I WAS VERY HAPPY happy to see the front page picture here last Saturday of two “carnal friends,” Rep. Monico Puentevella and Mayor Bing Leonardia posing and enjoying a big laugh with Gov. Pidio Zayco and Presidential Management Staff Secretary Cerge Remonde.

It was during the opening of the Driver’s License Renewal Center at Robinson’s.

But, while happy, I was intrigued by the caption that, after Pidio made both Bing and Newks shake hands they posed with Cerge Remonde with the two “holding hands behind the back” of the Governor.

Aside from being intrigued I was also amused because the term behind the back means something is being cooked without other’s knowledge.

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The term “back” is used in many idioms. Now the two will put the conflict into the backburner or set aside. Unless one pushes the other back to the wall, and one can no longer back down. Even if told, using well known expression now, “Back off!”

And arrangements being made in the back room? And the foolish floods will no longer have backwater. And if arrangement will be made by their joint backer Toti Ramos, there will be no backing out.

You know in the last election because both Bing and Newks are related, that divided the relatives in the middle, Toti, uncle of Bing as the brother of Bing’s mother and also uncle of Newks by affinity, Newks wife, Patching, belonging to the Ramos clan, backed up both.

Not only in words but Toti bought TV ads at Sunshine Channel announcing his support for the two, Newks for Congress and Bing for Mayor.

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And Toti has all the reason. When he ran for the city council in the early 60s, both Newks and Bing who were in their shorts, were among the boys distributing his leaflets. His campaigners.

At that time the Puentevella and Leonardia families were living close to each other at Rosario Street. The two patriarchs, Jose Leonardia and Jesus Puentevella.

And on many occasions, their political paths sometimes ran parallel to each other and at other times crossed each other.

Both went to college in La Salle and both joined and became president of the Negros Press Club.

Their first clash was over the presidency of NPC where Newks beat Bing. Bing became the president a year after.

Then they ran for the city council where both being popular young leaders competed to be topnotcher. Bing topped and Newks was second. They belonged to the same ticket.

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Then they clashed for the vice-mayorship. Leonardia beat Puentevella. Then Newks ran for Congress and Bing ran for mayor. Both won. They belonged to the opposing party.

In 2004, both supported each other. Both won and Newks registered an unprecedented number of votes.

In 2007, both ran on different parties. Newks won and Bing also won, garnering the biggest number of votes on record.

How will 2010 come out?

If the two hands holding each other behind the back of the Governor of the province is an indication, then something is being cooked behind the scene.

I don’t know. I am not privy to their political strategies.

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To stay longer in politics, both should show independence of each other, hitting at each other, because in the process this makes both of them popular, their names always in media.

Meanwhile, their hands are there at the back holding each other.

The best example are the Osmeñas of Cebu. They are seldom united in politics. Each going his way. This is their insurance for survival. Voters still support them because they see in each of the Osmeñas independence and the quality of service.

Leonardia and Puentevella are the two leading and formidable political leaders in Bacolod today. They can maintain that standing as long as they keep ranting at each other.

Meanwhile, their two hands are there at the back holding each other.

The French have a diplomatic term for it “détente cordial.” The Americans call it “ceasefire.” The British call it “armistice.”

Was that what Cerge Remonde came for, the other affair only an excuse?

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