Adrift at sea

If anything, the USS Carl Vinson, the nuclear powered flagship of the US Navy’s Carrier Strike Group, is different from any other US naval ship. It had a recent significant historical value: the body of slain terrorist Osama bin Laden was dropped into the waters off the North Arabian Sea from its lower deck. The warship (named after long-time US Congressman Carl Vinson who was also chairman of the House Naval Affairs committee) is armed with rolling airframe missiles, anti-ship missile defense Phalanx CIWS (close-in weapon system) and could carry close to a hundred fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. With its target acquisition radars, sensors, processing systems and other features, the Carl Vinson is undoubtedly impressive and a magnet for the curious.

But unfortunately for Weber Shandwick president and CEO Atty. Mike Toledo, his carrier tour almost turned him into “an old man in the sea.” Mike, together with his former law classmate Solicitor General Joel Cadiz, DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, the US Ambassador to ASEAN David Lee Carden and some other foreign guests – were on the way back to shore from the USS Carl Vinson when the engine of the speedboat they were on suddenly conked out. What was supposed to be a 25-minute ride back to shore became an almost three-hour ordeal as the “tourists” were left drifting and moving farther and farther away into the sea.  What was surprising if not thoroughly vexing was that the speedboat (most likely a cutter) did not have any GPS equipment nor a flare to signal its location. It was also unclear whether the boat was part of the Carl Vinson or was just locally rented. It was close to 11 p.m. when Mike Toledo and his companions were finally “rescued” and returned safely to shore.

Pacman’s ecozone

Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao is putting up a P2-billion special economic zone in his original hometown of General Santos City. He has already applied with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority and this has likely been approved by PEZA director general Lilia de Lima. The country’s richest congressman had planned this ecozone two years ago with his Manny Pacquiao Heights Development Corp. which was set to develop a 400-hectare property in Barangay Olympog into a mixed-use area that will feature an IT hub, high-end medical tourism facilities, retirement homes, convention centers, factories and other structures that will provide employment opportunities and, of course, bring in revenues and investments into this country.

Many people particularly his fans are concerned about how Manny spends his money, not wishing to see their hero go the way of other boxing champs who wasted away or worse, gambled away their earnings. Hopefully, Manny is getting some good advice on sound investments (which include a gas station, commercial establishments, apartments and condos, a multipurpose gym plus mansions here and abroad).  From all indications, it would seem that he is moving towards the right direction, with plans to help other people by providing livelihood opportunities. Pacman had repeatedly said that his biggest fight is still against poverty because he knows only too well what it is like to be poor.

Intense rivalry or pure coincidence?

 Subscribers from both Smart and Globe are complaining about blocked signals and interrupted network connections not only for cellphones but Internet connections. Smart subscribers claim that they have difficulty sending or receiving messages in areas or buildings identified with Globe like the Ayala malls for instance, while Globe subscribers say the network’s signals were blocked during the Smart-sponsored Justin Bieber concert recently. Is this a case of intense rivalry or just plain coincidence?

One country, one ID

 There is a growing clamor to support the proposal of Senator Ping Lacson for a “one ID” system. Banks and other institutions require more than one ID even for simple transactions and it certainly makes sense to just give one universally accepted identification card rather than presenting so many others that could be easily be faked anyway.

 At the end of the day, people really need an ID so government might as well centralize everything to make it easier for the BIR and law enforcement agencies to go after crooks and criminals. Besides, the proposed system will not contain confidential information such as bank account numbers and the like. There is also a need for proper documentation to ferret out illegal aliens moving into the country. There are a lot of Chinese criminals coming in through the backdoor and other foreigners who are members of international criminal syndicates. All countries are already tightening their borders because of terrorism and transnational crimes, so why shouldn’t we?

Spy tidbits

 –– One of the frontrunners for the position of Ombudsman is Jose Manuel Diokno, son of the late human rights advocate Jose “Pepe” Diokno. The younger Diokno who is dean of De La Salle University’s College of Law, was interviewed last Tuesday in Malacañang by President Noynoy Aquino. Another strong nominee is retiring Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales who was handpicked by P-Noy to administer his historic oath of office at the Luneta presidential inauguration.

 –– Atty. Mike Toledo, the local representative of global public relations firm Weber Shandwick proudly told us that his firm received nine North American SABRE (Superior Achievement in Branding and Reputation) awards in ceremonies held in New York City recently, taking home the Platinum Best in Show honors as well as five gold, three silver and one bronze for a wide range of practices. The firm also won two digital campaigns, namely the “Best Use of Microblogging” and “Best Crisis Management” awards during the 2011 Bees awards.

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