Our age and intelligence gap nor his position did not make him less of a friend. I was 20 years old then, he was 33 I think.
He worked for NEDA, became the Regional Development Council Secretary when TRO was president, already teaching at UP and doing consultancy work for development projects. He was already drafting the City MasterPlan study by that time. And I was still in third year college.
He was already named. "The King of Engineers" in CIT and was already specializing in urban planning. Me, I just finished organizing our third year prom.
I needed to know about the proposal to transfer UP to Consolacion. It was an issue that I believe I could tackle during my candidacy for chairperson in the Student Council. My former boyfriend, Karlon, knew him. So I asked to be introduced so I could ask for details about the proposal. He is making the feasibility study for the move.
He readily accepted me as a friend. Maybe because he is close with Karlon and Karlon was close to me. But I realized that he becomes an excited kid ready to experiment, ready to explain when asked what he does, his opinion on things and his stand on issues.
That's why a simple text message about the proposed coal power plant in SRP already prompted him to call and explain for 10 minutes. We always had discussions like that. Imma will simply roll her eyes when we start talking about issues and development. She knows it's difficult to stop Paul .
And since that meeting in his office and lunch at Shakey's, we became more than an acquaintance and exchanged more than hellos.
And even when I was ugly and depressed during my pregnancy, he made me feel that it should not matter. That being Student Council chairperson and being pregnant while single should not worry me.
He lost touch for almost two years before Karlon and I invited him for a small talk about my political plans. The talk was only short but he took it to heart.
That's why he took me in during the 2001 campaign. Made me involved in war room activities and made sure I meet the right people. It was him who introduced me to Rene.
It was also him who suggested bringing me in the team for Mike Rama's first Sinulog as the Chairperson.
That is why even if Rene does not like him and Sir Gabby complains about how he does things, I take his side and explains things to them.
I am sad coz I think he misunderstands my friendship with Rene and Sir Gabby. I think he thinks I side with them in his conflicts with them.
But I still decide to remain loyal to Paul even if Mama tells me that Paul does not know that I still am. I just tell her that virtue ceases to be a virtue when it is conditional.
No matter where life will take him, I will always be a good friend to Paul.
