By RONALD CONSTANTINO
IN PERSON – On television, Sec. Harry Roque, presidential spokeman, gives this tough-guy impression. Early on, he threatened to throw hollow blocks at critics of President Duterte. And that like his Boss, Secretary Roque is a formidable foe.
But in person, as the entertainment media found out, the guy is friendly and quite charming, Wilson Lee Flores was emcee, giving away “pandesal” from his famous Kamuning Bakery.
SHOWBIZ – As expected, the entertainment media focused on showbiz matters and not the “heavy stuff.”
His favorite soap is Coco Martin’s “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” on ABS-CBN. Secretary Roque was “warned” fans of Alden Richard’s “Victor Magtanggol” on GMA might get “offended.” He smiled, “I’m a certified Noranian, who has a show (‘Onanay’) on GMA. So it’s even.”
A topnotch lawyer (UP graduate), his client included movie stars, among them Claudine Barretto and Annabelle Rama. He’s also the lawyer of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre in 2009 and transgender Jennifer Laude in 2014.
Atty. Roque loves music, his trademark song being “Pare Ko.” He even sang a few lines from the “bagets” song.
FAMILY MAN – A Christian, Roque is loving father to two (boy and girl) and best friend to his wife. The family’s nature lovers. Twice a year they travel for two weeks.
Among his friends are Martin Nievera, and Piolo Pascual, born-again Christians like him.
Secretary Roque was a congressman, before being tapped as presidential spokeman. Is a seat in the Senate next? He flashed a “Mona Lisa” smile. It depends on the President…and the will of God. As they say: Man proposes but God disposes.
And that’s “the other side” of Harry Roque.