Let's celebrate with the farmers

There's thunder and lightning as I write this. The rains are here. Many feel inconvenienced but the farmers are celebrating.

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"We must celebrate with the farmers," says Padre Tito, a priest of my acquaintance, "because what they're celebrating is not only the coming of the rain but also the coming of a good harvest which we all share."

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Many air passengers raised hell, so to speak, when the x-ray machine at the Mactan Cebu International Airport conked out causing some inconvenience to them. Many were heard cursing, my source said.

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But there is one service at the MCIA that has received admiration and praise from air travelers. I refer to the wheelchair service for senior citizens and persons with physical disability. The airport's wheelchairs have attendants standing by ready to serve "with courtesy and a smile," to quote a woman with a walking cane who travels by air many times a month. "Wa man ning 'wheelchair squad' sa ubang airport," she said.

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It was said that before, policewomen applicants were made to strip during physical examination. Not anymore. The women cop applicants now have "malong," the Muslim women's wrap-around body cover. Thanks to acting governor/vice governor-elect Agnes Magpale, a known women's welfare advocate, who introduced the "malong."

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My mediaman colleague Loy Jurado who is promoting his "Say Thank You" advocacy is happy to note that there are election winners who paid ad spaces in the newspapers to say "Thank You" to those who voted for them. Loy believes in what Cicero said: "A thankful heart is the parent of all virtues."

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OVERHEARD. Two self-styled political analysts were overheard talking about Tom O's protest against Mike Rama's win. Said one: "Dili kaha ni face saving ang gibuhat ni Tomas?" Reply: "Dili tingali oy. Mahimo ba nang mag-face-saving siya sud sa unom ka tuig nga paglingkod ni Mike sa city hall?"