Dear Jerry:
What I saw in you as a young co-freshman 36 years ago
has always been
true and your recent appointment proved me right. No
matter how hard I try, I
cannot think of any other way to tell you how proud we
are, not just as
a Prepian but also as a Filipino ( though my legal citizenship
doesn't say
so) of your distinguished achievement. Jerry, on behalf
of our "ordinary"
classmates and your countrymen in Canada, I wish you
much success and
our sincerest congratulations to your new career. I know
you will do well
and serve our country to the best of your ability.
All the best to you and your family. Would love to hear
from you about
your testimonial breakfast.
Regards,
Reno Prep 66
- - - - - - - -
Subject: Re: BEST WISHES
Date: Friday, August 21, 1998 11:18 PM
Dear Reno,
Thanks for the kind words
and best wishes. I regret being unable to
respond any sooner because of the killer of
a schedule that I have right
now. My apologies. I expect, however,
that things will settle down
soon, and I should be able to relax a
bit. I hope that I will be able to do my
job well and that I don't disappoint friends
like you.
Please keep in touch
and all the best to you.
Jerry
Congratulations, big fella!!!
Now I know that Erap is smarter than what people give
him credit for.
In one
fell swoop, he has bridged the yawning gap between himself
and the
cognoscenti
of Philippine society by appointing you as his spokesperson.
Now I can rest assured that there is at least some hope for our country.
More power to you. You make this Prep alum and batchmate real proud.
ERNIE
- - - - - - - -
Dear Ernie,
Thanks for your kind words.
The only thing I didn't like about your
note is your "big fella" salutation. I look
in the mirror and I don't
recognize the person I see. In my mind, I am
still the person I was in high
school.
Sorry I wasn't be able to
get back to you sooner. The schedule is a
killer but I know things will soon settle down.
Please keep in touch and I
hope you are well.
Jerry
Dear Jerry,
Congratulations on being appointed as presidential spokesperson!!
It makes me
feel good that there is someone like you serving our
government. Your
intelligence, integrity, and goodness of heart will provide
the much needed
credibility boost that is so lacking at this time.
Once again, good luck and
congratulations. I hope this won't be the last
time I can communicate with
you without having to go through your secretary.
And I hope that you won't be
too busy to attend that Prep 66 grand reunion that's
in the works. You make
us very proud!!!
Regards,
Edna Santos-Alberto
Congratulations, Gerry!
I always knew you had it in you to adapt to the changing
face of
Philippine politics......and make the best of it for
yourself. We are
truly proud to say we were your classmates at one time
in the not too
distant past (if my memory continues to serve me).
Those days at Padre
Faura and at Diliman never gave me any indication that
you would be such
a visible and vocal representative (or is it just spokesperson?)
for the
establishment. More power to you anyway!
I am proud to let others know that I was once your classmate.
Ed Sayson (Bobby's younger brother -- emphasis now on "younger")
. . . a toast to Jerry Barican, it seems that not only
his classmates recognize his gift of glib; we
know that it will serve him and our country well.
Butch
- - - - - - - - - - - -
from Demand and Supply by Boo Chanco The Philippine Star, August 21, 1998
Rod and Jerry
Speaking of Jerry Barican, our UP Prep
Class '66 gave our most prominent graduate a testimonial breakfast last
Tuesday. The affair was hosted by Ray DAn, one of the more successful in
our batch. Our batch is not a sentimental one. We didn't even have a silver
jubillee reunion. But we were there for Jerry.
Anyway, everybody congratulated Jerry
for the trust and confidence President Erap gave him. There were also expressions
of sympathy for taking on a nearly impossible job. There were also words
of unsolicited advice, mainly from me.
I am glad my former boss, Press Secretary
Rod Reyes is getting along well with my high school best friend, Jerry
Barican. They were profuse in deferring to each other in those television
news clips. I was afraid their blood sugar levels would rise dangerously
from all their sugary words.
Still, I can't help but feel protective
of Jerry, who is all too innocent when it comes to bureaucratic wars. My
word of advice to jerry. be careful. People are not as benign and friendly
as they look. I should know -- from first hand experience,.
I hope Jerry does not commit the same
mistake I made--completely trusting someone I thought was a friend. Some
people become dangerous when they get insecure. All the daily exposure
Jerry will get can get some people very insecure. Watch your back all the
time. The most helpless and brotherly looking snake in that snake pit,
is the most venomous of all.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1998 13:56:31 +0800
From: dan_r@compass.com.ph (Raymond Dan)
Subject: Open Letter to Boo Chanco
To: boo@bayantel.com.ph
From: dan_r@compass.com.ph (Raymond Dan)
Subject: Open Letter to Boo Chanco
I read your newspaper column today and was glad
to see UP Prep Class 66
mentioned in your report of the testimonial breakfast
for Jerry. I am
delightful that you gave your precious media space to
uplift Jerry adding
pluses to his reputation, pre-empting the potential minuses
in the future.
The danger of trusting the wrong people are real.
Jerry, as our most prominent classmate today, needs classmates
like you.
Foremost in our agenda, classmates could pray for him.
But, in general, we
classmates, should build up strengths of Jerry to whoever
we talk to. Jerry
has placed a trust in each classmate of Batch '66 in
a way, as he bared
himself for 4 years (and even more for college classmates
as well) of
companionship. Now, it is up to us to live up to
that trust and
furthermore, our fraternal responsibility to support
him in his position as
Presidential Spokesman. As spokesman, he is indeed
the best our class can
offer the president, and the country at this time.
May God create more classmates like you.
Sincerely,
Ray
These news clippings are self explanatory.
Whenever I hear of a friend's
success, something in me dies a
little.—Gore Vidal
THE MOST difficult Cabinet job on
a daily basis is that of press secretary. It doesn't matter whether
the system is authoritarian or democratic, the press--or media, as
it is now called--has to be dealt with. This is probably the
reason the journalistic community provides the press
secretaries.
Health secretaries do not necessarily have to be doctors,
finance secretaries bankers, tourism secretaries tourists, but
press secretaries must come from the press.
The job has become more difficult in recent times, due
principally to the proliferation of ''media.'' There is a wide
divergence of policy and persuasion, although the tenet remains
the publication of ''all the news that's fit to print.'' This covers a
very wide area, indeed, to the understandable dismay and
annoyance of people in power.
As the press secretary has to deal with administrative problems
as well, he needs undersecretaries and assistant secretaries,
unlike in the days of the late Ambassador J.V. Cruz,
Magsaysay's press secretary (the first given Cabinet rank), who
ran a small but effective operation. Enjoying the full confidence
of his president, JV even performed as a kind of vizier.
Beginning with President Marcos, it was realized that the press
secretary--more exactly, the minister of public information (the
size of the office required that it be a ministry)--should be
complimented by a presidential spokesman, whose main duty it
was to ''safeguard the integrity of presidential statements.'' This
was continued by the Aquino and Ramos administrations
without much success, probably because their occupants did
not come from media.
President Estrada has revived the office and chose lawyer and
Manila Standard columnist Jerry Barican, whose Henry James
dimensions reflect the size of his brain. In this most difficult time
for the presidency, there's no more suitable job for a columnist
distinguished for the thoroughness of his research and the
soundness of his analyses.
The other thing about Jerry is that he was among the most
prominent student activists of the ''First Quarter Storm,'' along
with another Cabinet member, Defense Secretary Orlando
Mercado. He brings to government a critical mind that will
temper his anti-establishmentarian ethic. I have always thought
that a stint in government could only be beneficial to a
columnist, if he is as intelligent as Jerry. This would give him an
inside view denied to commentators who approach the criticism
of government from the privileged angle of ignorance.
This is not to say that critics are ignorant. A few of them have
studied political science and government. But there's nothing
like experience under fire to balance what is often a bookish
attitude toward government. In Jerry's case, there's also an
element of patriotism: being well-off in his own right, he meets
my ideal of a rich man serving the people in exchange for his
personal success. He doesn't need the income, which is a good
way of starting an official career.
While Secretary Rod Reyes attends to the thousand and one
details of his office, Spokesman Jerry Barican will certainly be a
sharp foil to the many asinine criticisms that the Estrada flesh is
heir to. Among the most immediate ''issues'' is the renovation of
the guesthouse that's accompanied by warnings about
impeachment. President Estrada was right to dismiss the latter,
but it will take Barican to point out that impeachment
proceedings are filed by the House of Representatives and tried
only by the Senate. As of now, the threat from Congress is more
imagined than real, for it is a matter of contention even in the
Senate that private donations for the refurbishing of the official
residence are necessarily ''undue influence.''
In the first place, private donations go to the government,
strictly speaking, and not to Mr. Estrada as an individual.
Unless he dismantles the kitchen and strips the guesthouse of
its appointments at the end of his term, he cannot be said to
have personally benefited from the donors. Nor can the donors
claim any quid from the quo.
But since donors are citizens as well, it might be wiser for the
government to spend for the renovation of the presidential
house and repair of the yacht. Some people are fond of saying
that this or that expense should be assigned to the alleviation of
poverty. The absurd reduction of this logic is that unless the
entire national budget is dedicated to giving jobs, shelter, etc. to
the poor, government is next to useless. In this instance, the
poor are used as a tool to bludgeon the President into acting
like a barangay chairman. But even a barangay chairman wants
to keep a house that can be the pride of his constituency.
President Estrada, giving a media tour of the guesthouse, said
that in his 30 years of service, he had never been involved in
any ''anomaly.'' No one has said that refurbishing his official
residence and yacht is anomalous. The critics are just trying to
get his goat.
It will be Jerry Barican's job to see that the goat is not gotten. I
wish him well.
- - - - - - - - - - -
Roco on Barican: Erap's
spokesman or stuntman?
By Martin P. Marfil and Juliet Labog-Javellana
WILL he be a spokesman or a stuntman?
This was the question posed yesterday by Sen. Raul Roco on
the issue of the appointment of Fernando ''Jerry'' Barican as the
man to do the talking for President Estrada.
Roco said Barican's appointment would only add to the
''confusion'' in the faction-ridden Cabinet.
''Whom will they follow, the spokesman or President Estrada? If
he is spokesman, how can any Cabinet member disagree?'' Roco
said.
''Can he speak for (Defense Secretary Orlando) Mercado,
(Finance Secretary Edgardo) Espiritu, (Executive Secretary
Ronaldo) Zamora, (Robert) Aventajado, or will he be like a
stuntman?''
Roco pointed out that unlike in the movies--where a stuntman
replaces the lead actor for dangerous scenes--the President
could not be replaced by a non-elected official.
''Who is now the lead actor?'' Roco said.
''But the real problem of this spokesman is: Can he speak for all
these different factions reportedly competing for power within
the government?''
Enter Barican
While no official announcement has been made regarding
Barican's appointment, the lawyer, newspaper columnist and
one-time senatorial candidate yesterday turned up at
Malacañang.
He conferred with Press Secretary Rodolfo Reyes at the
Kalayaan Hall and then spoke with reporters.
''Give the President a chance to do his job,'' said Barican, 49.
''You know, it's no longer regular times. You hit the President
real hard at normal times, and I suppose that's all right.
''But you hit the President very hard now, and it's the whole
Philippines that's getting hit. I hate to tell you this, but we're all
in this together, and it's going to affect our paychecks, people's
jobs.''
Barican, a product of the University of the Philippines and
Harvard University, said the media should understand Mr.
Estrada's ''sentiments'' on the criticisms that have come his way.
''The President feels he has gone through an election and, as he
put it, the kitchen sink has been thrown at him and he's only
been in office a month and a half,'' said Barican.
''He's sincere, he has a big heart. I think he has a pretty difficult
time being diverted by issues not of national primary concern.
''He wants to focus on what he promised during the
campaign--agriculture, the economy, crime, and not presidential
kitchens.''
Mr. Estrada had angrily denied Inquirer reports that he planned
to build a P10-million state-of-the-art kitchen at the Guest
House, where he and First Lady Luisa Ejercito intended to live.
He led Malacañang reporters on a tour of the Guest House on
Tuesday, supposedly to end the controversy.
'Accurate statements'
Describing his job, Barican joked that he expected to be the one
''misquoted occasionally'' by the media.
''I want to emphasize that the policy is made by the President
and the Cabinet. I am simply a microphone. I will explain and
clarify what will be the official policy,'' Barican said.
He also promised:
l To be in constant touch with Mr. Estrada and Cabinet
members, ''so that the information I give you is timely and
accurate.''
l To be ''as accessible as possible to the press,'' explain at
length the President's position on issues, and clarify doubts on
state policies ''as early as possible.''
l To work harmoniously with Reyes to avoid the rift that
happened between the press secretary and President Ramos's
spokeswoman, Annabelle Abaya, during the first part of
Ramos's term.
Barican denied having been recommended for the job by
businessman Eduardo ''Danding'' Cojuangco, a major
contributor to Mr. Estrada's campaign.
The three men were candidates of the Nationalist People's
Coalition in the 1992 elections where Cojuangco ran for
president; Mr. Estrada, vice president; and Barican, senator.
As it turned out, only Mr. Estrada was successful in his bid.
Barican said he had known the President ''for some time'' but
that he was only informed of his appointment by Mr. Estrada at
a dinner at the Manila Hotel last week.
No problems
Reyes himself does not foresee problems with Barican.
''We were off to a good start. I believe we will be able to work
very harmoniously. We have respect for each other,'' Reyes
said.
He described Barican as a ''good team player'' and a ''competent
and credible journalist.''
''(Barican) said he would not mind being an undersecretary to
me, but I said we will be co-equals,'' Reyes said.
''He is willing to work under me. I welcome that gesture, but the
position calls for an independent appointment which is separate
and distinct (from the press secretary).''
According to Reyes, Barican is expected to ''speak for the
President on all issues except for some pronouncements to be
made by the Office of the Press Secretary.''
Reyes said the Presidential News Desk, which falls under his
office, would still be in charge of issuing press releases about
Malacañang.
Palace oldtimers recalled it was the PND which became the bone
of contention between Reyes and Abaya.
''Annabelle wanted control of the PND,'' a source privy to the
conflict said.
Privilege speech
At the Senate, a stinging privilege speech was delivered by Sen.
Teofisto Guingona on the Estrada administration's alleged lack
of coherence, consistency of policies, and stability.
Guingona said the propensity of Cabinet officials to issue
statements which were later contradicted and, in some
instances, retracted, served to fuel the restiveness being felt by
all sectors.
Among the instances Guingona cited were:
l Espiritu's tax amnesty statement which ran counter to the
President's directive to the Bureau of Internal Revenue to take a
hard stand against tax evaders.
l Espiritu's proposal to lower interest rates while Bangko Sentral
Governor Gabriel Singson raised overnight rates to defend the
peso.
l The administration's plan to issue $750 million worth of bonds
in the international market which may negate Mr. Estrada's
promise to curb the foreign debt.
l The ''purchase-for-import'' or ''purchase-for-investment''
scheme which Guingona described as ''exchanging apples with
oranges.''
l Mr. Estrada's vow to rid the government of graft and
corruption while planning to abolish the Presidential
Commission Against Graft and Corruption.
l Mr. Estrada's directive to use Filipino in government
transactions and in schools, which he retracted.
Guingona, along with Senators Francisco Tatad and Franklin
Drilon, said the appointment of a spokesman for the President
was welcome news.
But Guingona said the spokesman's job may be limited. With a
report from Cathy Cañares
August 14, 1998
6 peach tulips, Fatima statue
from PDI August 27,1998
end Jerry-Harriet war
By Juliet L. Javellana
HE SENT her six peach tulips. She gave him a three-foot Our
Lady of Fatima statue. And all ended sweetly between
Presidential Spokesperson Fernando ''Jerry'' Barican and
Presidential Legal Council Harriet Demetriou.
''Friends? All the best'' was Barican's note on a bunch of
imported tulips that landed on the desk of Demetriou at 2 p.m.
yesterday, two days after she publicly denounced him for
saying that embattled Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chair
Richard Gordon could be bodily removed from the freeport.
Barican personally picked the blooms at the flower shop of the
Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City after he guested in a breakfast
forum at Ciudad Fernandina in Greenhills, San Juan.
A ''Dear Jerry'' handwritten note came back to Barican after the
flowers were delivered by Beldad Gantalao, a messenger from
the Office of the Press Secretary.
''Thank you so much for the very beautiful flowers. You're so
nice and sweet,'' wrote Demetriou.
''Everything is forgotten and settled. Let's get together
sometime. I've been your fan and admirer at the Rep (Repertory
Philippines). I've always liked the roles you played. Take care.
God bless! In Christ and Mary, Harriet,'' the note said.
Barican said he was ''very pleased'' when he got the note. ''I was
cheered,'' he added.
The flower-and-note exchange brought an air of romance at the
office of Assistant Press Secretary Carmen Suva and the press
working area in Kalayaan Hall, which Barican frequents as he
has yet to get an office of his own.
''There's a new love team,'' Suva said in jest while reporters
teased Barican. Both Barican and Demetriou are single.
Even President Estrada joined in the teasing. The night before,
Mr. Estrada motioned to Barican as the presidential
spokesperson entered a room. ''O, Harriet had called you up,''
the President said.
Barican earned Demetriou's ire when he reportedly said the
''presidential legal adviser'' had counseled the President that
there was no longer any legal impediment from bodily removing
Gordon from the freeport.
Barican in fact said ''legal advisers'' but the transcript that got to
Demetriou had the phrase in singular.
For going straight to the media instead of settling the issue
quietly with Barican, Demetriou got a rebuke from Executive
Secretary Ronaldo Zamora.
The President had talked separately with the two officials and
pronounced the first open rift between two of his Cabinet
officials cleared up. Barican and Demetriou did not speak to
each other until the tulips arrived.
