The whistle has been blown and how!

There is right now P1.4 billion smuggled rice from Vietnam in the Customs bodega. The government has three options as to what to do with the rice: Sell it, give it to the poor for free, or let it rot for the benefit of the worms.

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No need anymore for anyone to blow the whistle on the Customs shenanigans. The three BOC top guns who gave the reasons for their wanting to leave have virtually blown the whistle.

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After President PNoy’s no-holds-barred dressing down of the BOC officialdom, three key men immediately felt the heat and wanted to get out of the kitchen. But their deputies chose to remain. Never mind the heat.

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My nephew in Manila texted me: "The floods here are getting higher and higher. They used to be knee-high. Now they’re waist high." I advised my nephew to be vigilant and watch the waters. A Chinese fishing boat might appear.

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Another Phl-related saint is coming up. He is Blessed Jose Maria de Manila who is set for canonization in Rome to join Pinoy saints San Lorenzo Ruiz and San Pedro Calungsod. A Capuchin priest, Blessed Jose Maria de Manila was born in the Philippines of Spanish parentage.

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He was baptized Eugenio Saz-Orozco but adopted the name Jose Maria de Manila when he joined the Capuchin religious order. Although pure Spanish, Blessed Jose Maria was mistaken for Filipino. He studied at the Ateneo de Manila, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, and the University of Sto. Tomas.

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Reader Reynalto (not Reynaldo) Reyes called up to comment on my column about floods and some gears to use for safety. He said: "The giving of life vests and life rafts to families in flood battered areas is a good idea." This is what some local governments in some cities in Japan and South Korea are doing.

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Mr. Reyes said his civic club has drafted a resolution urging the pertinent government agency to consider its proposal for the government to provide families in flood-prone areas with free life vests and life rafts like what some cities in Japan and South Korea are doing.

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OVERHEARD. Some members of a women’s club were discussing Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago’s criticism of the manner of dressing of the women members of Congress during the President’s SONA. "Mura mag nag fashion show sila,"" said one. "Kada SONA ra bitaw na," said another. "Kadto untang biste nga ni-reflect og Pinoy culture." The club president, now 80, said: "Akong isugyot ang kimona ug patadiong."