Tatak K…

January 14, 2009

…is not vitamins I assure you. In fact, too much dosage is probably bad for your health.

Tatak K is the television (he calls it public service, but I doubt that) program of the de facto congressman of Davao City’s first district. The de facto was his father’s words, not mine. His father, by the way, is the House Speaker. The number four most important man in the country. And I ranked what, 88,999,999^th out of the estimated 89 million Filipinos? I think that’s only because I have a skewed sense of self-importance.

That means, ladies and gentlemen, 88,999,998 others are more worthy to swallow his spit.

Tatak K is the brand to sell the son. I would not even guess his political agenda but the word magnanimity was never associated with the father, maybe the son is different? What was the old maxim about the fruit never falling far from the tree or was it shit from the ass?

Tatak K is just the latest venture. There are other indications that the son has a personal agenda. How about his face emblazoned on the side of the multi-cabs donated to the communities in the first district, for example. Or could it be that he inherited his father’s penchant to put the family name on projects built “through his own initiative.”

My, my… kids do grow up so fast.

Another indication: the anointed son visited out office one day wanting to write a column. He hobnobs with the boss so no surprise there.

He was introduced to the people at the office. When the name of our chief editor was mentioned by our boss, he said: I don’t know her. Okay, how about the managing editor?

“My father doesn’t know him.”

Ah.

When my name was mentioned. Well, you could guess the answer. I generally avoid the press conferences they organize like the Black Plague.

Anyway, his request to write a political column was declined. We offered him to write a lifestyle column instead. We all shook hands, I managed a wry grin. Awkward. How about that lifestyle column?Sure, sure, he said.

We never heard from him since.

There’s a word associated with the letter K that any self-respecting kolehiyala can blurt out effortlessly.

Kainis.