All of my friends, except him, call me by my second name “Val.” He called me by my first name “Mario,” because he said it was more macho and better-suited to my character. He credited my parents for their creativity in naming me “Mario Val” since I could always switch names to remain enigmatic to girls whom I may wish to hide from, he ribbed me.
I met Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Nestor “Nesting” Aldave Espenilla Jr. in 1987, when our country was still riding high on the euphoria of having ousted a dictator. Although I was covering the stock market beat for The Philippine Star, I needed some cross-checking of data sources and a deeper understanding of the economy to make my stories solid and credible. For journalists like me, then and now, there should be no room for mistakes, and in-depth research and data validation were mandatory. Sadly, today’s newsmakers and pseudo-journalists who flood Facebook and other popular social-media platforms with misleading memes and information present the unknowing public with fake news or alternative facts.
Nesting and I hit it off the first time we met. He was the BSP’s debt analyst then. At first I visited him to help me spice up the stories I wrote. He would oblige by teaching me to uncover a good story from cold numerical characters. My visits became frequent and we would discuss about things outside of our respective jobs. We became friends.
After office hours, we would often have coffee in the lobby of Century Park Manila Hotel, chilling out and spending the time talking about life, from the mundane to the serious. We would celebrate simple milestones in our respective careers, such as his assignment to the BSP’s economic research and international operations office, and my becoming the business editor of Manila Times, which the Gokongwei group bought from the Roces family in 1988.
Things got busier for us when I quit the Times to become a freelance writer for different foreign publications in the early 1990s. We would crunch the numbers to come up with stories worthy of publication in Forbes, Euro Money, Business Week and the Financial Times of London.
Our meetings became less frequent as I took on other ventures, but kept in touch from time to time.
I was watching the motorcade of Pope Francis when he visited the Philippines in January 2015 from my hospital bed when my phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number, but instinctively answered the call. From the other line was the familiar soft, yet concerned, voice which was unmistakably Nesting’s. “Mario, I heard the sad news. Got your number from our common friend. I hope you’re ok. Has it been 15 years already since we last talked?” It was the first call I got since I was successfully operated on for colorectal cancer, and I couldn’t help but cry. We promised to touch base.
There’s one incident that really gives me goosebumps each time I remember it. My good friend and mentor—the late Max Soliven, publisher and board chairman of The Philippine Star—and I were having a late lunch at Century Seafood Restaurant sometime in 2000, biding our time before watching Miss Saigon at the Cultural Center of the Philippines later that night. Nesting happened to be there, too, having lunch with some friends. He approached our table and joined us for a brief chat on how the economy was doing. Max was so impressed with Nesting that he told him: “You know, my friend, you’re going to be the Central Bank governor one day. Mark my word.”
Max’s “prophecy” came true.
Nesting’s sterling accomplishments as BSP governor speak volumes of his character, competence and commitment. But I’d rather talk about friendship untouched by time and distance. I know he had other friends who view him the way I do. He is such a loyal, sincere, kind friend and much bigger than the office he last held, which he served with distinction and integrity.
I shall miss you my friend…until we meet again!
For comments and suggestions, e-mail me at mvala.v@gmail.com