Pay-off time

A group of current Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) officials are preparing a case against officers of the Philippine Sea Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) for unliquidated expenses incurred when the country hosted the 30th Sea Games last year. PHISGOC was supposed to submit its financial report last January yet, but until now, there’s no response. The SEA Games had a 7 billion peso-budget, 20 times the amount spent when we hosted the Games in 2005, given through the PSC under chair Butch Ramirez, who said all income from activities by PHISGOC must go back to the government like fund-raising events,tickets sales and tv rights, etcetera. Even before the start of the Games, legislators questioned the Php 59 million cauldron to be used for the ceremonial lighting during the opening. But the opening ceremonies was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. The cauldron was in Clark City in Tarlac. The design of the cauldron alone costs Php4.4 million while the actualconstruction and installation totaled Php 32 million. The squabble of the legislators and the organizing committee, threatened the hosting of the Games, prompting president Digong Duterte to mediate as we will be losing face if the Games was cancelled. Digong said “play first, pay later murag commercial sa airlines.” Now the time has come, the Commission on Audit is asking for the liquidation. PHISGOC is also accountable for the money intended for the cancelled 10th Asean Paralympics due to Covid 19. The government spent  millions of pesos to hire the NEP Group, an American broadcast producer. And some POC officials who volunteered, received professional fees when in fact PHISGOC is a foundation. My insider at the PSC told me that the POC even has still unliquidated expenses when we hosted the Sea Games in 2005.  As Pres. Digong said “Heads will roll when the party is over”.

Hasta La Vista Edvis

In 2017, The first Elvis of Asia contest was held at the RJ Bistro in Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati. 25 Elvis tribute artists from Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines participated. But what caught the attention of the audience was a man in a wheelchair who despite of his condition, still performed.  His name was Ed “Edvid” Abayari, father of actress Anjanette. Ed who was one of the pioneer “Elvis tribute artists”, died last week due to a lingering illness. Hasta La Vista Ed, keep on rockin’ and rollin’ in heaven.  Rest in Peace.  Speaking of musicians, Tommy De Vito, founder of the Four Seasons, died recently while Eddie Van Halen succumbed to cancer the other week. The Four Seasons with vocalist Frankie Valli, were responsible for hits like “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Rag Doll”,“I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “Sherry”. Van Halen’s “Jump” is a popular music in NBA video clips.

Did You Know? Mao Tse-Tung

former Chinese premier claimed to have smashed a world swimming record- at the age  of 72. In July 1966, he told his people that he swam a 10-mile stretch of the Yangtze River in under one hour.  It was only after his death that his personal doctor revealed the real story. “Mao was a chronic chain-smoker and too fat to swim even a few feet.The doctor said “If he only completed a small part of the swim, it was because he accidentally fell and got swept along by the current, the doctor added.

Clifford Ray

The 6’9”, 235-pound center of the Golden State Warriors, once saved a show dolphin who was dying after it swallowed a piece of metal. California vets did’nt have any tools at that time and did’nt risk a surgical procedure. Ray with his 3 foot 3 inch arms was able to reach down inside the dolphin and retrieve the metal. “Gi kuot ni Ray”.  Ray was a good passer, he waves the ball around like a baton before dishing off to an open man.