In classical mythology Cupid is portrayed as the son of love Goddess Venus and known as the God of Desire, attraction and affection.
As history books tell us, Eros is his Greek counterpart with slender winged youth and later during the Hellenistic period acquired the bow and arrow. A person, who is shot by Cupid's or Ero’s arrow, is filled with uncontrollable desire.
Fast forward to now, there’s this banking cupid sporting his cherubic bedimpled smile that can melt anyone’s stern façade and is comfortable with his faded greyish but timeless classic pair of Converse Chuck Taylor all-stars sneakers.
Right, he’s super cool and trendy as most Gen Zs and millennials as well as feelennials (a portmanteau of the word feeling and millennials, like, I must admit, moi) match their suit outfit or even a classy long dress with a pair of sneakers.
Curious? ‘am talking about the new heart throb of the banking community, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona. Without him knowing it and it seems so as natural as it gets, his bow and arrow successfully hit the hearts – alpha they call it in shooting – of couples Medalla and Canlas.
Yes, Virginia, 'am talking about Gov. Eli’s predecessor Felipe “Philip” Medalla and his forever graceful dancing queen, Ms. Pinky. Holder of a masteral degree in Nutrition but works in the social service staff of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Ms. Pinky along with other government employees were sent to the UP School of Economics to attend a certificate program in developmental economics.
And you guess right – the tandem of Gov. Eli and Philip were among those young assistant professors who interviewed the program applicants. Gov. Philip recalled there was a spark, then a lighting and finally a thunderbolt. In his own words: “I was so impressed. She was looking at development economics in a different way, if malnourished children can still be saved with nutrition and redevelopment program. A nutritionist looking at malnutrition in a very practical way.”
Back to Billeted in PCED (Philippine Center for Economic Development) hostel, then under the management of the UP School of Economics, which is now known as UP Hotel, Gov. Eli would accompany Gov. Philip to visit Ms. Pinky and have a beer or two at the cafeteria.
This was in 1983. Mind you, Ms. Pinky was still in another relationship then. This did not deter him. Reminds me of the 1958 song Stupid Cupid, though, in this case the scholastic pursuit of Ms. Pinky was the very foundation, the baseline of the love pursuit of Gov. Philip. And voila, two years later, they tied the knot.
While Gov. Eli calmly narrated the ensuing events, my mind wandered to another similarly situated love story that of late Gov. Gabriel “Gabby” Singson. The first BSP governor was likewise hit by a thunderbolt when he interviewed Ms. Moonyeen, who was applying for a position in the Central Bank.
Just on the side, this certificate program that Ms. Pinky pursued, where both governors taught, has produced one of the country’s consuls in Switzerland and some ranking government officials. It is now a Masteral Degree with Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman as among the graduates.
Same basically happened with former NEDA Director General (DG) Dante Canlas, who was also a colleague of Gov. Eli and Philip along with the late Monetary Board member and NEDA DG Cayetano “Dondon” Paderangga. Gov. Eli and DG Dante visited the house of Ms. Susan. Identical scenario – electrifying feeling, next time Gov. Eli heard DG Dante was seen dating Ms. Susan in Philippine Plaza, now known as Sofitel.
As the wheels of life churn, it seems like these central bankers have the same love story pattern.
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