[02] Interviewing Gemma. Ihad the opportunity to interview Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz-Araneta over the phone the other day, and from the looks of it I had the best chat with her among all those she called up in Davao City. She was a little piqued at first but gradually softened up. Reporter Mic-Mic Villaflor was not so lucky: she got a dressing down from the secretary, and it was so bad she could not even get a word in. Harangued and oppressed, Mic-Mic finally just hung up on Araneta. I hear the secretary did the same to other people here, including at least one government official and one from the private sector.
Isa siya sa una kong nakilala noong dumating ako rito sa Canada. Wala akong kakilala noon at siya ang unang nakapalagayang loob ko. Limang taon na ako rito at siya pa rin ang tanging kaibigang pinagkakatiwalaan ko ng aking mga lihim. Inabot ni Allan ang kanyang kamay sa akin. Mahigpit ang pagkamay niya. Magiliw siyang makipag-usap, napansin kong natural na nakangiti ang kanyang mga mata, masaya siya pero hindi presko.