“Dodong Nemenzo has been con f ined at the ICU. Are you aware of it?” That was the first thing that my 94-year-old mother worriedly told me when I visited her more than a week ago. It surprised me that my Mom learned about Dodong’s confinement at the ICU.
(The latest development is that Dodong has been transferred to a regular room, but his state of health remains a cause of concern.) Although my mom knows Dodong and wife Princess, the last time they probably met was nine years ago, upon the passing of my wife Mae in 2015. My mom is fond of Dodong and Princess.
She has not forgotten their visiting my dad’s wake and how they condoled with her. I asked myself: How could my Mom have obtained the information when the Nemenzo family has avoided making any public announcement regarding Dodong’s health? Earlier, I was informed privately by Fidel (Dodong’s son) and wife Marivic about their father’s critical condition. So, I asked my Mom where she got the information on Dodong.
She said she was watching a public affairs program on TV where a guest on political affairs, in Marites (gossipy) fashion, broke the news of Dodong’s ICU confinement. The news anchor, according to my Mom, shifted the conversation to Dodong and family. The anchor even went off-topic and expressed his high opinion of Fidel, the son of Dodong, for his intelligence; for being a mathematician, a full professor, and a Doctor of Science; and for being a fraternity brod.
(Dodong, Fidel, and the news anc.