The Salonga dream

In my whole journalistic career, I had a lot of 'dream interviews.' However, I only have two ultimate dream interviews: one with Ninoy Aquino and another with Jovito Salonga. And for obvious reasons the Ninoy dream will never come true (I was born three years after he died). I only had Salonga then to make my ultimate dream interview come true.

I have always been afraid that Salonga, who is already 87 years old, would suddenly pass away. I have always prayed a longer life for him because the country still needs his ideas and mostly because I still want to meet him, to finally shake hands wih a living legend.

Salonga was a good lawyer, a superb statesman this country had been very lucky to have. And I just feel the luckiest today. Yes, I have literally faced my dream! :) Well, it's just sad that my gain was the loss of a great lawyer, Rene Saguisag.

I was tasked to cover Saguisag (who figured in a road accident at Osmena highway). Saguisag's wife, Dulce died on the spot while the former senator remained under observation at the ICU of Makati Med. Anyway, Salonga went to the hospital to visit his old colleague and I just watched him in awe. I could not even ask him questions! haha. :) I was that star-struck. :)

When all of the reporters were done asking, Salonga left. But I knew I must not let him go! So I ran after him and politely introduced myself. Unfortunately, he did not hear me because his right ear was already deaf. Good thing his other senses were still properly working; he then took my hand and motioned me to speak towards his left ear. I again introduced myself, which he acknowleged this time by repeating what I just said. All the time we were talking, he held on to my arms because he needed support while standing. I was almost crying! 

I was finally talking to one of the greatest senators this country ever had! And he lived this long (and hopefully longer)! He's lucky, very lucky, considering the fact that he was almost killed in August 21 Plaza Miranda bombing in 1971. "His doctors' prognoses were grim—he was not expected to live. He survived, however, with impaired eyesight and hearing, and more than a hundred tiny pieces of shrapnel in his body. Despite his inability to campaign, he topped the senatorial race for the second time (Wikipedia)."

Wow! :) I was just super stupid, nahiya akong magpapicture with him. :(

At least now I only have two dreams left to fulfill. But I'll be saving those for another blog entry. :)