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| BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo |
Last night I was watching television and switching channels when I accidentally pressed the remote control to Channel 11, the show on the channel was 700 Club. Sometimes, I would watch this Christian-oriented show for spiritual inspiration and enlightenment. Last night a segment of the show discussed about healing and why God allows bad things to happen to good people. In the testimonial portion, they featured a man who had a car accident which shattered one of his legs, and had some miraculous healing that changed his life. Before the accident happened, a pastor laid his hand on his perfectly healthy leg for healing, making him wonder why? This leg was the one shattered later in the accident.
While the man was giving his testimony, his name was flashed on the screen : Diwa C. Guinigundo, BSP Deputy Governor. A high government official giving a testimony on 700 Club? This caught my interest and continued watching. This is a breath of fresh air after watching the last day of The CJ impeachment drama. The face of the guest is not familiar to me but the name is. I was trying to recall where I heard or read the name before. I thought maybe it was in some business section of some newspaper since he is the BSP deputy governor. What bothered me was, I'm sure he had this government position only recently, but I'm also sure I have heard and read the name a long long time ago. You will never forget the name, it's a very unique and a very "pinoy" name.
Finally, I remembered. I read the name in a calling card given to me by the BSP Deputy Governor Diwa C. Guinigundo himself.
Finally, I remembered. I read the name in a calling card given to me by the BSP Deputy Governor Diwa C. Guinigundo himself.
Flashback : Twenty years ago, sometime in 1993, I was working in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I was at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and just arrived from my vacation in Manila. It was early evening and while waiting for my ride going KL city center ( the airport is quite far from the city ) another Filipino was also waiting nearby. I remember the Pinoy was wearing something more formal than what I was wearing. Since we are both Filipinos, we had a conversation while waiting for our rides. I learned that we came on the same flight from Manila. I introduced myself and told him where I was working. I remember he said he was working at the Asian or ASEAN Central Bank and gave me his card. That was where I read that name : "Diwa C. Guinigundo". The name got stuck in my mind. The name is unusual and unique that is why I never forgot it. When my car arrived and was about to board, I asked him if he was going to KL city center and if he wanted a ride. He said he was staying at KL Hilton, which is outside KL but is along the way going to KL city center. So I offered him a ride, and dropped him at the KL Hilton. Never saw him again after that.
Not until I saw him again at the 700 Club on television last night.
Just to make sure that he really was that person I met in Malaysia, I googled his name and ASEAN Central Bank. His profile mentions that he was the Head of Research at the SEACEN Centre in Kuala Lumpur in 1992-1994. He had a stint in Kuala Lumpur on the same years I was working there. No doubt it was BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo, the person I met and offered a ride 20 years ago in Malaysia.
I wonder if he would remember me If I meet him again? Or at least my name. No, I don't think so, I guess my name is too generic for him to remember then.
My only consolation about remembering his name is that at least I have proven that my memory is still working good; and I'm very glad to know that there is one good man working in our government by the name of Diwa C. Guinigundo. A name I will never forget.
My only consolation about remembering his name is that at least I have proven that my memory is still working good; and I'm very glad to know that there is one good man working in our government by the name of Diwa C. Guinigundo. A name I will never forget.
Related Link :
http://business.inquirer.net/21353/philippine-central-bank’s-top-gun
