Mother Spain

Three died at the Palace of Justice when a man with two guns managed to get past security and did his evil thing. Now that “lightning” has struck there is a call for stricter security at the Palace.

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It’s always like that. We often hear the old folks say with some amount of admonition: “Diha pa manguros kun nangilat na.”

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The US Navy minesweeper in distress off Palawan needs the help of the Philippines whether or not help is asked. Talk about fines or sanctions should come after we had extended help to a friendly country’s ship in trouble.

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It says here that the Philippines is the only Asian country to continue receiving Spanish aid. “Naturalmente,” says Noy Temiong. “We’re the only country in Asia that stuck to Spain for 400 years even losing in the process a bright young Pinoy named Jose Rizal.”

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Spain is known as “Mother Spain” to Las Islas Filipinas. Much of what we are today are legacy of Spain. You are Pedro or Pablo and Maria or Juana because of La Madre de España. Not one of us answers to the name of Paiburong or Marikudo or Bulagtos.

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“Global jobless seen rising above 200 million,” according to the PhilSTAR Business Section, quoting a report from the International Labor Organization (ILO). This is due to the “impact of the economic crises on the labor market.”

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If you’re not satisfied with your job right now — because the pay is lower than what you think you deserve to get — ponder on the ILO report. Chances are you’ll end up telling yourself: “Maynalang ning trabaho ko ... at least may trabaho ko.”

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Thanks to Dr. NQ Jr., chairman of the new thoroughbred racetrack in Tanauan City, Batangas, for the invitation to the Metroturf’s opening on the third week of February. I can’t come but I can wish the racetrack operator’s success.

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I recall a plan by a businessman to initiate a move to put up a horse racetrack in Cebu. That was some 20 years ago. The plan was immediately shot down by elements of the so-called moralist society.

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Most major cities in Asia — Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, etc. — have horse-racing hippodromes. We used to have one, too, before World War II. We had a hippodrome which has now been converted into a residential area.

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OVERHEARD. A member of a women’s Catholic organization was heard talking with an old candle vendor. Woman: “Kusog halin sa kandila, Nang, adtong Sinulog?” Vendor: “Labing kusog sa tibuok kong kinabuhi isip mamaligyaay og kandila.” Woman: “Pila man gyud nakita mo atol sa Sinulog?” Vendor: “Di lang ta maghisgot kun pila basta nakapalit na gyud ko selpon para sa akoang apo.”