North Korea
planning Take 2

A news headline on TV the other day said: BINAY TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT. Really? Is that still news to anyone in this country? Somehow, the old saying about one who walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck being a duck, comes to mind. All the peregrinations and good works the guy has been overtly doing in the past few years clearly show that his walking like a candidate, talking like a candidate, and making friends like a candidate, can only lead to one conclusion: He is a candidate!

***

I'm surprised, though, at the to-do Malacañang is making about an alleged “inevitable” split between Vice President Jejomar Binay and President Noynoy Aquino. Is “split” quite the right word for it? They weren't members of the same party, were they? Binay did not run for vice president under Aquino, did he? Aquino's running mate, the one who gave up his own plans to accommodate him was then Senator Mar Roxas, who still has a protest against the declaration of Binay as winner. So what split are they talking about?

***

I told you so. When the rocket fired by North Korea flopped and disintegrated in the air, I mentioned here that they must have something else up their sleeve. It must have been embarrassing, to see the rocket fail with the whole world watching, so two days later, North Korea paraded along the streets of Pyongyang, the real missile that they are planning to send off soon. It could just be a face-saving ploy, but how do we know whether it is more fearsome than the first one?

***

Meanwhile, showbiz people are really different from us ordinary mortals. Glamorous couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, often referred to as only “Brangelina” have confirmed that they are getting married (at last!). This after seven years of being “in a relationship” that has brought out six children, some of them adopted. Gushing Hollywood columnists are all raving about the priceless diamond Brad had specially cut by a famous jeweler for his bride as their engagement ring.

***

Naturally, showbiz media in Hollywood are excitedly positioning for special coverages, interviews, and the fight for the privilege to exlusively cover the event will be fierce. This with the date of the nuptials not even announced yet. The couple reportedly say this is for the sake of their children, who want them to be wed very much. In the Philippines we wouldn't make such a fuss about an “amancebado” couple. Their likes usually just wait for the annual mass wedding where the expense will be borne by the town or city.

***

The management of the Medical Arts Building of Riverside Hospital should teach their security personnel, especially those manning traffic, to be more patient-friendly. Yesterday, shortly before noon, my sister and I went there for her appointment with her doctor. The guards were frantically waving away incoming vehicles from the entrance stopping area – although they allowed what looked like a mini-bus to park for some time. When we stopped to get off, they signalled us to go and stop about 20 feet away.

***

I explained that my sister cannot walk that far, and that is why she is seeing her doctor. One of the guards told us, just move, they will just help her reach the door. So I insisted and ignored them until my sister could get off our vehicle and use her walker. I don't know what I expected them to do because we disobeyed their ORDER, but I knew what was I going to do in case they acted. They didn't, but it was a very bad experience.

***

I got a text message from Bagguer Villaluz, happily claiming that he is now global because the DAILY STAR published his picture! Indeed, Bagguer has talents in music that could earn him global attention. After he survived cancer of the throat, he kept on playing for social and civic affairs and continues to be a favorite, especially among tourists when he plays nights at the Bacolod Government Center grounds. I hear he will also be playing at Robinsons from 11 to 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays starting yesterday. Except for Wednesdays and Saturday, he also performs at the Government Center from 6 to 10 p.m. to the delight of joggers and strollers there.*

back to top