Babies

The AFP top guns have ordered: "Defeat the Abu Sayyaf:" Yes, now na! Before people start calling our soldiers "under the Sayyaf."

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A provincial newspaper (Luzon) says in its editorial that babies continue to play a role in some politicians' poll campaign. They love hugging babies. It doesn't matter how old the babies are.

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If it's true as reported that there are now only about 400 Abu Sayyaf creating trouble in Mindanao, what's taking the AFP so long to finish them off? If they got the will, no need for cannons. Only hammers and tongs.

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It says here that P15.6 billion has been lost to cigarettes smuggling. Two poor streetkids fighting for a living selling cigarettes by the stick, asked one another: "Pila kaha na ka buok sigarilyo, Bay, no?"

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It also says here that more and more Pinoys are eating less and less rice. They're fedup with the staple millions of other Pinoys are dying for.

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Ma'am Sarah Soliven de Guzman says in her column ("As A Matter of Fact," PhilSTAR, Nov. 17/14) that Port Irene's Breakwater Project in Ilocos costs much, much more than the Iloilo Convention Center. "Why is no one talking about it?" she wants to know. She exclaims like what her father used to exclaim: "Salamagan!"

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"Maybe no one is trying to contest the leadership of the Marcoses there. At least not yet," whispers to me someone who prefers to remain silent, except to whisper.

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PNoy says the perfect APEC hosting by China this year will be a tough act to follow next year when the Phl takes its turn to do the hosting. Knowing the Pinoy bright minds' love to argue, let's start the arguing now on what to do or outdo China in hosting the APEC.

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OVERHEARD. The news says the performance bonus of the public school teachers have been delayed for two months. Commenting on this a teacher's father said: "Unya ilang ulog-ulogan ang mga titser nga mga 'hero' kuno." Replied another father. "Pero akong anak wa gyud misakay sa ulog-ulog oi. Ni aplay og trabaho sa Tate, maestra na ron didto." Another father: "Akong anak wa'y suwerte. Wa maka-titser, nahimong dancer sa Okinawa."