"Palace not giving up on term extension," says this news headline. The Pulse of the bosses doesn't mean anything at all anymore?
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Some newspaper columnists are calling the President names. The names they call him are not fit to print. But this is a free country anyone can call anyone else a croc and even get paid for it.
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I was furnished a copy of the speech in Congress of a certain lawmaker. As I often do with speeches of politicians, this one I also read between the lies.
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When my wife was still alive she said to me: "Why can't you write seriously like Jerry Tundag and Aven Piramide?" I said I wanted to but I don't know how.
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"More and more children are being made to work to earn a living for the family," says a churchman. True. In fact, there are even five to 10-year-olds carrying Armalite rifles as boy soldiers of rebel groups. That's what they call robbing the cradle.
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A writer of my acquaintance said he's being asked by certain critics to minimize his "green stories." He said he'd try to accede to the request but doesn't know how. "Maybe," I said, "they want you to put nihil obstat and imprimatur in your every work."
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Rene Toting who once dabbled in sportswriting for the now defunct Pioneer Press texted me: "Nyor, the Philippines with 100 million people ended its Asiad campaign with a total of 15 medals, 1 gold, 3 silvers and 11 bronzes. Singapore with a population of less than 10 million garnered 22 medals, 5 golds, 6 silvers, and 11 bronzes. I can only shake my head."
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I also shook my head. How Singapore with less people than Phl managed to garner more golds and silvers than us? Maybe because we play more politics than taekwondo or football or wushu. I said maybe.
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OVERHEARD. I heard some people asked one another: "Why didn't they include ballroom dancing in the Asian Games?" Comment: "Bitaw sah. Kon giapil pa nangharus unta ta og gold medals." Comment: "Tinuod. Anha ra ta hawod sa sayaw-sayaw. Bisan atong mga lola lupigan mga batan-on sa ballroom."