ATTY. FERDINAND Topacio, no doubt, has adopted the nuances of showbiz. Obviously, the controversial lawyer is not gay, but he speaks gay lingo the way any limp-wristed, kembot-swaying beki does.
If only for trying to gel with a predominantly gay population of the entertainment press, naaliw kami sa kanyang one-time delivery of the line, “Chuva-chuva, chuchuchu” in a supposedly serious event. Ang seryosong pagtitipon na ‘yon noong nakaraang Miyerkules sa Penthouse ng Rembrandt Hotel ay naglalayong idepensa ang kanyang sarili laban sa mga matitinding alegasyon ng kampo ni Bea Binene.
Sa pagkakataong ‘yon, Topacio has engaged the services of a fellow lawyer to represent him under an imminent threat sa balitang ipadi-disbar o ipare-revoke umano ni Mrs. Carina Binene, ina ni Bea, ang kanyang legal license.
Apparently, the issue stemmed from Topacio’s alleged misrepresentation nang isumite nito ang salaysay ni Bea hinggil sa umano’y pang-abuso at pangha-harass ng radio jock na di Dan Villanueva a.k.a. Papa Dan to the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) at Camp Crame with the lawyer’s signature affixed on it.
Of the three salient points that he raised during the luncheon meet with the press (yes, mala-luncheon meat ding pinagpiyestahan ng mga inimbitahang reporter ang “linamnam” ng mga rebelasyon ng simpatikong abogado), Topacio stressed that Mrs. Carina’s allegation was without her consent proves to be the most crucial.
Ani Topacio, all that he submitted to the CIDG was a Narration of Facts in the form of a question-and-answer document recounting the details surrounding the Binenes’ complaint against Papa Dan. Nowhere did Topacio’s signature appear in the said document which, in fact, prior to its completion ay mismong ang kampo ni Bea ang nag-atas sa abogado to provide the necessary data in written form.
Related to this, paano ring sasabihin ni Mrs. Carina that there existed no lawyer-client relationship sa pagitan nila ni Topacio, gayong on three separate dates in August this year ay kinalampag ng mag-ina ang naturang abogado as to how they should better deal with the young star’s alleged stalker?
As resonated by the public in general, paano ipaliliwanag ni Mrs. Carina ang pagtira ni Dan sa kanilang tahanan sa Pasig City sa loob ng pitong buwan? Obviously, the celebrity mom bears the burden of proof. Pero obviously, ani Topacio, sa bandang huli pa pala ay siya itong pinagmukhang walanghiya while GMA seems protective of its talent sa katauhan ni Papa Dan.
There were two more points that Topacio brought up at the presscon, kung saan to be able to send his message across, he thought best to employ a power point presentation. Hinimay-himay ni Topacio ang tatlong paratang laban sa kanya ng pamilya Binena, but alongside each of those allegations deemed false ay kaakibat n‘yon ang paglilinaw ni Topacio sa pangkalahatang isyu.
Pero tulad ng sinumang tao na sagad na sa kanyang pagpapasensiya towards his attackers, Topacio felt a compelling reason para ipagtanggol naman ang kanyang sarili from all these made-up stories na ikinakalat umano ng kampo ni Bea. The issue, so Topacio admitted, has affected his family (his father is also into lawyering, while his wife is an RTC Judge in Manila).
Inaasahan na naming magiging isang emotionally charged ang presscon na ‘yon, but the serious tone was drowned by Topacio’s wisecracks totally unexpected of a topnotch lawyer. Pero bago magtapos ang event na ‘yon, Topacio expressed his willingness to smoke the proverbial peace pipe with the Binenes. Aniya, “A simple text (of apology) will do.”
Like the rest of the world, nagkakaisa ang impresyon that this topnotch lawyer is one who loves to “grandstand.” Topacio is likewise a fan of himself, na maaaring pag-isipan that all this ploy constitutes a political agenda beyond his expensive lawyering skills.
But who cares? Ang mas tumatak na imahe sa amin ng abogadong ito—more than his adaptability to all this lingual kabaklaan in showbiz—ay ang kanyang bukas na puso’t isip tungo sa kanilang pag-aayos ng nakaalitang pamilya Binene.
For whatever it’s worth… chuva-chuva, chuchuchu.
SI WILLIE Revillame ang tipo ng kaibigan who—given under any misfortunate circumstance—knows what genuine friendship is all about. Sa kabila kasi ng mga sinuong na hamon ng pamilya Villar, the Wil Time Big Time host has hurdled with them.
Willie has so proven this when he personally accompanied Villar Foundation Managing Director and former Las Pinas Representative Cynthia Villar who filed her Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) last October 2 to the Comelec Office in Intramuros, Manila. Tita Cynthia is seeking a senatorial seat this time.
It will be recalled na si Kuya Willie rin ang nag-endorso kay Senator Manny Villar when he ran in the 2010 Presidential Elections. Ani Kuya Willie, “Hindi naman natapos ang suporta ko sa Villar family noong 2010. ‘Ika nga, walang iwanan. Sila man ay sumuporta rin sa akin, sinusuklian ko rin naman ng suporta ang kanilang kabaitan. Isa pa, naniniwala ako sa mga adhikain ni Ginang Villar. Ang dami nang natulungan ng kanyang mga livelihood programs.”
Thankful naman si Tita Cynthia sa gesture of support ng WTBT host, ”Natutuwa ako sa kanya (Willie) dahil binigyan niya ng oras at panahon ang pagsama sa akin sa kabila ng kanyang busy schedule. Pareho kaming nandito para magbigay suporta sa isat isa.”
Pepperoni
by Ronnie Carrasco III
