Filipino Time is our own, not copied

A scholar in Filipino “cultural behavior” has risen in defense of the much-maligned Filipino Time. “Don’t make fun of Filipino Time ... Don’t hate it,” he said.

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 “I respect Filipino Time ... That’s why I write it in capitals,” he said. “First, Filipino Time is our own. It’s not an imitation. We didn’t  copy it from anyone.”

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 “Second,” he said, “Filipino Time has saved many lives ... Especially among the slowpokes who failed to catch the flight that crashed, the bus that plunged down a ravine, the ship that sunk.”

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 The professor (“please don’t mention my name,” he said) said he sounded like he was joking but he was not.

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 Me, I had a friend who was saved from marital problem and shame by Filipino Time. It’s a long story but let me shorten it. My friend was scheduled to get married on the day that a relative of his called him by phone.

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 The phone call was too long he failed to reach the church on time. In fact, it was not his intention to go on with the wedding. From the phone call he learned that the woman he was to marry was already a married woman but was dumped by her husband in Mindanao for one reason or another.

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 This friend of mine continues to enjoy his proverbial single blessedness. Two years ago he was seen wearing a T-shirt with these words printed on it: “Saved by Filipino Time.” It was a gift to him by his “foiled” best man.

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 Mayor Mike wants all neglected decorative lampposts removed as they have already become eyesores. But don’t destroy them nor bring them to the junkyard.

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 These lampposts are the most expensive eyesores ever, the government having wasted P250,000 for each of them or a total of P45 million for all the eyesores, once called Asean decor lampposts.

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 Many souvenir collectors might be willing to have them in their premises to remind future generations that once upon a time the government was tricked into buying these lampposts by clever operators.

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 The CCPO is intensifying the anti-smoking drive. Against cigarettes or against tambutsos?

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