A LOT OF PEOPLE-MEDIAMEN IN particular-have long wanted to ask Frankie Miñoza, at 47 and nearing the twilight of his career, this question: Are you still the country's No. 1?

The obvious follow-up question to that would be: If not, who do you think is the new king of RP golf?

And, if the reporter feels lucky, he could press for a third question: Who do you think is your heir apparent?

But no deadline-beater would dare ask the revered Bukidnon ace those questions, prompting the Inquirer to settle for the next best authority, as far as Miñoza and his career are concerned-swing coach Roger Retuerto.

"Frankie is still No. 1 in the country, no doubt about it," Retuerto, without battling an eyelash, said in Filipino.

Retuerto is, after all, the only man Miñoza consults about his swing.

"No one has even come close to what Frankie has achieved," Retuerto said.

The Retuerto-Miñoza tandem is father-and-son in its history, closeness and respect for each other.

The coach has been with Miñoza since he was a 12-year-old who made heads turn in Baguio as a member of Del Monte in the Philippine Airlines Interclub.

"I see some talents out there ... but none of them has what Frankie, until now, has-the persistence and resiliency to be the best he can be," Retuerto said.

The 63-year-old Retuerto said Miñoza drives himself to perfection, practicing "from sunrise to sundown, without even (anyone) telling him (to)."

Juvic Pagunsan, Angelo Que and Artemio Murakami are the new faces Retuerto thinks would be the next RP ace-no offense to the others, he said.

"Juvic, because he is very long for his size, a natural long-hitter, and that is needed in today's game." Retuerto said. "His biggest asset though, is that may dibdib si Juvic, and you can't teach that."

Retuerto said that Que could be also it, because he also has the long game and the will to succeed.

"As far as Temyong (Murakami) is concerned, his length is like a freak of nature," Retuerto said. "His downfall has been his mental game, his focus."