Mayor Edgar was from Venus, Mayor Mike is from Mars

I was asked by Mayor Eli Baquero of dyRC, the main anchor and commentator par excellence of the famed “Yagyagan Program”, on the difference between the late mayor Edgar Colina Labella and the now full-fledged Mayor Mike Lopez Rama. I said that Edgar was from Venus while Mike is from Mars. Just like Junjun Davide is from Venus and Gwen Garcia is from Mars.

Venus is the planet of love, serenity, peace, and friendship. Mars is the planet of power, domination, and war. The nature of Mayor Edgar's personality was that of a cool, collected, always prim and proper person. In his words and decorum, he always made sure that no one would misunderstand his expressions and his actions. On the other hand, Mayor Mike is very spontaneous at times, very playful with his words and actions. At times, people would see him as very warm, but inside his brain he is very calculating and security conscious. Mayor Labella could have been a very conservative father, and Mayor Rama, the exuberant go-getter and energetic son.

Mayor Labella was very cautious, prudent, and extra careful with relationships. He was that kind of person who would reflect, ponder, and contemplate first before opening up. Mayor Rama is very fast to get to know others, even complete strangers. At the drop of a hat, he would sing, recite a poem, or declaim. But Mayor Edgar valued old friendships. He had a special group of lawyers who walked with him, and went on regular jogging sessions with him. He trusted too much to the point of over-trusting and that is quite risky. Mayor Mike is quick to befriend but he keeps a safe distance, not too close, not too far. Mayor Mike is a perfect Sun Tzu's “The Art of War” strategist. He keeps his friends close and his enemies closer.

If the two were saints, Mayor Edgar was like St. John Paul II, ever so gentle, ever so understanding, too giving and too forgiving to the point of vulnerability. Mayor Mike is like St. Ignatius de Loyola, a warrior who is courageous, aggressive, and very dynamic. He always calculates the risks and the consequences and is very strategic in his thinking, very comprehensive in his plans and programs. Mayor Edgar could be your best friend. Mayor Mike could be your most dangerous opponent. He is very loyal as a friend but very fierce as an enemy.

Mayor Edgar was very good in empathy, in counselling, and in behavior modelling. He understood people and could comprehend emotions and feelings. Mayor Mike is good in mentoring, coaching, and in training human resources, now called human capital, in acquiring new skills and technology. In relationships, people from Venus are warmer and more intimate. People from Mars are distant and detached. Venus people are good at managing feelings. Mars people are good at analysis, planning, and execution. Venus guys are better judges and religious ministers.

Why do I know these two guys? Actually, the three of us have been friends and we all have one thing in common; we both studied in the first university in Cebu, the University of the Visayas, our beloved alma mater. In 2019, I was the president of the UV Alumni Association and I led the centennial celebration of our university, under the guidance of then UV president, Congressman Eddie R. Gullas and the late Dr. Jose “Sir Dodong” R. Gullas. We were all seated at the presidential table at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel and we were happily joking and laughing. We never expected that this would happen to our friend Mayor Edgar. But that is life, and we just have to move one, sad without him now. And we have Mike and he will see us through.