Wake-up calls are not heeded

Our Quennie Bronce is right (see her “Sidebar” column, TF, April 5/09). Everytime there’s a road accident, people immediately say it’s a wake-up call. But nobody wakes up to the call. And the road mishaps continue. More wake-up calls.

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In connection with Quennie’s lament, I’d like to pass on to her what I read many calls ago: “Most Filipinos are good sleepers… Many of them oversleep.” That’s why they can’t hear the wake-up call? Hehe.

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This news here says a man slapped his girlfriend for refusing to give in to his wishes inside a motel room. May I say something? If you’re in room do what the roomance do.

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One of my favorite columns in TF is the “Text Views.” The texters always come up with issues which make me shake my head and say: “Why haven’t I thought of this?”

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Some of the texters use humor and wit in unleashing their criticisms. Like what Josh Ocampo of Talisay City did. He texted: “Wanna watch robots in formal wear? Attend the Cebu City council session. Makalingaw baya sila.” (Ang robots?-JVJ)

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Last year or maybe year before last, one texter (whose name I have forgotten, 70-plus na baya ko) said: “Have you seen and heard rubber stamps speak? They’re amusing because their vocabulary is limited to only Yes.”

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This throwing of shoes by journalists at government officials, which was started by an Iraqi journalist, has caught fire and is now in vogue among mediamen abroad. An Indian journalist in New Delhi was the latest to display his shoe-manship.

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Someone was heard saying: “Shoe throwing cannot happen in the Philippines. Pinoy journalist can hardly afford to buy decent pairs of shoes.” Which is true. Come to my office and see my shoes. Hehe.

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They’re continuing to ban the entry of that Hong Kong guy who called RP a “nation of servants.” Serves him right. But which is more shameful-to be called a “nation of servants” or to be called “the most corrupt nation.”

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We gnashed our teeth and rose up in arms against the author of the derogatory line but we didn’t raise our hackles when on many occasions the wire services called us “the most corrupt nation.” I don’t know why. But my friend Teddy H. says: “I know why.” He adds: “Corruption has already become a way of life here, so why raise our hackles?”

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Just got an email from my good friend (and a good friend too of the old guards in local journalism) Maning Satorre Jr. in the US. Thanks. It’s good to know you’re now in good health, Maning. I hope your doctors will soon give you the go-signal to come home. Meanwhile, take care.

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