907, has produced six presidents—Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmeña, Ramon Magsaysay, Jose Laurel, Carlos Garcia and Ferdinand Marcos.
Opposition’s reactions
Tamano also said he had informed the opposition leaders – former President Joseph Estrada and UNO President and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay—of his decision to resign and join Villar’s party. And they reportedly accepted Tamano’s resignation.
Binay congratulated Tamano also on Thursday, saying their parting was cordial. “I just wish him all the luck in his political plans.”
He added that former Sen. Ernesto Maceda would be UNO’s new spokesman.
Mayor JV Ejercito of San Juan City (Metro Manila) also wished Tamano good luck but gave him a parting shot. “Sana lang napunta siya sa tunay na oposisyon at hindi sa mga nagpapanggap lamang [I wish he had joined the real opposition party, not the one that is just pretending to be one].”
Ejercito is also a director of the United Opposition and son of Estrada, who has repeatedly said he would again run for president if the opposition fails to unite behind a single candidate.
Event at Laurel house
Also sworn in with Tamano was businessman Arsenic Laurel of the illustrious Laurel clan. He will run for representative of the Third District of Batangas, a statement said.
The event took place at the Nacionalista headquarters, the historic Laurel House on Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/june/05/yehey/top_stories/20090605top2.html
Thursday, June 4, 2009
UNO spokesman quits, joins Villar party
MANILA, Philippines – The spokesman of the United Opposition (UNO) has bolted the coalition and joined the Nacionalista Party (NP) as he threw his support for NP President Manuel Villar’s presidential bid in 2010.
Lawyer Adel Tamano, who intends to run for Senator in 2010, took his oath before Villar on Thursday.
“My father, the late Senator Tamano is a founder of Nacionalista Party. To honor his memory I joined the party” said Tamano.
“I think Manny Villar is the man to beat… the biggest reason is this man was able to rise from poverty, the country's biggest problem. And it will take someone who has experience and who can find solutions for poverty,” he added.
Villar said Tamano would be a great asset to the NP. He said the NP was open to other candidates who wanted to join the party.
He said many mayors joined the NP last month.
Tamano said former president Joseph Estrada and UNO president Jejomar Binay accepted his decision to transfer to Villar’s party.
“Nagpaalam ako ng maayos kay Erap [I bade Estrada goodbye] and we talked for three hours. He respected my decision,” he said.
“Now I can speak as Adel Tamano and not just a spokesman” he added.
Earlier in the day, Binay said he was saddened by Tamano's decision.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090604-208803/UNO-spokesman-quits-joins-Villar-party
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