The other Rizal

NO NATIONAL hero like his namesake, but a hero in his own right is our – Pampanga media’s – own Rizal. Policarpio, that’s who.

He was a man with many muses, just like Luneta’s bronzed resident. So fabled in the affairs of the heart to merit a chapter in my first book Of the Press (1999), detailing but the most special of the lot, three reprinted here in abridged form thus:

No other newsman in Pampanga has a love life as colorful, as varied, as multiple, as poignant, as…whatever as Rizal’s…That Rizal has remained unmarried after all those loves – more unrequited than otherwise – is proof positive of his greatness as a lover…

The Greatest 3. For the love of Rizal, Department of Public Information Dir. Ric “Kapitan Gigil” Serrano played Cupid to every woman the ageing bachelor fancied.

First it was Miss Bunny of Bacolor. To Baguio, Gigil took his staff with Rizal in tow for a hoped-for romantic interlude with his ladylove. It was not meant to be. Even with Gigil’s promise of three lechon baka for the wedding.

Second was Miss Erlie of Sto. Tomas. Everybody’s Café failed to open Erlie’s heart to Rizal. No matter Gigil’s pleadings and raising to five lechon baka Rizal’s dowry.

Third was Miss Nona of Malolos. Gigil raised the marriage ante to five lechon baka, 10 lechon de leche, and 100 lechon manok, prodding Miss Nona to elope. Not with Rizal, of course.

Lady with factory. One day in the marrying month of June 1985, a notice was posted on the Orders’ List at Bankers Press: 100 wedding invitations c/o Rizal Policarpio.

The news spread like brushfire. Rizal was getting married at last, at long last. But, who was the bride?       

Ram Mercado sourced deeply and widely, finding: “The bride is rich. Bulacan-based with a factory to boot.”

So happy we were all for Rizal that we made our own wedding plans for him: Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz as Mass celebrant and officiating priest, principal sponsors: Labor Sec. Blas Ople, Justice Sec. Estelito Mendoza, Ambassador Danding Cojuangco, Media Affairs Sec. Greg Cendana, Public Works Usec Aber Canlas…among others, reception at Shanghai de Luxe Restaurant, honeymoon in Hong Kong.

One week after, the wedding was off. It was Ram again that sourced and searched for the cause: The bride-to-be did not have a factory. She had factory-defect.

The woman who loved Rizal. He met her – call her Uriang – through Philippine News Agency chief Fred Roxas at the time he was courting soon-to-be wife Violy Puno in the ‘70s.

Attraction was instant. At the backseat of Fred’s ’59 Ford Falcon, Rizal and Uriang savored the sweetness of the first kiss atop Baluyut Bridge under the noonday sun. Rizal was a bit tipsy with Uriang cuddled in his arms. In a sudden dash of machismo, he grabbed her by the hair and smacked her with a French kiss.

“Tinatalaban na, Rizal,” prodded Fred from the wheel.

Rizal intensified his smooches and, yes, Uriang got so excited she started shuddering all over. So convinced was Rizal of his kissing power until he noticed Uriang frothing in the mouth, her eyes wide open but only with the whites, her body all tensed up. What Rizal thought to be the height of ecstasy was in fact a fit of epilepsy.

Much as he loved women, he loved his country even more. Rizal was among those who bore the brunt of Martial Law, right after its proclamation: detained at the Camp Olivas stockade and subjected to the standard torture test of the time.

His activism undiminished, Rizal was among the first to raise his voice at the dictatorship in the aftermath of the Aquino assassination, distinguishing himself in one massive rally in Candaba town when he called the still-well-entrenched Marcos a cowardly traitor.

It was to the utter loss of his beloved masa that Rizal was deprived of the opportunity to serve them in an elective position: for Mabalacat councilor in 1971, Mabalacat Mayor in 1980, Angeles City councilor in 1988, even after his campaign leaflet was hailed the “most creative” – a blow-up of the P2 bill with the picture of Rizal, the national hero.

It was journalism that he loved most, investing therein his heart, his mind, his life. Thus, his bachelorhood – “Journalism is a jealous wife,” as he put it. Thus, his only source of livelihood – “You stop being a journalist, once you engage in any other field of employment,” as he lived it.

Rizal was among the very few who served as president of the Pampanga Press Club, the Angeles City Press and Radio Club – for which he was expelled from the former but was later readmitted, and the Central Luzon Media Association. He led too for a time the association of provincial correspondents of Balita, the vernacular tabloid of Manila Bulletin.

In the history of journalism in Pampanga, arguably in the whole of Central Luzon, Rizal holds the distinction of going through the full legal course in a libel case that spanned all of three years. Again, as narrated in Of the Press:

In 1981, a story found print about four fishpond caretakers killed by unidentified gunmen in Candaba town, with a ranking municipal official implied as the mastermind. That was how the news went in the other papers. But Rizal went further – he named the official in his story in Balita.

The official sued and the prosecutor’s office found merit in his complaint and elevated the case to the court. After two years of hearing, the official died. But his heirs pursued the case.

What was also interesting here was that Rizal’s editors were not included in the charge sheet. Rizal fought a lonely battle in court, at times acting as his own counsel.

Lack of malice saved Rizal from conviction. So, three years after he was – in his own words – “demanded for libel,” Rizal proclaimed he got back “my justice, my freedom, my right, my voice, my pen to push again” after Judge Pedro Lagui acquitted him.   

Rizal was also among the pioneering bi-media personalities in Pampanga – delving in both print and broadcast at the same time, for some years: The Voice, DZAP, and DZYA for the longest time, DWGV later and Angeles Observer until of late.

He was at his best though with his column “Tapik Lang” (Slight Tap) and his radio show “Pisaasabyan Tamu Mu” (Just Talking), if only for the fun they generated with Ody Fabian’s anagram on them as “Pitaklan” (Asshole) and “Pisasabyan tamumu” (Hornets’ Talk) in Kapampangan.        

Ah, how agreeably raucous and merrily riotous Rizal meeting Ody anew. And all those who have preceded him to the editorial desk up there: Ben Gamos, Sonny Lopez, Toy Soto, Jerry Lacuarta, Lito Pangilinan, Rolly Lingat, Boy Sagad, Don Armando Baluyut, Don Tomas San Pedro, Ric Serrano…

Have a blast, Zayk. “Supersonic, oomph, oomph.” As you were wont to exclaim – complete with two pelvic thrusts – whenever caught up in the joy of the moment.