Blue Eagle

They have given Pope Francis different names like People's Pope, Liberal Pope, Common Man's Pope, etc. A friend from Ateneo says: "I hope to be the first one to call him Blue Eagle."

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Our best bet in the Miss Universe contest was top rated among the tabloid showbiz writers at home. They expected her to win big. One observer said: "Nabuyagan nuon atong manok da." She said that next time we praise our best bet in any international contest, always end the praise with: "Puera buyag."

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Manny Pacquiao saved the day for Phl in the Miss U pageant where he was one of the judges. He was the first to fire a question at a candidate (Miss USA). Manny looked smart and dapper something Floyd Mayweather has yet to duplicate.

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It says here that Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was speechless after the IS beheaded one of the two Japanese hostages. What else could Abe do under the circumstance? Shout banzai?

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Forty-nine members of the PNP Special Action Force were killed in a gun battle against the MILF-BIFF. Some newspapers call it a massacre. I heard many people asking! "Why, why, why!" Yes, why did it happen? Isn't the MILF now supposed to be on the government side?

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E-mail from Edgar Tingson (no address given): "Nganong nagkakombuya man ang BIFF nga giilang bandido ug ang MILF sa nahitabong masaker sa 47 ka SAF policemen? Ambot nimo, Sir, pero akong tan-aw gibinuangan ra si PNoy sa MILF."

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At this point in time, I'm inclined to believe that there's something sensible in reader Tingson's suspicion. At least, many neutral observers think so too. That's my take. Right or wrong.

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If elected President in 2016, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will abolish Congress. That's the way, he says, to get rid of corruption in the government. And then he would raise the salary of government workers. But is he running in 2016? He has been denying news reports that he's in the running.

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OVERHEARD. The so-called massacre of the 49 PNP Special Action Force (SAF) cops in Maguindanao is currently the talk of barbershops and coffee shops. Many are talking about the alleged booty or reward in dollars for those who could capture the "targetted terorists." Said a reader: "Sulti-sulti lang na oy." Comment: "Bitaw oy. Ang dapat istoryahan ang masaker diin 49 ka polis ang nangamatay ug kinsay manubag ana."