Maybe not ‘angelic’ but…

The government of Argentina must have felt the political fall-out from the disgraceful conduct of their boxing fans who mauled and injured the team of Filipino boxer Jonhriel Casimero, and has offered its official apologies. It also assured our government that they have submitted the videotapes of the melee to the courts so they can determine who will be charged. Well, our government accepts the apology, but it must not do anything to cause the lifting of the ban that the International Boxing Federation has imposed on their uncivilized boxer, Luis Alberto Lazarte who can only blame his rabid friends for his predicament. With the lifetime ban, he can kiss his championship dreams goodbye, and return to his job of truck driving.

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But Argentina is now coping with another problem more serious than just one unprofessional boxer. The other day, a train crash occurred where, as of first count, 49 had been reported killed. The reports also said that the railway system in Argentina is far from tip-top condition, which is why such deadly accidents occur. The ill-fated train was said to have come from the terminal of the town, or city called “Once”. At least there were no suspicions aired that the crash had been caused by terrorists.

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Speaking of terminals, the government is raising the terminal fee at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by P250, which means travelers outside the country will now have to pay P750. It is quite strange that we have to keep paying more and more for the deteriorated equipment and services at that facility, notorious for being “the worst in the world.” Maybe the people who planned the fee increase thought it is a privilege to be using the world’s worst?

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As for the Bacolod-Silay airport, not only is the terminal fee atrocious, but also the parking fee which is collected, but nobody knows where the money raised from it goes. If the NAIA is the worst in the world, ours may be a candidate for the worst in the country, taking into account all the complaints travelers have been airing over the state of this relatively new airport. Until now, no explanation has come out about the whereabouts of the stash from the abominable “parking fee”. Note that most people with cars opt to park them outside the airport grounds to avoid paying the truly exorbitant P40 parking fee.

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Well, well! The chairman of the Philippine Gaming Corporation and its chief executive officer are both in hot water and are being implicated by a big hotel and resort company in a bribery case it is filing against a Japanese businessman who allegedly bribed the two Filipino officials with gifts and perks. The case has been filed in Las Vegas, Nevada by the owner of the famous Wynn Hotel, venue of some of Manny Pacquiao’s fights, and a familiar one to Filipinos, this writer included.

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The information claims that the Japanese, a billionaire named Kazuo Okada, had been giving $110,000 in payments as well as gifts and hotel accommodations to the Pinoy officials and their families in the Wynn Hotel in Macau, and booking them in the most expensive suites. Okada, who is an investor in the Wynn hotels is said to be planning to put up a casino in the Philippines, a plan that Steve Wynn, the owner, also shares. It is not very clear to me what favors the Japanese mogul expected from PAGCOR chief Efraim Genuino and CEO Cristino Naguiat, but it must be a big one, considering those gifts. Tsk, tsk. What do Genuino and Naguiat think they are – Euro generals?

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They call themselves The Angelos, and although one cannot call their voices “angelic”, the three young men who staged a concert at the Bacolod Pavillon last night, certainly knew how to work their audiences. Frequently compared to the world famous Il Divo, George Sison Tagle, Rei Paolo Libiran, and John Louie Abaigar, could certainly give the Divos a run for their money. Performing a series of classic as well as popular songs, they also knew how to elicit audience participation to the point that they even had Bishop Vicente Navarra also calling out “Baby” to echo them.

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I am sure the entire audience enjoyed the actual program, but not the long wait nor the endless speeches that preceded it. John Orola spoke, the bishop spoke, Fr. Felix Pasquin spoke, and then a lengthy video showing John Orola speaking, the bishop speaking, Fr. Pasquin speaking, etc., was followed by a lengthy presentation of the shrines being promoted. The 7 p.m. schedule turned out to be almost 9 p.m.! But the Angelos were troupers, they even tolerated the very poor sound system, and kept their cool. Oh, also a hit was their violinist who almost stole the show with his brilliant rendition of the very popular pieces from “The Sound of Music” that the audience spontaneously sang to. All in all a really entertaining show.*

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