Liar!

Schoolchildren in a primary school in Manila were made to call PNoy "Liar" after his speech about the Fallen 44. The kids were first graders.

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"The grownup militants are calling the president names. No problem. But must the first grader kids who are still learning how to say 'good morning' and 'good afternoon' be taught to be disrespectful to our leaders, too?" This is from an e-mail from someone who signed his name only as Uncle Joe.

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At the rate this peace deal between the Phl government and the MILF is going it seems that it's wishful thinking to believe that it can hit first base before PNoy's term ends.

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Who do you think is the stronger sex? We men? No, women! Or so says my favorite PhilSTAR health columnist Tyrone M. Reyes, MD. Says Doc Reyes: "Men die younger than women and they are burdened by illness during life. They fall ill at a younger age and have more chronic illnesses than women."

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Doc Reyes says in the US widows outnumber widowers by at least three to one. And among centenarians there are four females for every male. The same longevity gap could also be true in Phl.

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There are many ways, according to Doc Reyes, to swing your way to a long and healthy life. One of them is: Seek joy and share it with others. Laughter is good medicine. Fun and optimism improve health as well as happiness.

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My desk calendar says that February 19 is Chinese New Year. No big deal there but in many other Phl cities with big Chinese population the Chinese New Year has already become part of the local holidays celebrated yearly by virtue of the passage of local ordinances.

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My Tsinoy friend and kumpadre Ongpauco, who has retail store businesses in Bacolod and Iloilo cities says the Chinese New Year is one the liveliest yearly festivities in the two Western Visayan cities just like Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

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OVERHEARD. Talisay City Councilor Danilo Caballero has called for a strict implementation of the flag ceremony law. Someone was heard commenting on the councilor's call: "OK kaayo na. Kay naay mga mangapil og flag ceremony nga dili manganta. Magsige la'g hisgut sa nasipyat nilang numero sa lotto."