Meeting of old Freeman staffers

Members of media who at one time or another had some stint with The Freeman will have a get-together tonight. Everyone is expected to be there. Even I will be there.

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I don’t want to happen to me what usually happens to someone who fails to attend an all-media gathering. What will happen to an absentee?According to the late Henry Redula: “Kon di ka gustong libakon, tambong gyud sa media meeting.” That’s why I’ll be there. Hehehe!

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I remember a senior reporter who was always with his wife when attending social functions. Once, when they failed to attend a gathering of press people, an elder member of the press asked: “Where are the bow and arrow?”

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Many gun owners in the region are responding well to the government’s call to have “loose” firearms registered under an amnesty program. Correct me if I’m wrong but none from the ranks of gangs and those thugs would respond positively to this amnesty thing. You expect hoodlums who kill and / or maim cops to have their firearms listed?

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Some 100 abusive taxi drivers have been nabbed for being picky and discourteous to passengers. They “fell” during the “Oplan Isnabero” campaign last Christmas season. Some aggrieved passengers had mustered enough guts to have those who had victimized them reported and punished.

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But many of those 100 or so “Isnaberos” were forgiven by their victims who had reported their abuses to the LTO-7.

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These pardoned cabbies got off the hook without paying a fine, not even a tap on the wrist. Now they’re back victimizing other people thinking that they could get away with it anyway.

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Victims of cabbie abuses should not complain to the LTO, Citom or the police only to forgive their victimizers later on. This defeats the government’s effort to get rid of abusive taxi drivers or, at least, discipline them. Showing kindness to these drivers — according to my friend Nick-Nick — would only make them celebrate their going scot free.

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FIESTA SENOR NOTES: The first day of the Novena for Sr. Sto.Niño is tomorrow, Jan. 10. This will be ushered in by a dawn procession tagged as “Walk with Jesus.” The walk will start at 4 am at Fuente Osmeña and end at the Basilica. Devotees are encouraged to bring with them Rosaries, candles and statues of the Sto. Niño.

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