The welcomed appointments of two Teodoros

This writer isn’t an admirer of this administration. There are many things and many decisions we really criticized. But the naming of Gibo Teodoro to the DND post, as well as of Teodoro Herbosa to DOH was a breath of fresh air that gives hope to professionalism and integrity in the bureaucracy. Marcos Sr. was famous for choosing the best in the caliber of Carlos P. Romulo, Cesar Virata, Blas Ople, and best of the best regardless of political color. Somehow BBM learned from his late father.

Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo Cojuangco Teodoro Jr., born on June 14, 1964, a scion of the famed Cojuangcos of Tarlac, a Bar topnotcher, Harvard University Law School Master's Degree holder, and a fine son of the best SSS Administrator we've ever had is the best choice for DND secretary. He was offered the same post by President Duterte but obviously, he didn’t like the appointing power. Dr. Teodoro Javier Herbosa, DOH secretary, is a trauma surgeon, UP graduate, former UP vice president, and professor of surgery and medicine. PBBM's two best choices, so far. The only major post still vacant is Agriculture, which he occupies. That puzzles many. We really don’t fathom the mysteries why he loves to be on top of rice, sugar, onions, and garlic, when he could delegate that to professionals, so he can focus on what matters most to the nation and people.

Gibo Teodoro is 80% technocrat and only 20% politician. He isn’t a trapo and doesn’t engage in dirty politics. Like his father, the original Gilberto Teodoro, Sr., who defended SSS funds against the selfish importunings of the powers-that-be, Gibo is a man who cannot be corrupted. If his boss would try to make him do something against the law, he is one who would immediately resign rather than compromise the integrity of his office. His coming back to DND is welcomed by the men and women who are truly professionals and career officers and personnel, but feared by scalawags, scoundrels, and rascals.

Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, is a master of trauma surgery and disaster medicine, an emergency medical care specialist and loves chaos and rapid changes. He is bored with bureaucratic routine. We expect him to create some earth-shaking changes in the DOH. While the ever-trustworthy Maria Rosario Vergeire will continue to provide stability and balance in the organization, Herbosa will most probably shake the DOH organization and push people there to dynamic actions, energetic responses to emergency situations, and constant alertness to medical emergencies, pandemics and other disasters. The DOH needs this kind of leader especially with natural calamities poised to hit the country.

The combination of Teodoro in the DND and Herbosa in DOH is BBM's best preparation for the next Yolanda or Ondoy. Remember that Gibo was our DND secretary when Ondoy hit us. Gibo was the DND secretary and he led and managed without much fanfare but with almost flawless efficiency the National Disaster Coordinating Council. Herbosa took emergency medicine as his elective when he was still in his sophomore year in UP. Actually, his dream was to become a neurosurgeon, but during his rotation in the neurosurgical intensive care unit, he took interest in disaster medicine and tried to find a connecting link to the two fields of specialization. This post he is appointed to will give him tremendous opportunity to do just that and many, many more.

The nation is seeing a ray of hope for the BBM administration. So far his appointments are apparently based on 60% professionalism and careerism and only 40% politics. He is proving to be better than his immediate predecessor whose only criteria were whether the guy is from Davao, San Beda, or a frat brother, with some few exceptions. I have nothing against Davao, San Beda, and fraternities, but presidents should have a wider field of choices in the interest of the nation and people. Gibo could have been the better president but lost to his second cousin, PNoy. He could have been a better senator but was beaten by such characters as Robinhood Padilla. The voters have a convoluted sense of values.

Teodoro the topnotch lawyer and Herbosa the dynamic neurosurgeon are going to shake the Cabinet and the nation. They can bring honor to the Marcos Jr. administration. But they can also cause trauma to the corrupt, lazy, inept, and incompetent bureaucrats in both DND and DOH. Let us all keep our fingers crossed.