"Haring lungsod"

The first para of my column last Wednesday was intended to tease the reader and make his or her day. But nabulilyaso.

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In my original copy I said: “No, no, it’s not true that I was confined in the hospital with an enlarged prostitute. But it’s true I wanted to have a prostate surgery.”

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But “prostitute” came out prostate. So where’s the joke? Oh, my goodness! I was mad but I did not shout my madness. It was 4 a.m. when I did-covered the crazy error.

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“Gov’t Lacks Fund For Roads” — Headline. Commenting on this, a friend of mine said: “What’s gonna happen to P-Noy’s tuwid na landas”?

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A congresswoman says: “We, the 95 million people of this country, say no to the Hongkongers’ demand for P-Noy to apologize.” A 90-year-old World War II veteran’s reply: “I am one of the 95 million Pinoys but I have not authorized any politicians to speak for me.”

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It has become very common for politicians, especially those in Congress, to claim approval by the so-called “Sambayanang Pilipino” of any move they want to ram down our throats.

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Cebuano politicians have also learned to use the “sambayanang Pilipino” to claim support for their acts. But they use another name: “Haring lungsod.”

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It says here that “the ways we show affection can keep us healthy.” Ways like giving someone a kiss on the cheek or a tight embrace. But it may not be healthy to embrace a neighbor’s wife under the moonlight.

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Researchers say “touch has a healing power.” A touch on the shoulder or on the back could make the touched one feel good. And it costs nothing.

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I’m inclined to believe that one’s touch might be just as good or even better than the herbal food supplements that flood the boticas. Tood ba, you can’t put touch in a bottle.

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“We lead, others follow.” I heard this proud claim of Cebu before. It’s still true today. And we have proofs to show. Take ukay-ukay. Cebuanos coined that and even people in Luzon are saying it.

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Take habal-habal too. We started it and now the whole nation is saying it, unaware of why it’s called that. Hinay-hinay, too, is Cebuano, now threatening to ease out dahan-dahan.

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The first text message I receive every morning comes from my fellow columnist Bobit Avila. The message, mostly spiritual and inspirational starts my day right. Thanks Bobit.