Embassy Swiss Army balisong

Visa applicants are complaining about this rude Filipina at the Swiss Embassy. According to sources, she has this nasty habit of shouting at Filipinos applying for visas or are bound for Switzerland. She apparently doesn’t like it if applicants ask for clarifications, and she resorts to being rude and arrogant during the interview as if to show who’s boss. In contrast, Swiss officials at the Embassy are polite and courteous. This Filipina is acting as if she’s more Swiss than the Swiss, and Ambassador Lisa Favre would be well advised to look into this rude employee who is giving a bad name to the Embassy. Offended applicants tried several times to ask for her name but she adamantly refuses to give it. They reported that because they were applying for a visa, they could not force her for fear that this Swiss Army balisong might just throw their application into the garbage can. Three hints, though: She wears glasses, she has morena complexion, and she was the only lady manning the booth for interview at that time. Generally, we have noticed this arrogance in many Filipinos working in foreign embassies or companies. Instead of being more helpful, these Filipinos have a tendency to be harsher and nastier to fellow Filipinos. Are they trying to prove their superiority to their masters at the expense of their kababayans? The attitude must be the result of too many years of colonization. Just give them a small opportunity and the oppressed transform into tyrants.

Bill Luz replies

In reference to an Oct. 13 Spybiz report on Makati Business Club Executive Director Guillermo "Bill" Luz holding Alien Certificate of Registration No. 289495 and Immigration Certificate of Residence No. 212760 and the official Comelec ruling that Luz is a Canadian citizen and is unqualified to vote or participate in the country’s electoral process, Mr. Luz wrote us in reply: "This refers to an article which appeared in your column Spybiz today entitled ‘Double life = Double standards.’ Your article is factually wrong and misleading in stating that I was born in Canada. In fact, I was born in the Philippines to Filipino parents."

Dismal Senate performance

Observers say that the 12th and 13th Congress may yet break the records as the most unproductive ever. According to sources, approximately 187.5 hours were spent during the 1st Regular Session (from July 26 to June 10, 2005) on inquiries and investigations "in aid of legislation". These preclude the inquiries that were scheduled for the 2nd Regular Session. Taxpayers spend an average of P1.5 billion annually for the Senate. To date, out of the 2,135 bills filed, only six were signed into law. Figures lifted from the GAA (General Appropriations Act) reveal that from 1994 to 2003, the Senate’s budget had an average increase of about 13 percent while the Lower House had an average of 11 percent. Ironically, the average increase for the GAA during the same period was only seven percent. At the rate things are going, the 12th and 13th Congresses may yet go down as the most unproductive ever in Philippine history. It was during the 6th Congress when the most bills were passed (1,481) when Congress’ budget was only P157.9 million. With a budget of P11.23 billion, the 12th Congress could only manage to pass 76 bills. From a cost-benefit analysis, the Senate of the 13th Congress may yet top this dismal record. The senators have been criticized for neglecting much-needed legislation to make the economy move faster, such as: Farmland as collateral, the Pre-Need Code, the Corporate Recovery Act, electoral reforms. Maybe the "honorable" senators can at least find time to pass the Anti-Terrorism Bill within the decade.

Spy tidbiz: US Fashion Advisory

Fashionistas planning to go to the US or are coming home to the Philippines should refrain from bringing bags and other items with fake Louis Vuitton, Coach, Prada, etc. labels. A previous US travel advisory only listed down pirated CDs, DVDs and fake nursing review books as items on the hot list, but fake designer bags and accessories have been added by US Customs officials. The alert must have been initiated by reports that many stores in Divisoria, Tutuban, Greenhills and other places with tiangges are doing very brisk business selling these fake branded items to balikbayans and other travelers who are showing preference to these goodies over the traditional tsinelas and other native products either as pasalubong or padala. A previous report from the Department of Homeland Security disclosed that a Filipino who was found entering the US with fake DVDs and CDs was immediately deported to the Philippines and his US visa cancelled. Had the violator been a US citizen, he could have been subject to arrest and criminal prosecution in addition to civil fines and penalties. Likewise, the fingerprinting/biometrics system has been successfully instituted in all US ports of entry, so travelers are advised to bring extra identification cards in addition to their passports to facilitate entry by US Immigration.

Spybiz humor: Recto services transferred

Apparently rid of the blues, the Blues have been gleefully texting these jokes to each other for the past week – "Please be informed that Recto services for forged documents, especially academic records have been transferred to a bigger facility along Taft Avenue. Special discount offered for La Salle records".

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